Death

he topic of death is one which often finds the audience uncomfortable in listening to it. Nobody likes to think of death because as well as their own mortality, they often think of loved ones that have passed away in times past.

However, this is an important topic as the reminder of death enables us to best spend the time prior to it. And it is a certainty for us all as Allah SWT states in Sura Al-Imran, Ayat 175:

Everyone shall taste death. And only on the day of Ressurection shall you be paid your dues. And whoever is removed away from the fire and admitted to paradise, he indeed is successful.

This ayat ends with a statement which is paramount for us all to reflect upon. Allah SWT ends this ayat by declaring:

The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception.

Dear brothers, often we can be guilty of spending time in this dunya excited by what it has to offer. Last week’s khutba outlined the blessings that Allah SWT has bestowed upon each and every one of us and naturally we enjoy these blessings in their entirety.

But sometimes we can forget the conclusion of what life really is. Every day it becomes closer to us and no sooner has the book reached it’s appointed time that we then belong amongst the dead.

Whilst we are craving the pleasures that this world has to offer, it is important to cast thought occasionally to those graves you pass from time to time.

Those cemeteries are a great lesson for us. We will be the dwellers of such places one day and one day it will be us that are carried there and not one of the attendees.

Allah SWT has emphasised this many times in the Quran and one reference is to Sura Al-An’am, ayat 62 which states:

Then they his servants are returned to Allah, their true Lord. Unquestionably, His is the judgment, and he is the swiftest of accountants.

However, with such reminders comes the key to this life. As muslims, we are blessed with the knowledge that life does not end with death. In fact, for those who embark upon attaining the pleasure of Allah SWT, this life should be a build-up to hope, optimism and excitement that one day they will meet their Lord who will be pleased with them and grant them an eternity in Paradise.

Dear brothers, it should be the case therefore that the trials and tribulations of this world begin to appear insignificant to us as we are mindful of death. Someone who remembers death has high aims and is instead yearning for the everlasting bliss in paradise.

Remembering death though does not mean that one should make their life loathsome in any way. It is not the way of the muslim to obsess over death and be locked away in a room waiting for his time.

Instead one should use death as a reminder to keep him away from sin and the ways of the Shaytaan. Use it to be hopeful and optimistic towards the next life, the real life. Use it to soften the heart towards others as we are all headed in the same place.

Use the rememberance of death to drive oneself towards righteous deeds, obeying Allah SWT and increasing one’s efforts in all acts of worship.

We must be wary that we do not fall into the group of people who Allah SWT refers to when he says in Ayat 99-100:

Until when death comes to one of them, he says: “My Lord, send me back That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind.” No! It is only a word they are saying and behind them is a barrier until the day they are resurrected.

We can never do enough deeds to guarantee our fate in the next life. But we can use this reminder to reset our way of thinking to that of the truth of our existence and that is to be grateful slaves to our Master, Allah SWT until our return to Him.

May Allah SWT make us mindful of our inevitable conclusion. May Allah SWT make us hopeful and optimistic towards our final abode. And may Allah SWT fulfil our high expectations of our next life.

Ameen wal hamdullilahi rabilalameen.