By: Ghadaq Zia
From the perspective of the Islamic Ummah, the Muslims, death is the journey from one state of existence to another. The death will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement to be questioned about their deeds and based on the evaluation it will be determined whether they will be going to Heaven or Hell.
The signs of death are not non-existent, they are present around us. We can take the example of a funeral. In the funeral, the dead are placed in their respective graves to be buried. We can also the color of leaves turning from green to yellow and then falling one by one in Autumn. Or during the winters when most trees are devoid of leaves. They are all gone.
There was a man that told Hazrat Izrael that he would only help him if he gave him a notice of death. Hazrat Izrael agreed. As the man became older, Hazrat Izrael came to him, the man said he came too soon and Hazrat Izrael mentioned that there were notices that the man was given, as his grey hair.
Every single day we are coming closer and closer to death. Every single breath that we exhale and every step that we take. It does not take us back in time, it takes us forward and the day will come that we will meet the Angel of Death undeniably. And at that moment no one can save us except our deeds. Any day will be our last day. This world is not our home, this world is a temporary place for us to stay in. Our home is in the HereAfter. No problems, no injustice, and no anxiety.
The moment of death marks the moment of rebirth of a man from a moment where he leaves the confined grounds of the world into a life without any anxiety, worries, sadness, grief, and filled with pleasures, happiness, and peace. When a Muslim passes away, his body is washed and shrouded in simple white cloth. All his gold, clothes, planning, ambitions, and chances to work for a better Hereafter are gone. It will be him and his deeds present in the grave. Death is the end of life we are currently living.
Islam does not have a dark and fear possessed view of death because according to Islam, death is a positive entity. Life and death are created by Allah thus whatever Allah has created, the Almighty, cannot be a negative entity. We may not be prepared for that moment and therefore we may shake out of fear due to it. But for believers, it will lead them to a life that is permanent and will be full of great peace- The HereAfter. The HereAfter has no night and day, it will have no sun or moon, it will have morning and evening and the light will come from the Throne.
Death is the meeting with our Lord. The last verse of Surah Kahf has talked about death as a meeting with the Most Merciful and the Most Forgiving. The Almighty God says: “ So whoever desires to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds and not associate anyone in the worship of His Lord”
(Image from here.)
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