Death - A Reality of Life
| Khatib : | Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: | 12 |
| Khutbah Date: | 04/19/02 |
"Every living thing must taste death. Throughout your life you are tested by the good and evil
that challenges you, then to your Creator is your ultimate return."
(Qur'an 21:35)
MAIN VIEWPOINTS
Many viewpoints exist about the concept of life after death. First, there are those who believe that life ends with death.
Second, there are those who believe in the transmigration of souls. They say that man bears the consequences of his actions through rebirth. If he has done good, he will be born into a higher level; if he has sinned, he will be born into a lower kind of creation.
The third viewpoint represents the Islamic one -- the concept of life continuing after death and the Day of Judgement. The records of each man and woman, concerning their ethical, social and personal achievements, are preserved and will be presented to Allah on that fateful Day. He will judge their good and bad deeds and will reward them appropriately. "Whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and work righteousness shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve," (Qur'an 2:62)
LIFE IS ONLY TEMPORARY
The glitter and glamour of worldly pleasures and the means through which it is acquired continues to divert many human beings into a false sense of security, until death catches up with them, When people are about to die then they awaken to the reality of life, as the holy Prophet intimated, when he remarked that people are asleep and when death reaches them, they wake up.
Allah clearly indicates in the Holy Qur'an (18:46) that only our good deeds are of any avail in the after life and as the holy Prophet (pbuh) said: "A dead person is followed to his grave by three, two of which return and one remains; his relatives, his property and his deeds follow him to the grave; the relatives and property returns, while his deeds remain with him" (Bukhari). In this is a lesson for those who indulge in improper conduct engrossing themselves in the world, over-indulging in materialism
DEATH MUST COME
Death is a fact of life and as the Qur'an reminds us, "Every living thing must taste death and surely each will then be recompensed on the Day of Resurrection. So whosoever is saved from the fire will be admitted to Paradise, such indeed gain the ultimate goal. And what is the life of this world except a provision of vanity." (Qur'an 3:184) It must be noted that there is no escape from the reality of death, "Wherever you are, death will surely overtake you" (Qur'an 4 78).
On the authority of Anas Bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said: "Three things follow a dead person: members of his family, his belongings, and his deeds. The first two come back and the third remains with him." (Bukhari and Muslim)