Dying and Living for Allah: The Last Will of Khurram Murad

Basic Information

• Title: Dying and Living for Allah: The Last Will of Khurram Murad

• Author: Khurram Murad (1932-1996)

• Edition: English, paperback, about 80 pages in its standard version.

• Publisher: The Islamic Foundation (UK) / Kube Publishing (English edition)

• Format: Short treatise or testament rather than a full-length book.

Purpose and Theme

The work is essentially Khurram Murad’s personal “will” (waṣiyyah) — a collection of counsel, advice and reflections he wished to leave behind for his family, his colleagues in the Islamic movement, and the wider Muslim community. The term “last will” here refers more to spiritual and moral advice rather than legal bequests.

He frames the text as a wake-up call: to live consciously for Allah, to prepare for the Hereafter (ākhirah), to fulfil one’s responsibilities to others, and to maintain sincerity, devotion and moral integrity in life. It aims to inspire readers to examine their priorities, their relationship with Allah, and the way they live.

Structure and Key Content

The book is organised into three main parts (or chapters) in many editions:

1. Death and Ṣabr (Patience)

   • Murad reflects on the reality of death, the certainty of meeting Allah, and the emotional and spiritual responses required by close ones when a person dies.

   • He offers guidance on how to deal with grief and loss, and how patience and submission (riḍā bi-l-qaḍā) become acts of worship.

2. Message for Successful Living

   • This section shifts from the end of life to how life should be lived. It covers intention (niyyah), striving for Allah’s pleasure, avoiding distractions of the world, serving others, and the consistent remembrance of Allah.

   • The emphasis is on living with the Hereafter in mind, aligning one’s daily actions with deeper spiritual goals, and cultivating character.

3. Journey to Fear and Hope

   • Here Murad addresses the inner state of the believer: the balance between fear of Allah’s displeasure and hope in His mercy.

   • He discusses the spiritual journey: constant self-examination, seeking forgiveness, maintaining humility, and relying on Allah’s promise.

   • He urges preparedness for the final meeting with Allah, urging that the believer live as though each moment could be the last.

Style and Tone

• The tone is intimate and sincere — you sense it is written by someone reflecting on his own life, his shortcomings, his fears, and his hopes.

• It is motivational and spiritual: more exhortation than heavy academic argument.

• It draws heavily on Qur’anic verses and Prophetic traditions to support its ideas, but remains accessible even to non-specialist readers.

• It is relatively short, which adds to its potency: it is not a long academic tafsir or treatise, but a focused personal testament.

Significance

• Khurram Murad was a prominent Muslim scholar and activist, involved in Islamic movements, education and thought. His legacy includes both scholarship and practical daʿwah work.

• This work stands out as his final message: combining the urgency of death (what is inevitable) with the importance of living rightly (what is possible).

• It is often recommended for those seeking spiritual inspiration, for students of Islam, for people reflecting on life’s priorities, or for Muslims active in social or religious work.

• Because it addresses universal themes (mortality, purpose, service, sincerity), it has appeal beyond a narrow audience — though its roots are in the ethos of Islamic revivalist movements.

Strengths and Considerations

Strengths:

• Succinct yet powerful: Because it's relatively short, each section can be read in one sitting and then reflected upon.

• Personal authenticity: It is not only teaching but self-examination; the author writes from his own experience of illness, service and impending death.

• Practical orientation: It gives guidance not only theoretical but actionable: how to handle grief, how to live with purpose, how to keep focus on the Hereafter.

Considerations:

• Because of its brevity, it does not delve into deep theological nuance or advanced spiritual psychology — readers wanting detailed scholarly discussion might need supplementary works.

• The context of the author (movement-based activism, subcontinental Muslim milieu) may mean certain references or style elements fit that context particularly well; readers from other contexts might adapt the guidance accordingly.

• As with all spiritual/self-help works, the value depends a lot on personal reflection and willingness to act, not just reading.

Who Should Read It

• Muslims seeking a meaningful reminder about life’s purpose and mortality.

• Those involved in service or Islamic activism who wish to renew their motivation and align their work with deeper spiritual goals.

• Individuals undergoing loss, grief or reflection, looking for an Islamic perspective on patience and hope.

• Anyone interested in Muslim spirituality and ethical guidance in a concise, accessible format.

Summary

In sum, Dying and Living for Allah: The Last Will of Khurram Murad is a spiritually rich, reader-friendly testament that addresses two central realities: that death is inevitable, and that life before it should be lived with conscious devotion to Allah. It invites the reader to transform fear of the end into a catalyst for purposeful living, service to others, and preparation for the Hereafter.

If you like, I can pull together some of the most memorable quotes from the book, or provide a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the key points in each part.