Talking About Death

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Death is a subject people often avoid talking about much less remember. Some people try to keep death away from children perpetuating the vicious cycle of denial of the most certain thing in life. Then every time they hear so-and-so died, they are shocked, as if they had no idea that it would ever come. We cannot sit death quietly in the corner, pretending that it can't see us and we can't see it. 

We live in a society that sees death, talking about death, thinking about death, writing and reading about death as morbid. Death is not a morbid word, neither talking about death will kill you.

Life and death are two things that cannot be separated in creation. Talking about death helps keep the awareness of the real life of the Hereafter and sparks enthusiasm to prepare for it by avoiding disobedience of Allah by doing righteous deeds. Allah is the One who gives life and takes life.

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: Remember the terminator of all pleasures i.e. death. [Tirmidhi]

Once the Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و سلم) came to the masjid for prayer, when he noticed some people laughing and giggling. He remarked, "If you remembered death, I would not see you like this. Think of your death often."

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: The most intelligent person is the one who remembers death often.

The benefits of this include purification from sins, abstinence in this life, making great tribulations manageable, making small worldly means seem much, removal of worry over this life and disdaining vain pleasures.

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) relates that the Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و سلم) once held my shoulders and said:

“Live in this world as (if you are) a wayfarer or a stranger.” And Abdullah ibn Umar used to say: “If you live till night, then do not wait for the next day (i.e. do not have hopes that you will live to the next day), and if you wake up in the morning do not have hope that you will live till the night. And take (advantage) from your health before your sickness and take advantage of your life before your death (i.e. do every possible obedience in your life before death comes to you for then no deeds can be performed.)”

[Bukhari and Tirmidhi]

The Quran alludes to death at various places. In Surah AleImran, Allah Almighty says,

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَ‌كُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ ٱلنَّارِ‌ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُ‌ورِ‌ ﴿١٨٥

Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion. (185)

[Quran, AleImran 3:185]

This life is a bridge to the next life. If you put too much stuff on it, with your pursuits of this worldly life, how are you going to pass through with ease? You might wind up falling off the bridge and into the Hellfire.

This life is one big exam and you have to pass the exam to secure a good future in the next life. What have you prepared for it? If you don't care to prepare for it, you will fail and there is no retake. Then what good is your intelligence?

May Allah save us from being with those people in Hell, who will say:

وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿١٠

And they will say, "If only we had been listening or using our intelligence, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze." (10)

[Quran Al-Mulk 67:10]

May Allah guide us on the straight path and make us use our intelligence to work righteousness. May Allah grant us an excellent ending. Ameen.

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