Tag Archives: Death

We Buried A Man Today

General, ,

We buried a man today. And here I am now on my way home in the caravan of the living. For now.

For now, you and I are in the caravan of the living. But not because we’re headed for a separate land. Not because they’re going and we are not. Only because our caravan lagged behind. Right now we’re driving back to our homes, our beds, our TVs, our stereos, our jobs, our exams, our friends, our Facebook, and Gchat. Right now we’re driving back to our distractions, our idols, our deceptive illusions. But that’s just it. I’m not driving back to my home, my bed, my TV and my stereo. I’m not returning to my job, my exams, my friends, my Facebook and Gchat. I’m not on my way back to my distractions, illusions and idols. I’m driving back to where I began. I’m driving now to the very same place he went to. I’m on my way to the same place. I just don’t know how long my drive will take.

I’m driving back to where I began: with God. Because God is Al-Awal (the Beginning) and God is Al-Akhir (the End).

My body is taking me there, but it’s only a vehicle. When I get there, it will stay behind. As he did today. My body came from the ground and it will go back to the ground, as it came. It was only a shell, a container for my soul. A companion for a while. But I’ll leave it here when I arrive. Arrive—not depart. Because that’s my home. Not this. That’s why when Allah (swt) is calling the back the righteous soul, He says, ‘irjiee’: return (Qur’an, 89:28).

The beautiful, noble soul that we buried didn’t depart from life today. He just entered a higher—and God willing—better level of it. He only arrived home. But the body is made of the material world and so he had to leave it here. The body is of the lower world. The world where we need to eat and sleep and bleed and cry. And die. But the soul is of the higher world. The soul has only one need: to be with God.

And so while the body cries and bleeds and feels pain from the material world, the soul is untouched by these things. There is only one thing that can cut or stab or hurt the soul. There is only one thing that can kill it: depriving it of its only need: to be close to its Originator. To be near God. And so we should not weep for the arriving soul—It isn’t dead. We should weep instead for the one whose body is alive, but whose soul is dead because of its alienation from that which gives it life: God.

And so the believing soul races home, even while in this life.

O Lord, make my soul a sanctuary, a fortress within. That no one and nothing can disturb. A place of calm, silence, serenity, untouched by the outside world. The soul that Allah (swt) calls al-nafs al mutmaina (the reassured soul) (Qur’an 89:27). The soul that Allah (swt) calls back saying:

“(To the righteous soul will be said:) ‘O (thou) soul, in (complete) rest and satisfaction! Come back thou to thy Lord – well pleased (thyself), and well-pleasing unto Him! Enter thou, then, among My devotees! Yea, enter thou My Heaven!’” (Qur’an, 89:27-30)

-Yasmin Mogahed

Life After A Death

Poetry,

Life after death
By Aaqib Syed
You only live once so sit back and enjoy
No time for sorrows so fill it up with joy
This way of thinking is totally wrong
Our total existence is forever long
Life is for eternity its stages are four
The first is in the womb, but hold on there’s more

The second is from birth until the moment we die
The third takes place in the place where we lie
Barzakh is it’s name until judgement day
The fourth is eternity and in heaven we pray!
The soul splits from the body at the time we die
Then with the angel of death, they both will fly

If the person is pious, the angel looks handsome
And the wicked will wish, that they could ransom
For the pious, the soul is taken on a piece of silk
Eventually, they’re in heaven with rivers of milk
The evil person’s soul is dragged out with pain
Then they know, their life was in vain

When Allah swt gives the order, the soul is returned
Either to a bed of paradise, or else to be burned
The soul is returned, while the family are grieving
And then he is questioned while his loved ones are leaving
At that time the person will be in such a state
He is asked three questions which determine his fate
He will be panicking, his heart full of fear
When he sees the angels, Munkar and Nakeer

He will be asked about his God, religion and what did he say
About the person who appears in front of him that day
That will be Muhammed saws, who can save us from hell
The pious will recognise him, but others won’t tell
After answering rightly they are saved from the ordeal
Of the torments of the grave, which to us seem unreal
Their grave is extended and in peace they stay
They will praise Allah swt and continue to pray

A window of paradise is seen and they sleep in bliss
Whereas the unbelievers grave becomes hell’s abyss
Creatures are let loose on their fronts and back
Their graves close in until their ribs will crack
They are in constant agony until judgement day
Nothing will help, it will be too late to pray

They will know because of themselves, their future is wrecked
But they won’t have a clue what to further expect
For the believer, it passes like a good night’s sleep
His good deeds have been done, the rewards he shall keep
Judgement day will pass like the time for a prayer
At the speed of light he crosses the bridge, thin as a hair
And before he knows it, he is in paradise

Whereas the unbeliever, will be paying his price
This life is a journey, death isn’t the end
Real life goes on, so don’t just pretend
So prepare now, we’re not here to stay
Follow islam, the key is to pray
Brothers and sisters take this advice
You’ll be proud of yourself, when in paradise!!

may Allah forgive all our sins n grant us good
in dis world n d world to come..Ameen