Death an Indispensable Reality

Death, an indispensable reality 
 

HOW often do we remember death? Yes death, a harsh and fearful reality that escapes no living person. None can avoid it. The people around a dying person don’t have the ability to prevent it. Death happens every moment and it does not discriminate between the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak. Everyone is equal in front of death, because no one has any means to escape it or use intercession to avoid it or even delay it.

Allah (The One & Only God) says in the Holy Qur’an:
“Say: Indeed, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you will be sent back to Allah, the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. And He will then tell you what you used to do.” (Qur’an, 62:8)



“Every one is going to taste death. And We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good, and to Us will you be returned.” (Qur’an, 21:35)



Our hearts tremble with fear on the thought of this indispensable reality. A person’s actions are sealed with death and what comes after that is more fearful, because will there be a place where one can flee to in order to escape the afflictions suffered in the grave? What will our reply be when we are questioned in the grave? None of us know where we will end up. Will it be Paradise whose width is like the heavens and the earth or will it be the Fire whose fuel is of men and stones?
Ibrahim Bin Adham (d. 160H) was asked about the verse: “Call upon Me and I will respond to you.” (Qur’an, 40:60) that: “We call upon Allah (The One God), but He does not respond to us.” So Ibrahim replied:
“You know Allah; yet you do not obey Him. You recite the Holy Qur’an; yet you do not act according to it. You know Shaytan (Devil); yet you continue agreeing with him. You claim to love Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him); yet you abandon his Sunnah (Prophet’s methodology). You claim to love Paradise, yet you do not work for it. You claim to fear the Fire; yet you do not stop sinning. 

You say ‘indeed death is true’; yet you have not prepared for it. You busy yourselves with the faults of others; yet you do not look at your own faults. You eat the sustenance that Allah (The One God) provides for you; yet you are not grateful to Him. And you bury your dead; yet you have not heeded its lesson.” (Ibn Rajab’s Al-Khushu’-fis-Salah, pg. 62)

This reality must be firmly established in our heart –the reality that life in this world is limited and has an appointed end, and that this end will surely come. Sheikh Ali Hasan Al-Halabi mentions some good reflections in his book Al-Mawt:
“The righteous will die; and the wicked will die. The warriors who fight jihad will die; and those who sit at home will die. Those who busy themselves with correct beliefs will die; and those who treat people as their slaves will die. The brave who reject injustice will die; and the cowards who seek to cling to this vile life will die. The people of lofty goals and ambitions will die; and the wretched who live for cheap enjoyment will die.

“...So keep death in mind, and the passing on to the next life, and the number of sins that one has committed and the small amount of good that one has done. Think of the good that you would earnestly like to do at that time – then bring that forward and do it today. And think of all those things which you would desire to clear yourself of – then clear yourself from them now.” – Al-Istiqamah 

Heart trembling story of the grave

Sayyiduna Umar bin Abdul Aziz once went to the graveyard with the funeral where he sat pondering. Someone asked him, `Why are you sitting in astonishment next to this grave?` He replied, `This grave called out to me and said, `Why don`t you ask me what I do to the people who come into me.` I said to the grave, `Do tell me.` The grave said, `When a person comes inside me, I rip off his shroud and then rip the person’s body to pieces and eat his meat. Are you not going to ask me what I do with the joints?` I said, `Do tell me.` The grave said, `I separate the hands from the wrists, the knees from the calves and the calves from the feet`.` After saying this, Sayyiduna Umar began to cry.

When he stopped crying, he said, `My dear brothers! We are to live in this world for a short period. Those who are sinners in this world and still hold high status will be disgraced in the Hereafter. Those who are envied in this world because of their wealth will be hated in the Hereafter due to their actions. The one who is young will grow old and the one who is alive will die. This world will deceive you because you are aware that it will soon depart. Where are those individuals who recited the Qur`an? Where are those who went to the house of Allah )The One & Only God) to perform Hajj? Where are those who fasted in Ramadan? What did the earth do with their bodies? What did the insects of the grave do to their flesh? What happened to their bones and joints? I swear in the name of Allah (The One God) ! In the world, they slept on soft beds but now they have left behind their families, their wives have remarried, their children are suffering in the streets and their families have shared the inheritance amongst themselves. Amongst these are those fortunate ones who are successful in their graves and some are being punished.

How sad! Oh foolish! Today at the time of your fathers, your sons or brother’s death, you close their eyes, you bathe them, you wrap them in a shroud, you carry their body on your shoulder, you go along with the funeral procession and you bury them in the grave. (Remember! This will soon be happening to you.) How I wish I knew which cheek would rot first (in the grave).` After saying this, Sayyiduna Umar started crying until he fell unconscious. He departed from this world a week later. (Raud-ul-Faaiq, P138, Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilmiyyah Beirut)

Hujja-tul-Islam Imaam Muhammad Ghazali writes in Ihya-ul-Uloom, `At the time of his death, Sayyiduna Umar was reciting,


Translation Kanzul-Imaan: This abode of the Hereafter - We make it for those who do not wish greatness in the land nor turmoil; and the Hereafter is only for the pious. (Sura Qasas: 83) (Ihya-ul-Uloom, V4, P510, Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilmiyyah Beirut)

May Allah (The One & Only God) bless you and your family with his grace(Ameen) Insha Allah (God Willing)..! 

Death

 

 

 

 

 

Death

 

 

All praise is due to Allah (The One & Only God). I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
I enjoin you and myself to fear Allaah, for it is the provision and safety in this world and the Last Day, “the day when neither wealth nor sons will avail, except him who brings to Allah (The One God) a clean heart.”

 

Allah (The One God) says,

“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the fire and admitted to Paradise he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).” (Holy Quran Aal-‘Imraan 3: 175)

 

 

Such is the reality of death and what comes after it. Every one of us shall taste it whether poor or rich; healthy or sick, old or young; leader or led and none of us can escape it.
Allah (The One & Only God) says,

“Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in a fortress built up strong and high.”(Holy Quran An-Nisaa 4: 78).

 

 

Death, as manifested in its character and effects is one of the mysteries that dazzles human intelligence because it has to do with the soul.
Allah (The One God) says,

“And they ask you (O Muhammad) concerning the spirit. Say: ‘The spirit is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little.” (Holy Quran Al-Israa’ 17: 85)

 

 

One of its mysteries is that you see a youth who was full of health and energy suddenly falls dead without warning; thereby making that youthfulness and energy fade away, bringing all his senses to a complete standstill. That youth might even be an erudite scholar, an eloquent author, a skilled physician or brilliant inventor but it is absolutely out of the question that this quality should prevent death from overtaking him when his time is due.
Allah (The One God) says,

“When their term is reached, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment).” (Holy Quran Yoonus 10: 49).

 

 

Amr bin Abdullah used to mount the pulpit and say,

“Many a person who has seen the beginning of a day but would not see it’s end. And many a person who has expected morning but would not live to see it. If only you had known your appointed time and how it comes to pass, you would have detested nursing hope for worldly materials and its deception.”

While man enjoys his good health, playing and merrymaking, moving about in haughtiness, commanding and forbidding, death and illness suddenly attacks him, weakens his body, makes his limbs lifeless and then closes his record.

 

 

How near is death! Every day it becomes closer to us and no sooner has the book reached its appointed time that we belong among the dead. Then it becomes clear that life is really like flowers that bloom then afterwards wither or like a lamp that illuminates then afterwards dies down.
Let those who crave for this world and its pleasures ponder over these scattered graves all over the place and realize that the way to pleasures and lustful things, though decorated with beautiful roses inevitably leads to the present condition of those buried in these graves. Happiness is for him whom a messenger of death has opened his eyes to reality before he died, and whoever does not heed to the warning of the Holy Qur’an and death, even if mountains were to thrust one another in front of him, he would not heed.

What we witness in the cemeteries is a great lesson for us. The carrier of the bier to the cemetery today is taken back there tomorrow (as a dead person) and is left there only with his deeds either good or evil.
It is also very unfortunate that in these days we see some among those who escort the deceased laughing and playing or attending the funeral for showing off. This phenomenon is due to the heedlessness that has hardened people’s hearts and made them forget the Last Day and the frightening conditions of the grave. May Allah (The One God) awaken us from this heedlessness!

It is expected of him who knows that he will die, be buried, raised up on the Day of Resurrection and enter Paradise or Hell to always remember death, prepare for it and reflect on it. He is in fact expected to regard himself among the dead. This is because all that is coming is near and when the angel of death comes neither your wealth nor your people can prevent him from taking your soul.
Where are those who achieved their aims and none were comparable to them in that? They collected but could not eat what they collected; they built mansions but could not live there! We on our part are still swimming in the pool of life as if we are meant to live here forever. Uways Al-Qarnee said,

“Remember death when you sleep and always think of it when you are awake.”

 

 

It is a fact that this world and its tribulations appear insignificant in the eyes of him who always remembers death, for, he has lofty aims and strong resolutions; he is far from hypocrisy and always yearns for the everlasting bliss in the eternal Paradise.
Remembering death does not in any way make one’s life loathsome to him; forcing him to sit in his home and leave all means of sustenance. It is rather meant to deter him from committing sins and soften his hard heart. We remember death in order to have good preparation for it and for all that follows it by doing righteous deeds, obeying Allah (The One God) and increasing one’s efforts in all acts of worship.
Abdur-Rahman ibn Mahdee said,

"If Hammaad bin Salamah is told, ‘You will die tomorrow.’ He will not be able to increase anything in his deed, because his time is full of worship and remembrance of Allaah."

 

 

How do we prepare for death? We prepare for death by shunning all abominable things and returning trusts to their rightful owners. We prepare for death by eliminating hatred and enmity from our hearts. We prepare for death by being good to the kith and kin.

Ibn al-Mubaarak said that Saalih Al-Mariy used to say,

“If the remembrance of death leaves me for an hour my heart becomes spoilt.”

It is also said that,

“Whoever frequently remembers death is honoured with three things: quick repentance, self-contentedness and energy in doing acts of worship; and whoever forgets death is punished with three things: delaying repentance, lack of contentedness and laziness in acts of worship.”

 

 

When will one who always follows his lustful desires and moves wantonly in his heedlessness remember death? When will one who has no regard for Allah’s (The One God's) injunctions in Halaal (Permissible) or Haraam (Forbidden) remember death? When will one who deserts the Holy Qur’an, prays not Fajr prayer, usurps people’s property unlawfully, takes usury, and commits fornication, remember death? How can one whose habit is slandering others and backbiting, whose heart is full of rancour and envy remember death?

 

 

 

 

The Prophets, whenever death came to them were given a chance of choosing between remaining on this world and moving to that noble position. It is beyond doubt that every Prophet would select the everlasting bliss. This happened to Holy Prophet Muhammad, as narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of A’isha that she said,

“The Messenger of Allaah used to say while he was healthy, ‘No Prophet died until he saw his place in the Paradise, he was then given the choice between that place and remaining in this world.’ So when he was dying and his head was on my thigh, he fainted for a while then regained his consciousness. He stared at the ceiling, then said, ‘O Allah! I choose the Highest Companionship.’ I then said, ‘He was not preferring us.’ It was then that I understood statement he used to tell us and it was true. She said, ‘The last word he uttered was: `Oh Allah, I choose the Highest Companionship.`”

 

 

During death and its pain; in the grave and its darkness; and the Day of Resurrection and its horror people fall into two groups. A group shall remain firm; secured from fright and given glad tidings of Paradise while the other group shall suffer disgrace and ignominy.

Allah (The One & Only God) says,
“Verily, those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah (alone) and then stood straight, on them the angel will descend (at the time of their death saying,) ‘Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised.’” (Holy Quran Fussilat 41: 30)

 

 

Angels shall descend upon the believers who are straight in their religion during death in their graves and when they are resurrected in order to assure them of security and to allay their fears of the horror of the day of judgement. The angels will be telling them,

‘Do not fear about what you are going to meet and do not grieve over what you will be leaving behind of children, family and wealth.’

The angels will also say,

‘We have been your friends in the life of this world and (are so) in the hereafter.’ (Holy Quran Fussilat 41: 31)

i.e. we will also be your friends in the hereafter, keeping your company in your graves and when the horn is blown, we will also assure you of security on the day of resurrection.

 

 

As for the unbelievers, when death comes to them and they start suffering its agonies, they will be subjected to ignominy and disgrace.
Allah (The One & Only God) says,
“And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the agonies of death, while the angels are stretching forth their hands saying, “Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation because of what you used to utter against Allah other than the truth. And you used to reject His ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) with disrespect.” (Holy Quran Al-An’aam 6: 93).

 

 

Their sorrow shall increase so much so that they will wish to go back to this world.
Allah (The One God) say,

“Until when death comes to one of them, he says, ‘My Lord send me back.’” (Holy Quran Al-Mu’minoon 23: 99).

 

Qataadah said while commenting on this verse,

“By Allah, he would not wish by this statement to go back to his family and wealth nor to collect the good things of this world and satisfy his desires. He would rather wish to go back and do acts of obedience to Allah. May Allah (The One God) bless him who does in this life what the disbelievers would wish to do when he sees the torment of Hell!’

How is the need of a dying Muslim to Allah’s success that his last words may be, “Laa ilaaha illa Allaah”. Mu’aadh bin Jabal narrated that the Holy Prophet said,

“Whoever has ‘La ilaha illa Allaah’ as his last words will enter Paradise.”

Ibn Al-Qayyim said,

“Dictating this word to a dying man is recommended because one who is dying experiences horrors that were unknown to him before, so it is feared that forgetfulness might overtake him since Satan (Devil) is close to human beings. Moreover, uttering this statement while dying has a great effect in erasing ones misdeeds because it is a testimony of a slave of Allah who believes in it and knows its meanings; for whose lustful desires are now dead and whose soul has become weak after its might. Then that testimony becomes his last utterance, it purifies him from all his sins because he meets with his Lord with a sincere testimony…”

 

 

The righteous predecessors also recommended that a dying person be reminded of his good deeds, so that he can have positive thoughts about his Lord. Jaabir narrated: The Messenger of Allah said,

“None of you should die except in the state of having positive thoughts about Allah.” (Muslim).

 

 

The Sunnah encourages talking about good deeds of a dead person and abstaining from talking about his misdeeds. Al-Bukhari reported on the authority of Aa’isha that she narrated,

‘The Holy Prophet said, “Do not abuse the dead; for they have gone to meet the consequences of their deeds.”’

In Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Abul-Aswad said,

“I came to Medinah while there was an epidemic there. I sat with ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab. Then a funeral procession passed by and people praised its owner. ‘Umar said, “It becomes incumbent.” Then another funeral procession passed by and people also praised its owner, and ‘Umar said, “It’s incumbent;” then a third procession passed by and people spoke ill of its owner. ‘Umar also commented, “It becomes incumbent.” Then I said, “What is incumbent, O Leader of the Faithful? ‘Umar answered, “I said as the Holy Prophet said, that, “Any dead Muslim whom four persons testify in his favour, Allah will make him enter Paradise, We said, “And three persons?” He said, “And three persons.” We also said, “And two persons?” He said, “Yes, and two persons.” We did not thereafter ask him of one person.”

 

 

It should be added that those whose testimony is regarded are the people of virtue and truthfulness. The testimony of an enemy shall not be considered.

It is also recommendable that the person who washes the dead should conceal whatever defects he may see on him. It is also a right of a Muslim on his fellow Muslims to escort his funeral, pray on him and supplicate for him. In Saheeh al-Bukhari, Aboo Hurayrah narrated that the Holy Prophet said,

“Whoever attends the funeral of a Muslim faithfully and hoping for the reward of Allah and stays with him until Salaah is done on him and he is buried, he will go back home with two qeeraats, each is as big as the size of Mount Uhud; and whoever observes Salaah on him and then goes back before he is buried will get one qeeraat.”

As regards debts, the family of the deceased should hasten to pay it because a believer’s soul hangs on his debt until it is paid on his behalf. Debts of Allah (The One & Only God) should also be promptly paid for, it is more deserving to be paid. Ibn Mas’ood said,

“A Believer has no rest until he meets Allah.”

 

 

 

Death the Destroyer of Desires

 

 

 

 

 

Death the Destroyer of Desires

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death is not the absolute end. It is just the discontinuation of unity between the body and soul. It is a change from one state to another and a transition from this present life to that of the hereafter.

The purpose of our existence is to be obedient & to worship Allah (The One & Only God) as mentioned in the Holy Quran:
"And I [Allaah] created not the Jinns and Men except that they should worship Me [alone]" Holy Quran Soorah az-Zariyat (51): 56

 

 

This life, which we are living, is the testing ground for which there shall be only two consequences, Paradise or Hellfire. Unfortunately more than often we disregard death, as we are so attached to this world and the love of which has been firmly established in our hearts .

 

 

"Certainly, they see it as distant, but We see it as near" Holy Quran Soorah al-Ma'arij (70): 6-7

 

 

Death only becomes a reality when a close beloved one dies. The heart feels heavy, the eyes shed tears and there is, at that moment, a present fear of death. If we were to spend even a single moment each day thinking about death, it would bring forth many concerns? The greatest being our Hereafter:
"He Who has created death and life, that He may test you, which of you is best in deed." Holy Quran Al-Mulk (67):21

 

 

So we stop and consider what we are doing with our time and where we are heading, and then realize that much of it is wasted in light talk, in laughing, in pursuing that which is not going to benefit our Hereafter. One of the Salaf said:
"Three characteristics are from Eemaan (Faith): Modesty, Chastity and Withholding of the tongue, not the with holding of the heart and actions. These are things which cause gain in the Hereafter and loss in this life, and what is gained in the next life is greater than what is lost in this world."
[Reported by Abdur-Razzaaq in his Musannaf from A'oon ibn 'Abdullaah]

 

 

"This World in comparison with the world to come is just like one of you putting his finger in the sea. Let him consider what it returns with.” Saheeh Muslim (eng. trans. vol.4 p.l486 no.6843 )

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) explained how this world is not even worth the wing of a mosquito! And how small is a mosquito, and then the wing of a mosquito- so what is the worth of the world we run after and are dearly attached to?
The Messenger of Allaah (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) referred to death as "the destroyer of desires."
[Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah & Nasaai and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albanee in al-Mishkaat (1/1607)]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because when each one of us remembers the awesome reality of death and what is to follow after that, our present desires and wordy concerns seem so insignificant and futile, and the life of the Hereafter becomes our goal and we become interested in the means to attain that goal. We find that the Companions of the Holy Prophet (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) excelled on this point and were not deluded by the amusements of this world, knowing that love for this world would injure their Paradise.
Hence, they faced trials and every hardship with the knowledge that a weighty judgment was yet to come and a full compensation yet to be paid - so they had hope and fear in Allaah (The One God), without exaggerated optimism or disparity.
"O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the cause of Allaah you cling heavily to the earth? Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? [ Holy Quran Soorah at-Taubah (9):38]

 

 

 

Regarding the martyr, the Holy Prophet (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) said:
"Nobody who enters Paradise will (ever like to) return to this world, even if he were offered everything on the surface of the earth, except the martyr who will desire to return to this world and be killed ten times for the sake of the great honor that has been bestowed upon him." [Saheeh Muslim (eng. trans. vol.3 p.1045 no.4635)]

 

 

Let us see how these words affected the hearts and lives of the Companions, as we reflect upon one Companion in particular, who was guaranteed Paradise, Talhah ibn 'Ubaidullaah.
"Whoever wishes to look upon a martyr walking the face of the earth, then let him look upon Talhah ibn 'Ubaidullaah."
[Sunan at-Tirmidhi & al-Haakim. Authenticated by Shaikh al-Albaanee in his as-Saheehah (no.126)]

 

The Holy Prophet (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) said to Talhah when his fingers were struck by arrows in protecting the Holy Prophet (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) at Battle of Uhud, as he let out an exclamation of pain:
"If you had said, 'In the name of Allaah', then the Angels would have raised you up while the people were looking on at you." (And in another narration he added): until they entered you into the sky."
[Sunan an-Nasaai. The addition is from al-Baihaaqee. Authenticated by al-Albaanee in his as-Saheehah (no.217)]

 

"Talhah is one who has fulfilled his term." [Sunan at-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albani in as-Saheehah (125)].

Which means that he has exhausted his allotted time in the path of Allaah (The One & Only God) there remaining nothing between him and death - thus he is as one killed already, although still alive. These are the best of people, those whose belief is manifest in their actions, to whom Allaah (The One God) and His Messenger (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) are more beloved than the world and all it contains.

"But truly the home of the Hereafter is the actual life, if only they knew." [Holy Quran Soorah al-Ankabut (29):64]

 

 

 

"We have reminder upon reminder, about how nations before us were destroyed and a common sickness which they were plagued with was 'love of this world'. Regarding the Jews, who claim to be the best of all people and inheritors of the Promised Land, Allaah (The One & Only God) says:
"And verily you will find them the greediest of mankind and [even greedier] than those who do not believe in Resurrection [i.e. the idolaters]. Every one of them wishes that he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such life will not save him even a little from [due] punishment. And Allaah is all-Seer of what they do. " Holy Quran Soorah al-Baqarah (2):96

 

 

 

If these people who spend their time in heedlessness and negligence, and futile desires, and the best part of their time being when they sleep or are inactive - then death is better than life. And we say to them:
'Time is the most precious thing which you take care of, and I see it to be the easiest for you to lose"
[Taken from The Call to Islaam and the Caller of Shaikh 'Alee Hasan . ]
" ….. and the worst regret is regret on the Day of Resurrection....and the fortunate one is the one who takes admonition from others.."
[From the famous khutbah (sermon) of the Companion, Ibn Mas'ood t which has been recorded in al-Musannaf of Ibn Abee Shaibah (vol.7 no. 106)]

"Live in this world as if you are a stranger or a traveler."[Saheeh al-Bukhari vol.8, p.284, no.425]

 

Does a traveler waste his time in gathering that which is of no benefit for his journey? Or does he immediately select that which shall facilitate him to reach his goal? In the same way, we too must get into the good habit of striving to do as much as we can today and everyday, not putting off things for tomorrow, or after exams, or marriage, or the age of sixty . . !

 

 

"If you survive till the evening do not expect to be alive in the morning and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening. And take from your health for your sickness and [take] from your life for your death."[Saheeh al-Bukhari vol.8, p.284, no.425]

"And die not except in a state of Islaam" Holy Quran Soorah al-Imran (3):102

So we keep our hearts moistened and alive with remembrance of Allaah (The One God), and we remember death in order to remember the Hereafter, and finally we close with a citation from Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee
“O my soul, it is not except a few days patience, As if her extent were a few dreams.
O my soul pass quickly on through this world, And leave it, For indeed life lies ahead of it.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once, some of the companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, asked the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam): “Do you joke with us?” he (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) replied: “I do, but I only say that which is true” (Tirmidhi & Bukhaari in his book Al-Adab Al-Mufrad).

 

 

The Holy Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Woe to the one who lies to people just to make them laugh. Woe to him, woe to him.” (Abu Daawood & Tirmidhi).

 

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said in a saheeh hadeeth: “Do not laugh too much, for excessive laughter deadens the heart.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 4193; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’).

 

 

“… The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).” [Holy Quran Aal ‘Imraan 3:185].

DEATH

 

 

 

 

 

DEATH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary :

1)     The fact that death will definitely occur.
2)     Death is near.
3)     The behavior of people today at the graveyard.
4)     The benefits of remembering death.
5)     The types of people at the time of death.
6)     The good end.
7)     Mentioning the good qualities of the dead, and refraining from his shortcomings.

 

 

 

We enjoin you and ourselves to fear Allah (The One & Only God), for it is the provision and safety in this world and the Last Day(The Day of Judgment), “the day when neither wealth nor sons will avail, except him who brings to Allaah a clean heart.” (Chapter Ash Shu’araa’: Verse 88-89: Holy Quran).

 

 

 

Allah (The One God) says, “Everyone shall taste death. And only on the day of Resurrection (Day of Judgment) shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the fire and admitted to Paradise he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).” (Chapter Aal-‘Imraan: Verse 175: Holy Quran).

 

 

 

 

Such is the reality of death and what comes after it. Every one of us shall taste it whether poor or rich; healthy or sick, old or young; leader or led and none of us can escape it.

Allah (The One God) says, “Whosesoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in a fortress built up strong and high.” (Chapter An-Nisaa: Verse 78: Holy Quran).

 

 

Death, as manifested in its character and effects is one of the mysteries that dazzles human intelligence even though after much scientific advancement & modernization, because it has to do with the soul.

 

 

Allah (The One God) says, “And they ask you (O Muhammad) concerning the spirit. Say: ‘The spirit is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little.” (Chapter Al-Israa’: Verse 85: Holy Quran).

 

 

 

One of it mysteries is that you see a youth who was full of health and energy suddenly falls dead without warning; thereby making that youthfulness and energy fade away, bringing all his senses to a complete standstill. That youth might even be an erudite scholar, an eloquent author, a skilled physician or brilliant inventor but it is absolutely out of the question that this quality should prevent death from overtaking him when his time is due.

 

 

Allah (The One God) says, “When their term is reached, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment).” (Chapter Yoonus: Verse 49: Holy Quran).

 

 

‘Amr Ibn Abdullah used to mount the pulpit and say, “Many a person who has seen the beginning of a day but would not see its end. And many a person who has expected morning but would not live to see it. If only you had known your appointed time and how it comes to pass, you would have detested nursing hope for worldly materials and its deception.”

 

 

 

While humans enjoys their good health, playing and merrymaking, moving about in haughtiness, commanding and forbidding, death and illness suddenly attacks them, weakens their body, makes their limbs lifeless and then closes their record.

 

 

How near is death! Every day it becomes closer to us and no sooner has the book reached its appointed time that we belong among the dead. Then it becomes clear that life is really like flowers that bloom then afterwards wither or like a lamp that illuminates then afterwards dies down.

 

 

Let those who crave for this world and its pleasures ponder over these scattered graves all over the place and realize that the way to pleasures and lustful things, though decorated with beautiful roses inevitably leads to the present condition of those buried in these graves. Happiness is for those whom a messenger of death has opened their eyes to reality before they died, and whoever does not heed to the warning of the Holy Qur’an and death, even if mountains were to thrust one another in front of them, they would not heed.

 

 

What we witness in the cemeteries is a great lesson for us. The carrier of the bier to the cemetery today is taken back there tomorrow (as a dead person) and is left there only with his deeds either good or evil.

 

 

It is also very unfortunate that in these days we see some among those who escort the deceased laughing and playing or attending the funeral for showing off. This phenomenon is due to the heedlessness that has hardened people’s hearts and made them forget the Last Day of Judgment and the frightening conditions of the grave. May Allah (The One God) awaken us from this heedlessness! 

 

 

It is expected of those who knows that they will die, be buried, raised up on the day of Resurrection and enters Paradise or Hell to always remember death, prepare for it and reflect on it. They are in fact expected to regard themselves among the dead. This is because all that is coming is near and when the angel of death comes neither your wealth nor your people can prevent him from taking your soul.

 

 

Where are those who achieved their aims and none were comparable to them in that? They collected but could not eat what they collected; they built mansions but could not live there forever! We on our part are still swimming in the pool of life as if we are meant to live here forever.Uways Al-Qarnee said, “Remember death when you sleep and always think of it when you are awake.”

 

 

 

It is a fact that this world and its tribulations appear insignificant in the eyes of those who always remembers death, for, they have lofty aims and strong resolutions; they are far from hypocrisy and always yearns for the everlasting bliss in the eternal Paradise.

 

 

Remembering death does not in any way make one’s life loathsome to him; forcing him to sit in his home and leave all means of sustenance. It is rather meant to deter him from committing sins and soften his hard heart.

 

We remember death in order to have good preparation for it and for all that follows it by doing righteous deeds, obeying Allah (The One & Only God) and increasing one’s efforts in all acts of worship.

 

 

Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Mahdee said, “If  Hammaad bin Salamah is told, ‘You will die tomorrow.’ He will not be able to increase anything in his deed, because his time is full of worship and remembrance of Allaah.

 

 

How do we prepare for death? We prepare for death by shunning all abominable things and returning trusts to their rightful owners. We prepare for death by eliminating hatred and enmity from our hearts. We prepare for death by being good to the kith and kin.

 

 

Ibn al-Mubaarak said that Saalih Al-Mariy used to say, “If the remembrance of death leaves me for an hour my heart becomes spoilt.”

 

 

It is also said that, “Whoever frequently remembers death is honored with three things: quick repentance, self-contentedness and energy in doing acts of worship; and whoever forgets death is punished with three things: delaying repentance, lack of contentedness and laziness in acts of worship.”

 

 

 

When will one who always follows his lustful desires and moves wantonly in his heedlessness remember death? When will one who has no regard for Allaah’s injunctions in Halaal or Haraam (Unforbidden & forbidden) remember death? When will one who deserts the Holy Qur’an, prays not, usurps people’s property unlawfully, takes usury, and commits fornication, remember death? How can one whose habit is slandering others and backbiting, whose heart is full of rancor and envy remember death?

 

 

 

The Prophets, whenever death came to them were given a chance of choosing between remaining on this world and moving to that noble position. It is beyond doubt that every Prophet would select the everlasting bliss. This happened to Prophet Muhammad, as narrated by Al-Bukhaarie and Muslim on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah that she said,“The Messenger of Allaah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) used to say while he was healthy, ‘No Prophet died until he saw his place in the Paradise, he was then given the choice between that place and remaining in this world.’ So when he was dying and his head was on my thigh, he fainted for a while then regained his consciousness. He stared at the ceiling, then said, ‘O Allaah! I choose the Highest Companionship.’ I then said, ‘He was not preferring us.’ It was then that I understood statement he used to tell us and it was true. She said, ‘The last word he uttered was: `Oh Allaah, I choose the Highest Companionship.`”

 

 

During death and its pain; in the grave and its darkness; and the Day of Resurrection and its horror people fall into two groups. A group shall remain firm; secured from fright and given glad tidings of Paradise while the other group shall suffer disgrace and ignominy.

 

 

Allah (The One God) says, “Verily, those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah (alone) and then stood straight, on them the angel will descend (at the time of their death saying,) ‘Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised.’” (Chapter Fussilat: Verse 30: Holy Quran).

 

 

 

Angels shall descend upon the believers who are straight in their religion during death in their graves and when they are resurrected in order to assure them of security and to allay their fears of the horror of the Day of Judgement. The angels will be telling them, ‘Do not fear about what you are going to meet and do not grieve over what you will be leaving behind of children, family and wealth.’

The angels will also say, ‘We have been your friends in the life of this world and (are so) in the hereafter.’ (Chapter Fussilat: Verse 31: Holy Quran) i.e. we will also be your friends in the hereafter, keeping your company in your graves and when the horn is blown, we will also assure you of security on the day of resurrection.

 

 

As for the unbelievers, when death comes to them and they start suffering its agonies, they will be subjected to ignominy and disgrace.

Allah (The One God) says, “And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the agonies of death, while the angels are stretching forth their hands saying, Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation because of what you used to utter against Allah other than the truth. And you used to reject His ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) with disrespect” (Chapter Al-An’aam: Verse 93: Holy Quran).

 

 

Their sorrow shall increase so much so that they will wish to go back to this world.  Allah (The One God) say, “Until when death comes to one of them, he says, ‘My Lord send me back.’” (Chapter Al-Mu’minoon: Verse 99: Holy Quran).

 

 

 

Qataadah said while commenting on this verse, “By Allah, he would not wish by this statement to go back to his family and wealth nor to collect the good things of this world and satisfy his desires. He would rather wish to go back and do acts of obedience to Allah. May Allah bless him who does in this life what the disbelievers would wish to do when he sees the torment of Hell!

 

 

The righteous predecessors recommended that a dying person be reminded of his good deeds, so that he can have positive thoughts about his Lord. Jaabir narrated: The Messenger of Allah (The One God) said, “None of you should die except in the state of having positive thoughts about Allah.” (Muslim).

 

 

The Sunnah (Practices of Holy Prophet) encourages talking about good deeds of a dead person and abstaining from talking about his misdeeds. Al-Bukhaarie reported on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah that she narrated, The Holy Prophet said, “Do not abuse the dead; for they have gone to meet the consequences of their deeds.”’

 

Al-Bukhaarie reported that Abul-Aswad said, “I came to Madinah while there was an epidemic there. I sat with ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab. Then a funeral procession passed by and people praised its owner. ‘Umar said, “It becomes incumbent.” Then another funeral procession passed by and people also praised its owner, and ‘Umar said, “its incumbent;” then a third procession passed by and people spoke ill of its owner. ‘Umar also commented, “It becomes incumbent.” Then I said, “What is incumbent, O Leader of the Faithful? ‘Umar answered, “I said as the Holy Prophet said, that, “Any dead Muslim whom four persons testify in his favor, Allah will make him enter Paradise, We said, “And three persons?” He said, “And three persons.” We also said, “And two persons?” He said, “Yes, and two persons.” We did not thereafter ask him of one person.”

 

 

It should be added that those whose testimony is regarded are the people of virtue and truthfulness. The testimony of an enemy shall not be considered.

 

It is also recommendable that the person who washes the dead should conceal whatever defects he may see on him. It is also a right of a Muslim on his fellow Muslims to escort his funeral, pray on him and supplicate for him. Bukhaarie reported that Abu Hurairah narrated that the Holy Prophet said, “Whoever attends the funeral of a Muslim faithfully and hoping for the reward of Allah and stays with him until Salaah is done on him and he is buried, he will go back home with two qeeraats, each is as big as the size of Mount Uhud; and whoever observes Salaah on him and then goes back before he is buried will get one qeeraat.”

 

As regards debts, the family of the deceased should hasten to pay it because a believer’s soul hangs on his debt until it is paid on his behalf. Debts of Allah should also be promptly paid for; it more deserves to be paid.

Ibn Mas’ood said, “A Believer has no rest until he meets Allah (The One & Only Good).”