بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Death is a subject people often avoid talking about much less remember. We live in a society that sees talking about death, thinking about death, writing and reading about death as morbid.
What is morbid, what is indeed unhealthy, is a society that separates and dissociates death from life as if the two can ever be separated – two sides of the same coin. We cannot pretend death doesn’t exist, all the time living as if we still have one foot in the womb.
What is morbid and unhealthy is that we try to sit death quietly in the corner, still pretending it can’t see us and we can’t see it. We try to keep it away from children, and lie to them about it, to ‘protect’ them’ – all the while creating unnecessary fear and perpetuating the vicious cycle of denial around the only thing in life that is an absolute inevitability. And then, when it happens, every time it happens, we are shocked. As if, having avoided reality so very well for so very long, we had no idea it would ever come.
It is extremely difficult to live each day like it really matters without embracing the fact that it could end any day. Every moment is not precious to you when you are fantasizing that you have been guaranteed a life that will never end -- or at least won’t end till you’re 100.
The Qur'an alludes to death at various places. In Surah AleImran, Allah Most High says,
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) advises us to, “Remember often the terminator of pleasures.”
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 (Allah bless him and grant him peace) 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]
Shaqiq al-Balkhi once went to his mentor, Abu Hashim, with something tied at the end of his clothing. His mentor said, “What is this?” “Almonds,” he replied, “that a brother has given to me, I plan to have breakfast on them.” “O Shaqiq,” his mentor scolded, “You tell yourself that you will live until tonight! Do you remember death? This is what I have to say, and I will not speak to you,” and he closed the door in his face.
Although death is certain and inevitable, people tend to live as if they are going to live forever. Whereas death knows no age. Very often people die in the prime of their youth. There are times a father has to bury his own son. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) buried all his sons and daughters except one.
The term of one’s life is predetermined before birth and this knowledge rests only with Allah.
Allah Almighty says,
This mystery of life and death is not without purpose. The life of this world is a test from Allah.
May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and grant us excellent ending. 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 a subject people often avoid talking about much less remember. We live in a society that sees talking about death, thinking about death, writing and reading about death as morbid.
What is morbid, what is indeed unhealthy, is a society that separates and dissociates death from life as if the two can ever be separated – two sides of the same coin. We cannot pretend death doesn’t exist, all the time living as if we still have one foot in the womb.
What is morbid and unhealthy is that we try to sit death quietly in the corner, still pretending it can’t see us and we can’t see it. We try to keep it away from children, and lie to them about it, to ‘protect’ them’ – all the while creating unnecessary fear and perpetuating the vicious cycle of denial around the only thing in life that is an absolute inevitability. And then, when it happens, every time it happens, we are shocked. As if, having avoided reality so very well for so very long, we had no idea it would ever come.
It is extremely difficult to live each day like it really matters without embracing the fact that it could end any day. Every moment is not precious to you when you are fantasizing that you have been guaranteed a life that will never end -- or at least won’t end till you’re 100.
The Qur'an alludes to death at various places. In Surah AleImran, Allah Most High 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[Qur'an, AleImran 3:185]
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)
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) advises us to, “Remember often the terminator of pleasures.”
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 (Allah bless him and grant him peace) 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]
Shaqiq al-Balkhi once went to his mentor, Abu Hashim, with something tied at the end of his clothing. His mentor said, “What is this?” “Almonds,” he replied, “that a brother has given to me, I plan to have breakfast on them.” “O Shaqiq,” his mentor scolded, “You tell yourself that you will live until tonight! Do you remember death? This is what I have to say, and I will not speak to you,” and he closed the door in his face.
Although death is certain and inevitable, people tend to live as if they are going to live forever. Whereas death knows no age. Very often people die in the prime of their youth. There are times a father has to bury his own son. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) buried all his sons and daughters except one.
The term of one’s life is predetermined before birth and this knowledge rests only with Allah.
Allah Almighty says,
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ ﴿٦١[Quran, An-Nahl 16:61]
And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon the earth any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]. (61)
This mystery of life and death is not without purpose. The life of this world is a test from Allah.
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ وَٱلْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٥[Quran, Al-Anbiya' 21:35]
Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned. (35)
May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and grant us excellent ending. 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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