Inevitable but ignored
Contemporary man is overwhelmed by the love of this material world as if death is for people on another planet. People pretend as if what they hear about death and the dead is no more than mere fiction. One observes with dismay that people get angry over reduction in their wealth but are not at […]
Contemporary man is overwhelmed by the love of this material world as if death is for people on another planet. People pretend as if what they hear about death and the dead is no more than mere fiction. One observes with dismay that people get angry over reduction in their wealth but are not at all bothered by the daily reduction in their life-span. Some people have specific days and periods for going out on shopping, picnics, etc on weekly basis. However, such people never reserve any period of the day for thinking of the great event of death.
We are always excited when we listen to stories about life in paradise, but most people get scared at the mere hearing of the word “death”. Man should remember that life in paradise can not be achieved except death is experienced. Death is therefore, a necessary end. Metaphorically, we could say of death that if we want yams to grow, yams must first die and rot. We should not be so afraid of death for it only brings us back to Allah (SWT). Sincere believers do not flee from death because they look upon life as a gift from Allah. We did nothing to earn it; and therefore when it is time to give it back, we have no right to complain.
The first verse of Suratul – Anbiya’i in the holy Qur’an reminds us that “Closer and closer come to mankind their reckoning, yet they heed not and they turn away”. Money, women, children and power distract men from recognizing that death is closer to them than the thickness of a hair. Man is always busy drawing up plans; some long and others short term. Every day that a contemporary man wakes up, his inventory of needs multiplies. Details of the plan might include: I need a car, I need a house, I need a wife, I need this, and I need continues without an end. Such people find themselves endlessly drafting such plans because they see this temporal world as a permanent place of abode. They never see it as ephemeral. I find it incredible that some of those elected in the April 2011 elections as governors or legislators have started campaigning for a second term of office.
Let us remember that no one on earth is immortal. Life without death has not been granted to any man. Death has no symptoms. Illness or accidents are not preliminaries to death. Death could occur with or without them. They are only but a few of the many circumstances under which death could possibly occur. Death is natural in itself. Although every soul shall have a taste of death, the appointed time and place is known to Allah (SWT) alone. The time and place of death is among the five things which knowledge is the exclusive of Allah (SWT). Qur’an 31:34 says “Verily the knowledge of the hour is with Allah alone. It is He who sends down the rain, and He who knows what is in the wombs. Nor does anyone know what he will earn tomorrow, nor does anyone know in what land he is to die…”
When man is about to board his flight on “Azrail Airline”, he realizes without loosing his sight that he can not recognize his people let alone respond to their offers or requests. His hands and feet remain without movement and his jaw drops. His brow sweats, his ears are clogged and he is tongue-tied. And his joints become limp. He then loses hope in our world of illusion, the world of crimes, the world of hatred, the world feuds and world of exploitations. He consequently loses interest in all the attempts his people might be making to ensure his survival. Soon, he discovers the irrelevance of his fleet of jeeps; of his one-in-town mansion; of his rooms decorated and furnished with everything money can buy; of his superfluous dresses; and of his dozens of gold-plated wrist-watches and jewelleries. There and then, he admits the helplessness of his beloved wives, of his dear children and of his obedient and loyal maids. As he departs in to the world of accountability, he acknowledges the meanness of his herds of cattle, of his magnanimous raw cash, and of his group of companies. At death, man gets to know that the world and its luxuries is just too temporal for an abode.
The prophet (SAW) exhorts believers to be in this world as if they were strangers or travellers. The world is to be seen as a transit camp. Ibn Umar used to say “when evening comes on you, do not expect morning; and when morning comes on you, do not expect evening. Take for your health (a precaution) for your sickness, and from your life for your health”. It is only in this manner, that we would be able to curtail our love for this world in favour of the hereafter.
Life is indeed but short. Let’s not allow ourselves to be engrossed in things temporal to the neglect of spiritual and higher things in life. If man would not care to learn about the serious issues of the higher life before it is too late, he must certainly be ready to taste the consequences of his neglect. The thought of death should be a constant activity of our minds. A thoughtless mind is a dead mind. It is good that we assess ourselves daily as we retire to our beds so that we give gratitude to Allah over our good deeds and seek forgiveness over our sins. This will guide us to strive further in our total submission to the will of Allah (SWT) and in our readiness to returning to our creator. May Allah (SWT) enrich our minds with constant reflections of the inevitable end of life, amin.