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Fatwa CenterThe way one dies does not necessarily indicate an evil end
Question
Is the death of the Egyptians returning from America who died in an airplane explosion considered a bad end?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Death is one of the wonders of Allaah The Almighty that all people are destined to face. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.} [Quran 21:35]
Allaah The Almighty did not tell His slaves about the time, place or the way they will die. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And no soul perceives in what land it will die.} [Quran 31:34]
Death is a mercy for the believers and a torture for the disbelievers because it is a barrier which when removed will allow the believers will go to Paradise and attain the satisfaction of Allaah The Almighty. Ibn Mas‘ood 
said that death is a gift and a mercy for every Muslim. The way a person dies, whatever it is, does not indicate an evil end of life, except if a person dies while committing a sin.
However, there are certain signs that indicate a good end. For example, if a person’s last words were testifying that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, "laa illaaha illa Allaah", as was narrated in an authentic Hadeeth. This is also the case if a person dies on a Friday or with perspiration on his forehead. Nevertheless, the absence of such signs does not necessarily mean that the person has an evil end. We hope that the Muslims among those dead people whom you mentioned would be martyrs.
The Prophet, sallaallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , told us that the people who die as a result of plague, drowning, ulcer, fire, under wreckage, or the woman who dies during childbirth or with her baby inside her womb would be given the same reward as martyrs in the Hereafter.
It is known that some of these people died as a result of fire and some of them drowned. Scholars unanimously agree that those who die as a result of fire or drowning, as the people in this disaster would have done, should be washed before being buried despite being martyrs. It was narrated on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah 
that the Prophet, sallaallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told us that sudden death is considered a rest for the believer and revenge and anger from Allaah The Almighty against the disbelievers. [Ahmad]
We ask Allaah The Almighty to accept the Muslims among them as martyrs.
Allaah Knows best.
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