Thursday, June 09, 2005

Death

I begin in the name of Allah (swt), The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Readers, if you were informed that your death was very close by and that very shortly you would be meeting your end, what would be your reaction?

Most of us would be thrown into pools of utter horror and dread. Internally and externally we would begin to tremble with pangs of fear and remorse. To put it simply, our desire would be that death be averted in order for us to prepare for the hereafter.

Dearest readers, it is extremely vital that this moment of preparing takes place now. For, tomorrow may never arrive, and if death was to overtake us when we have not yet reformed ourselves and renounced our life of sin then indeed, we shall have to suffer the consequences of our disobediences.

It is only when we have become like those individuals who have become favourable to the Lord (those who follow the commands of Allah (swt) and stay away from the temptation of sinning) that we will begin to desire death rather than fear it.
We will view death, not as the termination of a life but rather like a meeting with the Merciful Lord. A well-respected Sheikh states that just as a bride, eagerly awaits the hours until she is united with her groom, similarly a believer awaits his death with greater desire and greater eagerness until the individual is united with the Lord.

In conclusion, we must continuously remind ourselves that the enjoyment and satisfaction we derive from this world is merely temporary. Death is sure to greet us very soon, but how death greets us depends on ourselves. Would you rather desire to be in a state wherein you are fleeing from the agony and torment of death or would you rather be welcomed by an angel of beauty, presenting glad-tidings of entry into paradise. The decision is ours.

I end with a supplication: Oh Allah (swt) grant us the ability to constantly remember death and create in our hearts the desire to meet You. Oh Almighty Allah (swt) grant us the ability to not become attached to this temporary world. Oh Allah (swt) it is the world of the hereafter that we desire, grant us Paradise and save us from Hellfire. Oh Allah (swt) forgive our sins, help us in staying away from sinning and also enable us to become practicing sincere Muslims.
Ameen.