Death: what have you prepared for it?
- Categories: Asceticism and Heart Softening -
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All praise be to Allah alone,
and peace and blessings of Allah be upon him after whom there is no
other prophet and upon his family and companions.
It is a station of the
stations of reckoning. Few people stand by it; but most people pass
by it without thinking deeply about it! However, most people pass
by it without thinking deeply about it!
Worldly life! That passing
phantom, that transient shadow! Worldly life! It is the house of
deceit and the abode of grief; worldly life! Its loyalty is
treacherous! Its love is false, worldly life! Its new is worn out,
its clear is turbid and its people are just guests that will soon
be gone!
Ibrahim
At-Taimi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: (two things have deprived me from
the delights of this worldly life: remembering death and
remembering standing before the Hands of Allah, Glorified and
Exalted.)
O
brother… do not you see
that everyday people are bidding farewell to a loved one or a
friend? Has that moved your heart? Was it a lesson for
you?
If you know, O wise man that
there is a set date to return to your Lord the Almighty, beware of
that hour… work for it… before that you become of the people of
grief and regret.
Allah Almighty has said:
{Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners
with Allah), he says: "My Lord! Send me back, (99) "So that I may
do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is but a word
that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the
Day when they will be resurrected.} [Surat Al-Mu'minûn:
99-100].
Transliteration:
Hatta
itha jaa ahadahumu almawtu qala rabbi
irjiAAooni (99) LaAAallee aAAmalu
salihan feemataraktu kalla
innaha kalimatun huwa qailuha wamin
waraihim barzakhun ila yawmi
yubAAathoona
O alas for a slave who has
been overcome by death and he has not done a good
deed!
O wise
man: look at yourself…
think deeply about your status… in what way will you meet your Lord
while you are facing Him with acts of disobedience? How could you
face the King of Kings if you are one of the heedless… one of those
turning away from obeying Him, the Almighty?
Beware my brother from the
hour of the stupor… how hard it is for the disobedient! How
horrible it is for the heedless! Do you imagine that it is far
away? How many sound and healthy there are who has met his sudden
death! And how many there are who live in a well-pleasing living
but were unexpectedly hit by the sudden strike of death! So prepare
yourself, O heedless, for the Day… it is the day when none will
benefit you but your righteous deeds… it is a Day that you will not
survive its afflictions but by your sincere work!
O Muslim
brother: the market for
good deeds is easy today… so hasten to take your share out of it
before your are being kept away from it! If the dead were to talk
they would have told you that the best provision they had had from
this worldly life had been: performing acts of obedience… and the
righteous good deeds that last… Abu Hraira, may Allah be pleased
with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him, has passed by a grave and asked: "who is the
owner of this grave?" they said: so and so, he said: "two rak'ats
are more favorable for this man than the rest of your worldly
life." [Narrated by At-Tabarani, Al-Albani said: Hasan Sahih (good
authentic)]
O alas for him who has left
this worldly life without any provision of piety! O alas for him
who has been caught by death light-backed of righteous
deeds.
Peace and blessings of Allah
be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and
companions.
Translated by Wathakker Website
en.wathakker.net