I READ THIS FROM ON ABDULJEE'S JOURAL AND I HAD TO SHARE IT???


Allah (SWT) say?s "Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgement shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have succeeded. For the life of this world is but goods of chattels of deception" (Q3:185)

The Qur?an clearly tells us that all soul shall taste death, the time of which is only known to Allah (SWT). The Rasul (SAW) also said: Narrated Mujahid: Abdullah bin 'Umar said, "Allah's Apostle took hold of my shoulder and said, 'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller." The sub-narrator added: Ibn 'Umar used to say, "If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death." (Bukhari)

Surely no one is going to escape death irrespective of who you may be or your position in life, Allah (SWT) reminds us of this when He said: "Wherever you are, death will find you out. Even if you are in towers built up strong and high." (Q4:78)

No matter how wealthy you are, how knowledgeable you may be, how powerful you may be when it comes to the issue of death we are all helpless. The Qur?an say?s: "Why don't you intervene when the soul of the dying man reaches the throat and you sit looking on but We are nearer to him than you are but you do not see. Then why don't you, if you are exempt from future account, call back the soul if you are true in your claim of independence? If the dying man be of those nearest to Allah, there is for him rest and satisfaction and a garden of delight. And if he be of the companions of the right hand for him is the salutation `Peace be unto you from the companions of the right hand' And if he be of those who treat truth as falsehood, those who go wrong, for him is entertainment with boiling water, and burning in hell fire. Verily this is the truth and certainty. So celebrate with praises the name of Thy Lord, The Supreme." (Q56:83-96) This verse reminds us of leading a good life as Muslims.

Allah (SWT) tells us that we should not die but except as Muslims, however because no one knows when death will come we have to be on guard at all times, the Rasul (SAW) encouraged us to lead our life?s as true believers. We should be Muslims when Allah?s blessing come and remain Muslims when His test and trials come. We should always remain in the state of Islam, total submission to the will of Allah (SWT).

The remembrance of death transforms the life of the believer, the awareness of death helps to set his/her priorities right. It helps lead the believer to being more careful about all that he/she does at all times; being less greedy, more careful to the needs of the poor and needy, giving more in charity even if it is just a simple smile. ?They ask thee what they should spend (In charity). Say: Whatever ye spend that is good, is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is good, -Allah knows it well.?(Q2:15)


Imagine an entire community where everybody is fully aware and very conscious of death, the community would be a complete one. There would not be hunger and poverty. A true believer is always precautious, seeking the pleasure of his/her Lord at all times because he/she knows not when death will come knocking. Seeking the pleasure of his/her Lord is paramount as he/she does not want to displace his Lord, the consequence of which is very grave.


The awareness of death made the early Muslims give up everything for Allah?s sake, however we the Muslims of today are unwilling to make sacrifices, our wealth and standard of living cannot and will not be compromised for Allah?s sake. Let us remember that there shall be no second chance, Allah (SWT) say?s:

"O you who believe let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah and whoever do this the loss is their own. And spend in charity out of the substance which we have bestowed on you before death should come to any of you and he would say `O my Lord why don't You give me a respite for a little while? I should then have given largely in charity and I will be one of the doers of good. But to no soul will Allah grant respite when the time appointed for it has come and Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do." (Q 63:9-11)

The Prophet ie also reported to have encouraged us to do charity against all odds.
Narrated Abu Burda: from his father from his grandfather that the Prophet said, "Every Muslim has to give in charity." The people asked, "O Allah's Prophet! If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?" He said, "He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns)." The people further asked, "If he cannot find even that?" He replied, "He should help the needy who appeal for help." Then the people asked, "If he cannot do that?" He replied, "Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds." (Bukhari: Volume 2, Book 24, Number 524)


Let us do good now before death comes, failure to lead a good Muslim life means eternal loss as surely there will be no second chance, extra time or even exemptions, the Qur?an say?s: "When death comes to one of them, he would say `O my Lord send me back to life in order that I may work righteousness in the things I neglected.' - `By no means! it is just a word he says.' - Before them is a partition till the day they are raised up"(Q 23:99-100)

How prepared are you to meet your Lord? Are you ready to meet with Him? Have you done enough to meet with Him? Is your scale full enough to get you through on the Day of Reckoning? The list goes on?????.remember there shall be no second chance.

Let us ask ourselves these questions regularly in our daily life. No one can ever be ready as we all fear that day when the book will be closed and the pen will stop writing. Remember that only those that have done good, have worshipped Him and Him alone without ascribing partners to Him shall be given access to the Garden, ?But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therein shall they abide (For ever).?(Q2:82)

The Qur?an tells of the pleasures of this Garden: ?Those who fulfil the covenant of Allah and fail not in their plighted word; Those who join together those things which Allah hath commanded to be joined, hold their Lord in awe, and fear the terrible reckoning; Those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance of their Lord; Establish regular prayers; spend, out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance, secretly and openly; and turn off Evil with good: for such there is the final attainment of the (eternal) home,- Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring: and angels shall enter unto them from every gate (with the salutation): "Peace unto you for that ye persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final home!" (Q13:20-24)

?On the other hand, for those who fear their Lord, are Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath; therein are they to dwell (for ever),- a gift from the presence of Allah; and that which is in the presence of Allah is the best (bliss) for the righteous.? (Q3:198)

Allah (SWT) also says: ?Leave alone those who take their religion to be mere play and amusement, and are deceived by the life of this world. But proclaim (to them) this (truth): that every soul delivers itself to ruin by its own acts: it will find for itself no protector or intercessor except Allah: if it offered every ransom, (or reparation), none will be accepted: such is (the end of) those who deliver themselves to ruin by their own acts: they will have for drink (only) boiling water, and for punishment, one most grievous: for they persisted in rejecting Allah.? (Q6:70)

May Allah forgive us all and continue to guard, guide and protect us in all that we do.

Let us remember the dead too, may He forgive them, over look their short comings too.

Finally ?And there are men who say: "Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire!"(Q2:201)

May Allah forgive me for the mistakes/errors.