A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| When are the times that....... |
|---|
| Aabidah |
| 07/31/02 at 14:07:57 |
| [slm] you think and ponder about death?? As I was going to work today, I passed by a Chapel Center and there was a funeral car in front of it. I passed by the car and it was empty, they had brought the coffin inside. But seeing that made me think of me when I die, and how I will be put into a coffin. subhanAllah it just awakened me. it's like it brought me back into reality, and reminded me of my destination and made me think about my life. Made me think of what i've done to please Allahu SubhanaHu Wata'ala so far in my life, how much i've sinned and still sinning, and how I can change so that when i die, my eternal abode is not the Hell Fire, but the beautiful gardens of Paradise, InshaAllah. Alhamdulillah, i am grateful for moments like these where it reminds me my purpose in life, to fulfill 'uboodiyyah to Allahu SubhanaHu Wata'ala and forces me to evaluate my life. So, what are/were incidents that made you think of death and brought you back to reality?? [wlm] Betul |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| sista |
| 07/31/02 at 18:13:56 |
| [slm] Sorry guys - am useless with bold print/italics on this thing...and I cant seem to remove the last post or modify it, so I'm posting it again...sorry! :-[ Here goes... ___________________________________ There was a thunderstorm last night, and I out in it, letting the rain wash my cares away. I crouched by the lawn in my back garden enthralled, sensing the rain lash the country far away in great sweeps of wet, experiencing momentary blindness as I closed my eyes at the bright flashes of the white lightening. Suddenly there was a great thunderclap – louder than any so far – and my eyes snapped open. WHEN THE HEAVEN IS CLEFT ASUNDER, AND WHEN THE STARS HAVE FALLEN AND SCATTERED AND WHEN THE SEAS ARE BURST FORTH AND WHEN THE GRAVES ARE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN… [Quran 82: 1-3] Then the garden light turned off and all was plunged into darkness. Just the noise – the drumming of the rain became a furious lashing, the thunder became snarling and angry, as if the skies themselves might be torn off… AND WHEN THE HEAVEN IS STRIPPED OFF AND TAKEN AWAY FROM ITS PLACE AND WHEN HELLFIRE IS SET ABLAZE… [Quran 81: 11-12] I had not felt the cold until now…suddenly I felt the frailty of my mortality. Izraeel seemed so near… SAY: 'THE ANGEL OF DEATH, PUT IN CHARGE OF YOU, WILL (DULY) TAKE YOUR SOULS. THEN SHALL YOU BE BROUGHT BACK TO YOUR LORD… [Quran 32:11] I rose and went inside, and tried to fill up my time with useful activities as best I could, trying to perform each as though it was to be my last… ********************************* In truth, I cannot but see reminders of death in everything - from funeral processions and graveyards to travelling on London Underground or even observing autumnal decay. All of which conspires to make me constantly restless and uneasy…often anxious as well (usually when I have something to feel guilty about) WHEREVER YOU ARE, DEATH WILL FIND YOU OUT, EVEN IF YOU ARE IN TOWERS BUILT UP STRONG AND HIGH! [Quran 4:78] At times such as these I am confronted with the sins I most fear being held accountable for – those that I have not yet learned to avoid properly. (These are always connected with ailments of the heart) Supposing I were to die during one of these sinful acts…? May Allah forgive us all. I CANNOT PREDICT THE FUTURE I CANNOT CHANGE THE PAST I HAVE JUST THE PRESENT MOMENT I MUST TREAT IT AS MY LAST. [wlm] |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| Fatimah |
| 07/31/02 at 22:26:34 |
| [slm] I've bought my coffin (all the white sheets and stuff) and keep it in my room where I can always see it. That way, when I get too busy with worldly things, I always have a reminder that death is coming. :) Also when I read Quran or Hadith or books that mention death or the hereafter..I remember death then also.. |
| 07/31/02 at 22:28:01 |
| Fatimah |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| Aabidah |
| 08/01/02 at 00:56:17 |
| [slm] Here's a poem that really makes me reflect on death, everytime i read it, subhanAllah..... A DEATHLY REFLECTION Such a reality of this mortal life, Involved with daily pusuits with your wife, Seldom do we hint at death fearfully, Sometimes in conversation said cheerfully. We should clear our hearts of daily fuss, Think about death as if it were facing us, God alone is worthy of all praise, We hope we all see heaven hoping he'll raise. Eternal life is immortal its blessings everlasting, Its imperative the reflection of death is casting, It should be ever prsent in the mind be, Because it will happen to you and me. A dying man no longer recognising anyone, Hard to breathe, lashes drop its death begun, This moment you begin the state of eternity now, Imagine in your minds eye do you know how? Your tongue falters and is now speechless, Your family and kinsman weeping ceaseless, Your soul begins to escape your body and flies to heaven, Do you know what day or time it is seven or eleven? The living are preparing your funeral, The property you left is shared out to all, Unknowingly you are trapped in your own deeds, No more time to repent or worship your heart bleeds. You were tumbled from high places into depths of the earth, This was your destiny from time of your birth, Taken from under sparkling and glaring electric lights, Huled into darkness of your grave no mor delights. Instead of enjoying drinking and eating that was a must, You are not there now your rolling in the dust, Everyone becomes one in the grave with the worms, The angels examining your soul with no quirms. Entertaining thoughts of making provisions for years ahead, And yet death was hovering around over your head, The final day of life will come, as tonight you might be nomore, Live your life for Allah today as tomorrow your not sure. author: sis Samirra [wlm] Betul ps - here's the website from where I got it..... http://www.samirra.freeservers.com/ |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| bhaloo |
| 08/01/02 at 01:34:14 |
| [slm] What's a good way to remember death? Why not wash a body and attend the funeral afterwards. It really puts things into perspective. I've had the opportunity to wash 2 bodies, alhumdullilah, the first one was quite an experience. The body is pretty heavy to move and to wash. And what made it even worse was that they did an autopsy, and when they stiched it up they did a poor job. My uncle had all this blood coming out from his head and I had to tape it up to stop the bleeding. Plus when there is a lot of blood all over the place it smells really bad. But alhumdullilah the 2nd body I washed didn't have any complications like that but still it was a reminder of death and how much we should prepare for it. |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| jaihoon |
| 08/01/02 at 01:51:30 |
| [slm] "Visit graves, for it will remind you of death" [saw] |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| Taalibatul_ilm |
| 08/01/02 at 09:09:58 |
| [slm] Just a reminder, we aren't supposed to mention any defects we see in the dead body when we wash it. |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| Nafisa |
| 08/06/02 at 05:48:44 |
| [slm] I find that i think of death while in bed and drifting into sleep. i'm a bit of a hypochondriac (sp?) and whenever i get leg pains i think it's a blood clot and that makes me think I'm gonna die. The reason being that I've heard of a few cases of ppl dying of blod clots where someone can go to sleep and never wake up. So, here i am thinking i'm gonna die at any moment. i try to say kalima so i can die with it on my lips but i'm also getting very sleepy and can barely even mutter it. and that makes me think "oh pants, I'm too drowsy to even say kalima, what happens when i really die?". ppl think that dying in sleep is a nice easy way to pass away but my experiences tell me that i wanna be wide awake and ready for the moment! i only hope that Allah makes me able to say kalima because only Allah can decide such things. when ppl are in their final moments they will say what's in their hearts and that could be anything even if ppl around them are encouraging them to say kalima. that makes me very frightened of what could be in my heart. I pray that i die with kalima on my lips. [wlm] |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| sunset |
| 08/08/02 at 06:43:10 |
| [slm] Sometime last week I was walking using the same route to my train station as usual. As I reached a junction there was a car slowing down as he reached the junction. I was so sure the driver saw me infront of his car. When I was about to walked pass his car, I looked at the car and noticed the car was moving. I normally wouldnt do that while passing infront of a car at the junction cause I know they will wait for me to pass their car before they make a turn. I looked at the driver but he was looking elsewhere and the car was moving towards me (in a slow pace but once he make a turn, only Allah knows what will happen) I got panicked and the only thing I could think of was I put both my hands on the car as if that was going to stop the car...but it did! He heard knocking sound and suddenly braked the car. Such brake had moved the car little bit to the front and hit my knees and gave pressures to my hands. I could feel some aching on my knees and hands after that. Things may seem slow from this explaination but actually they happened so fast..less than a minute.. I was already thinking the possiblity of being hit by the car if he kept moving and made a turn. He pulled the brake and I could see the shocked on his face as he saw me ..he didnt even stop to ask if I was okay ...he slowed the car to the roadside and later drive on... as i continue walking to the station i could feel my body shivering and i felt like crying too..i was so close to death...if not so..i could have at least broke my legs ...as i continue walking..i said lots of istigfar and thanking Allah Subhanahu Wataala for my escape from an accident. The moment seeing the car coming from the front...knowing its moving towards me..the possibility of being hit and died if the driver failed to pull the brake... made me think of death and brought me to reality.. wasalam :-) |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| Musafir |
| 08/08/02 at 08:20:40 |
| [slm] life does not excites me Death does not scares me nor the heaven lure me neither the hell fire melt me for my existance is beyond these thoughts ... Reflections of I in you ..... by Qutub Nizam .m.u.s.a.f.i.r. [wlm] |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| Nafisa |
| 08/08/02 at 15:30:55 |
| [slm] sunset, your reaction of putting hands on the car may have seemed weird but that moment of fear can render you immobile and you take the fight or flight response. you chose to 'fight' by trying to stop the car with your hands and it worked, Alhamdulillah! i've had close shaves like that and seen a person get knocked down by a car and it's scary. the driver didnt even stop. >:( it makes you think of our own fragile lives. [wlm] :-) |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| HK |
| 08/08/02 at 18:22:24 |
| [slm] Hmmm....I get a daily reminder of death each time I catch the tram to Uni. There's a cemetary right opposite the tram stop and as I gaze at the parade of cars and coaches that file towards this place I sometimes get a shiver down my spine :'( [wlm] |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| sunset |
| 08/09/02 at 01:16:46 |
| [slm] nafisa the first thing came to my mind after the shocked was over was stopping the car with my hands? what was i thinking? :-[ perhaps i watch too much superhero movies;) but really at that time, my foot was like glued to the road. hmm..reminds me to the time i was 'flying' after the bike i was riding with a friend got hit by a car few years ago. everything seemed like a slow motion movie...i knew i was 'flying' and during this moment i could only think about my family, will i see them again after this, am i gonna die as i reached the ground, what have i done in yrs of my life. i had minor injuries cause i was the passenger but she was more injured :( alhamdulillah both of us were fine after a few days...except i have phobia with bike riding after that :'( [wlm] :-) |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| Nafisa |
| 08/09/02 at 10:30:33 |
| [slm] sunset, the bike phobia is a reasonable one. so many ppl die from bike accidents. drivers aren't always aware of other road users. i know i prefer to drive than ride a bike. but back to the thread, it's wierd how your seemingly last thoughts are of this world. if i was to die in a car accident, the shock of seeing the car would leave my mind completely blank. i think i'd like to know well in advance of my death. although there's no way of knowing that. ??? doing zikir alot helps becos it keeps your lips moist for when you have to say kalima before death. that's what i read anyway. it's a gd incentive to do zikir i think. :) |
| Re: When are the times that....... |
|---|
| A_Stranger |
| 08/11/02 at 15:35:42 |
| [slm] Good thread, this. I try to remember death often. I helped wash 2 bodies, too. Very very...interesting. And an excellent reminder of death. SubhanAllah, I remember death when I'm in the washroom, doing my wudu', having a shower etc. - I think it's cuz of the smell..the smell of soap and shampoo, it reminds me of the time when washing the body. (We used shampoo and saop to wash the bodies..). I also remember death after the 'isha salah. After praying isha I'm like: "Alhamdulilaaah..I've prayed isha, so if I die tonight, at least I'll have prayed my last salah..". "I CANNOT PREDICT THE FUTURE I CANNOT CHANGE THE PAST I HAVE JUST THE PRESENT MOMENT I MUST TREAT IT AS MY LAST." ^Nice way of saying it, mashaaAllah. Wassalaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah. |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |