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Back to Death / Funerals / Inheritance
The Reality of DeathDr. Saleh As-Saleh Thursday, June 29, 2006 The righteous will die and the wicked will die…
All will die: Allah (God) says:
Everyone shall taste death…
No one will escape death. Allah says:
Say: Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you will be sent back to (Allah), the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do.
This life is a period of trials and tests. Allah says:
He (Allah) has created death and life, that He may test which of you is the best in deed. He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.
Man is called to exert the right efforts to achieve the true success in this life and in the hereafter. When exerted according to Allah’s way, the outcome is:
Whoever works righteousness whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (in the oneness of Allah), verily to him (or to her) We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise).
But those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) such are the dwellers of the Fire, they shall abide therein forever.
Those who invoke other than Allah even if they call themselves “Muslims”, once evidences are established upon them that they are setting up rivals with Allah, and they die insisting on that, they exit the fold of Islam because they have committed shirk (worshipping or associating others with Allah). Prophets, themselves, are warned to keep away from Shirk in all its forms. In fact after mentioning the names in the good ranks of eighteen Prophets Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, David Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aron, Zachariah, John, Jesus, Elias, Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot together with thier fathers, their progeny, and their brethren. in Surat (Chapter) of Al-An’aam (Chapter 6 in the Quraan), Allah warned that:
But if they had joined in the worship others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.
A similar note was made clear to the last Messenger of Allah, Muhammad , in which Allah says:
And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad ), as it was to those (Allah’s Messengers) before you: “If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.
One of the close and learned companions of the Prophet Muhammad by the name of Abdullah bin Mas’oud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Prophet said one statement and said another. The Prophet said: “Whoever dies while still invoking anything otherthan Allah as a rival to Allah, will enter Hell (Fire).” An I said “Whoever dies without invoking anything as a rival to Allah, will enter Paradise.”
When the appointed term of each soul is concluded, the only thing that counts then, is its stand towards its Creator. At the time when the soul examines the actual death it will be too late for anyone to repent:
And Allah will never grant reprieve to any soul when its appointed time has come, and Allah is aware of all that you do.
Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah and those who persist in their rejection of the Resurrection), he says: “ My Lord! Send me back (to life) so that I may work in righteousness regarding things left behind!” But no! It is only a word he says; and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the day they are raised up.
Before it is too late, all people are called to reflect on their way of life, about the purpose of existence and the end. Certainly to Allah will be the return. He made His Message clear and said:
There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut (all froms of false deities) and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower
In his Farewell Pilgramage to Makkah, Prophet Muhammad addressed the people on Friday, the 9th day of the 12th month of the 10th year of the Islamic Hijrah calendar, corresponding to the year 632 of the western calendar: He said: “… I have left you among you the Book of Allah and if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray. And you will be asked about me (on the Day of resurrection), (now tell me) what would you say? They ( the audience) said, conveyed (the Message), discharged (the ministry of prophethood) and given wise (sincere) counsel.” The Prophet then raised his forefinger towards the sky and pointing at the people (said):
“O Allah be withness, O Allah, be witness, saying it thrice.”
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