In Saheeh Mawaarid al-Dhamaan (2087) –
The hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (رضي
اللّه عنـه) who said, “The Messenger of Allaah (صلّى
اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) said, “The lifespan of (the
people from) my Ummah is between sixty to seventy years and few will go beyond
that.” Ibn ‘Arafah
said, “And I am from those few.”
So
the Sheikh (رحمه
الله) commented by saying:
“I
say: I am also from amongst those few, since I have passed eighty four. I ask
the Lord, the One free from all imperfections and the Most High, to make me
amongst those whose life span is prolonged and their actions are beautified.
But even then, sometimes I nearly wish
for death due to what has afflicted the Muslims from deviations in their deen,
and the humiliation that has befallen them from the lowest of mankind. But
Allaah forbid, and the hadeeth of Anas is before me. So it is not suitable for
me to say anything except that which my Prophet (صلّى
اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) has ordered me with, “O
Allaah keep me alive as long as life is good for me and take my life if that is
good for me.”
And I supplicate with that which my
Prophet
(صلّى
اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) has taught me, “O
Allaah provide us with the provision of our hearing, and our sight, and our
strength as long as we are alive and make it a legacy from us.”