Death; a Beautiful Gift For a Believer

Why Do We Fear Death?

The fear of death, for most of the people, is not a matter which requires any evidence because it is totally obvious and we also see that a lot of people manifest extra-ordinary sensitivity with respect to the term `death' and its reality. Thus the actual matter is self-evident. That which requires proof and an answer is the reason for this fear and alarm as to why we fear death?

Reasons for the Fear of Death

In answer to this question, it is possible to mention some reasons, which have also appeared in our traditions, and which are as follows:

1. Not having a correct insight

In the previous discussions, we had mentioned that a lot of people considered death to be an eternal destruction of themselves. Consequently, it is but natural that they fear death and visualize it dark and gloomy, because the love for permanence and eternity is one of the natural instincts of people and each one in his own way, tries to protect himself from calamities and diseases and ensure his own permanence, and death, in his view, is greater and more pain-inflicting than any disease or calamity, because it is the start of his everlasting extinction.

Nevertheless, if the alarm and fear of death is as a result of non-recognition of the reality of death, then for the removal of this fear, it is vital that its reality, which is found in the Islamic insight, be understood and with regard to it, a strong conviction be developed. If a person bases his views regarding death on correct foundations, many of his fears regarding death will cease to exist because,

once he comprehends that with death, he shall enter into a world, more extensive and eternal and also that he shall be liberated from the material, natural and corporeal shackles, how then would he consider it to be abominable and hateful.

2. A new and an unfamiliar path

One of the causes due to which man tends to fear death is that man, after death, steps onto an entirely new path and embarks upon an entirely new journey. Man, usually tends to travel on frightful paths, over which he has traveled a number of times and has not encountered any trouble, better than paths which are comparatively safer, but which are totally new.

Since, the path being new and unfamiliar, it becomes reason for hesitation and anxiety, especially since no one, who has traveled this path, has brought any news about it, for the others.

Anyway, if the fear of death is due to the place and path being unfamiliar, then it is necessary that the reality of death be completely comprehended and one's conviction strengthened. In addition to this, it is necessary to obtain the necessary information by means of the Revelation and the traditions of the Infallible Imams (pbut) and the righteous people, regarding the stages, places of danger and the other particularities of death and after it, then believe in them and prepare oneself to encounter them.

Just like a person, who during the course of a journey, finds himself lonely and unaware of his whereabouts, manages to lessen his perplexity with the help of necessary information, maps and equipment's, we too must obtain the map of the way and the necessary information from authentic and reliable sources.

In a tradition from Imam Ali ibn Muhammed (pbuh), it is narrated that he (pbuh) approached one of

his companions who was sick and in a state of crying and grieving and complaining due to fear of death. The Imam (pbuh) then addressed him saying: "O servant of God, you fear death because you do not comprehend it." Then the Imam (pbuh) presented an example and said: "If you had become dirty, and due to the excess of dirt and dirtiness you were in suffering and inconvenience,

and you knew that the cure for all this lay in your taking a shower, would you wish to go to a bath and clean yourself or would you wish to remain in the same state of dirtiness and as a result continue to undergo the suffering." The sick man said, "Yes, I would wish to take the shower." Then the Imam (pbuh) replied: "death (for you) is the very same shower."

The point to be considered in the above tradition is that, the sick person was one of the companions of the Imam (pbuh) and was aware of the Islamic insight regarding death, but in spite of this, was intensely fearful of death. And so, the Imam (pbuh) by presenting an example explained to him the states and circumstances after death and thus calmed him.

3. Lack of preparation

Some of the people have comprehended the reality of death and are also aware of the Islamic insight regarding death. On the other hand, they have also obtained some information regarding the stations and the journey after death, however, in spite of all this, they still fear death. This fear is not due to the two reasons previously mentioned but because they have not made available for themselves the tools and things necessary for this journey of theirs, while, on the contrary they have been paying more-than-necessary importance to their present lives;

like a person who knows that he would have to spend the rest of his life in another country, but has not collected any money for his journey. Instead, all that he has gathered is in the form of house, shop, land or other things which, presently, are neither capable of being changed, nor transferred. In other words,

he has strived and worked and collected a capital, but the capital is such that it cannot be transferred and there is also nobody who will buy it. In short, it is not useful in any way for the objective, which he had in mind. Someone asked Imam Hassan (pbuh): "Why are we reluctant to die, why don't we like death?"

"Because", replied Imam Hassan (pbuh), "You ruined your next world and developed thisone; naturally, you do not like to be transferred from flourishing to decline."

This kind of fear of death, which results from the lack of preparedness and the absence of the provisions of the journey usually occurs with the believers, which in reality is not fear of death but instead, fear of not possessing the sufficient provisions necessary for this journey.

Another point is that such a fear is usually mixed with eagerness. Because, on the one hand, a believer is eager for the Divine meeting and also for the companionship of the Righteous people. On the other hand, due to lack of sufficient piety and the necessary provisions, finds himself in a state of anxiety and fear, whereas the unbelievers do not possess such a fear and eagerness.

They fear the actual death, because they consider it to be a complete annihilation. Of course, it could be said that the fear of the unbelievers could have a universal meaning, and the causes of it could be those mentioned and also those not mentioned.

Nevertheless, death or transfer into another world is a universal law, acceptance of which or fear of which shall create no change in the law itself, and finally sooner or later, everyone shall taste the nectar or the poison of death. That, which is more important than death, is the preparation for it, and God willingly (Insha Allah); Almighty God shall bestow such a success upon us as in the next story.

The Clever King!

There was a country long time ago where the people would change a king every year. The person who would become the king had to agree to a contract that he would be sent to an island after his one year of being a king.

One king finished his term and it was time for him to go to the island and live there. The people dressed him up in expensive clothes and put him on an elephant and took him around the cities to say goodbye to all the people. This was the moment of sadness for all the kings who ruled for one year. After saying farewell, the people took the king with a boat to the remote island and left him there.

On their way back, they discovered a ship that had sunk just recently. They saw a young man who survived by holding on to a floating piece of wood. As they needed a new king, they picked up the young man and took him to their country. They requested him to be a king for a year. First he refused but later he agreed to be a king. People told him about all the rules and regulations and that how he will be sent to an island after one year.

After three (3) days of being a king, he asked the ministers if they could show him the island where all the other kings were sent. They agreed and took him to the island. The island was covered with thick jungles and sounds of vicious animals were heard coming out of them. The king went little bit inside to check. Soon he discovered the dead bodies of all the past kings. He understood that as soon as they were left in the island, the animals came and killed them.

The king went back to the country and collected 100 strong workers. He took them to the island and instructed them to clean the jungle, remove all the deadly animals and cut down all the excess trees. He would visit the island every month to see how the work was progressing. In the first month, all the animals were removed and many trees were cut down.

In the second month, the whole island was cleaned out. The king then told the workers to plant gardens in various parts of the island. He also took with himself useful animals like chickens, ducks, birds, goats, cows etc. In the third month, he ordered the workers to build big houses and docking stations for ships. Over the months, the island turned into a beautiful place.

The young king would wear simple clothes and spend very little from his earnings as a king. He sent all the earnings to the island for storage. When nine (9) months passed like this, the king called the ministers and told them:

"I know that I have to go the island after one year, but I would like to go there right now." But the ministers didn't agree to this and said that he has to wait for another three (3) months to complete the year.

Three months passed and now it was a full year. The people dressed up the young king and put him on an elephant to take him around the country to say goodbye to others. However, this king is unusually happy to leave the kingdom. People asked him, "All the other kings would cry at this moment and why are you laughing?"

He replied, "Don't you know what the wise people say? They say that when you came to this world as a baby, you were crying and everyone was smiling. Live such a life that when you are dying, you will be smiling and everyone around you will be crying. I have lived that life. While all the other kings were lost into the luxuries of the kingdom, I always thought about the future and planned for it. I turned the deadly island into a beautiful abode for me where I can stay peacefully.

"The moral lesson from this story is about how we should live our life. The life of this world is to prepare for the life hereafter. In this life, we shouldn't get lost into the deceiving and attractive things of this world and forget about what is to come in the afterlife. Rather, even if we are kings, we should live a simple life like our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and save all our enjoyments for the hereafter. May Almighty God make it easy for us. Amin.

Holy Qur'an urges us to prepare for tomorrow: "O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and let every soullook to what (provision) He has sent forth for the morrow. Yea, fear Allah: for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do."(Qur'an 59:18)

Prepare for Death. It can strike anytime at anyplace

Holy Qur'an Says: "Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). It is He Whosends down rain, and He Who knows what is in the wombs. Nor does any one know what it is that he will earn on the morrow: Nor does any one know in what land he is to die. Verily with Allah is full knowledge and He is acquainted (with all things)." (Qur'an 31:34)

Once the angel of death (Izraeel) (pbuh) appeared in the form of a human being in the court of Prophet Solomon (Sulayman) (pbuh) and gazed continuously at a person present there for some time. That person asked Prophet Solomon (pbuh), "Who was that person?" He (pbuh) told him that, that was the angel of death. He remarked: "The angel of death had gazed at me in such a manner as if he had determined to take my life." Prophet Solomon (pbuh) asked him, "What do you want?" He requested him to take him to India.

He commanded the cloud to pick him up and drop him in India. Consequently the cloud carried him to India. The angel of death came to Prophet Solomon (pbuh) next day. Prophet Solomon (pbuh) asked him, "Why did you fix your gaze at that person?" Angel of death replied: "I wondered that the Almighty God had commanded me to take the life of this person in India whereas he was sitting here in your presence."

Hence that person reached India, his prescribe place of death, from the presence of Prophet Solomon (pbuh), so that the angel of death can perform his job as ordered by Almighty God.

After some time, Prophet Solomon (pbuh), with the staff in his hand, was viewing the kingdom around him, when he saw a young man approaching him. He was surprised and asked him, "Who are you and who gave you permission to enter the palace?"

The visitor replied: "I have come in with the permission of Almighty God, the owner of the universe. I am the angel of death and Almighty God has sent me to take your life away."

Prophet Solomon said: "Then allow me to go home to prepare for death and rest on my bed." The Angel said: "No.

"While Prophet Solomon stood leaning on his staff, his soul left him. His body remained standing for

such a long time that the people and the Jinn believed him to have become a spirit or a magician. They carried on with the work entrusted to them by Prophet Solomon, until Almighty God caused the Ants to eat away the staff he was leaning on and his body fell to the ground.

Before Time Runs Out:

Man is on trial in this world. Here, everyone is being tested; if one acts rightly, one will succeed in the trial of life. Neglect of the task that lies before one is tantamount to failure. Those who do not strive to succeed in the trial of life are doomed to failure, whether they like it or not.

Man can be likened to an ice-vendor in this respect, one whose ice is continually melting and who has to sell his merchandise before it all dissolves. If he delays in selling the ice, then he will have nothing left to sell; his capital and his profits will have vanished into thin air.

This same principle applies to the life of man. Man is rapidly moving towards a sorry end. There is only one thing he can do to avoid disaster, and that is to put the time he has been allotted on earth to the best possible use.

A successful ice-vendor is one who sells his ice before it has all dissolved. Similarly a successful person is one who puts his life to good use before it ends, and prepares for the life to come before it is upon him.

The Lesson of Death:

Man desires life, but sooner or later, he has to come to terms with death. Just as he is at the peak of his career, death comes and shatters it all. Suddenly, he has to face a world for which he has made no preparation.

Man aims at establishing his own glory on earth, but death comes and demolishes all the delusions of grandeur which he had nurtured, teaching him how powerless he is before death. Man wants to be his own lord and master, but his helplessness in the hands of fate shows that he has no control over his destiny. Man wants to satisfy his desires in this world, but he is foiled by death, which constantly eludes him in this world.

We must learn from death, for the secret of life is hidden in the message it has to teach us. Death shows us that we are not our own masters; that our stay on earth is only temporary; that the world is no place for the realization of our dreams. Death teaches us how to live; it shows us the way to real success.

Doomsday:

"This world is like a serpent, so soft to touch, but so full of lethal poison. Unwise people are allured by it and drawn towards it, and wise menpoison. Unwise people are allured by it and drawn towards it, and wise menavoid it and keep away from its poisonous effects." Imam Ali (pbuh)avoid it and keep away from its poisonous effects." Imam Ali (pbuh).

People eat, drink and make merry in this world. They establish themselves in comfortable homes. They seek to win promotion in life. They believe or reject matters at will. They are free to do and say what they like. They strive to excel in whatever department of life they choose.

Man has been deluded by his worldly position. He thinks that what he owns in this world will always

be his. He forgets that he is being put to the test by means of all the power, which he wields in this ephemeral world. Nothing that he has will last. Everything will be taken away from him. He will be stripped of even the most basic of the worldly amenities he used to enjoy. He will be brought before the Lord of the Universe to be judged.

All disparity between men will disappear on the "Day of Judgment." Fear of God will seal everybody's tongue. Injustice will benefit no one; truth will be inescapable. Man will stand alone, answerable for his actions.

We must foresee the coming of that day before its arrival. Those who fail to see it coming before it is upon them will have to pay dearly for their shortsightedness. They will have to endure the punishment of hell fire.

Life's Journey

Everyone's mind is full of hopes and ambitions. Everyone cherishes some dream and lies to think that he is progressing towards the fulfillment of that dream. Death puts paid to all his hopes and shows him that he has been traveling towards the world of God, not the world of his own fancies. The journey of his life is not destined to end in this world, he is bound for eternity. How ignorant man is of his own fate. How different from what he imagines his real destination.

Man spends his life ensuring that his children make the most of their future, but he does not live to see the fruits of his efforts. Before long he himself is forced to face future for which he has made no preparation. Man strives to build himself a comfortable home, but death comes between him and the enjoyment of which he dreamed. Man seeks to enrich himself; he thinks that the more he earns, the more he will advance in honor and prestige. But soon he has to come to terms with the fact that he is bound for the desolation of the grave rather than the honor and prestige of which he dreamed.

Man cannot do without ephemeral comforts. This obsession causes him to deny the stark realities of life. If only he realized that his temporary pleasures would soon be replaced by eternal torment then his attitude to life would change radically.

What Man should realize:

Man thinks he is free to do and say what he likes in this world. He accumulates wealth and thinks it will ensure his future security. He wields power fearlessly, certain that it will never be taken away from him. People are sure of themselves in this world they have no idea of the fate that is in store for them. Eventually death will put paid to the false security they feel in this world. They will be transported, in a helpless state with dreadful suddenness to the next world.

No one can escape this fate. When death comes, we will realize, with terror in our hearts, how wrong we had been about things in this world. What seems real to us in this

world is, in fact, only a deception; the reality of things will only be revealed to us after death.

A person's attitudes will suddenly change when he perceives reality. "Lord", he will cry, "I thought I was free in the world, but my freedom was only an illusion. I thought I was rich, but I have turned out to be destitute. I considered myself powerful, but now I have been exposed for the helpless creature that I was. I thought I had many friends in the world, but they have all deserted me; there is no one to help me now."

This is what man should realize. But unfortunately man has forgotten that this is the reality that is going to affect him more than anything.

The Three Friends:

Once the Prophet of God, Hazrat Mohammed (pbuh) was sitting amidst his Sahaba (Companions) in the mosque when all of a sudden he said: "Today I shall narrate a story to you all which will reveal three riddles for all of you to solve." This hushed the crowd and they all listened to what the Holy Prophet had to say.

Hazrat Mohammed (pbuh) continued by saying that once a man got to know that the days in his life was numbered and very soon he would be confronted with death. With this knowledge he feared his loneliness in the grave and went searching for true friends who would help and accompany him.

He knocked on the door of his first friend and asked whether he would help. To this the friend said, "of course, what are we here for." But then the man went on to say that he had very few days to live after which he required help. As soon as he uttered this statement, the friend said: "I am sorry but when death does us apart, there is nothing we can do for you but buy you a place in the graveyard and some cloth (Kafan/Shroud) to cover your dead body." Grieved but looking forward to his next friend, the man moved on.

On the second door, when he came face to face with his friend, and after narrating the entire story of his death and asked for help, the same answer was his fate again. The second friend said: "I have been there with you all your life and can help you here. But there's nothing I can do for you after you die except take your corpse to the graveyard and bury you."

Lost in agony and despair, he headed for the third friend, very sure that he would receive the same answer but there was a tinge of hope left. When he confronted the third friend, and told him that he required help, the friend eagerly volunteered to help. But the man continued to say that I need help after I die. To which the third friend replied, "Do not worry, my dear friend! I shall accompany you to the grave, be there with you in the grave, even when the angels arrive for questioning (Munkar-o-Nakeer), then assist you on the bridge (Pul-e-Sirat) and then lead you to heaven." To this the man heaved a sigh of relief and then passed away in peace.

The Prophet of God (pbuh) then turned and asked his companions if anybody could identify the three friends and the man. When the prevailing silence didn't dissolve, the Holy Prophet continued to say, "The man in the anecdote is any other human being." The first friend is "money/wealth", things that help us only in life and not after we die.

The second family/friend were the "children (sons and daughters)", we strive for them all our life and

all they give us is a shoulder to the grave.

And the third and most important friend is "deeds (Aamal)." Who accompany us all the way through.

Moral: Do not strive for materialistic values that will give you nothing and help you in no way in youreternal life. But work and pray and ask forgiveness from Almighty God for only the good deeds assist mankind where every other thing loses value in the life hereafter!

Holy Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) Says:

1. "There are three friends of Human being - Wealth, Family and His Deeds."
2. "Verily the love of this world is the root-cause of every evil"
3. "Who is most in danger?" Imam Sajjad (pbuh) replied: "The one who does not regard theworld dangerous for himself."