'The time of judgement has arrived' Â

According to a translation of highlights of the document obtained by The Washington Post, Atta writes:

"Everybody hates death, fears death. But only those, the believers who know the life after death and the reward after death, would be the ones who will be seeking death."

This appears in a section of the document beneath the words: "The last night".

That section begins: "Remind yourself that in this night you will face many challenges. But you have to face them and understand it 100 percent ... Obey God, his messenger, and don't fight among yourself where you become weak, and stand fast, God will stand with those who stood fast.

"You should pray, you should fast. You should ask God for guidance, you should ask God for help. ... Continue to pray throughout this night. Continue to recite the Koran."

It continues: "Purify your heart and clean it from all earthly matters. The time of fun and waste has gone. The time of judgment has arrived. Hence we need to utilise those few hours to ask God for forgiveness. You have to be convinced that those few hours that are left you in your life are very few. From there you will begin to live the happy life, the infinite paradise. Be optimistic. The prophet was always optimistic."

The document offers practical advice for the hijackers: "Check all of your items – your bag, your clothes, knives, your will, your IDs, your passport, all your papers ... Make sure that nobody is following you."

Interwoven throughout is spiritual guidance on purifying one's mental and physical state. The document says: "Make sure that you are clean, your clothes are clean, including your shoes."

A recurring theme is the promise of eternal life. "Keep a very open mind, keep a very open heart of what you are to face," the document says. "You will be entering paradise. You will be entering the happiest life, everlasting life."

The fifth and last page is on standard stenographer paper that apparently had been ripped from a pad and is headed: "When you enter the plane". It includes a series of prayers or exhortations. "Oh, God, open all doors for me. Oh God who answers prayers and answers those who ask you, I am asking you for your help. I am asking you for forgiveness. I am asking you to lighten my way. I am asking you to lift the burden I feel. Oh God, you who open all doors, please open all doors for me, open all venues for me, open all avenues for me."

The author doodled on the paper, drawing a small, arrowhead-like sword. Two circles entwine the shaft, which also has serpentine swirls drawn on to it. The doodle also resembles a key. The word "ROOM" is written vertically in large letters at the end.

The document continues: "God, I trust in you. God, I lay myself in your hands."

It closes: "There is no God but God, I being a sinner. We are of God, and to God we return."