Death & After It
That which does not die and will never die is Allah. We, slaves, will one day eventually leave this world. The setting of the sun each day is a poetical metaphor for our passing away. How good it is, if we meet with another day, just like the sun, beaming and bright on the horizon of the Resurrection. This is important for the sunset is inevitable; death is a reality which, like it or not, must happen.
What we must think about is what will happen to us after death? Will we become nothing? Will everyone's life merely "end in death?" Or will we "remain", and if so, what will our "remaining" be like?
Those who do not believe in God consider death to be the becoming nothing of man, and life just limited to one or two days. They say that everyone's turn is short-lived. But those who are based in revelation are completely opposed to this view, and they say that man is immortal and that death is just a ladder leading to the world of purgatory and Resurrection, which is the everlasting resting place.
The Remembrance of Death
Some people run away from the remembrance of death, and do not give way to thoughts about it. It is as if they have drunk the water of eternity, and think to remain in this world forever. These people are drunk from the wine of neglect. For they know but do not accept that the only thing is eternal and will not die is Allah. From the results of their neglect of death, they will pass their lives aimlessly. They do not think to reform themselves; their time is spent like the hands of a clock, turning round and round, and how often will they be polluted with dreadful sins. There is not much difference between their lives and the lives of animals.
The manner of their behavior is completely the contrary of the way of acting of the chosen ones of Allah. The Holy Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.) said, "Remember death very often, so that it may purify you from sins and decrease attachment to a world which is not an introduction to the betterment of the spirit." On the other hand, there are those who remember death much, following the command of the leaders of the religion - may Allah bless them, and profit from every occasion that comes their way for the Day of Resurrection. Their world is a world of introduction to the ultimate world. Their search is not for personal benefit and their own desires. From their view, the world does not have so much value that they will dirty their hands and clothes with urine and treachery to get it. Rather they are busy with work and pursuits and service in society, so that they will completely take the benefit from this life to the life of the Resurrection.
They do not fear death. The greatest example is Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), whose first words when the sword of the enemy fell to martyr him were, "I swear by Allah, I have been delivered!" Truly, the leaving of the constraints of this world and going to eternity of the everlasting world is an ease and a salvation, but only for those who follow the way of Imam Ali (a.s.) to purify in the straightened circumstances of this life, and who are occupied with piety in their spirits and souls and thoughts, and with worship and slavery to Allah, and with service to mankind.
Abu Dharr al Ghifari was asked, "Why are we disgusted with death?"
"You have taken up residence in this world," he replied, "but ruined your next world. So you do not desire to migrate from your home to the place of ruin."
The Holy Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.) said, "Do you all wish to go to the Garden?"
"Yes," they said.
"So cut short your craving, and always keep death in sight, since you must always be shameful before Allah."
To remember those near to you when they met death, and occasional visits to graveyards and the tombs of believers will result in remembrance of death and guidance.
Source :
1. Musavi Lari, Mujtaba. Resurrection, Judgement, and the Hereafter.
Published by The Foundation of Islamic Doctrine. Maryland, 1989. and
2. Shaykh as-Sadiq. A Shi’ite Creed. Published by World Organization for Islamic Services. Iran, 1982.
