Provisions for the Hereafter

Imam Shafi`i on his death-bed was asked by Al Muzni "What is your condition?" Then Imam Shafi' (رحمه الله) replied, "I am journeying from this world, and departing from my brothers, drinking from the cup of death, and upon Allah, Exalted is His remembrance, arriving. And no! By Allah, I do not know if my soul is travelling towards Paradise or the Fire!" Imam Shafi' (رحمه الله) then began to cry profusely and recited the following; To You, the Creator, I raise my longing, And even if I am, O possessor of kindness and generosity, an evildoer, a criminal When my heart became constricted and my paths became narrow, I took my hope in Your pardon and forgiveness as an opening and an escape My sins seemed very great to me but when I compared them to Your forgiveness, I found Your forgiveness to be much greater You are and still remain the only One who can forgive sins, You grant and forgive out of Your benevolence and generosity Were it not for Y