Imam Ali (peace be upon him): At the time of death, a person is suddenly struck down from health and well-being into sickness, and passes from soundness and completeness into deficiency and weakness. He turns his thoughts to treating his pain and reckoning his suffering and affliction, his breath begins to count itself out [and he enters the throes of death] and his moaning rises; he stares at his daughters and sons and is left bewildered. He is seized by an event that has engaged him with great fear and dread, his tongue turns about and his fist clenches, and suddenly the calamity envelops him; he leaves everything behind in the world and departs from it, and no one [of his relatives] is able either to help him or to hold back what is coming upon him. Allah the Mighty and Majestic says in His Book: "فَلَوْ لا إِنْ کُنْتُمْ غَیْرَ مَدِینِینَ * تَرْجِعُونَها إِنْ کُنْتُمْ صادِقِینَ [If you are never to be recompensed for your deeds, then send back that (soul) if you are truthful!]" (Waqi'ah/86–87). After these afflictions the terrors of the Day of Resurrection begin — the day of regret and remorse, the day when the balance for the reckoning of deeds is brought forth and the records of deeds are unrolled to count every small sin and expose every great sin. Allah the Exalted says in His Book: "وَ وَجَدُوا ما عَمِلُوا حاضِراً وَ لا یَظْلِمُ رَبُّکَ أَحَداً [And they will find all that they did present before them, and your Lord wrongs no one]" (Kahf/49). O people! Now [take thought], before regret, before a soul says: "یا حَسْرَتی عَلی ما فَرَّطْتُ فِی جَنْبِ اللهِ وَ إِنْ کُنْتُ لَمِنَ السَّاخِرِینَ [O woe to me! for what I fell short of my duty to Allah, and indeed I was of those who mocked]," and says: "لَوْ أَنَّ اللهَ هَدانِی لَکُنْتُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِینَ [If only Allah had guided me, I would have been among the Allah-fearing]," or, when it sees the punishment, says: "لَوْ أَنَّ لِی کَرَّةً فَأَکُونَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِینَ [If only I had another chance, that I might be among the doers of good]." And Allah the Majestic answers: "بَلی قَدْ جاءَتْکَ آیاتِی فَکَذَّبْتَ بِها وَ اسْتَکْبَرْتَ وَ کُنْتَ مِنَ الْکافِرِینَ [Yes, indeed My signs came to you, but you denied them and were arrogant and were of the disbelievers]." By Allah, they do not ask to return except to do good deeds, "وَ لا یُشْرِکْ بِعِبادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَداً [and to associate no one in the worship of his Lord]" (Kahf/110). O people! Now, now, while the bond is loosed, the lamp is lit, and the door of repentance is open [take thought of your Resurrection], before the pen dries and the record [of your deeds] is folded up, and before your sustenance is cut off and your deeds no longer ascend [and are no longer recorded]. Today is the time of lifespan and tomorrow is the day of the race, and you do not know whether you are of Paradise or of the Fire — and I ask Allah's forgiveness for myself and for you.