It is narrated from Awanah bin al-Hakam that Sayyiduna Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: "I am amazed at the person upon whom death has come while his mind is still sound: why does he not describe (the state of) death?" Then, when his own time of death drew near, his son Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "O father! You used to say that you were amazed at the person upon whom death comes and who, though in possession of his mind, does not describe its state. So now, while your mind is sound, describe death to us." He said: "O my dear son! Death is far too great a thing to be described, but I will tell you something of how it feels: I feel as though the mountains of Radwa have been placed upon my neck, I feel as though my belly has been filled with thorns, and I feel as though my soul is being drawn out through the eye of a needle."