بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Death is so much closer to us this year than previous ones. We have witnessed the passing of many a parent, teacher, sibling, friend, and child. Some of us directly suffered these losses; others suffered through seeing these losses endured by people they knew, such as friends; yet, other losses were so global and impactful that all of us were effected by them.
I was never particularly fearful of death until two of my younger siblings passed away. But my attitude had changed now. I knew they had moved into another room that was out of my sight. But I was no longer afraid to have the door to that room opened for me because I know Allah is all Merciful, all Compassionate, and "you will be with those whom you love."
This taught me an important lesson. We often understand death in negative terms: we will be questioned, there is a thing called Hell, Allah will take us to account for everything, and so forth. The motivating factor in death for many is the fear factor. This is important, of course. Yet, the passing of my siblings taught me that it is also a motivator because of a love factor, a love and desire for reunion.
This was the perspective of Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her). When the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was in his final illness “he said something secretly to Fatima and she wept. Then he said something secretly to her and she laughed.” [Bukhari] When asked later why she wept, she said it was because the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was moving to the next life. But when asked what made her smile, it was because she was told that she would join him in Paradise.
This was the perspective of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). In one of his final sermons, he mentioned how “Allah had given a slave the choice between immortality in this world or meeting his Lord, and he had chosen to meet his Lord.” He was speaking about himself. His last words according to A’isha were, “to the highest Companion!” He had chosen to move on and unite with Allah. [Bukhari]
A Beautiful Union
To all who have lost someone, to those saddened by separation, and to those still grieving, do not forget the union that death brings. A union with a merciful and compassionate Lord. A union with a most beautiful and perfect Prophet who will not cease pleading to Allah until each and every one of his followers is in Paradise with him.
Remember that your loved ones wait for you, and that you have the opportunity to be with them in a place where time has ceased, where there will be no separation, nor grief, nor sadness, nor pain. It is a place where all of you can be together in utter bliss, love, and happiness.
This is the hope and trust we place in our Lord. This is why we worship and engage in righteousness: so we can reunite with those whom we love – Allah, His Prophet, our parents, children, siblings, friends, and others. So, do not despair, do not lose sight of the bigger picture, and make your life a road to reunion.
We ask Allah to renuite us in the eternal garden with those we love in the company of our Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and all the righteous. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Death is so much closer to us this year than previous ones. We have witnessed the passing of many a parent, teacher, sibling, friend, and child. Some of us directly suffered these losses; others suffered through seeing these losses endured by people they knew, such as friends; yet, other losses were so global and impactful that all of us were effected by them.
I was never particularly fearful of death until two of my younger siblings passed away. But my attitude had changed now. I knew they had moved into another room that was out of my sight. But I was no longer afraid to have the door to that room opened for me because I know Allah is all Merciful, all Compassionate, and "you will be with those whom you love."
Narrated Anas:
A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment) saying, "When will the Hour be?"
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "What have you prepared for it?" The man said, "Nothing, except that I love Allah
and His Apostle." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You will be with those whom you love." We had never been so
glad as we were on hearing that saying of the Prophet (i.e., "You will be with those whom you love.")
Therefore, I love the Prophet, Abu Bakr and `Umar, and I hope that I will be with them because of my
love for them though my deeds are not similar to theirs. [Bukhari]
This taught me an important lesson. We often understand death in negative terms: we will be questioned, there is a thing called Hell, Allah will take us to account for everything, and so forth. The motivating factor in death for many is the fear factor. This is important, of course. Yet, the passing of my siblings taught me that it is also a motivator because of a love factor, a love and desire for reunion.
This was the perspective of Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her). When the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was in his final illness “he said something secretly to Fatima and she wept. Then he said something secretly to her and she laughed.” [Bukhari] When asked later why she wept, she said it was because the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was moving to the next life. But when asked what made her smile, it was because she was told that she would join him in Paradise.
This was the perspective of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). In one of his final sermons, he mentioned how “Allah had given a slave the choice between immortality in this world or meeting his Lord, and he had chosen to meet his Lord.” He was speaking about himself. His last words according to A’isha were, “to the highest Companion!” He had chosen to move on and unite with Allah. [Bukhari]
A Beautiful Union
To all who have lost someone, to those saddened by separation, and to those still grieving, do not forget the union that death brings. A union with a merciful and compassionate Lord. A union with a most beautiful and perfect Prophet who will not cease pleading to Allah until each and every one of his followers is in Paradise with him.
Remember that your loved ones wait for you, and that you have the opportunity to be with them in a place where time has ceased, where there will be no separation, nor grief, nor sadness, nor pain. It is a place where all of you can be together in utter bliss, love, and happiness.
This is the hope and trust we place in our Lord. This is why we worship and engage in righteousness: so we can reunite with those whom we love – Allah, His Prophet, our parents, children, siblings, friends, and others. So, do not despair, do not lose sight of the bigger picture, and make your life a road to reunion.
We ask Allah to renuite us in the eternal garden with those we love in the company of our Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and all the righteous. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
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