Chapter X: Remembrance of Death
Three terrors of death: The first terror is the terrible pangs at the time of death. The second terror is the sight of the figure of the angel of death and entry of fear and terror in mind. The third terror is that the sinner sees his place in Hell and the virtuous one sees also his place in Paradise. The first we have described above. It has been narrated that the Prophet Ibrahim said to the angel of death : Can you show me once your own figure when you take the life of a sinner? He said : You will not withstand it. Ibraham said : Yes, I shall withstand it. The angel of death said : Turn your face from my front. Then he turned his face from his front and saw that the body of the angel of death is deep dark complexioned, having rough straight hairs, stency, covered with black dress, flames of fire coming out of his mouth and nostrils in streams. At this, Abraham fell down senseless. On regaining consciousness, he saw the angel of death in his previous form and he said : O angel of death: If the sinner sees nothing except your figure at the time of his death, it will be sufficient punishment for him.
The Prophet said: The Prophet David was prone to fear. Whenever he went out, he closed all the door^ of his house. Once he went out thus closing all the doors of his house. His wife later on saw someone inside the closed house. She asked him : How have you entered the house? If David comes, he will cast danger on your head. When Devid came and saw him, he asked him : Who are you? He said : I am that one whom the kings and emperors fear and the friends of God cannot prevent him. He said : By God, your are then the angel of death. At this, he covered himself with blanket.
It has been narrated that once Jesus Christ was passing by a human skeleton, He stroke it with his foot and said : Speak with me by the permission of God. The skeleton said : I was a king of
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this place. I was seated on the throne with crown on my head and with my soldiers all round me and with all my pomp and grandeur. Just at the time the angel of death came to me. My limbs became paralysed at my seeing him and my life went away with him.