Qur'anic Reflections

#21. Death--the inevitable truth

I write this as I hear about the death of a young school student and it hits me with the realization that our journey here is too short to waste it away.

It's been a scary year for me where I've heard of deaths of people who I have known at some point or other in my life and all of them have been my age or close.

It's been shocking to the say the least, because death is not something you expect 21 year olds to be discussing in their class rooms.

But it happened.

And I realise how truly short this life is. I mean of course we were told this but there's nothing like feeling the cold reality slap your face.

All of us have so many things we want to achieve yet fall short of doing so, because of this disease of procrastination gnawing at our productivity.

A lesson I've learnt from a YouTube video that I'll never forget (May Allah bless the Shaikh who said this!) :

Once a wise Muslim man was on his death bed and the people who came to see him asked him to give them some advice.

He replied, "Anzartukum sawfa, Anzartukum Sawfa."

"I warn you about Sawfa, I warn you about Sawfa."

What is Sawfa?

It's the Arabic word for "I will. "

It is an imaginary realm we store our ideas in, thinking we'll get to those some day. That okay, I'll start wearing the hijab some day or start learning the Qur'an some day or maybe okay, I'll make sure my next Ramadan is awesome.

Except maybe it won't. Because we might not be here next Ramadan.

I know it's a very morbid thing to say but there's no use ignoring this truth that's glaring at our faces.

Think of all the Ramadans that are coming and going in front of the graves in the graveyard. How many opportunities of doing good that are passing by, but they can't do anything ?

That'll be us someday.

Our time here is very short and it is slipping through our fingers as we read this. The second that just passed is never coming back.

Do not take this for granted. As youth, the three opportunities that we have that a lot of other people don't, is that we've got the health, time and talent to do something great.

Allah's made us special. Don't be of the "procrastinator" crowd. It's not cool, trust me.

Wallahi, each one of you is so talented and amazing and has so much potential! I know this because My Lord says He created us in the best form.

Do not take your abilities for granted.

Life is too short to not do the things Allah loves. Life is too short to not do the things you love.

Don't let people get you down. Don't let people discourage you from doing anything. If you're doing it for Allah, know that He is the Ash-Shakir, the Appreciative. If you fall short, remember that He's Ar-Rauf, the Kind.

Our time here is a nimah. Our life here is a nimah. We'll be held accountable for every second.

Death is inevitable. We can't escape but we can make sure we're ready for it.

Hell and death are the two truths that can not be denied. The only difference is that, you can't escape death however hard you try, but with a little effort, you can escape hell.

Then Allah mentions what this life means for us. 

It'a test.

Life is a test, and The Examiner is a just one. Any trial is the tough question but is the one with the highest marks. Ace it, and you succeed. 

"If you feel like Allah isn't helping you in tough situations, remember that the teacher is always quiet during the examination." (Courtesy : NAK ❤)

Make sure you receive your report card in your right hand on the day you meet your Examiner.

To Him we belong, and to Him shall we return!

A/n :

Assalamu alaikum! I hope this is helping you all. Alhumdulillah, we've reached day 21. It's the last ten days. Make them count.

A little request. My grand father has undergone a corneal transplant in his only functioning eye. The doctor's said he'll need 2 months to get back his vision.

My grandfather's going through a tough time. It's like suddenly, the lights have been switched off for him. Only the ones who go through it will probably understand how scary that darkness must be.

Please, when you're making your special duas before iftar, after adhaan, in the last third of the night and Laylatul Qadr or just about any time, PLEASE REMEMBER HIM.

Ask Allah to restore his vision. 
Ask Allah to give him strength and patience.
Ask Allah to accept his daughter's (my mother's) dua and ibadah.

And if you have benefited from this even one bit, then remember me too. Ask Allah to give me the strength to accomplish all the goals I've set for myself.

You're all in my duas. This is the beauty of our religion! That we find the kindness in our hearts to make dua for the ones we've never even met. 

May you all have the best Ramadan ever and keep making it better with each passing year. Ameen summa Ameen ya Rabbul Aalameen! (Oh Lord, I might cry now.)