There is a profound story mentioned in the Quran about Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon him) and the Angel of Death that reveals a truth every Muslim must internalize: your death has been decreed at a specific time and a specific place, and nothing in the universe can change it.
The Man Who Tried to Escape Death
A man was standing next to Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon him) when the Angel of Death appeared and gave the man an unsettling, frightening look. After the angel departed, the terrified man begged Sulaiman to command the wind to carry him to the most remote location possible, far away from whatever fate awaited him.
“The Angel of Death said: ‘I was wondering what this man was doing here, because Allah told me to remove his soul at that very distant location in an hour’s time.’ The man had unknowingly fled to the exact place where his death was decreed.”
No One Dies Except Where Allah Has Decreed
The miraculous wind of Sulaiman (peace be upon him) carried this man to the very place where Allah had already written his death. Every attempt to escape only fulfilled the divine decree. This teaches us several essential truths:
- Death will find you no matter where you are or how far you run
- The time and location of your death were written before you were born
- Running from death is futile; preparing for it is the only wise course of action
“Whoever’s death has been decreed at a location will not die elsewhere. That is reality. That is our belief.”
Rather than living in fear of death, the believer asks Allah for a good ending: to die upon iman, in a state of obedience, living the way of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). That is the only thing worth striving for.
