There is a saying; the manner in which we lived our lives will be similar to the manner in which will die. Not certain about the source or wording but it makes sense.
Here are some important advises:
How to prepare for judgement day
You may have probably been doing these and more, but Alhamdulilah, it never hurts to be over prepared.
Imam Sufyan ibn Sa’id Al Thawri (rahimahullah) would recite the following du’a: “Ya Rabbi, Sallim sallim, Rabbi barik li fil mawti wa fima ba’dal mawt” [O My Rabb! Protect me, O My Rabb! Bless me in death and in the stages after death]
(Musnad Ibnul Ja’d, Hadith: 1796)
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Actions that Avert Punishment in the Grave
Imaam ibn Al-Qayyim,
said:
"In general, refraining from what causes punishment in the grave is the best way to avoid being punished. A person must sit for a while before he goes to bed and hold himself accountable for what he gained during that day and what he lost, then renew his sincere repentance to Allah and sleep after having repented, and when he wakes up, be determined not to commit the same sins again. He should do this every night; if he dies that night he would die after having repented, and if he wakes up, he would wake up happy because he was given a respite and given a chance to strive hard in good deeds to make up for what he missed out on. There is nothing better or more beneficial than such a way of going to sleep, especially if he follows this accountability with mentioning Allah and follows the recommendations of Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) on how to go to sleep and supplicate until he falls asleep. The one whom Allah wills good for, He will guide him to doing so."
The Prophet,
informed us about some means which will rescue us from punishment in the grave:
· Salmaan Al-Faarisi
, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet,
, said:
“Ribaat (guarding the front lines of the Muslim army) for one day is better (in reward) than fasting for a full month and praying during its nights; and the one who dies while in that position will have the reward of the deeds he was doing to continue (until The Day of Resurrection) and he will be saved from the punishment of the grave." [Muslim].
· One of the Companions of the Prophet,
, may Allah be pleased with him, asked the Prophet,
"How come all the people are tried in their graves except for the martyrs?" He,
replied:
“The flashing of the swords over their heads is enough of a trial.”[An-Nasaa’i].
· Al-Miqdaad ibn Ma'd Yakrib
, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet,
said:
“The martyr has seven qualities which Allah grants him: he will be forgiven with the first drop of his blood, he will see his seat in Paradise, he will be rescued from the punishment of the grave, he will be rescued from the Great Horror (on the Day of Resurrection), he will wear a (special) garment of faith, he will marry seventy two women of Paradise, and he will be allowed to intercede for seventy of his family.”[Ibn Maajah].In another narration he,
said:
“The crown of dignity will be placed on his (i.e., the martyr's) head, each corundum (of which) is better than this world and all what it contains; he will have seventy two wives from the ladies of Paradise, and he will be allowed to intercede for seventy of his family.”[At-Tirmithi].
· Abu Hurayrah
, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet,
, said:
“There is a chapter in the Quran (Al-Mulk) that has thirty verses; it will intercede for the one who continuously recites it, until he is forgiven.” [An-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah]. This
Hadeeth (narration), and others which carry the same meaning, prove that those who regularly recite chapter
Al-Mulk and apply what is in it, will be rescued from the punishment in the grave.
· The Prophet,
said:
“The one who dies as a result of a stomach ailment will not be punished in his grave.” [At-Tirmithi]. This reward will be for those who do not despair upon their sickness, but rather persevere through it and hope for the reward from Allah The Almighty.
· The Prophet,
said:
“Allah will protect from the trials of the grave, any Muslim who dies on a Friday -- day or night.” [Ahmad]
.
· Fulfilling piety, Allah The Almighty Says what means:
{“Verily, those who say: Our Lord is (only) Allah, and thereafter stand firm (on the Islamic Monotheism), on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”}[Quran, 46: 13].
http://www.islamweb.net/eramadan/articles/168621/actions-that-avert-punishment-in-the-grave