Messengers of Death

Life is a trust from Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ which is gradually or suddenly overpowered by death. Every soul will have to pass through the door of death. The time of death is fixed but we do not know the hour of our own death. However, when our hair turns grey and we begin to experience old-age, then we must understand that the trial of death is hovering over our heads because after having seen the days of youth, old-age gives us an indication of death, as a messenger of death.

نہ مانگے موت آئے گی نہ بیہوشی ہی چھائے گی

کرم کر دو یہ سب کیسے سہوں گا یا رسول الله

Surely, death is inevitable and before death, the messengers of death like black hair turning white, having poor hearing, old age, a fatal disease, they all come in the form of physical weaknesses, but death does not result only from them, rather, some healthy people and even new-borns also die.

The Leader of the believers, Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would say during the sermon, ‘Where are those with beautiful faces? Where are those who were arrogant about their youth? Where have those kings gone who had magnificent cities constructed and had fortified with giant forts? Where are those who were victorious on the battlefields? Without any doubt, time has ruined them and they are now lying in the darkness of the grave. Hurry up! Exceed in performing good deeds and seek salvation!’

(Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 7, pp. 365, Hadees 10595)

Death has been discussed at many places in the Glorious Quran.The Glorious Quran says.

کُلُّ نَفۡسٍ ذَآئِقَۃُ الۡمَوۡتِ

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Every soul shall taste death.

(Part 17, Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 35)

The Holy Quran is making this announcement in very clear words that everyone has to die; no one can escape from it; despite this if we do not prepare for it, then it will be very unfortunate for us. If a person attends a very lavish, joyful and lively party, and suddenly he is given this news that right now a soldier will come and will lash you five times in front of everyone, then surely he will lose his interest in the party, but death is following us every moment, and can grab (approach) us at any time with all of its difficulties, nonetheless we are still heedless.

گو پیشِ نظر قبر کا پُرھول گڑھا ہے

افسوس! مگر پھر بھی یہ غفلت نہیں جاتی

The way to imagine death is to sit alone and remove all worldly thoughts from the mind. First of all, recall those friends and relatives who have passed away. Recall the dead who used to live in your vicinity one by one and picture their faces, think, how busy they were with their worldly jobs, high hopes, and they were struggling to improve their status in society by getting worldly education which they might have not even completed after years of struggle. They used to face many difficulties and troubles for their worldly business. They were busy with worldly tasks only for this world. They loved the luxuries and comforts of the world only. They were living their lives as if they would never go to die. Therefore, they became heedless of death, intoxicated with worldly joys and became busy with sports and entertainments. Their shrouds had arrived in the market but they were unaware of it and were lost in the attractions of this world.

Alas! In this state of unawareness, they suddenly met death and were laid into their graves. Their parents were in mourning due to grief, widows became senseless, children were left crying, their dreams were shattered, long hopes were crushed and worldly tasks were left incomplete. All their efforts for the world went in vain. Their heirs divided their possessions and are consuming them happily and have forgotten them.

After having this imagination, now start thinking about the conditions of their graves as to how their bodies would have been decomposed. Alas! How their beautiful faces would have been distorted. When they smiled, their faces would look very beautiful and radiant. But alas! Now their beautiful sparkling teeth would have fallen off and their mouths would be filled with pus. Their big attractive eyes became swollen and would have flowed down their cheeks. Their silk-like hair would have scattered in the grave after falling off. Insects would have entered their thin beautiful and prominent noses. Insects would be eating their rose petal-like thin and delicate lips. Those small innocent children who would cheer up the depressed people by talking, insects may have got stuck to their tongues after their death. The muscular and well-built bodies of young men would have become mixed with the sand. All their joints would have been separated.

After having this imagination, ponder over that this all would also happen to me very soon. I would undergo the agonies of death. My friends and relatives would gather. My mother would be crying out, My father would be calling out. Sisters would be crying, My well-wishers would be sobbing and sighing. In this state of grief and sadness, my soul would be seized. Somebody would step forward and close my eyes and would cover me with a piece of cloth.

Lamentation would begin by the weeping and wails of the dear and near ones. Then a Ghassaal would be called; I would be given Ghusl after being laid on a tub for Ghusl and then wrapped in a shroud. Alas! With tears and screams, my funeral would leave the house where I spent all my life. Those who love me would pick my body up and would take it towards the graveyard after offering my funeral Salah. Then I would be laid down into the grave and my loved ones would put sand on me with their hands. Alas, they would then return by leaving me all alone in the darkness of the grave. No one would stay there to console me. Alas! Then my body would begin to decompose in the grave. Worms will start to eat it. I don’t know whether these worms would eat my right eye first or my left one, whether they would eat my tongue first or my lips? The worms would freely crawl all over my body. They would be entering my nose, eyes and ears etc.

If we remain heedless of death and being intoxicated with the attractions of this world and we do not prepare for the grave and the Hereafter, then remember! We may spend our life with luxuries and pleasure in this world, but in the Hereafter we may be predestined to be disgraced and sometimes we may have to face its consequence in the world as well.

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ enable us to act upon them!

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِه وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد