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Fatwa CenterDeath being delayed
Question
I have some questions regarding to death. Does Allah ever change the time of a person's death? Does it mention anywhere in the Qur'aan or Hadeeth of this ever happening? Also, the night of Al- Qadar, a night better than a thousand months, Allah writes the destiny of mankind for the upcoming year, right? I am asking these because I have read somewhere where a Muslim was so kind to his/her parents that when the angel off death came to that person, he/she was excused from dying at that time. However, the Qur'aan states, when death comes, it does not delay an hour. I am so confused. I hope you can help me by answering my questions.
Thank you for your time and service. May Allah bless you and your family. Take care.
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. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
Every person has an appointed time and fixed days in this life as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): {And for every nation is a [specified] term. So when their time has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].}[7:34].
This appointed time is written in the preserved record, and it does not change. However, some people of knowledge are of the view that what changes is the knowledge of the angel of death. They say that the saying of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): {Allaah eliminates or confirms what He wills, and with Him is the Mother of the Book,}[13:39] has this meaning.
It is reported that Ibn 'Abbaas 
said regarding the verse of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): {The angels and the Spirit [i.e. Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.}[97:4]. The angels descend with all decrees that Allaah decreed on that year until the coming year.
However, we do not know of any evidence proving that being kind to parents is a reason of warding off the angel of death when he comes to a person.
But it is confirmed that the Prophet 
said: "Whoever wants his age and provision to be extended, has to be dutiful to his parents and keep relations with his kinship." [Ahmad]
The meaning here is based on what is previously mentioned regarding the knowledge of the angel, however, some other people of knowledge are of the view that this means blessings in one's life, and not really having the age extended, and this meaning seems to be more appropriate.
Allaah knows best.
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