Hadhrat Hudhayfah Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: "When Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam lay down on a bed, he recited: Allahurmma bi-ish-mika a-mutu wa ahyaa Translation: O Allah! In Thy name do I live and die'.
When he awakened he recited this du'aa: Alhamdulillaahil ladhi ahyaanaa ba'da rnaa amaatana wa-ilayhin nushur Translation: 'Praise be to Allah Who restored unto us life, having caused us to die and unto Him shall be the Resurrection"'.
Sleep is synonymous with death. That is why sleep has been linked to death, and waking with life.
When we sleep we can have lengthy dreams and feel as though we have lived a different life in our dreams. But when we wake up, we realise that it was just a dream.
The same way, the life that we are living is like a dream. When we die, it will all seem like a dream. And just how some dreams can be long and some can be short, some lives can be long or short.
The 'ulama have written, it is a thing that should be pondered upon, that, after sleeping we are awakened, and after dying, in this manner, on the day of qiyaamah we will be given life again. In reality Allah 'Ta'aala has made this world a little replica of the hereafter. An example of everything has been made in this world so that one may ponder and take heed of things to come. The life in this world is not more than a dream.
We should recite the dua before sleeping and awaking.
Before sleeping we should think that we may die after this, there will be a time when we will be in sakarat and die.
Don't forget to remember Allah all the time.
There are situations that we should take heed from everywhere, it is up to us to use our sense and take heed. When it is time to die, we won't have time to even ponder on those things.
When we recite the duas, we should also ask for forgiveness and recite durood.
'O mankind! Verily the promise of Allah is true. So let not this present life deceive you' [35:5]
Ponder on the things in the world, there is nothing in the world that does not originate from the earth etc [things Allah has created]. Look at every part of a car, it is made using everything from natural resources Allah has provided for us. Everything we use day-to-day is made using what Allah has created.
Allah has given us two ears so we can hear from both sides.
He has given us a nose in front of our mouth so if something poisonous is going to be eaten the nose will be able to tell.
He has given us our eyes, which work harmoniously together.
Our hands, feet, and body parts work in harmony together.
Think about how we have been created
'And in your own selves, will you not then see?' [51:21]
We have not been created for no reason at all, but have been created to worship Allah. Our actions will be accounted for.
O Allah help us to understand that disobeying You and sinning only causes grief.
