Question Summary:
Please provide the original Arabic of these duās and how can I lighten the agonies of death?

Question Detail:

1. Could you please let me know these two duās in Arabic:
(i) O Allah! I seek thy refuge from that knowledge which is not beneficial; and from such a heart that does not fear [ye] and from such an avaricious self that is never satisfied and from such prayers which are not heard.
(ii) O Allah I ask thee of knowledge that is beneficial; and seek thy refuge from knowledge that has no benefit.
2. My second question is about death and its agony. I heard from a few scholars that the mumin's soul comes out from the body as a drop of water from its container (so easily).
Whereas I also heard from a few other scholars that even Prophet of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) was in pain in his' (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) last moments (May Allah forgive me if I said something incorrect). And so, every one of us has to go through severe pain while dying. Which one of these two conditions is true? Is there any duā or deed we can do to minimize the agony and pain of death?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
 
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
1.) The duās you requested in Arabic are as follows [i][ii]:
 
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِك مِنْ عِلْمٍ لا يَنْفَعُ، وَقَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ، وَدُعَاءٍ لَا يُسْمَعُ، وَنفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ
Oh Allah I seek refuge in you from knowledge that does not benefit and from a heart that does not fear and from a supplication that is not heard and from a self that is not satisfied.
 
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ
Oh Allah I ask of You beneficial knowledge and I seek refuge in you from knowledge that does not benefit.
 
2.) The agony of death is known in Arabic as Sakarāt. The agony of death is a reality that every person must face at the end of his life. In general, the agony of death does cause some level of pain, which might or might not be apparent and cannot always be determined by looking at the dying person. However, Allah in His Infinite Wisdom raises or lowers the severity of the Sakarāt for whomever He wills. Allah mentions in the Quran:
 
وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكَ مَا كُنْتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ
“And the agony of death has come with truth. That is what you tried to escape.”
(Quran, 50:19)
 
The actual process of the rūh coming out is easy for the believers. According to a hadīth, once the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) saw the angel of death standing behind the head of a companion on his death bed. He (salallahu alahyi wa sallam) said, 'Make it easy on my companion'. The angel of death said 'Rest assured, I make it easy on every believer.' [iii]
 
The incident about the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) facing the pangs of death is indicative of his high rank as the Prophets (alayhimus salaam) are the most tested of all human beings throughout their lives.
 
To lighten the agony of death, first and foremost, a Muslim should live his life like a true slave of Allah and adhere closely to the Sunnah of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam). In addition, he should also do the following:
 
1.) Make the following supplication regularly[iv] [v]:
اللَّهُمَّ أعِنِّي على غَمَراتِ المَوْتِ وَسَكراتِ المَوْتِ
0 Allah! Help me bear the pangs of death and the agonies of death.
 
2.) At the time of death, the recitation of Sūrah Yasīn is effective in easing the agony of death. It can be recited by the relatives or anyone else who happens to be near the dying person.[vi]
 
3.) When death approaches a person should say " لا إله إلا الله " the benefit of which is that the rūh feels comfort as it comes out from the body. [vii]
 
May Allah lighten the agonies of death for all believers. Amīn.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Sohail ibn Arif
Student, Darul Iftaa
U.S.A
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
 
 أخبرنا قتيبة، قال: حدثنا خلف، عن حفص، عن أنس، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يدعو بهذه [i]
 الدعوات:  اللهم إني أعوذ بك من علم لا ينفع، وقلب لا يخشع، ودعاء لا يسمع، ونفس لا تشبع» ، ثم يقول: اللهم إني أعوذ بك من هؤلاء الأربع - سنن النسائي كتاب الاستعاذة الرقم: ٥٤٤٢
 
وعن عائشة: أن النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - كان يقول: اللهم إني أسألك علما نافعا، وأعوذ بك من علم [ii]
 لا ينفع - مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد كتاب الأدعية الرقم: ١٧٤١٦
 
معارف القران، ٧ / ٧٢ مكتبة دار العلوم كراتشي [iii]
رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو بالموت وعنده قدح فيه ماء وهو يدخل يده في القدح ثم يمسح وجهه [iv]
 بالماء ثم يقول : اللهم ! أعني على غمرات الموت أو سكرات الموت
سنن الترمذي الرقم: ٩٧٨
اللهم أعني على غمرات الموت، وسكرات الموت [v]
الجامع الصغير الرقم: ١٤٦٦
أحكام ميت داكتر عبد الحي ص. ٢٧ إدارة القران [vi]
إني لأعلم كلمة ، لا يقولها رجل يحضره الموت إلا وجد روحه لها راحة حين تخرج من جسده وكانت له نورا [vii]
يوم القيامة ، وفي لفظ : إلا نفس الله عنه ، وأشرق لها لونه ، ورأى ما يسره : لا إله إلا الله
 شرح الصدور بشرح حال الموتى والقبور الرقم: ١٢