The fact that man’s existence on earth is limited by time greatly hinders the believer’s desire for too much of material things and also grants him the moral strength to resist temptations.
The believer quivers between two incredibly opposing poles: The prospect of living and the fear of death. For righteous Muslims, death is a wonderful transition from one state to another; but for the sinful souls, it is indeed a painful and humiliating end.
The most vital wisdom for man therefore lies in renouncing major sins and living with piety and total submission to the authority of Allah and His Messenger. Man has two advisers in life: One speaks while the other is silent. The vocal adviser is the holy Quran; while death advises through its deep silence.
It was due to this fact that Muslims, throughout history, established cemeteries in towns, by roadsides and in “courtyards of mosques”, to give the living enough opportunity to be counseled by the deep silence of death.
Death is an occurrence – it doesn’t speak, yet it is pregnant with profound messages. Graveyards are now the abodes of our mothers, fathers, children, lovers and friends who have taken up residence therein after exhausting their appointed time on earth.
What kind of delusion gives us hope that we are not also destined for certain graves? Let’s be prepared. Let’s not be deceived. We shall definitely die one day and be buried in Graves!
“Grave,” in the factual words of Allah’s Messenger, “is either a garden of paradise or a ditch of hellfire.” This implies that one would definitely experience either a blissful grave or a torturous one, depending on one’s relationship with Allah on earth.
One’s relationship with Allah is however dependent upon one’s perception of the material world and its luxuries. Nothing decieves as the material world, for it makes us forget the prospect of death.
Dhikr in the Vacuum of Time By Abu Mazeedatilkhayr Bn Sa’eed
A strong attachment to this world usually makes a sudden departure for eternity a painful experience for the dying soul. The soul that is only given to pursuing the luxury of life, without contemplating the prospect of death, will certainly die in grief and regret.
He thinks of his wealth, mansions, children and his beautiful wife. He therefore endures silently, at the moment of death, the imminent loss of his pleasurable life. But what if he had rather attached himself to Allah and His worship, with little desire for the material world, he wouldn’t be vacating the world with a sense of loss and regret.
Being cautious about the material world is not the same as living in extreme lack or poverty simply because one does not have the ability to acquire wealth; it is rather a deliberate renunciation of the pleasure of sins, so that one can attain the pleasure of Allah.
Piety is usually inspired by the thought of death and also sustained by frequent visits to cemeteries. Graveyards are the future abodes of everyone on earth. A frequent visit to graveyards reminds one of the nothingness of this world; and it was for this reason that the Messenger of Allah had counseled his companions thus:
“I had earlier forbidden you from visiting graves; but now you may, for visiting graves will remind you of the hereafter”
Grave visiting therefore provides a lesson in piety and self-discipline for the visitor and grants the deceased the desired compassion of Allah through the prayer uttered by the visitor.
While standing next to a grave, Uthman Bn Affaan once wept until his beards got soaked with tears. Someone then said to him: “You do not cry when you remember heaven and hell; yet you bawl your eyes out with a single thought of grave!”
The noble companion, as reported by Tirmidhi, then sketched out the most appropriate response to this challenge, to illustrate the difference between the Barzakh (ie life in the grave) and the judgement day.
“That is because”, replied Uthman Bn Affaan, “I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: grave is the first station of the hereafter. If one is able to pass it, the rest is easier. If not, the rest is even more difficult and intense. I have never thought of anything more terrifying than the grave!”
Thus, the buried corpse pleas for help like a person who has fallen abruptly into a quicksand! O’ Allah, we seek Your refuge against the torment of the grave, for torment of the grave is not bearable for any soul!
No situation could describe a state of helplessness as when a soul is buried in a Grave. It is a state of barzakh, a station between this life and the judgement day – The dead initially feels as though he had fallen into a quicksand!
Silence, solitude, loneliness, helplessness and anguish are the five frightening words with which the grave is characterized. What, then, is the pride of a mansion’s occupant whose ultimate abode is that silent, six-feet sandy pit?
What wisdom is greater in life than living, here on earth, like a wayfarer? There is indeed no alternative to renouncing a life of sins. More than a Thousand people read this post and Allah knows the first person to die and to be buried.
Who’s the Next Guest of the grave?
For a better life after death, however, believing in the oneness of Allah by scorning a life of Shirk – charms, amulet, incision, geomancy, soothsaying – and thus, by adopting a life of Tawheed, is the first protection against the torment of the grave.
Then, upholding a life of moral values, by scorning adultery, fornication, usury, alcoholic drinks, lies and robbery, is another factor that prevents the torment of the grave. May Allah ease the moral value for us ..
Also, keeping a good relationship with Allah, by worshipping Allah as ought to be worshiped; enhancing our spiritual life with vigil devotions (Qiyaam-layl), voluntary fast, Quranic reading and the chanting of Adkaar with sincerity. This can also help in guarding us against the torment of the grave. May Allah protect us.
May Allah ease the affairs of all the dead Muslims in their Graves. May Allah grant us long life and good ends. May Allah be compassionate with us in this world and the hereafter…
Abu Mazeedatilkhayr Bn Sa’eed is an Author, Publisher, Reseacher & CEO of De-Minaret International, Abuja.
