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Will
You Be Ready?
By
Unknown
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 occurrence 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.
---------------------
1. A
young man in his early twenties only recently found the woman
of
his dreams, and their engagement was to take place this next
weekend. He traveled from Riyadh to his home town in the south to
prepare with his family for this most important event of his life,
and
to of course be present for this affair.
Only
two days left before the big day for him.
As
his elderly father waited for his son to wake, he was late in
getting round for them to do their errands for that day, in
preparation for the event.
And
so the father lovingly went into the son's bedroom to wake him.
Only
to find him dead in his bed.
Inna
lillah wa inna ilaihi raa-ji-oon.
Alhamdulillah. It is obvious that he most likely did not suffer in
his
death. But the question still remains. Did he have the chance to
even
utter the shahadah? What were his last words as he laid himself
down
for his last slumber???
The
answers to these questions, no one living on this earth can
know.
-----
2. A
young mother of several children of various ages, some in their
teens, prepared their mid-day meal as usual.
As
her teenage daughters were already home from school at noon-time,
she
finished preparing the food, and covered everything up again, in
waiting for their father to come home before she would serve the
meal.
As
the father was apparently a bit late that day, the mother said to
her
children that she was going to lie down for a bit until their
father came home.
She
reminded her girls that if their father arrived, and if she had
fallen asleep, they were to awaken her upon his arrival, so that she
could
serve the hot meal and they would all eat their meal together.
And
so the mother went off to lie down and to sleep for a short
time.
The
father soon called mid-way on his way home, to tell them he was
about
to arrive, and for them to go ahead and begin serving.
The
girls went to wake their mother, but she would not waken.
And
so when the father arrived, he noticed that the food was still
not
served, even though he had called before arriving.
And
he asked what was the matter, and found the girls crowded around
their
mother.
He
went to waken her, but she would not wake up nor budge. Further
efforts showed him that apparently she had died.
He
abruptly called for ambulance, but once they got there and
examined her, they determined that she had been dead now for a
period of approximately an hour.
It is
apparently obvious that she went to lie down, and soon
afterwards, death overcame her.
Inna
lillah wa inna ilaihi raa-ji-oon.
Alhamdulillah.
It is
apparent that she did not suffer in her death.
But...did she have the chance to utter the shahadah? What were her
last
words as she lay herself down for her final rest???
---------------
3. A
middle aged man, in his late 40's, early 50's, father of 5. The
eldest son just recently graduated from college, 3 girls in their
teens, and a younger boy in his early teens. And a wife. And elder
parents.
SubhanAllah. The elder father is an aged old man, sick with heart
disease. At the time of his son's sudden and unexpected death, he
was
away in Jeddah getting treatment at one of the better hospitals
in
the Kingdom.
Everyone is expecting and waiting for the notification any moment
now
of the old man's death due to his bad and failing heart
condition.
And
now the old man was called back from his treatments to attend
his
son's unexpected funeral.
The
younger man had spent the evening quietly at home amongst his
family, nothing out of the ordinary. Dinner, and evening sitting all
together for family fun and discussion, a bit of television, and
then
everyone off to bed in preparation for the next day of work,
school, whatever.
And
it was that unexpected 'whatever' that happened suddenly to this
family.
Earlier that day, the man had accounted his funds and expenses with
the
family driver. Paying off his monthly dues earlier than due, and
giving him a bit extra, telling him that if he (the driver) was not
in
need of it, then to give that bit extra to someone else more in
need
for charity.
All
day long, he had inadvertently taken care of so many last details
of
various forms of business and monetary exchanges.
At
night, in their bed, he took his wife's hand in his own, kissed
it,
and told her of how he loved her, and asked her to forgive him
his
faults. After saying this, he turned over on his other side,
stated the shahadah, and was out like a light.
After
a few moments, the wife tried to talk to him again, calling
his
name, but no answer. When she became a bit worried, she went to
shake
him...but again no response.
At
this, she realized he was apparently dead.
And
so she went to call her daughters, exclaiming that their father
had
died.
The
girls could not believe it, insisting for them to call an
ambulance.
They
called the ambulance, and called their uncles to come help.
By
the time everyone they called arrived, the ambulance caretakers
and
the uncles found him already dead.
They
took him away in the ambulance, never to return to his family
and
his home again.
The
truth and seriousness of the event did not dawn upon the wife
until
she was greeted by her own parents and brothers coming to
soothe her, without being accompanied by her beloved husband. It was
only
at that moment which she began to realize fully and truly what
had
happened. And the finality of it all.
And
so the funeral arrangements began being made, and she was
suddenly swept up in the whirlpool of it all.
At
least he did have the chance to bid his farewells. And he did
have
the chance to utter the shahadah.
A
great and important chance for anyone.
Will
any of us be given that chance???
--------------
4.
Another middle-aged man, perhaps late 50's-early 60's. Survived
by
his wife of maybe 30+ years, and somewhere around 6-8 grown adult
children. Only several of them still in school, and those in high
school.
Alhamdulillah, his exit from this world was at an opportune time
when
his children had grown already.
He
had no disease nor sickness of any sorts.
He
went out one day, perhaps in the morning, perhaps in the
afternoon, doing some normal errands as he does everyday. Perhaps
going
off to work. Perhaps going off to visit someone. Perhaps going
off
for some shopping of some sort.
But
the point of this story is that he went out of the house, never
to
return again.
There
was some extra traffic on the road that day, and as he swerved
to
miss an oncoming car from hitting him, he ran into a parked semi
truck
trailer on the side of the road.
A
fatal accident at the point of impact.
Alhamdulillah.
Inna
lillah wa inna ilaihi raa-ji-oon.
----------
I
could literally go on and on and on with such similar stories
which
have recently touched my life personally.
And
even more of which I have merely heard of by word of mouth.
Yet
true stories each and every one of them.
True
stories of how death can and does come up at any moment,
without the least or even shortest notification of it's coming.
Are
you ready??
Will
you be ready???
What
are your last words as you lay your side down for rest??
What
are your last words as you leave your house???
Have
you paid all your debts to those whom you owe them???
Most
importantly...have you paid your debts to Allah?? Your
prayers??? Your fasts??? Your charities??? Your remembrances of
Him??? Your asking forgiveness from Him????
What
have you prepared for this last and final journey???
Are
you ready???
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