A Not-So-Subtle Reminder

Here’s why you should remember death more often.

Hola! Buenas tardes. Como estas? Soy muy emocionado minestras escribo por qué, mirame! Presumiendo mi español. Jeje.

Back to normal, here's why I'm here again.

“Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.” – [3:185]

Just some reminders so we’re all among those who are drawn away from the fire and admitted into Paradise. May Allah count us among them.

There are people who regard death as the end, the eternal rest. But for us, Muslims, we understand that this is not true. Death, in fact, is the beginning of your journey to the hereafter. It’s the full stop in the book of your deeds. The turning point after which all that is left for you are your deeds. Not your clothes, houses, cars, degrees, or even the money in your bank account. Just you and your deeds, six feet under, answering questions about how you lived your life.

The believer understands that Allah says,

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” –[51:56]

He understands that the sole purpose of his creation is worship. He understands that he only has the opportunity to fulfill that mission until the time he breathes his last. He also understands that the quality of his hereafter is determined by how much he fulfills his mission of worship before his death.

Hence the Hadith,

“The most intelligent one from among you is he who remembers death the most, and the most prudent one from among you is he who is the most prepared for it.” – (Alam al-Din, no. 333)

•••••

Sometime last week, at the end of a long day, I was sitting with my feet up, catching up with some of my TV series. It was late, I was tired and I was just ready to crawl into my bed. I remembered that I was yet to observe my witr prayer and I was trying to convince myself I would wake up for it later. I also knew I would most probably not wake up until Fajr, given how tired I was. But I was going to just crawl into my bed anyways, postponing the witr prayer.

Then my mind whispered, 'how are you so sure you’ll even wake up in the morning, mumu?’. A very valid question. Long story short, I stood up and prayed that witr that night o. Because if I mistakenly go and die like that, How To Get Away With Murder should not be the last thing I did with my life. A’udhubiLlah .😩 I didn’t wake up until Fajr the next morning by the way.🙂

Sha, this one’s a reminder for you to wise up and be prudent.

Wise up – Remember death often. E go dey ginger you to do better.

Be prudent – Prepare for death. When you do remember death, try to perform an act of worship to help you prepare for it. Sadaqah, nawaafil, a kind word to someone, a smile, praise Allah, glorify Allah, seek forgiveness from Allah. Just…remember Allah. May Allah ease it for you and I.

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Before I go, here’s an Hadith I also want to share with you. Some extra TomTom.🌚🌝

Narrated from ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas narrates: Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said,

“Nations were displayed before me, one or two prophets would pass by along with a few followers. A prophet would pass by accompanied by nobody. Then a big crowd of people passed in front of me and I asked, “Who are they? Are they my followers?” It was said, “No. It is Musa (alayhis salam) and his followers. It was said to me, “Look at the horizon.” Behold! There was a multitude of people filling the horizon.

Then it was said to me, “Look there and there about the stretching sky! Behold! There was a multitude filling the horizon,” It was said to me, “This is your nation out of whom 70,000 shall enter Jannah without reckoning.” Then the Prophet entered his house without telling his companions who they were.

So the people started talking about the issue and said, “It is we who have believed in Allah and followed His Apostle, therefore those people are either ourselves or our children who are born m the Islamic era, for we were born in the Pre-lslamic Period of Ignorance.” When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) heard of that, he came out and said,

“Those people are those who do not request for Ruqya, nor do they believe in bad or good omen [from birds etc] nor do they get themselves branded [cauterized] but they put their trust [only] in their Lord ” On that ‘Ukkashah ibn Mihsan said. “Am I one of them, O Rasulallah?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Yes.” Then another person got up and said, “Am I one of them?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Ukkashah has preceded you.”

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 606)

The Take Home:

✓As Ukasha has carried the only slot like this, make your Tawakkul game 100%. This is entry into Jannah WITHOUT RECKONING we’re talking about. Hustleeeeee. Trust in Allah completely. May Allah ease it for you and I.

✓Try dey shoot your shot, e fit be first come first serve.🌚 Shoot your shot today. You can do it! I believe in you.🌝

Until laters, as-salaam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakaatuh.