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The struggle of death comes with the truth
Written by: Sk Dr Younis Ali
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
27 Shawal 1438.
21 July 2017.
All thanks be to Allah the Lord of the worlds. All peace and prayers upon the most honourable of all messengers.
Dearly respected, Allah Has clearly showed us the purpose for why He created us. Allah says: {I only created Mankind and Jinn for to worship me}. In fact Allah made it clear for us that this first life has been created as a place for testing us. Allah says: {you should know that this first worldly life is mere play, fun, messing, pageantry and boasting among you. Also rivalry in wealth and offspring, just like plants flourishing and growing after it receives rain; pleasing those who do not believe. Then it overgrows and appears yellow and becomes destroyed. And in the Hereafter there is grievous torture, and (also) forgiveness from Allah; and Allah being pleased, whereas the life of the world is just vanity and ego}. 57:20. The messenger ppbu confirmed that this life is not worth much when he said: {If this worldly life was worth to Allah; even as little as wing of a mosquito, then He would not give an unbeliever any. Not even as little as a sip of water}.
Dearly beloved, remember well those facts. Be certain that this life is timely limited. Its end will definitely come. All well die, the devout and the wicked, and those who strive in the sake of Allah and the deserters of Allah’s cause. All will die, those who have been elevated with faith and those who transgress against other slaves. Death will come to the honorable who hates to be enslaved, and those cowards who really cling to this life at any cost.
Allah says: {everyone on it will come to demise; (26) There only remains the Face or Visage of your Lord of Might and Glory. (27)} 55:26-27. This fact must firmly sit in the heart and the mind together. This is the fact which has been announced and stated clearly over the passing of time and place; in the ear and mind of anyone who can think and comprehend that there is no eternal existence except for the Lord, the King the Living who does not die. It is the fact that brushes the entire humanity with the brush of slavery and humbleness towards the Almighty God of the heavens and the earth. It is the fact, which was realized and taken by all prophets and messengers; as well as those who were disobedient and those pious ones. It is the fact, which reminds everyone, every moment of every day, with the eternally living Allah who never dies; by what He says: {There is no other God except Him. Everything will perish except His face or countenance. } 28:88.
The messenger ppbu said: {remember a lot the destroyer of pleasures} (meaning remember death).
Allah in His book called death: the Truth. Allah says: { And the agony of death comes with the truth. (And it is said to him): This is that which you have been avoiding. (19) And the trumpet is blown. This is the threatening promised Day. (20) And every soul comes, along with it comes one who leads and one who is a witness. (21)} 50:19-21.
As our beloved messenger ppbu was in his dying moments, he said: {No other God but Allah, the one and only. Death has its struggling moments}. Our messenger ppbu suffers at the moments of death, waht do you think we shall experience? Allah says: {Nay, but when it reaches the throat (26) And it is said: Where is the wizard or doctor (who can save him now)? (27) And he knows that it is the parting; (28) And agony is heaped on agony; (29) Unto your Lord that day all will be driven. }75 :26-30.
Allah says: {Death shall reach you no matter where you are, even if you were in erected towers.} 4:78. The messenger ppbu said: {When a believer lays on his/her deathbed, he/she is approached by angels who have white faces just like the sun. They have a coffin shroud from paradise, and a preservative perfumed embalm from paradise. They sit at an eyesight distance from the believer and wait until the angel of death arrives. Angel of death sits at his/her head. He calls the believer’s good soul saying: You devout soul come on out in peace, and good news of refreshing breeze, fragrant of basil, and a contented and happy God, who is not angry at you. The believer’s soul comes out easily and smoothly just as smooth as the water flows out of a watering jug. Angels do not leave the soul in the hand of the angel of death for longer than a short moment. They take the soul and ascend into the heavens to Allah the Almighty}.
Sulimar Ebn Abd-Malik (ÓáíãÇä Èä ÚÈÏ Çáãáß) once asked a scholar: Why do we hate death? He said: Because you built your worldly life and you destroyed your next life. Therefore, you hate moving from the development to the ruins.
Dearly beloved, your worldly life no matter how long it gets, it is still short. And no matter how great it becomes, it is still vile and worthless. No matter how long the night is, dawn will still emerge. And no matter how long you will age, you will still go into the grave.
Suliman Ebn Abd-Malik asked: How are we with Allah? He was answered: check yourself against the Quran. Allah say: { for certain, the righteous will be in delight. (13) And the wicked will be in hell; (14)} 82:13-14.
Suliman Ebn Abd-Malik asked: Then where is the mercy of Allah? He was answered: check yourself using the Quran. When Allah say: {For certain; the mercy of Allah is imminent close to those who do good. } 7:56.
Suliman Ebn Abd-Malik asked: What is it like for us when we are brought to be judged? He was answered: those who did good in this life, they will be like someone who has been on a travel and then came home to his family. They will be welcomed with happiness. And those who did badly in the worldly life, they will be met as an escaping slave who is recaptured by his master.
The prophet ppbu said: {whoever loves meeting Allah then Allah loves meeting him/her, and whoever hates meeting Allah then Allah will hate meeting him}. Aesha said: “O messenger of Allah, does that refer to hating death? We all hate death”. The messenger ppbu said: {No Aesha, but when a devout believer is given the good news about Allah’s mercy towards him/her, and Allah’s satisfaction with him/her, and when they are told about their place in paradise then he/she loves meeting Allah and Allah loves meeting them. And if they are given the news of Allah’s anger and punishment and torture for them then they hate meeting Allah and Allah hates meeting them}
The messenger ppbu said: {When a funeral is carried on the shoulders, the dead speaks and all creatures can hear except mankind. And if mankind could hear then they would be shocked or stunned. If a dead person were a pious or devout then he/she would say: hurry me up; hurry up. And if it was wicked then it would say: I am in trouble, where are they taking me}. O Allah, keep us safe, make it safe for us.
You who are distracted, you who are unaware, you the young man and the old, you who have the highest of jobs and you who is almost nobody, you dearly beloved listen, the messenger ppbu said: {in a funeral, a dead person is followed by three: his wealth, his family (or people) and his deeds. Two of those return and one stays with him. His family and his wealth return, and his deed remains with him}.
Abi-Al-Aswad was sitting beside Omar ebn-Khattab during an out outbreak of some disease that claimed many lives. A funeral passed by them, and some men spoke well of the deceased. Omar said: It is accepted. Another funeral passed by them, and some men spoke well of the deceased. Omar said: It is accepted. Another funeral passed by them, and some men spoke bad of the deceased. Omar said: It is accepted. Abi Al-Aswad asked Omar: what do you mean by: it is accepted? Omar said: the prophet ppbu said: {any Muslim who is given a good testimony or a statement by four then Allah will bring him/her into paradise}. Omar continued: We said: How about three? He said: {yes, three}. We said: How about two? He said: {yes, two}. We never asked him for the testimony of one person.
Brother Mohamed Yousif has departed and has left us. According to the testimony of hundreds of Muslims, he had soft and tender interaction with people, and he had sweet taste in his words before his food, and his had much love for all people, and always had a smile. If a good testimony from four people can bring a Muslim into paradise, brother Mohamed Yousif had hundreds of Muslims attending his funeral our of appreciation to his life. Ebn-Masood said: there is no rest for any slave before they meet Allah.
Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).
Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.
- The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
- is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Aya (or Ayah):
- is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
- talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.
Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
- Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
- PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
- Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
