Life Lessons About Death

Posted by Mehreen - 07/26/08 at 08:07 am

Today’s jumuah khutbah dropped a realization upon my soul that nearly brought me to tears. While talking about death, the khateeb reminded us that this life is nothing compared to the hereafter, and that as a congregation we need to work on to achieving our greatest goal - pleasing Allah and being granted Jannah. Something that he had said that really stuck in my mind was, “real Taqwa is to be able to be prepared to leave this world by the will of Allah at any time.” During the salat, he recited Surah Takathur, further reminding us to be heedful of what we do in this life so that we are able to make it to Jannah in the next. Subhan Allah, the topic he had chosen would prove to fit the day very well.

As usual, the message had only temporarily sunken in. After the salah, I walked out, did the usual salaams and meeting with the other sisters, and before I knew it, the khutbah was the last thing I was thinking about.

That was until I saw two big, red ambulances parked in the masjid parking lot with their sirens blaring.

Like everyone else, I rushed out to see what was going on, and saw that Mufti Usmani was on a stretcher, being carried into the ambulance. He had a mild heart attack and had passed out in the musallah.

Mufti Usmani is probably around 80 years old, and possibly my most favorite old man in all of Memphis. He was my old Sunday School Qur’an teacher, the founder of the Muslim Society of Memphis, and most recently, the one who performed my nikkah. Basically, I have mad respect for this man. Later this afternoon, my dad told me that Dr. Usmani had been taken to the hospital, had a surgery, and had pacemaker fitted in his heart.

Later in the evening, we got a phone call from a close family friend. She informed us that her 18 year old daughter has multiple blockages in her heart and needs a transplant, or else there are slim chances of her living.

This all happened in one day. SubhanAllah.

Now, the message from the Khutbah is really sinking in. Death can happen anytime, to anyone. Allah (swt) reminds us in Surat Zumar to make the most of this life so that we are prepared for the hereafter, to preserve our prayers, to give. He reminds us to pack our suitacase, fill it with as many good deed s as we can so we don’t regret wasting time in this life when we are standing before Him, about to enter the next. And very imporantly, He reminds us to continually repent for our wrong actions while we can.

Allah gives us this advice very clearly in Surat Zumar, verses 54-58:
1.Turn ye to our Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped.
2.And follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you - of a sudden while ye perceive not!-
3.Lest the soul should (then) say: ‘Ah! Woe is me!- In that I neglected (my duty) towards Allah, and was but among those who mocked!’-
4.Or (lest) it should say: ‘If only Allah had guided me, I should certainly have been among the righteous!’-
5.Or (lest) it should say when it (actually) sees the penalty: ‘If only I had another chance, I should certainly be among those who do good.’

The life that has been given to us by Allah is a golden opportunity for us to serve Him and please Him as best as we can. What we do with our life now directly affectis our position in the Hereafter. We can’t forget to ask Allah for forgiveness now and just expect to plea at the time of death and expect to be forgiven. While Allah is the Most Forgiving, we also have to remember that we have to do our good deeds and turn to Him before the Penalty comes on us, because after that we are not going to be helped.

Let us ask Allah to guide us so that we are not from among those who are regretful on the Day of Judgment, inshaAllah.

July 26, 2008 | In Here & There, Qur'anic Reflections |

2 Comments »

1.      Asalam Alaykum,

Jazakalahu khair sister Mehreen for posting this. It is a great reminder for all of us. We need to read the quran often to remember our creator. I personally remember death more often when I read the quran. So I go to the masjid everyday to memorize and it has really helped me big time.

Subhana’Allah this is part of life and we need to remember it everyday. Last month in our community there was 4 jannazah’s in 2 wks and I happen to be at the masjid for those jannaza. It scared me. 2 of those people that passed were in their 20s and I knew one of them. May Allah forgive our sinns and make us those that go to jannah.

Nowadays, we tend to forget death and occupy our minds in the world. This shouldn’t be the route for a Muslim. Ulamah have said, “Allah Almighty will grant three graceful things to the one who remembers his death more: (1) Wisdom of repenting soon (2) Peace of Mind - satisfaction of heart (3) Peace in worship. I hope we become those that remember death often.

To the Person who is not mindful of his death, there will be for him three calamities: (1) He will have no wisdom of repenting for his sins (2) He will not be satisfied by little provisions (3) He will delay his prayers and worship (ibaadat). Insha’Allah we’re not these people.

Ulamah have also said that there are four reasons for a bad death: (1) Showing laziness in prayers (namaz) (2) Not obeying orders of parents (3) Drinking alcohol (4) To harm a Muslim.

Jazakalahu khair ones again and I hope you post more of these great remainders in the future.

Wasalam

Naima A.

Comment by Naima Abdulkadir — July 26, 2008 #

2.      Assalamu alaykum

Jazakallah for the wonderful post. Just thought I’d share something since the topic is death.
On the 1st May 2007 Allah in His infinite wisdom caused us to meet in a car accident. With the utmost ease and comfort Allah The praiseworthy removed the soul of my grandmother. She passed away with a smile on her face:). May Allah be pleased with her and grant her Jannah tul Firdaus Ameen. About six hours later Allah called my 24 year old sister to Him. She had just turned 24 the day before her death. On her face was a radiant smile that bespoke of utter pleasure and joy. About a month or two after her death someone dreamt of her. I want to share this dream with you because in it is a message of hope and lessons for us all. The dream is as follows, this person seeing the dream came and visited us at our home she was astonished to see that my sister (who had passed away) opened the door laughing and happy. When asked “Why are you so happy?” her reply was “ Why shouldn’t I be happy when Allah has given me so much.” The person then asked her “Were you afraid when you died?” She replied “ At first I was a bit scared but when my Rooh was being removed there was no fear at all” She told the person “I am happy I died young because I did not have a lot to answer for” She then told the person did you not read the story of Hazrat Salman Farsi (R.A). The person told her that we are so busy with our lives we don’t have a lot of time for Ibaadah etc She replied “Do not think that any action is too small Allah looks at every small deed you do and rewards you.” The person then offered her some food to eat on seeing this she laughed and said “ This is food! This is nothing compared to what Allah gives me.” The person then told her your family misses you a lot, she said go and tell them now not to cry for me because this is only a temporary parting. May Allah be pleased with her and grant her the highest stages in Jannah Ameen
Just wanted to share it to give hope and let people know that we should not think any action is too small because Allah appreciates even the smallest of actions. Spend our lives striving to do acts that please Allah He will through his mercy and will reward us. A little discomfort or difficulty in this world is nothing compared to the ease we will Inshallah receive in the hereafter.
Sorry for the long post and I ask you to remember the deceased in your Duas. Jazakallah

Comment by Aaisha — July 26, 2008 #

http://www.workingforone.com/here-there/life-lessons-about-death/