Ruling 521. Based on obligatory precaution, a believer who is dying – i.e. breathing his last breaths – must be laid on his back if possible, in a way that the soles of his feet face qibla, whether the believer is male or female, an adult or a child.

Ruling 522. It is better that until the ghusl given to a corpse has not been completely performed, a dying person should be laid in the manner mentioned in the previous ruling [with the soles of his feet] facing qibla. After a corpse has been given ghusl, it is better to lay it in the same position as it will be when people perform ṣalāt al‑mayyit for it.

Ruling 523. Based on obligatory precaution, laying a dying person in a way that the soles of his feet face qibla is obligatory for every Muslim. In the event that Muslims know that the dying person consents [to being laid like this] and he is not incapacitated, it is not necessary to get the consent of his guardian (walī) [to lay him like this]; otherwise [i.e. if he is incapacitated], it is necessary to get the consent of his guardian based on obligatory precaution.

Ruling 524. It is recommended to perform talqīn[1] on a dying person with the shahādatayn (two testimonies),[2] the avowal (iqrār) of the Most Noble Prophet (Ṣ) and the Infallible Imams (ʿA), and other rightful beliefs of the faith in a manner that he understands. It is also recommended that the things mentioned above be repeated until the time of death.

Ruling 525. It is recommended that this duʿāʾ be impressed upon the dying person in a manner that he understands:

اَللّٰهُمَّ ٱغْفِرْ لِيَ الْكَثِيْرَ مِنْ مَعَاصِيْكَ، وَٱقْبَلْ مِنِّيَ الْيَسِيْرَ مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ، يَا مَنْ يَقْبَلُ الْيَسِيْرَ وَيَعْفُوْ عَنِ الْكَثِيْرِ، اِقْبَلْ مِنِّيَ الْيَسِيْرَ وَٱعْفُ عَنِّيَ الْكَثِيْرَ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَفُوُّ الْغَفُوْرُ، اَللّٰهُمَّ ٱرْحَمْنِيْ فَإِنَّكَ رَحِيْمٌ

allāhummagh fir liyal kathīra min maʿāṣīk, waqbal minniyal yasīra min ṭāʿatik, yā man yaqbalul yasīra wa yaʿfū ʿanil kathīr, iqbal minniyal yasīra waʿfu ʿanniyal kathīr, innaka antal ʿafuwwul ghafūr, allāhummar ḥamnī faʾinnaka raḥīm

O Allah! Pardon the many times I have disobeyed You, and accept the few instances when I have obeyed You. O You Who accepts the few and pardons the many! Accept from me what are few and pardon me for the many. Indeed, You are the All-Pardoning, the All-Forgiving. O Allah! Have mercy on me, for You are the Ever-Merciful.

Ruling 526. If someone is experiencing a painful death, it is recommended that he be taken to the place where he used to perform prayers, as long as this does not upset him.

Ruling 527. In order to comfort a dying person, it is recommended to recite at his side the blessed surahs of Yāsīn,[3] al-Ṣāffāt,[4] and al-Aḥzāb;[5] and to recite Āyat al-Kursī,[6] verse fifty-four of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf,[7] and the last three verses of Sūrat al-Baqarah.[8] In fact, [it is recommended] to recite as much of the Qur’an as possible.

Ruling 528. It is disapproved to leave a dying person alone, place a weighty object on his stomach, be junub or ḥāʾiḍ near him, talk excessively near him, cry near him, or leave women alone next to him.