Assalamualaikum (Peace be upon you), Dear Readers
My son “Isaam Ali” (who is 6 years old) bombards me with hundreds of questions daily. Some are very cute, Some are very irritating while some put me into deep thought process. One such question hit me yesterday. In an effort to avoid studying, he asked “Abu, you always say that death will come to us at anytime and that we should be ready for it. Allah also says the same thing in Quran. What if death comes to us next week and we somehow come to know about it. In that case, what is the use of us doing anything other than praying? what is the use of you working so hard to earn money? What is the use of me studying (this is the point he wanted to make 🙂 )??”
Well at that moment i just replied “My son, are you trying to trick your Abu in allowing you to play during study time? Go and sit down to study!”. He ran off to his room giggling. However, he doesn’t know that he ended up giving me a sleepless night.
Imagine if death was to hit us next week, what meaning does our actions have then? What meaning does quarrels, fights and wars have then? what meaning does the greed in us for money and wealth have then? What value would those thousands if not millions of cash in your account have then? How is your property going to benefit you?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! If we are going to die, does it matter if someone says bad about us? or that someone accuses or abuses us? How much time we spend in “tu tu main main” (unnecessary arguments etc) with our family and friends. Would we still wait for that green card or immigration permit or citizenship of the country where we migrated leaving behind old parents, loved ones in search of materialistic gains?
How about WAR? Would a soldier go into battle field if he comes to know that he is going to die next week? Would nationalism mean anything to you? Instead of dying for humanity, we shout about dying for our own country. Would you then have this stupid mindset? We have already seen people losing their mind once they come to know that they are going to die soon. Some become physic killers, some go silent and depressed, some increase their evil deeds thinking that they are enjoying the left over life while some turn towards the truth and repent vigorously seeking forgiveness from our creator!
Every wrong that we commit is due to the fact that we forgot death completely. If a person remembers death and the fact that it would strike him or her at any instant, he would never commit sin. He would never have greed nor would he cause trouble to others. There are millions who have died before even enjoying the wealth and properties that they acquired illegally. There are millions who died before even enjoying the power for which they shed blood of many.
Allah says “Every soul shall have a taste of death … [Qur’an 3:185]
“And we granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad), then if you die, would they live forever? Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good, and to Us you will be returned.” [Qur’an 21:34-35]
Most of the sins occur due to our EGO. Where would our EGO go when we confront death face-to-face? Allah has appointed a fixed time for death and it shall surely grab the person at that fixed time. And he says “Wherever you are death will find you out, even if you are in the towers built up strong and high…” [Qur’an 4:11]
And remember, irrespective of how much land you own in this world, you will end up getting only 6 feet by 3 feet grave. And irrespective of how many clothes and wealth you have, you end up getting only two sheets that wrap your body in the grave. And guess what, even that shall be snatched away by insects and your body eaten away by organisms. Only your soul shall be left and that will be put to trial.
Allah says “…And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he whose soul is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is (nothing) but goods and chattels of deception.” [Qur’an 3:185]
Reflect on your end people, that should motivate you to become a better person. Live with the thought that death is just a week ahead (or maybe next instant ahead) and you shall surely follow the truth and refrain from evil path. So next time you are about to commit a sin, remember prophet’s (pbuh) advise. He said “Remember often the destroyer of all pleasures : death” [At tirmidhi]
This reminder is first for myself and then for you all!
Don’t forget to watch the below video:
