Said by: Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (as)
Status: ✅ Verified reference
Reference: Al-Kafi (Shaykh al-Kulayni), Volume 3, Kitab al-Jana'iz (Book of Funerals), Chapter 9 (Dictations to a Dying Person), Hadith 1.
Arabic:
إِذَا حَضَرْتَ الْمَيِّتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمُوتَ فَلَقِّنْهُ شَهَادَةَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
English translation:
"When you are present with a dying person, before he dies, dictate to him the testimony: 'There is no god but Allah alone, without any partner, and Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.'"
Explanation: The last words of a believer matter. We do not argue or frighten a dying person — we gently help him remember the two testimonies of faith. It is one of the kindest things we can do for someone at the hardest moment of their life, and a reminder to us to keep these words on our own tongues too.
The last words of a believer matter.