Let’s talk death!

I always used to think that why my heart doesnot have the ability to sustain the love for Allah, religion and shariah. I always feel so close to my religion when I hear some good speech by a good alim. Or I feel close to my religion if I am sitting in an islamic gathering. or I feel close to my religion in the month of ramazan. Afterwards, slowly and steadily that effect wipes away. I start praying five times a day. but slowly I start to miss them. and a time comes when I miss them all. Why is that so? Why I donot remain the same through out my life. Why I have not developed patience or “istakamat” to stay on relgion.

My curiosity was answered by Allah. I soon realized that I have a serious problem. And this problem is not only in me. But this problem is affecting every muslim around. After a bit further pondering I realized that the solution of this problem is mentioned in Quran and sunnah so many times that I started to feel myself naive as I didnt get the idea before.

The problem was simple and straight forward. There is no “rememberance of death” in my life!!!

Our Prophet (PBUH) is reported to said: “The hearts also become rusted. Just as iron becomes due to water.” Sahaba asked. “How will it get removed?” Prophet (PBUH) replied: “Remeberance of death and Recitation of Quran”

Just think brothers. How many times do we discuss our own deaths in our daily life? Do we talk our death in family? Do we talk about death in office? Do we talk about death with friends?

The remeberance of death is a very crucial element of Islamic way of life. The true spirit of Islam lies in the beleive of being mortal.

Hazrat Ibne Umar (Radiyallahi~A nhu) says: “I was one among ten people who came into the presence of Prophet (Sallallahu AlaihiWasallam). One Ansari stood up and asked Prophet (SallallahuAlaihi Wasallam): “Who is the most intelligent and careful person?”Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied: “Those people who remember death most and prepare for it most. These are people who have excelled in the nobility of this world and the honour of thehereafter.” [Ibne Maajah]

Death is a harsh and fearful reality faced by everyone who lives. No one has the power to avoid it, nor does anyone around the dying person have the ability to prevent it. It is something, which happens every moment and is encountered by the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak. They are all the same because there is no plan or means of escaping it, no power, no means of intercession, no way to prevent it, nor to delay it, which shows that indeed it comes from One having tremendous power – so that the human is helpless in this regard and can only submit to it.

As Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).”

(Qur’an Al-Imran 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 Al-Anbiyah 21:34-35)

It is reported to have been recorded in Ahadith: Remember your death quite frequently because it embitters the taste of one’s luxuries.But it is not permissible for one to have the death-wish in the face of afflictions and sufferings.Such an act has been strictly forbidden.If it is a must for one to have a wish,one had better ask Allah for the longevity.Ask Allah to let one live until one’s life is a means of noble deeds for one,and grant one death when life becomes a source of evil and bad deeds for one.[Bukhari,Muslim]

So how many times do we discuss death? Do we talk about death while sitting with friends? Do we talk about death with our childern? Or prophet, even in daily supplications, taught us to remember death. For example, when one goes to bed for sleep prays to Allah, “O Allah with your consent I am dying now. And I will be given my life back in morning with your consent too. To you I shall return one day”. Even we are tought with the famous prayer which is offered when some one is seen in new dress, “O brother/sister. May Allah give you more in halal rizq and give u a death of a Muslim!”. See? A Muslim talks about death when he sleeps. He talks about death when sees someone in new cloth. Why?

The point is clear. Rememberance of death is the key to “istakamat” or patience of keeping oneself close to Allah. This is what keeps a praying person not to forget his/her prayers five time a day. This makes a person to pay zakat and sadkat. This makes a man to speak truth. This makes a man to be good with poor, olds and childern. This makes a man to remember Allah! This is the only way to salvation. This is the only way to make oneself “THE WALI” of Allah.

So! Let’s try to keep ourselves on right way and develop our patience and istakamat. Let’s talk death! 

—-  Syed Muhammad Shoaib

The definition of TRUE Righteousness!!

The above ayat is one of the most enlightening ayats of Quran regarding the attributes of a true Muslim, as due to this it is my be called as, the encyclopedia of a true Muslim attributes. This ayat was revleaed to our beloved prophet (p.b.u.h) when the Qibla was changed from bait ul maqdas to Masjid e haram (Qaba). Many people became confused due to sudden change in the direction. Remember! the change of Qibla took place in Madina. So the life of Islam was now more than 13 years old. So for such long time all the Muslims prayed towards Bait ul Maqdas. This raised question about the old prayers offered to old Qibla. As this is not the topic of my discussion I will not go into the details. All I want to refresh in the reader’s mind the true defination of a Muslim.

“Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who

1) believes in Allah ,

2) the Last Day,

3) the angels,

4) the Book,

5) and the prophets

6) gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves;

7) and establishes prayer

8) gives zakah;

9) and fulfill promise when they promise;

10) and are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle.

Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous!  [02:177]

So, we must try to properly embed these ten points in our daily life for our true salvation. May Allah include us in his true righteous people.

–Syed Muhammad Shoaib.

Note: Have you noticed that the expenditure of wealth (sadqat o khairat) is mentioned even before salat and zakat (Farz expenditure)? Can you ponder why? Quran gives in answer in Surah Imran. “You will not attain true goodness until you give (expend) of what you love (on needy). Whatever you give away, Allah knows it.  (Surah ‘Al Imran, 3:92)” What taqwa a man could have if he calls himself a Muslim, offers prayers and just only give 2.5 percent zakat? He sees poors  all around the world and his hand doesnot move to his pocket despite of the fact that he has bulks of money in his banks? 2.5 percent of zakat is a farz. But this is not the height of righteousness! The height of righteousness is

“[who] gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves;”