Zikrul Maut - ذكر الموت

(Inspired from today's khutbah)

Zikrul Maut - ذكر الموت

By: Hariz Sa'id (Editor)

Death does not to wait or judge for a man. When Allah SWT determined that man's time is up , death will come swiftly.

"Work for the affairs of the world as if you were going to live forever but work for the Hereafter as though you will die tomorrow"*

I think most of us realised that we grew up in a materialistic world where the subject of death has become a taboo in today's society. However, the one truth that everyone on this planet agree is that death is certain (yakin). So, let us ponder for a while about the destroyer of pleasure - death.

One thing we must realise is that all of us will die. The question is 'When?'. It might be in the next 10 years or next year or next month or next week or tomorrow (or even before you finish reading this). Death does not discriminate based on age or plans that were made. The people of great faith would think about death so often that they won't put their foot down lest they think that death might reach them before their foot reach the ground. Neither would they eat lest they think that death might reach them before the food touches their mouth. Hence, let's reminds ourselves to remember death.

Why is it important to remember death? Man is judged based on his ending. If his ending is of a disbeliever despite being a keen worshipper throughout his life, his place is in the Fire. Such was the case of the abid (worshipper) who died prostrating to Syaitan. Likewise, if his ending is of a believer despite being a transgressor throughout his life, his place is in Jannah. Such was the case of the murderer who killed 100 men but died in a state of repentance. We must ask ourselves the state of which we would die in.

In the purification of the heart, remembrance of death is a praiseworthy attribute. By remembering death, we would rectify our intentions since Prophet SAW said, "Verily, every deed is by its intention" (Nawawi - 1/40). We would be so absorbed in the thought of death that we want to ensure that we meet our Lord in our best possible manner. This is the mentality of the believer - he looks forward to the vastness of the hereafter more than the narrowness of the world.

However, the people of Islam are the people of the middle way (ummata wasata). Allah SWT said,"But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters." (Surah Al-Qasas (28):77).

Hence, Islam does not stop a person from wanting to become rich or successful. Islam does not want us to be like monks, priests or nuns who shun the world to a point that they do not get married. The remembrance of death should not turn the Muslims into ascetics. Instead, it should be an integral part of the muslims' life. The remembrance of death can make a rich person say that he will give you the clothes that he is wearing if one says he needs it for Islam. That is also zuhud**.

So, my brothers and sisters, remember death and fear Allah. Let us turn your study or work into an ibadah by keeping the intention that we are doing this for the sake of Allah so that even if we were to die while we are still studying or working, we will die in a state of ibadah. I remind myself before others to look at our bad deeds and question whether or not, we would want to die in a such a state when we have not repented.

May Allah make us from the people who remember death often.

Allahu a'lam (Allah knows best).

* This is debated to be a Dhaif (weak) narration but scholars permit using it to take the lesson or benefit from it.
** zuhud - renouncing worldly pleasure but the nearness of the akhirat.