Death: The Best Preacher and Advisor
Written by: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salfi, Jeddah Dawah Center, As-Salamah - Saudi Arabia
Written by: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salfi, Jeddah Dawah Center, As-Salamah - Saudi Arabia
One of the signs of the nearness of Qiyamah (Judgment Day) is the speed of time and its contraction, so that news from one corner of the world reaches the other corner in an instant. Today's situation is such that any incident that occurs in the world spreads across the globe in a moment, and everyone becomes aware of it in no time.
Death has been a part of life since the beginning of creation, and every era has buried its dead. This process has continued uninterrupted since the beginning of creation. However, there is a big difference between the death of the past and the death of today. In the past, people used to be shaken by a single death, while today we see hundreds of deaths and do not take any lesson from them.
We hear and read news of death every moment on social media, and we see horrific scenes of murder and bloodshed. We see life as fleeting and death as common and abundant, which makes our hearts hard and resistant to advice.
There is a big difference between the death of the past and the death of today. In the past, people used to be shaken by a single death, while today we see hundreds of deaths and do not take any lesson from them. We hear and read news of death every moment on social media, and we see horrific scenes of murder and bloodshed. We see life as fleeting and death as common and abundant, which makes our hearts hard and resistant to advice.
Death is a great advisor, and that is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) has commanded us to remember death frequently, so that we may develop a sense of accountability for the Hereafter, become disillusioned with the worldly life, and cultivate a desire to do good deeds and avoid evil ones. Visiting graves, even without a funeral, is also recommended, so that we may take heed and prepare for our own death.
Let us reflect on the prayer recited during a visit to the graveyard. If we ponder over it thoughtfully, we will realize that we too are among the dead, lying alone in our graves, and that we too will be questioned by Munkar and Nakeer (the angels of death). We too can fall prey to the temptations of them grave and its isolation.
Here are the three prayers mentioned in Sahih Muslim, with slight variations in wording:
1- السَّلَامُ علَيْكُم أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ المُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وإنَّا، إنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَلَاحِقُونَ، أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ العَافِيَةَ{صحيح مسلم:975}
Translation: "Peace be upon you, O believers and Muslims, and we will join you, Allah willing. We pray for forgiveness and safety for ourselves and you."
2- السَّلَامُ علَى أَهْلِ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ المُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَيَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ المُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ، وإنَّا إنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بكُمْ لَلَاحِقُونَ{صحيح مسلم:974}.
Translation: "Peace be upo the believers and Muslims of these households, may Allah have mercy on us and on you, and may we join you, Allah willing."
3-السَّلَامُ علَيْكُم دَارَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ، وَأَتَاكُمْ ما تُوعَدُونَ غَدًا، مُؤَجَّلُونَ، وإنَّا، إنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ، بكُمْ لَاحِقُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ، اغْفِرْ لأَهْلِ بَقِيعِ الغَرْقَدِ{صحيح مسلم:974}
Translation: "O households of believers! Peace be upon you, and may Allah grant you salvation. What was promised to you has come to pass, and we too will join you, Allah willing. O Allah, forgive the inhabitants of Baqi' al-Gharqad (a cemetery in Medina)."
In these prayers, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has taught us two things: first, to pray for forgiveness and safety for the deceased, and second, to acknowledge that we will soon join them, God willing. When we visit the graveyard and recite these prayers, do we not realize the transience of this world, the reality of the Hereafter, and the certainty of death? Do we not feel that, despite our physical presence in the graveyard, our reality is similar to that of the dead? That is why I say that death is a great preacher and advisor, it does not deliver long sermons or write lengthy treatises, but it teaches us valuable lessons through its mere presence.
There are countless lessons hidden in death, but only those who are willing to learn can benefit from them.
There is a world of advice in the lap of death and the funeral of the deceased. A beautiful body, a strong and healthy person, who once spread light and joy in the world, is now lying helpless and motionless. His condition is so fragile and delicate that he needs others to perform his final rites, like bathing, shrouding, and burying him. The oppressor's desires have been fulfilled, but severe punishments await him, while the righteous person has passed away, but the blessings of the Hereafter await him.
Many people who were once wealthy and influential are now lying alone in their graves, with no one to mourn their loss. They had everything in life, but now they have nothing - no home, no clothes, no wealth, no relationships, no helpers. Yet, many prayers and blessings are being recited for them, and they are enjoying the blessings of the Hereafter in their dark and narrow graves.
Therefore, my Muslim brothers! Death is not just a passing event, but it contains countless lessons and warnings for us. Let us learn from death and prepare for our own departure from this world. Let us soften our hearts and become pious, so that we may benefit from the lessons of death. To learn from death, we need to not only soften our hearts but also become habitual in worshiping Allah and become embodiments of taqwa (piety). One who is negligent in worship and disobedient to Allah's commands can never learn from death, nor can their heart be moved to tears.
May Allah soften our hearts and guide us on the path of Taqwa. Amin.
Death has been a part of life since the beginning of creation, and every era has buried its dead. This process has continued uninterrupted since the beginning of creation. However, there is a big difference between the death of the past and the death of today. In the past, people used to be shaken by a single death, while today we see hundreds of deaths and do not take any lesson from them.
We hear and read news of death every moment on social media, and we see horrific scenes of murder and bloodshed. We see life as fleeting and death as common and abundant, which makes our hearts hard and resistant to advice.
There is a big difference between the death of the past and the death of today. In the past, people used to be shaken by a single death, while today we see hundreds of deaths and do not take any lesson from them. We hear and read news of death every moment on social media, and we see horrific scenes of murder and bloodshed. We see life as fleeting and death as common and abundant, which makes our hearts hard and resistant to advice.
Death is a great advisor, and that is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) has commanded us to remember death frequently, so that we may develop a sense of accountability for the Hereafter, become disillusioned with the worldly life, and cultivate a desire to do good deeds and avoid evil ones. Visiting graves, even without a funeral, is also recommended, so that we may take heed and prepare for our own death.
Let us reflect on the prayer recited during a visit to the graveyard. If we ponder over it thoughtfully, we will realize that we too are among the dead, lying alone in our graves, and that we too will be questioned by Munkar and Nakeer (the angels of death). We too can fall prey to the temptations of them grave and its isolation.
Here are the three prayers mentioned in Sahih Muslim, with slight variations in wording:
1- السَّلَامُ علَيْكُم أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ المُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وإنَّا، إنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَلَاحِقُونَ، أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ العَافِيَةَ{صحيح مسلم:975}
Translation: "Peace be upon you, O believers and Muslims, and we will join you, Allah willing. We pray for forgiveness and safety for ourselves and you."
2- السَّلَامُ علَى أَهْلِ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ المُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَيَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ المُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ، وإنَّا إنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بكُمْ لَلَاحِقُونَ{صحيح مسلم:974}.
Translation: "Peace be upo the believers and Muslims of these households, may Allah have mercy on us and on you, and may we join you, Allah willing."
3-السَّلَامُ علَيْكُم دَارَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ، وَأَتَاكُمْ ما تُوعَدُونَ غَدًا، مُؤَجَّلُونَ، وإنَّا، إنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ، بكُمْ لَاحِقُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ، اغْفِرْ لأَهْلِ بَقِيعِ الغَرْقَدِ{صحيح مسلم:974}
Translation: "O households of believers! Peace be upon you, and may Allah grant you salvation. What was promised to you has come to pass, and we too will join you, Allah willing. O Allah, forgive the inhabitants of Baqi' al-Gharqad (a cemetery in Medina)."
In these prayers, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has taught us two things: first, to pray for forgiveness and safety for the deceased, and second, to acknowledge that we will soon join them, God willing. When we visit the graveyard and recite these prayers, do we not realize the transience of this world, the reality of the Hereafter, and the certainty of death? Do we not feel that, despite our physical presence in the graveyard, our reality is similar to that of the dead? That is why I say that death is a great preacher and advisor, it does not deliver long sermons or write lengthy treatises, but it teaches us valuable lessons through its mere presence.
There are countless lessons hidden in death, but only those who are willing to learn can benefit from them.
There is a world of advice in the lap of death and the funeral of the deceased. A beautiful body, a strong and healthy person, who once spread light and joy in the world, is now lying helpless and motionless. His condition is so fragile and delicate that he needs others to perform his final rites, like bathing, shrouding, and burying him. The oppressor's desires have been fulfilled, but severe punishments await him, while the righteous person has passed away, but the blessings of the Hereafter await him.
Many people who were once wealthy and influential are now lying alone in their graves, with no one to mourn their loss. They had everything in life, but now they have nothing - no home, no clothes, no wealth, no relationships, no helpers. Yet, many prayers and blessings are being recited for them, and they are enjoying the blessings of the Hereafter in their dark and narrow graves.
Therefore, my Muslim brothers! Death is not just a passing event, but it contains countless lessons and warnings for us. Let us learn from death and prepare for our own departure from this world. Let us soften our hearts and become pious, so that we may benefit from the lessons of death. To learn from death, we need to not only soften our hearts but also become habitual in worshiping Allah and become embodiments of taqwa (piety). One who is negligent in worship and disobedient to Allah's commands can never learn from death, nor can their heart be moved to tears.
May Allah soften our hearts and guide us on the path of Taqwa. Amin.
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