Compiled by Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi
وعن ابن شماسة قال: حضرنا عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنه ، وهو في سياقة الموت فبكى طويلاً، وحول وجهه إلى الجدار، فجعل ابنه يقول: يا أبتاه، أما بشرك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بكذا؟ أما بشرك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بكذا؟ فأقبل بوجهه فقال: إن أفضل ما نعد شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله، وأن محمداً رسول الله ، إني قد كنت على أطباق ثلاث: لقد رأيتني وما أحد أشداً بغضاً لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مني ، ولا أحب إلي من أن أكون قد استمكنت منه فقتلته، فلو مت على تلك الحال لكنت من أهل النار، فلما جعل الله الإسلام في قلبي أتيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلمى الله عليه وسلم فقلت: أبسط يمينك فلأبايعك، فبسط يمينه فقبضت يدي، فقال:”مالك يا عمرو؟" قلت: أردت أن أشترط قال: "تشترط ماذا؟" قلت : أن يغفر لي، قال: "أماعلمت أن الإسلام يهدم ما كان قبله، وأن الهجرة تهدم ما كان قبلها، وأن الحج يهدم ما كان قبله” وما كان أحد أحب إلي من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ولا أجل في عيني منه، وما كنت أطيق أن املأ عيني منه إجلالاً له؛ ولو سئلت أن أصفه ما أطقت؛ لأني لم أكن أملاً عيني منه، ولو مت على تلك الحال لرجوت أن أكون من أهل الجنة، ثم ولينا أشياء ما أدري مال حالي فيها؟ فإذا أنا مت فلا تصحبني نائحة ولا نار، فإذا دفنتموني، فشنوا على التراب شناً، ثم أقيموا حول قبري قدر ما تنحر جزور، ويقسم لحمها، حتى أستأنس بكم، وأنظر ما أراجع به رسل ربي ((رواه مسلم)).
We visited 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with him) when he was in his deathbed. He wept for a long time and turned his face towards the wall. His son said: "O father, did not the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) give you the good news of such and such? Did he not give you glad tidings of such and such?" Then he ('Amr) turned his face towards us and said: "The best thing which you can count upon is the affirmation that: La ilaha illallah (there is no true god except Allah), and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I have passed through three phases. I remember when I hated none more than I hated the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and there was no other desire stronger in me than that of killing him. Had I died in that state, I would have definitely been one of the dwellers of Fire (Hell). When Allah instilled the love for Islam in my heart, I went to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said, 'Extend your right hand, so that I pledge allegiance to you.' He (ﷺ) stretched out his right hand, but I withdrew my hand. He said, 'What is the matter, 'Amr?' I said, 'I wish to lay down same conditions.' He asked, 'What conditions do you wish to put forward?' I replied, 'To be granted forgiveness.' He said, 'Do you not know that (embracing) Islam wipes out all that has gone before it (previous misdeeds). Verily, emigration wipes out all the previous sins, and the Hajj (pilgrimage) wipes out all the previous sins.' Thereafter, no one was dearer to me than Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and none was more respectable than him in my eyes. So bright was his splendour that I could not gather enough courage to look at his face for any length of time. If I were asked to describe his feature, I would not be able to do so because I have never caught a full glimpse of his face. Had I died in that state I could have hoped to be one of the dwellers of Jannah. Thereafter, we were made responsible for many things and in the light of which I am unable to know what is in store for me. When I die, no mourner, nor fire should accompany my bier. When you bury me, throw the earth gently over me and stand over my grave for the space of time within which a camel is slaughtered and its meat is distributed so that I may enjoy your intimacy, and in your presence ascertain what answer can I give to the Messengers of my Rubb (the angels in grave)."[Muslim].