THE LAST MOMENT OF LIFE
Osman Nûri Topbaş
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All of us will consume the days in our lifetime allotted to us by God, and one day we will draw our last breath. At that moment we leave behind all of what we have in this world. Some might have a chance to say farewell to their loved ones, some may not even have this opportunity when they meet their death. For those who immersed themselves in the love of God, it may not be death, but rather a revival and resurrection. Death may be seen as a wedding night or night of union with the beloved. Therefore one should grasp the meaning of dying before the physical death. One famous saying states;
"One should experience death before dying."
The great mystic poet Mawlana Rumi elucidated the wisdom of this mystery as follows:
"You should die to become alive!"
Ali, one of the greatest companions of the Prophet said the following, that supports the above observations:
"Men are asleep. They wake up and rise with death"
Therefore we should not give in to our worldly desires and animal instincts, but realise that real life is based not on the selfish soul, but rather on the divine soul granted to us by God.
The worst and most painful death is that when one is not aware of God and has failed to earn His blessing. Therefore, a faithful believer must have a sound understanding of how his life should be led and of how he should meet his death. He should be in constant training in order to ascend from faith to beneficence. There is no guarantee, except for the Prophets, of how one's death will be and subsequent resurrection. It was due to this state of affairs that the Prophet Joseph (Yusuf) took refuge in God; the following has profound meaning for us:
"O Thou Creator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my Protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Take Thou my soul (at death) as one submitting to Thy will (as a Muslim), and unite me with the righteous." (Yûsuf 12, 101)
Being aware of the coming of death, believers should have an ambiguous feeling between hope and fear, enabling them to be in a constant mode of preparation. Such a state of mind will motivate believers to work towards earning the mercy of God and to prepare for death with faith and good deeds. Believers should lead their lives in such a way that their forthcoming death is constantly on their minds.
The first sign of our status in the hereafter is the way in which we die. The moment of death will provide us with some clues. The Qur'an promises numerous rewards for those who work persistently to achieve salvation with an unfettered belief.
The following episode and the consequential rewards are a clear indication of what will be given to people of belief in return for their suffering and persistence in adhering to the right path:
When the sorcerers of the Pharaoh saw Moses throw down his staff and the subsequent miracle they all fell down to prostrate in adoration saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,- The Lord of Moses and Aaron." They accepted the message and claims of Moses. However, the Pharaoh threatened them, thinking that he had power to rule over the consciousness of the people. He said to his sorcerers who had recognised the truth and had joined Moses:
"Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on apposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross."
However, the sorcerers did not give in to his threats. Instead of trying to find ways to avoid his wrath and oppression they answered him with great resignation to and reliance on their faith:
"For us, We are but sent back unto our Lord: Our Lord! pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto thee as Muslims (who bow to thy will)! (El-Araf, 7, 126).
They took refuge in God. They were murdered and butchered. Their hands and feet were cut of on apposite sides. They became martyrs when they met their death and were united with God.
There are numerous incidents in history that document the violent treatment of believers by oppressors. The people of Uhdud, for example, were thrown in wells of fire; their oppressors thought that to believe in God and His messenger was to commit a crime. Despite such severe torture and hardship, these righteous believers never turned their back on the truth and they sacrificed their lives fearlessly for the divine cause they had chosen. They paid for their choice with their lives. They feared nothing, because those who truly fear God in their hearts fear nothing else.
In a different incident, Habib Ibn Naccar from the Karya tribe was put to death because of his faith and conviction. When he was about to die the windows of heaven opened before his eyes and he was able to see the rewards waiting for him in the hereafter. After this experience, feeling pity for his people he uttered the following:
"Ah me! Would that my People knew (what I know) because "It was said to enter the Garden." (Al-Yasen, 36, 26).
He was rewarded with eternal peace and happiness in return for his suffering.
Believers have suffered throughout history. For example, in the formative period of Christianity, Romans and Greeks were united in throwing the followers of the message of Jesus to the lions. Those believers were persistent in their faith and never wavered, despite the death threats and the violent death to which they were exposed. Their first and foremost priority was not the saving of their lives, but their faith. They preferred a divine reward, bearing pain with patience.
It is reported that a preacher was discussing the conditions and state of affairs related to death from the pulpit. Sheikh Shibli was among the congregation. At the end of the sermon the preacher started to count the questions one would face when in the grave, before resurrection. He said:
"God will ask where you used your knowledge; where you spent your wealth; how much you performed your prayers; whether you paid enough attention to what was allowed and what was prohibited".
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