The other day while I was driving home from the movies, I was stopped at a red light. A group of girls were behind me in their car and they pulled to my right. When they were next to me, the driver, a girl that looked to be about in her teens, turned, looked at me, gave me a nod and a smirk. I was confused by her actions and thought that if it was a smile, I would have smiled back. Whatever. Ignoring her, I carried on waiting for the light to turn green. Once it did, I pressed down on the accelerator. The car next to me did the same. I heard laughter and looked to my right, and realized that the girl that was driving next to me, wanted to race me. Isn't that funny? Like seriously, who does that?
At first, I kept thinking whatever. Weirdo. But when I realized that she was not only trying to race me and beat me, but she was also trying to cut me off, and I got slightly irritated. So I sped up. And I continued to speed up, and would not let her cut me off. Initially I was just going to let her "win" but my ego got the best of me, and I refused to let her.
After we both ended up going our separate ways, and neither one of us "winning" or "losing", I thought "What the hell is wrong with me?" This is how road rage and accidents happen. This is how people get killed. When I was about 6 or 7 years old, my uncle was in a dangerous motorcycle accident because of something similar to this. Someone was trying to race him and he wanted to win. His motorcycle was totaled and he was in intensive care for a very long time. I dont remember the exact details of it, but specifically remember that when it did happen, my grandfather got the news and fainted on the porch.
Alhamdullilah, my uncle came out of the accident with having only a fractured nose. If you saw his bike, you would have wondered, how the heck did he make it out alive?
Anyways, this whole situation made me think of death.
I know it's a very morbid topic and it's something we all would rather not discuss. But I've found myself thinking of death quite frequently for the past couple of months.
After we both ended up going our separate ways, and neither one of us "winning" or "losing", I thought "What the hell is wrong with me?" This is how road rage and accidents happen. This is how people get killed. When I was about 6 or 7 years old, my uncle was in a dangerous motorcycle accident because of something similar to this. Someone was trying to race him and he wanted to win. His motorcycle was totaled and he was in intensive care for a very long time. I dont remember the exact details of it, but specifically remember that when it did happen, my grandfather got the news and fainted on the porch.
Alhamdullilah, my uncle came out of the accident with having only a fractured nose. If you saw his bike, you would have wondered, how the heck did he make it out alive?
Anyways, this whole situation made me think of death.
I know it's a very morbid topic and it's something we all would rather not discuss. But I've found myself thinking of death quite frequently for the past couple of months.
How will I die? When will I die? Where will I die? Who will be around when I die? Will I be old? Young? Will it be sudden? Tragic?
Very depressing thoughts, I know. But I think as human beings, we need to keep death on our mind frequently. Not every single second of your day. But it should be one thing you dont forget. Ultimately we were put on this world for a purpose. Whatever you believe your purpose to be, it's a purpose nonetheless. And based on the course of which your life takes, you will either have fulfilled your purpose, tried to the best of your ability to fulfill your purpose, or just...well...failed at your purpose. As Muslims, we believe that our purpose in life is to serve God, worship God, seek God, and submit to God. Everything that we do should be for God. And in the end, we have to leave this life, and go somewhere. Again, depending on your beliefs, that "somewhere" may be different.
Muslims believe in the hereafter. After you die, you will be held accountable for your actions in this world. And we believe that there is a Day of Judgment. A day where every single person will be resurrected and will be held accountable for their actions, their good deeds, their sins, and their intentions.
And this should be reason enough for us to constantly remember death and the afterlife.
I know sometimes when I truly sit and contemplate this notion of an afterlife I get chills up and down my arms. It's not to say that I dont forget it either.
I just feel like I am so wrapped up in this life. This world. Here and now.
I need to remember that there is a life beyond this life.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) says, "Remember more often the destroyer of pleasures - death.'' Being heedful and talking about death checks man from being lost in the worldly pleasures and seductions. We are, therefore, supposed to remember death frequently and to avoid remaining indifferent to post-death affairs and occurrences.
Very depressing thoughts, I know. But I think as human beings, we need to keep death on our mind frequently. Not every single second of your day. But it should be one thing you dont forget. Ultimately we were put on this world for a purpose. Whatever you believe your purpose to be, it's a purpose nonetheless. And based on the course of which your life takes, you will either have fulfilled your purpose, tried to the best of your ability to fulfill your purpose, or just...well...failed at your purpose. As Muslims, we believe that our purpose in life is to serve God, worship God, seek God, and submit to God. Everything that we do should be for God. And in the end, we have to leave this life, and go somewhere. Again, depending on your beliefs, that "somewhere" may be different.
Muslims believe in the hereafter. After you die, you will be held accountable for your actions in this world. And we believe that there is a Day of Judgment. A day where every single person will be resurrected and will be held accountable for their actions, their good deeds, their sins, and their intentions.
And this should be reason enough for us to constantly remember death and the afterlife.
I know sometimes when I truly sit and contemplate this notion of an afterlife I get chills up and down my arms. It's not to say that I dont forget it either.
I just feel like I am so wrapped up in this life. This world. Here and now.
I need to remember that there is a life beyond this life.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) says, "Remember more often the destroyer of pleasures - death.'' Being heedful and talking about death checks man from being lost in the worldly pleasures and seductions. We are, therefore, supposed to remember death frequently and to avoid remaining indifferent to post-death affairs and occurrences.
Because as the famous rapper, Tupac's infamous lyrics go, why are we dying to live, if we're just living to die?
11 comments:
Very thought provoking....and something we all need to remember!
I grew up Catholic. They promised us there'd be a Heaven...
I'm not sure I want to go unless there's free ice cream for life and dudes walking around naked.
NOW THAT. Is heaven.
the only thing scary about death is that its too late to do any more good deeds or repent, and if u dont have enough of them... who knows where u'll end up.
i liked this. made me emo. it's weird that you mention this because yesterday me, sis and bro were in the car and i was like "do you think God gives us a feeling of how we're going to die?" like Malcolm X kept saying in his book that he felt like he was going to die due to violent causes and he got assassinated. like are we given that gut feeling that ____ is going to be the end of me.
even Tupac said he believed that he would probably die of violent circumstances too.
You're right...very right. I'm so focused on this world...and the things I want out of this life.
Thx for the unexpected wake up call.
Asalamu aliakum, sis
Jazaki Allah for this excellent reminder <3
I loved this post!
I really liked this post. Thought provoking indeed and a much-needed reminder.
Yeah they do it so much in India. One kid we know is in a coma. Another one who used to go to my school had a bad accident and now his motor and speech skills are really really slow he had to quit med school.
lol, black men shaking up the system, i'd put money on violent circumstances too.. but the rest of us with our quiet lives? i donno. one time in pakistan, a lady (perhaps a relative XD) came up to me and told me i would die by my neck...
only allah knows
great post mA :D on point.
JUST ME: everything will be free as working is only a concept in this world..and there will probably be mountain ranges of ice cream in every flavour imaginable and unimaginable :)
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