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Death is Beautiful
"He Who has created
death and life, so that He may put you to a test to show who of
you is best in conduct. He alone is Almighty, Much-Forgiving."
Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty) Sura 67: Verse 2
Death is not the end of a life or the removal of life
from living things or beings. Rather, it is something that is created,
like life. God creates death in a living thing or being and so that
thing or being dies. Since God's creation is at all times beautiful,
death is also beautiful. This is because all human beings have an
intrinsic feeling of eternity, and so feel imprisoned in the narrow
confines of the material world as they yearn for eternity. This
natural inclination towards eternal happiness comes from an objective
reality: the existence of eternal life and our desire for it. Death
is the door that opens onto eternity.
Although death seems to bring decomposition, extinguish life, and
destroy pleasure, in fact, it represents a Divine discharge from
the heavy duties of worldly life. It is no more than a change of
residence, a transference of the body, and an invitation to and
the beginning of everlasting life. It releases us from the hardships
of this worldly life, which is turbulent, suffocating, narrow dungeon
that gradually becomes harder with old age and illness, and admits
us to the infinitely wide circle of the mercy of Eternal, Beloved
One. There we may enjoy the everlasting company of our beloved ones
and the consolation of a happy, eternal life.
The world is continually enlivened through acts of creation and
death. Death leads to a more perfect life. The dying of plants,
the simplest level of life, proves itself a work of Divine artistry,
like their lives, but one that is more perfect and better designed.
When the seed of a fruit dies in the soil, it seems to decompose
and rot away. But in reality, it undergoes a perfect chemical process,
passing through predetermined stages of re-formation, and ultimately
grows again into an elaborate, new tree. So a seed's death is really
the beginning of a new tree, a new, more perfect and elaborate life.
Since the dying of plants is so perfect and serves so great a purpose,
our deaths, given that we are the highest form of life, must be
more perfect and serve a still greater purpose. Once we have gone
underground, we certainly will be brought into eternal life. Those
who believe and live righteous lives will be greeted with opened
windows from the places reserved for them in Paradise.
Nothing, then, comes by blind coincidence or without purpose. Thus,
man should always be on the alert, considering every thought and
every action. He should not be oblivious to anything. God is certainly
Almighty, but He is at the same time Much-Forgiving. When a person's
heart is alert, aware that this life is a test, and tries to keep
on the right track, he is reassured of God's forgiveness and grace.
This gives man all the rest and comfort he needs.
The truth Islam establishes in people's hearts does not depict God
as chasing humans to afflict or punish them. He only wants them
to be aware of the purpose behind their existence and of their true
nature. He wants them to rise to the level worthy of His honour
when He blew of His own spirit into them, elevating them above many
of His other creations.
Compiled From:
"The Quran: Annotated Interpretation in Modern English"
- Ali Unal, pp. 1156, 1157
"In the Shade of the Quran" - Sayyid Qutb, Vol 17, pp.
134, 135
The Key has Ridges …
Muslims know that the key to Paradise is the statement,
"There is none worthy of worship except Allah”. Yet many
Muslims simply rely on the statement and believe that as long as
they say it verbally, they will be granted paradise. However the
mere saying of the statement is not sufficient for Salvation. In
fact, the Hypocrites used to say, “I testify that none is worthy
of worship except Allah and …” yet Allah describes them
as liars and says they shall abide in the lowest abyss of the Hell-fire.
This statement or testimony is the key to Paradise. However, its
saying must meet certain conditions. Wahb ibn Munabbih was once
asked “Isn’t the statement of la ilaaha illa-ilaah the
key to Paradise?” He answered, “Yes, but every key has
ridges. If you come with the key that has the right ridges the door
will open for you.” These ridges are conditions that will differentiate
Muslims who will benefit from that statement from those who will
not benefit from that statement, no matter how many times a day
they may have made that statement.
The Ridges
- Knowledge (al-ilm) - A testimony can not be made unless the
person understands what he is testifying.
- Certainty (al-yaqeen) - Opposite of doubt and uncertainty.
In Islam any kind of doubt concerning something that is confirmed
in the Qur’an or the Sunnah is equivalent to kufr or disbelief.
- Acceptance (al-qabool) - If a person has the knowledge of and
certainty in the teachings of Islam, this must be followed by
acceptance, with the tongue and heart.
- Submission & Compliance (al-inqiyad) - This implies the
actual physical enactment by deeds.
- Truthfulness (al-sidq) - Opposite of hypocrisy and dishonesty.
- Pure Sincerity (al-Ikhlas) - Doing every deed for the sake
of Allah alone.
- Love (al-mahabbah) - Loving Islam, its implications and requirements.
Loving those who act and strive based on Islamic teachings.
- Denial - To deny every other object of worship beside Allah.
- Adherence - Holding fast to the teachings of Islam till death.
Source:
"Commentary on the 40 Hadith" - by Jamal Zarabozo, Vol
1, p. 337-346
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