::Are YOU Prepared? ::
by Nimao Abdi
Tick tock! Tick tock! Tick tock! Imagine every breath that you take, every step that you walk, every prayer that you perform, every class that you attend, every morning that
you wake up by the will of Allah (SWT), you are getting closer to your death. The minute goes by fast and the hour even faster, and by the time the day is over you look back and wonder what you have accomplished. Days go by, months go by, years go by in this state of heedlessness
and disobedience to Allah (SWT). Brothers and sisters, are we prepared for death? Allah
(SWT) says in the Quran, “Everyone shall taste death…”(3:185). There is no escaping or running away from death. Every single one of us shall die and leave this world behind. There is nothing more certain in this world than death. Al Hasan Al Basri, one of the early scholars, used to say, “I have not seen anything more certain than death except that people treat it as though it is doubt.” A man came to the Prophet (SAW) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger! When will be the Hour? The Prophet (SAW) asked him, ‘What have you prepared for it? “ (Sahih Al Bukhari). Indeed brothers and sisters, this is the question we should be asking ourselves every day. How many of us are prepared for death? How many of us have received the glad tidings of Paradise?
Brothers and sisters, the companions who received glad tidings of Paradise lived their lives as though they were constantly fl eeing from the Hell-fi re. The second khalifah of Islam, Umar ibn Al-Khattab (R), whom the Prophet (SAW) gave the glad tidings of Paradise to, used to live his life worried that he was going to the Hell-fi re. He used to say that if all the people would go to Heaven and only one person would be taken to the Hell-fi re, he would think that he was that one person. Umar (R) wept frequently until the marks of his weeping were left on his face. Umar (R) used to say, “Hold yourself to account, before Allah (SWT) holds you to account. “ He used to question himself before he went to sleep every night saying, “What have I done today?” It was mentioned that Umar (R) would then hit himself for fear that he hadn’t done enough, for fear that he didn’t obey Allah (SWT), for fear that not even two rakaat of Salat were accepted from him. Often, Umar (R) would visit another companion, Hudaifah ibn Al Yamam (R) who had a list of the name of the hypocrites. Subhanallah, Umar (R) would ask Hudaifah (R) if he was on that list. Brothers and sisters, do you know the words that Umar (R) kept repeating on his death bed? He kept repeating these words until the Earth underneath his face became muddy from the tears that he shed from the fear of Allah (SWT): “Woe unto Umar, if Allah (SWT) doesn’t forgive him. Woe unto Umar, if Allah (SWT) doesn’t forgive him.” Brothers and sisters let us wake up and realize that the angel of death is only waiting for the command of Allah (SWT) to take our souls. We don’t know when, we don’t know where, we don’t know how; but one thing is for certain as Allah (SWT) says in the Quran, “And the stupor of death will come in truth: ‘This is what you have been avoiding’” (50:19). On that day, there will be no escape. Let us prepare ourselves now before it’s too late and let us make our good deeds our best friend. Some of us have prayed the ‘janazah’ or funeral prayer. Many of us have lost loved ones. Some of us have even witnessed a burial of a person who not long ago was healthy, walking and talking. Then, suddenly Allah (SWT) took their soul. Brothers and sisters, remember the day that people will be praying the janazah prayer for you. Remember the day when people will witness your burial. Remember the day that you will be left all alone, just you and your deeds in that dark, stuffy, scary grave. Remember the day, brothers and sisters that your family, relatives, and friends will walk away from your grave. That’s it, you are on your own now! You will hear the fading footsteps…tip tap…tip tap…tip tap. In a short while, this will be you. Are you prepared?
from Mubarak Newsletter:: Qabeelat Mubarak of Al-Maghrib Institute
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