TAMBIHUL GHAAFILEEN - ADMONITION FOR THE NEGLECTFUL
by Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi

2. DEATH AND IT´S SEVERITY

THE PANGS OF DEATH ARE A WORD OF CAUTION.

Hadhrat Hasan (R.A) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "The pangs of death are equivalent to being struck by three hundred swords." He also mentioned that the pangs of death serve as an advice to my ummah.

APPRECIATING FIVE THINGS BEFORE FIVE.

Hadhrat Maymoon bin Mahraan (R.A) reports from Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) that five things should be appreciated before five things:

1. Youth before old age.
2. Health before illness.
3. Leisure time before becoming busy.
4. Wealth before poverty.
5. Life before death.

• When old age arrives, it is difficult to even imagine performing those acts of worship performed in one´s youth. In old age it is also extremely difficult to alter those bad habits and lethargy that one may have adopted during one´s youth.
• The value of good health is only truly understood when one becomes ill. Therefore, it will definitely be tragic to waste one´s time when enjoying good health.
• The nights are hours of leisure. If these are not utilized for dhikr and ibaadah, one will not possibly be able to compensate for them during the busy hours of the day. This applies especially to the long winter nights. Also, when one lives affluently, he has more time at leisure and may misuse it in futility. Therefore, it is better to use ones time well so that one is not forced to change, laziness is cause of adversity.

WINTER IS A BLESSING FOR THE MU´MIN.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has said, "Winter is a blessing for the Mu´min. The nights are long, thereby enabling longer hours of worship. The days are short, thereby resulting in shorter fasts."

He has also said, "The night is long, so do not shorten it with sleep. The day is bright, so do not darken it with your sins."

A person should be content and happy with whatever Allah gives. If a person attains contentment and satisfaction, then he should consider these as blessings and be thankful to Allah. He should not aspire for the wealth that has been given to others.

All actions can be performed before death, therefore life should be regarded as a blessing and exploited to the full. Someone has mentioned golden words in Persian when he said, "If childhood is spent in play, old age in laziness, and youth in mischief, when will one worship Allah?"

THE GRAVE IS EITHER A GARDEN OF JANNAH OR A PIT OF JAHANNAM.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned that the grave can either be a garden of Jannah (for the true Mu´min) or a pit of Jahannam (for the sinner and kaafir). Therefore, remember death often, which will destroy the carnal passions."

THE SIMILITUDE OF DEATH.

Hadhrat Umar (R.A) once asked Hadhrat Ka´b (R.A) to describe death. He said, "The similitude of death is like a thorny tree that is entered into the stomach of a person. The thorns then penetrate each and every vein and sinew of his. Then a strong person pulls the tree out with such force that it emerges, ripping the flesh as it is drawn out. This is the example of the throngs of death."

THREE THINGS SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

A saint once said that an intelligent person must never forget three things. These are:-

1. The perishable nature of this world,
2. death and
3. those adversities from which man cannot be secure.

ONLY FOUR PERSONS APPRECIATE FOUR THINGS.

1. Only an old man appreciates the value of youth.
2. Only a person afflicted with a calamity can truly appreciate being free of troubles.
3. Only the sick appreciate health.
4. Only the dead appreciate life.

THE REALITY OF DEATH.

Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Amr bin Al Aas (R.A) says that his father [Hadhrat Amr bin Al Aas (R.A)] used to often say, "I am surprised at the person upon whom the signs of death have appeared, yet he does not describe the reality thereof, even though his senses are still with him and his tongue can still talk."

When death began to approach him and he was still conscious and able to speak, the son asked, "Oh Father! You used to express surprise at those who do not describe the reality of death. Tell us about death." He replied, "Oh my son! It is not possible to describe the condition of death, but I will try. By Allah! It seems as if a mountain has been placed between my shoulders, as if my soul is emerging from the eye of a needle and as if my stomach is filled with thorns. Oh my son! It seems as if the earth and the skies have joined and I am being crushed between the two."

WHEN ACTIONS CONTRADICT WORDS: - 4 THINGS

Hadhrat Shaqeeq bin Ibraheem (R.A) said, "People say four things with their tongues, but their actions contradict them.

1. Every person claims that he is Allah´s slave, yet they act as if they are the slaves of none and that ´none´ is their master.
2. People say that Allah is the Sustainer, yet their hearts are not content without the wealth of the world.
3. People claim that the Aakhirat (Hereafter) is better than this world, yet they spend day and night accumulating the things of this world and do not even distinguish between halaal and haraam.
4. They claim that death is certain, yet they act like people who will never die."

THREE THINGS ARE ASTONISHING.

Hadhrat Abu Dharr (R.A) said "There are three things that astonish me so much that they make me laugh, while another three things are so distressing that they make me cry. The three things that cause me to laugh in surprise are:

1. The person who aspires after the world when death is on his heels.
2. The negligent person, when Qiyamah is before him. (He believes in Qiyamah, yet does not prepare for death).
3. The person who laughs audaciously, yet he does not know whether Allah is pleased with him or not.

The three things that are so distressing are:

1. Separation from my friends viz. Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) and the Sahabah (R.A).
2. Death. (I do not know whether I will die with Imaan or not).
3. Standing before Allah for reckoning, when I have no idea whether I will be sent to Jannah or to Jahannam.

DEATH DOES NOT ALLOW FATNESS.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned, "If the animals knew what you know of death, you will never be blessed with the opportunity of eating hearty flesh."

THE CONSEQUENCE OF REMEMBERING DEATH AND OF NOT REMEMBERING
DEATH: - 3 BOUNTIES / 3 PUNISHMENTS.

Hadhrat Haamid (R.A) says that the person who abundantly remembers death will be honoured with three bounties.

1. He will quickly receive the inspiration to repent.
2. He will be content with whatever he receives.
3. He will be resolute in his worship.

On the other hand, the person who does forget death will suffer three punishments.

1. He will not be inspired to repent quickly.
2. He will not be content with what he has.
3. He will be lazy to worship.

THE TASTE OF DEATH IS EXTREMELY BITTER.

Someone once asked Hadhrat Isa (A.S) to raise a dead person for him. In compliance to the request, Allah allowed him to raise the son of Hadhrat Nooh (A.S) by the name of Saam. When he got up from his grave, his hair and beard were white. Hadhrat Isa (A.S) enquired from him as to how his hair turned white, because there was no old age in their time.

He replied, "When I heard the call, I thought that Qiyamah had arrived. This fear caused me to turn white." When he was asked as to when he had died, he replied, "Four thousand years ago, but the taste of death has still not left me."

FOUR IMPORTANT FACTORS.

A person once told Hadhrat Ibraheem bin Adham (R.A) that they would be benefited by the talks of Deen if he were to have a gathering with them. He said that four worries plagued his mind and he would only be able to sit with them if he could free himself from these. When he was asked what these four things were, he mentioned the following:

1. "My first concern is what Allah said on the day that He took the pledge from people. Allah said that certain people were destined for Jannah, while others were destined for Jahannam. I do not know which of the two groups I belong to.
2. When a child is in the womb of the mother, an angel asks Allah whether he should record the child as fortunate or as an unfortunate one, I do not know how was I recorded.
3. When the angel of death claims a soul, he asks Allah whether the soul should be kept with the Mu´mineen or with the kuffar. I do not know what reply will issue forth with regard to myself.
4. Allah will announce on the Day of Judgement, "Be separated, Oh you criminals." I do not know to which party I will belong."

THE FOUR SIGNS OF A PERSON WHO AWAKENS FROM HIS NEGLIGENCE.

There are four signs that disclose the person who has shattered the inhibiting veils of negligence. These are:

1. He becomes one who is content and delays in the matters of the world.
2. He becomes a person who is anxious of the Hereafter and hastens in matters pertaining thereto.
3. He applies his thoughts for the Deen with knowledge and effort.
4. He is caring and cordial towards the creation.

THE BEST PERSON: - 5 TRAITS.

It has been said that the best person is he who possesses five traits.

1. He worships Allah.
2. He is of use to the creation.
3. People are safe from his evils.
4. He is not aspirant of peoples´ wealth.
5. He is always prepared for death.

THREE NOBLE QUALITIES.

Hadhrat Abu Darda (R.A) has mentioned that he loves the following three things:-

1. Destitution - so that he could be humble.
2. Illness - so that his sins would be forgiven.
3. Death - so that he could meet Allah.

THE BEST AND MOST INTELLIGENT PERSON.

When someone asked Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) who the best person was, he replied, "The one who has the best character." When it was asked as to whom the most intelligent person was, the reply was, "The person who remembers death the most and prepares for it."