﷽
EPISODE 1️⃣: AN EXPECTED SURPRISE
The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said: ”Frequently remember the destroyer of pleasures,’ [meaning death].”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 4258)
The only certain event in our lives is death. We live every day of our lives expecting it, yet when it comes, it comes as a surprise. Generally speaking, people do not want to die. Even in their old age, they remain unconcerned about the imminence of death. They live as though death is a far distant reality.
Allaah (ﷻ) says in the Qur’aan, affirming that death is true and inevitable :
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ
Every soul shall taste death.
(Surah Al-Anbiyaa, 21:35)
This means the moment the allotted time for a soul in this world is over, it will die. Death doesn’t discriminate in age, wealth, or anything at all. A wise man, therefore, remembers death often and prepares for it the best he can.
It was narrated that a man from among the Ansar came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and greeted him with Salam. Then he said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, which of the believers is best?’ He said: ‘He who has the best manners among them.’ He said: ‘Which of them is wisest?’ He said: ‘The one who remembers death the most and is best in preparing for it. Those are the wisest.’”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 4259)
Pondering over death doesn’t just mean pondering over the process of death. It means to ponder over our expected situation from the moment our time on earth is up, then working to achieve an end they will be pleased with. It means being cautious about the things that can keep us from having the good end we all desire.
When one thinks about death, he starts understanding that the world is transient. He realizes that the Hereafter is our real abode and that he needs to prepare for the Hereafter. He then starts to actually prepare for the Hereafter.
When one thinks about death, he starts to get rid of the impertinence that comes by on one’s soul upon seeing death as a far off concern and not pondering upon his own mortality.
The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said: “The wise man is the one who takes account of himself and strives for that which is after death. And the helpless man is the one who follows his own whims then indulges in wishful thinking about Allaah.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 4260)
But many people are unable to possess that strength to succeed thinking about death merely with their own free-will. Some because of fear, some because they do not concentrate fully, some because of their obstinacy and some merely because they really are unable to think of it.
Know that to fear death from which there is no escape is irrational. The rational thing to do is to prepare appropriately for the journey of no return. Having no fear of what is going to happen after death, though it is within our power to change it in our favour, is reckless.
May Allaah grant us an end we will be pleased with.
آمِيْن يَارَبَّ الْعَالَمِينْ.
To be continued إن شاء الله.
🕋 ISLAM GENERATION DA’WAH GROUP
For more Islamic reminders, check out:
Telegram: https://t.me/IslamGen
YouTube: https://youtube.com/IslamGen
Website: https://www.IslamGen.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IslamGen_
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IslamGen_
Facebook: https://facebook.com/IslamGenX