To Him we shall return
Jul 19th, 2012 | By Abdullah Khan | Category: Latest, Religion, SocialFor the past few weeks, I was planning to jump in the world of blogging. There is certainly no dearth of topics when you come to talk about problems being faced by Muslims and my homeland Pakistan. As nobody can predict death, events in Pakistan may unfold in a similar fashion. Despite finding numerous topics around, I was finding myself in a midst of a situation where I have not been able to decide (although procrastination played and continues to play a significant role) the topic for my first ever blog.
It was just 5 days ago, when I was talking to my younger brother on Skype in Pakistan, when he quickly ended the conversation by saying that our father is not feeling well. He was rushed to the hospital where he walked himself into the emergency department but the moment he was shifted to the bed, he took his last breaths and his soul departed forever. My whole world along with my family’s turned upside down. It was mere half hour which had changed the shape of life forever for us.
I believe many of us must have experienced the same at some point of their lives. I may not be able to depict that emotion in writing as nobody can fully words when you lose a loved one. Initially, it was sense of disbelief, denial, many “ifs” and “buts” many question starting with “why” but eventually it was the verse 156 of Surah Baqarah which at that breaking moment strengthened and deepened my Imaan and it says while describing the one of the important traits of a Muslims who say, when afflicted with calamity,
“To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return” (Al Qur’an 156:2)
In the increasingly materialistic world, even as a Muslim, it has become difficult to ponder and comprehend the meaning and the whole philosophy of Islam and the concept and purpose of life. Although, we often say that “Death is a reality” but ironically our lives and actions do not depict the faith. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) says
“Remember the eliminator of all pleasures i.e, Death”
Umar bin Khattab (RA) used to say “There is no preacher/reminder better than death”.
The reminder in the Qur’an that “every soul shall taste death” is enough to put us on the right track if we have faith in the word of God.
We read newspapers and watch news of many people dying by different reasons but just move on and remain oblivious to the fact as if it will never ever happen to us. I just saw one of the two doors of mercy has been closed on me and before that day I had never envied those who have both of their parents alive around them. It is time that we all should really take care of them and let’s pray for all those who lost their lives by any reason that may Allah rest their souls in peace and grant their families abundance of patience. We must not forget life is very short and our day may be near too. Are we prepared to face the Creator?
Thanks Abdullah for this piece, indeed a great reminder for all of us. May Allah shower His Blessings on
our Parents and on all of the Believers Ameen.
A unique trait I observed during 1 year in Arabic faculty, International Islamic University is they used to remind death too much… and as a complement!
Yes there is no doubt that (To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return)
But we forget this truth and keep ourselves busy in worldly affairs
May Allah swt give us hidayah
I was shock to read second paragraph………..We muslim believe that we living this world just because of our parents…………Once they left the world, we regret not only for this world but also for the next life……..May Allah bless us to serve our parents till their death
Aoa.
I would never have been in the position to understand the essay in its entirety if my father would have been alive but with Allah’s will, he departed around the same time as your father.
Indeed it is an irrevocable loss. A loss that words cannot explain that is why it is sufficient to say as Quran depicts it in al-Baqarah:
‘And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient. Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.’
And indeed it is a great test upon me and you. Last but not the least:
Rabbirhum huma kama rabbayani sagheerah.