Thoughts on death

[Muslimah]

Assalaamu alaikum.


Not many of us like to think about death. Yet it is as important


(perhaps even more important) to our eventual eternal life than


which is this life.


So many of us get wrapped up in our daily living, that we tend to


forget about the eventual death of this life.


And so many of us consider the topic of death to be so morbid that


we simply put it to the back of our minds, burying it behind the


struggle of the daily life.


Yet, in order to properly put all things into focus, and to truly


work towards an eternal life of bliss and peacefulness, we should


and must think about the death of this life, and what it means, and


how to properly prepare for it.


Just as nearly anyone regardless of religious preference may prepare


for a trip by packing their baggage and taking along provisions for


the journey, so we should also prepare for that final journey which


takes us out of this life and ushers us along our way towards the


eternal life.


Ask yourself today...what have you prepared in way of provisions??


What have you packed in your baggage? Are all things ready if you


are called instantly??


In the ahadith, there is evidence that the prophet(SAAW) sometimes


uttered a supplication seeking Allah's protection from the instant


and un-announced death.


With some further exploration into this matter, we come to


understand that the instant and un-announced death is something


which comes along suddenly, with little if any fore-warning. Such as


those who are taken in a sudden crash or with a sudden heart attack


or similar fate. Or perhaps those who simply fall asleep to never


awake again.


Think about it. In such an instant of sudden and un-announced


death...does the individual have the chance to bid farewell to


his/her loved ones? Does the individual have the last chance to make


things right with others of this world? And...most important and


most vivid...does the individual have the chance and fore-warning


that something is coming along, so as to state or utter the


shadahah???


This is truly frightening indeed.


Our beloved prophet(SAAW) was also recorded to ask Allah for the


betterment of the last moment (hasn-al-khaatimah). This means to ask


Allah for the best possible last moment of this life, in the hopes


that we will be judged according to that last moment, and not all


the moments and opportunities preceding it.


May Allah be so merciful to us all.


Also in some of the ahadith, it is mentioned that one of the signs


of the coming of the Last Day is the increase in the occurance of


sudden or un-announced deaths.


As regards all this, I would like to relay to you some real-life


instances which have happened in my community in the past 2-3 weeks.


A strong reminder for us all...that there is truly no guarantee that


we will indeed live for the next moment. And the most strong


reminder that we need to be up to date in our various forms of


worship, and we need to take heed of importantly saying our prayers


and supplications.