Do the agonies of death reduce a person’s sins?

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Do the agonies of death reduce a person’s sins? Does sickness reduce a person’s sins? Please advise us.
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Check below answers in case you are looking for other related questions:
How come the righteous are tested in this world, when Allah says in the Qur’an “We will surely cause him to live a good life” [an-Nahl 16:97]?
Is it permissible to ask Allah to grant me all degrees of Paradise from the lowest to the highest degree?

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

Yes, everything of sickness, difficulty, worry or distress that befalls a person, even the prick of a thorn, is an expiation for his sins. Then if he bears it patiently and seeks reward for that with Allaah, as well as the expiation of his sins he will be rewarded for the patience with which he bears the calamity that has befallen him. It makes no difference whether that is at the time of death or before. Calamities are expiation of sin for the believer. The proof of that is the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much”

[al-Shoora 42:30]

 Since that is because of what our hands have earned, this indicates that it is an expiation for the things we have done. The Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that no worry, distress or hurt befalls the Muslim, not even a thorn that pricks him, but Allaah will expiate his sins thereby.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam

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