by G.H.E. Vanker
This is a tale of an average man,
Who acts contrary to Allah's plan,
If you are reflected herein,
Then repent, and commit no sin.
It was early in the morning at four
When death knocked upon a bedroom door
"Who is there?" the sleeping one cried
I'm Izrael let me inside
At once, the man began to shiver
As one sweating in deadly fever
He shouted to his wife
"Don't let him take away my life."
"Please go away, O Angel of Death
I'm not ready yet
My family, on me depend
Give me a chance, to go back and mend .
The angel knocked again and again
"Friend, I'll take your life without any pain
It's your soul that Allah requires
I come not with my own desires.
Bewildered, the man began to cry
"O Angel, I'm so afraid to die
I'll give you gold and be your slave
Don't send me to the unlit grave.
"Let me in O friend", the angel said
"Open the door, get up from your bed
If you do not allow me in
I will walk through it like a Jinn.
The man held a gun in his right hand
Ready to defy the Angel's stand
"I'll point my gun towards your head
You dare come in - I'll shoot you dead.
By now, the Angel was in the room
Saying, "O friend - prepare for your doom
Foolish man - Angels never die
Put down your gun and do not sigh."
"Why are you afraid - Tell me O man
To die according to Allah's plan?
Come - smile at me, do not be grim
Be happy to return to him."
"O Angel, I bow my head in shame
I had no time to remember Allah's name
From dawn 'til dusk, I made my wealth
Not even caring for my spiritual health."
"Allah's commands I never obeyed,
Nor five times a day I ever prayed,
A Ramadhaan came and a Ramadhaan went,
But no time had I to repent."
"The Hajj was already obligatory upon me
But I would not part with my money
All charities I did ignore
Taking usury more and more."
"Sometimes I sipped my favorite wine,
With flirting women I sat to dine.
O angel I appeal to you,
Spare my life for a year or two."
"The laws of the Qur'aan, I will obey
I'll begin Salaat - this very day.
My Fast and Hajj I will complete
And keep away from self-conceit."
"I will refrain from usury
And give all my wealth to charity
Wine and unlawful women , I will detest
Allah's oneness I will attest."
We Angels do what Allah demands
We cannot go against his commands
Death is ordained for everyone
Father, mother, daughter and son."
"I'm afraid, this moment is your last
Now be reminded of your past.
I do understand your fears
But it is now too late for tears."
"You lived in this world, two score or more
Never did you, your people adore
Your parents you did not obey
Hungry beggars, you turned away."
"Your two ill-gotten, female offspring
In nightclubs, for livelihood they sing.
Instead of making more Muslims
You made your children non-Muslims."
"You ignored the muadhin's Adhan (call to prayer)
Nor did you read the holy Quraan.
Breaking promises all you life
Backbiting friends and causing strife."
"From hoarded goods, great profits you made
And your poor workers - you underpaid.
Horses and cards were your leisure
Money-making was your pleasure."
"You ate vitamins and grew more fat
With the very sick - you never sat.
A pint of blood, you never gave
which could a little baby save."
"O human, you have done enough wrong
You bought good properties for a song.
When the farmers appealed to you
You did not have mercy, this is true."
"Paradise for you? I cannot tell
Undoubtedly you will dwell in hell.
There is no time for you to repent
I'll take your soul for which I am sent."
The ending however is very sad
Eventually, the man became mad
With a cry, he jumped out of bed
And suddenly, he fell down dead.
O! Reader take a moral from here
Never know, your end may be near.
Change your living and make amends
For heaven, on your deeds depend.
