PAUSE & REFLECT

Since 2012-11-19

Death is a mean of instruction, reminder, alarm, and warning; and what is sufficient than death as an alert.




Verily, death is a terrible harsh reality which every living being should inevitably face and have no power to avert. It reoccurs every moment, and all beings without exception subject to it. In confirmation of that, He Almighty says: “Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.” [Al’Ankabut 29:57].

العنكبوت:57

Transliteration: Kullu nafsin thaiqatu almawti thumma ilayna turjaAAoona

Death is the end of the journey for all but their fates differ, “A party will be in Paradise and a party in the Blaze.” [Ash-Shura 42:7].

الشورى: 7

Transliteration: fareequn fee aljannati wafareequn fee alssaAAeeri

Death is a mean of instruction, reminder, alarm, and warning; and what is sufficient than death as an alert.
Death is the most hideous thing and the most terrible matter, whose cup is the most detestable and bitter. The incident that demolish pleasures, and interrupts comfort and hope.

Unfortunately, we forget or at least overlook it, and dislike remembering and facing it, given our certainty that it would inevitably take place. Rather shocking a rational person who sees how death overtakes his neighbors and friends, and continues at the same time to live with comfort and pleasure, instead of getting ready for it. No doubt, the one involved in this world, who is devoted to its conceits and attached to its desires, becomes, necessarily, heedless of remembering death; and even if he is reminded of it, he would dislike and have an aversion to it. Whoever does not remember death as of today, nor get ready for it, it would inevitably get him by surprise, instantly while being heedless of and diverted from it.

“If only people knew what awaits them tomorrow they wouldn’t have a taste of pleasure.”

No believer fears today but that he will be secured tomorrow with his virtuous understanding and righteous deeds. Unfortunately, many people waste their times for the reasons opposing the wisdom of their creation; and when death surprises him, he cries: “Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: "My Lord! Send me back,” [Surat Al-Mu’minun:99]

المؤمنون: 99

Transliteration: rabbi irjiAAooni

Why return and comeback? “So that I may do good in that which I have left behind” [Surat Al-Mu’minun:100]

المؤمنون: 100

Transliteration: LaAAallee aAAmalu salihan feema taraktu

But even, where were you from this day O ignorant? Would you not work while having plenty of time and well-being, before the Angels of death would approach you?

What we observe at the graveyards, indeed, the greatest lesson ever learnt. The carrier of the dead today will be carried tomorrow (when he dies), and the one who returns from the grave to his home today will be left alone in the grave tomorrow, in pledge of his deeds: if it is good, his destination will be good, and if it is evil, his destination will be evil.




But, few are those who reflect, and rare who were warned then strive (for the hereafter)! If one cuts the string of expectation, and puts death before his eyes, undoubtedly, he will work for the hereafter, and take advantage of every moment of his lifetime in obedience of his Lord, and grieve for every moment he has spent with no righteous deed to draw him close to Allah Almighty. By virtue of the good deed, he made, he will be delighted and pleased with moving from this world to the hereafter, this is the person truly admired.

“O son! (Death is) a matter which you do not know when to meet: so, get ready for it before it surprisingly approaches you.”

One of the righteous forefathers said: “It should be known to you that if anyone is not to encounter distress, terror or punishment except the death ordeal, nothing more, it will be more entitled to embitter his life, spoil his pleasure, and take him out of forgetfulness and heedlessness. Truly, cause him to have long contemplation and prepare for it. Moreover, how would it be, given that we know well that beyond death is the grave and its darkness, the Sirat (the path over Hellfire to Heaven) and its thinness, and the reckoning and its strictness: terrors and terrors whose severity none knows but Allah Almighty.”










Although the grave is our first stations of the hereafter, we have neglected its structure and undermined its corners, given that nothing separates man from departure to it except to say ‘so and so died’. The Messenger of Allah said: “I have never seen a scenery except that the grave is more hideous than it.” [Declared Hasan (good) by Al-Albani and Ibn Hajar]

حسنه الألباني وابن حجر

The Messenger of Allah further said: “The grave is the first of stations to the hereafter: whoever is saved from it, must be sure, that what follows is easier; and whoever is not saved from it, what is after it is harder than it.” [Declared Hasan (good) by Al-Albani and Ibn Hajar]

حسنه الألباني وابن حجر

One glance of insight to the grave informs you with the reality of this world. After honor and property, commanding and forbidding, servants and retinue, and palaces and homes: will the end of mankind be in this narrow dark hole?

By Allah, were a man to live one thousand years in power and authority, taking pleasure in all kinds of bliss, and blessed in all kinds of luxury available at his time, all of this will not make up for the first night he spends in his grave.



Look at the state of the dead, and consider their conditions and destination: by Allah, you will encounter a day like theirs, and undergo the same they have undergone. Behold! Take admonition and get ready, and be neither heedless nor forgetful about your destiny. Have you imagined yourself in the same place of the buried? By Allah, it is a great favor that Allah Almighty gives you the opportunity to take admonition from others and not others from you, and the opportunity to reckon yourself and get ready for that death. So, take advantage of this opportunity as long as you have a plenty of time to do so: “For the like of this let the workers work.” [As-Saffat 37:61]

الصافات: 61

Transliteration:Limithli hatha falyaAAmali alAAamiloona

The Messenger of Allah, said: “When the funeral is ready and the men carry it (the dead body) on their shoulders, if the deceased was righteous, it would say, ‘Present me, Present me (hurriedly)’, otherwise, it would say, ‘Woe to it (me)! Where are they taking it (me)?’” Its voice is heard by all beings except man, and if he did hear it, he would be stroke (fall unconscious as if stroke by lightning)." [Reported by Al-Bukhari]

رواه البخاري

So, imagine yourself, O servant of Allah, carried on the shoulders on the way to the grave: on which state do you like to be?

The Messenger of Allah further said: “By Allah, were you to know what I know, you would laugh little and weep a lot, and take no pleasure with (sexual relation with) your women on beds, and would rather come out to the streets weeping loudly, and throw handfuls of dust over your heads." [Authenticated by Al-Albani]

صححه الألباني

By this, he addressed the glorious Companions; may Allah be pleased with them: then, what about you, O diverted heedless who amuse, play, sing, and disobey Allah Almighty every morning and evening? You seem as if careless about what is awaiting you of death, grave, resurrection, and all those great terrors. How hardened is your heart, and how weak is your mind! So, take heed of that, O poor fellow, if you are sane and understanding.

when a man is placed in the grave, and he was wicked and disobedient, the earth will say to him: “By Allah, you have been among the most hateful to me while walking on my surface, and now you have come within me. You will see then what I will give to you (of torment) out of my anger.” Imagine, O poor servant, how you will be in that dark lonely place and receive the like of those words. At that time, it will be of no profit to you to regret, cry, weep, or moan.

It is also narrated in a Hadith that when a deceased person is placed in the grave, two angels (Munkar & Nakeer) will come and ask him about his Lord, religion, and Messenger. If he is among those who died as disobedient sinners, he will not be guided to the right answer. At that time, his grave will tighten until his ribs dislocate, and he will be struck with an iron hammer which, were if a mountain to be struck with, it would be ruined. Then a window will be opened for him to Hellfire fire where he will be shown his seat there, and receive of its scorching heat, and remain in grave in punishment in proportion to his deed. If the deceased is of those who obeyed Allah and did righteous deeds, Allah then will set him firm and guide him to the correct answer, and his grave will be made spacious and illuminated for him, and he will be shown his seat in Paradise, and his grave will be furnished with greenery to the Day of Judgment.

O Slave of Allah! Which of both seats would you like? And which is easier for you; to obey Allah Almighty or receive those great terrors ahead of you? By Allah, to obey Allah is much easier on you than the great terrors and horrors ahead of you. What then does prevent you from that obedience? What are you waiting?



Have you remembered the moment of departure when you take the last glance of this world with all its pleasures and delights, and receive the hereafter with its great terrors, and move either to scorching heat, boiling water And burning in Hellfire or to Paradise? So, do from now a deed to be saved from the great terrors ahead of you, as long as you still have plenty of time to do, perchance you will come out of this world comforted, delighted and pleased when meeting your Lord and what He prepared for you of the abiding bliss.






May Allah guide all the people to do what He likes and is pleased with.

And Allah knows best. May Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and Companions.