Death the Destroyer of Desires
Death is not the absolute end. It is just the discontinuation of unity between
the body and soul. It is a change from one state to another and a transition
from this present life to that of the hereafter.
The
purpose of our existence is the worship of Allah as mentioned in the Book of
Allah:
"And I [Allaah] created not the Jinns and Men except
that they should worship Me [alone]"
Soorah az-Zariyat (51): 56
This
life, which we are living, is the testing ground for which there shall be only
two consequences, Paradise or Hellfire. Unfortunately more than often we
disregard death,
as we are so attached to this world and the love of which has been established
in our hearts.
"Certainly,
they see it as distant, but We see it as near"
Soorah al-Ma'arij (70): 6-7
Death
only becomes a reality when a close beloved one dies. The heart feels heavy, the
eyes shed tears and there is, at that moment, a present fear of death. If we
were to spend even a single moment each day thinking about death, it would bring
forth many concerns? The greatest being our Hereafter:
"He
Who has created death and life,
that He may test you, which of you is best in deed."
Al-Mulk (67):21
So we stop and consider what we are doing
with our time and where we are heading, and then realize that much of it is
wasted in light talk, in laughing, in pursuing that which is not going to
benefit our Hereafter.One of the Salaf said:
"Three
characteristics are from Eemaan: Modesty, Chastity and Withholding of the
tongue, not the with holding of the heart and actions.
These are things which cause gain in the Hereafter and loss in this life, and
what is gained in the next life is greater than what is lost in this
world."
[Re ported by Abdur-Razzaaq in
his Musannaf from A'oon ibn 'Abdullaah]
"This World in comparison with the world to come is just
like one of you putting his finger in the sea. Let him consider what it returns
with.”
Saheeh
Muslim (eng. trans. vol.4 p.l486 no.6843
The
Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) explained how this world is not even
worth the wing of a mosquito! And how small is a mosquito, and then the wing of
a mosquito- so what is the worth of the world we run after and are dearly
attached to?
The
Messenger of Allaah (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) referred to death as 'the
destroyer of desires."
[Sunan
at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah & Nasaai and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albanee in
al-Mishkaat (1/1607)]
Because
when each one of us remembers the awesome reality of death and what is to follow
after that,
our present desires and wordy concerns seem so insignificant and futile, and the
life of the Hereafter becomes our goal and we become interested in the means to
attain that goal. We find that the Companions of the Prophet (sallahu alihi
wa-sallam) excelled on this point and were not deluded by the amusements of this
world, knowing that love for this world would injure their Paradise.
Hence,
they faced trials and every hardship with the knowledge that a weighty judgement
was yet to come and a full compensation yet to be paid -
so they had hope and fear in Allaah,
without exaggerated optimism or disparity.
"O
you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march
forth in the cause of Allaah [ie. Jihaad] you cling heavily to the earth? Are
you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter?
[Soorah at-Taubah
(9):38]
Regarding
the shaheed (martyr), the Prophet (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) said:
"Nobody
who enters Paradise will (ever like to) return to this world, even if be were
offered everything on the surface of the earth, except the martyr who will
desire to return to this world and be killed ten times for the sake of the great
honor that has been bestowed upon him."
[Saheeh
Muslim (eng. trans. vol.3 p.1045 no.4635)]
Let us
see how these words affected the hearts and lives of the Companions, as we
reflect upon one Companion in particular, who was guaranteed Paradise, Talhah
ibn 'Ubaidullaah t.
"Whoever
wishes to look upon a martyr walking the face of the earth,
then let him look upon Talhah ibn 'Ubaidullaah."
[Sunan at-Tirmidhi & al-Haakim. Authenticated by Shaikh
al-Albaanee in his as-Saheehah (no.126)]
The
Prophet (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) said to Talhah when his fingers were struck by
arrows in protecting the Prophet (sallahu alihi wa-sallam) at Uhud, as he let
out an exclamation of pain:
"If
yow had said. 'In the name of Allaah', then the Angels would have raised you up
while the people were looking on at you." (And in another narration he
added): until they entered you into the sky."
[Sunan
an-Nasaai. The addition is from al-Baihaaqee. Authenticated by al-Albaanee in
his as-Saheehah (no.217)]
"Talhah is one who has fulfilled his term."
[Sunan
at-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albani in
as-Saheehah (125)].
Which
means that he has exhausted his allotted time in the path of Allaah there
remaining nothing between him and death - thus he is as one killed already,
although still alive. These are the best of people, those whose belief is
manifest in their actions, to whom Allaah and His Messenger (sallahu alihi
wa-sallam) are more beloved than the world and all it contains.
"But
truly the home of the Hereafter is the actual life, if only they knew."
[Soorah
al-Ankabut (29):64]
"We have reminder upon reminder,
about how nations before us were destroyed and a common sickness which they were
plagued with was 'love of this world'. Regarding the Jews, who claim to
be the best of all people and inheritors of the Promised Land, Allaah says:
"And
verily you will find them the greediest of mankind and [even greedier] than
those who do not believe in Resurrection [i.e. the idolaters]. Every one of them
wishes that he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such
life will not save him even a little from [due] punishment. And Allaah is
all-Seer of what they do."
Soorah al-Baqarah (2):96
If
these people who spend their time in heedlessness and negligence, and futile
desires, and the best part of their time being when they sleep or are inactive -
then death is better than life. And we say to them:
'Time
is the most precious thing which you take care of, and I see it to be the
easiest for you to lose"
[Taken
from The Call to Islaam and the Caller of Shaikh 'Alee Hasan.]
"…..
and the worst regret is regret on the Day of Resurrection....and the fortunate
one is the one who takes admonition from others.."
[From
the famous khutbah (sermon) of the Companion, Ibn Mas'ood t
which has been recorded in al-Musannaf of Ibn Abee Shaibah (vol.7 no. 106)]
"Live in this world as if you are a stranger or a
traveler."
[Saheeh
al-Bukhari vol.8, p.284, no.425]
Does a traveler waste his time in
gathering that which is of no benefit for his journey? Or does he immediately
select that which shall facilitate him to reach his goal? In the same way, we
too must get into the good habit of striving to do as much as we can today and
everyday, not putting off things for tomorrow, or after exams, or marriage, or
the age of sixty. . !
"If
you survive till the evening do nor expect to be alive in the morning and if you
survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening. And take
from your health for your sickness and [take] from your life for your
death."
[Saheeh al-Bukhari vol.8, p.284, no.425]
"And die not except in a state of Islaam"
Soorah
al-Imran (3):102
So we keep our hearts moistened and alive with remembrance
of Allaah, and we remember death in order to remember the Hereafter, and finally
we close with a citation from Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee
“O
my soul, it is not except a few days patience, As if her extent were a few
dreams.
O my soul pass quickly on through this world, And leave it,
For indeed life lies ahead of it.”
