Is inviting a non-Muslim to Islam and teaching him the Shahada (declaration of faith) at his deathbed specific to the Prophet (peace be upon him), or is it for Muslims in general? And how can this be reconciled with texts that speak of the non-acceptance of repentance at the moment of gargling (the death rattle)? And will the Shahada benefit a non-Muslim if he utters it in his final moments?

Inviting people to Islam is legitimate for all followers of the Prophet, peace be upon him, according to their ability, in accordance with the Almighty's saying: "Say, 'This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me,'" and His saying: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction." It is permissible to invite a disbeliever to Islam at the time of his death throes. This is not exclusive to the Messenger, peace be upon him, as evidenced by his saying: "Instruct your dying ones to say 'La ilaha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah),'" and his invitation to Abu Talib and a Jewish boy to Islam at their deaths. The reconciliation between the verses and the hadith is that Allah accepts the repentance of a Muslim and a disbeliever if they repent with sincere repentance before the death rattle, based on His saying: "The acceptance of repentance by Allah is only for those who do evil out of ignorance and then repent soon after," and "Indeed, Allah accepts the repentance of a servant as long as the soul has not reached the throat [death rattle]." Pharaoh's belief did not benefit him because it occurred upon seeing the punishment and the presence of death and the death rattle, which is a time when repentance is not accepted.