12 THINGS TO BE DONE BEFORE YOU DIE

1. To die according to the faith of our Prophet

Salallahu 'Alayhi Waalihi Wassalam
O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared and die
not except in a state of Islam. [Surah Ali Imran:102]

2. To be a seeker of knowledge
Ali Radiallahu Anhu once said, "The people are of three
classes: The righteous Scholar, the student of Knowledge
being upon the path of salvation abd the confused rabble
who follows everyone who calls out - bending along with
every wind - they are not enlightened by the light of
Knowledge, nor do they lean upon a firm support." [Abu
Nu'aym al-Asbahani in Hilyatul-Awliya]

3. To ensure that the five pillars are fulfilled

Islam has been built on five (pillars): testifying that there is no
God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
performing the prayers, paying the zakat, making the
pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadhan. [Bukhari]

4. To repent for past, present and future

O you who believe! Turn to Allah (Subhana Wa Taala) with
sincere repentance!It may be that your Lord will expiate
from you your sins, and admit you into Garden under
which rivers flow (Paradise)... [Surah At-Tahrim: 8]

5. To memorize the Qur'an (or as much as you can)

He who is skillful in reciting the Qur'an is with the unveiled ,
honourable and pious, and he who stutters when reading the
Qur'an, (and its recitation) is difficult upon him, will receive two
rewards. [Bukhari]

Recite (memorise) the Qur'an, for it comes and intercedes

for its companion(who memorised it). [Muslim]

6. To pay of all debts and give time to debtors

 Whoever gives respite to a debtor or grants him remission,
Allah Subhana Wa Taala will save him from the calamities of
the Resurrection Day. [Muslim]

7. To right any wrongs done to others

The believers, after being saved from the (Hell) Fire will be
stopped at the bridge between Paradise and Hell and
mutual retaliation will be established among them regarding
wrongs they have committed in the world against one another.
After they are cleansed and purified (through the retaliation),
they will be admitted into Paradise; and by Him in Whose
Hand's Muhammad soul is, everyone of them will know his
dwelling in Paradise better than he knew his dwelling in this
world. [Bukhari]

8. To fast regularly
O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was
prescribed for those who came before you; that you will
perhaps be God-fearing. [Surah Al-Baqarah:183]

On should try to fast in the month of Ramadhan, days of

'Ashura, middle three days of each month, Mondays and
Thursdays, every other day as there is a door to Paradise
for those who used to fast. Fasting is a shield with which
a servant protects himself from the Fire. [Ahmad]

9. To get married and have children, Insha Allah

O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should
marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his
modesty (prevents temptation), and whoever is not able to
marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual
power. [Bukhari]

10. To teach the religion to one's family

Each one of you is a shepherd. And each one of you will
be asked about your flock. A ruler is a shepherd and he
will be asked about his flock. And every man is shepherd
to his family. And a woman is the custodian of her husband's
house and his children. Thus each one of you is a shepherd,
and each one will be asked about his flock. [Bukhari]
 1. To support an orphan or foster a child
The Prophet Muhammad Salallahu 'Alayhi Waalihi Wassalam
said, "I, and the guardian of the orphan will be in Paradise like
this," and the Prophet Salallahu 'Alayhi Waalihi Wassalam
joined his index finger with his middle finger. Meaning that the
one who looks after the orphan will be very close to the
Prophet Salallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wassalam in Paradise.
[Bukhari]

2. To invest in things which are of benefit after one's demise

When a human being dies all his actions come to an end
except in one of three ways: A continuing act of charity, a
useful contribution to knowledge and a dutiful child who prays
for him. [Related by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasai and others]

Taken from 21-Things To Do Before You Die, Lifebook 2011