Part II: The Heedless
In Surah al-Qiyamah, Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, describes the extraction of the soul, those last minutes. He probably went to sleep that night not intending to pray Fajr. He promised his kids they would go to Disneyland in the summer. He promised his wife a new dress. He promised himself a new car if he beat his golf score. Tonight, however, he had an unexpected visitor. O the visitor had an appointment with him, he was just careless and forgot.
“Nay, when (the soul) reaches to the collar bone (i.e. up to the throat in it’s exit).”
(Al-Qur’an 75:26)
The soul does not leave the entire body in one swoop. It leaves body part by body part until it reaches the collarbone, until it reaches the throat. His legs were dead, his arms were dead. The soul gargled in his throat. He screamed. His wife and children ran to his side. What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Not now, he is about to begin another journey.
“And it will be said: ‘Who can cure him and save him from death?'”
(Al-Qur’an 75:27)
Even in the last breaths, the wife runs to the phone to call an ambulance. The children look left and right for someone to save their dad. Nay, no one can save him from death when death arrives. Everyone shall die.
“And (the dying person) will conclude that it is the time of departure (death).”
(Al-Qur’an75:28)
Reality has hit him now. He knows this is the end. The time for departure has arrived, the journey is about to begin. What is he departing from though. From a Qur’an he used to recite after’Asr? From 4 rak’at he used to pray during those long winter nights? Was he even departing from the 5 daily prayers?
“And leg will be joined with another leg (i.e. shrouded).”
(Al-Qur’an 75:29)
Strangers washed his body, strange hands shrouded his body, strangers prayed on his body. Down, down into that hole that was waiting for him from the day he entered this world. Now, the journey begins …
“The drive will be, on that Day, to your Lord (Allah)!”
(Al-Qur’an 75:30)
Dear brother, dear sister. Do not leave your repentance till Ramadan. Do not wait until you go for Hajj. Do not even wait till tomorrow. Do it now and prepare for this journey. Come back to Allah now, before it is too late.
‘Ali, radiallahu ‘anhu, once stood at the head of a grave and said to his companion:
“If he had a chance to return to this life, what do you think he would do?”
His companion replied:
‘He would do nothing but good deeds.’
‘Ali, radiallahu ‘anhu, then said:
“If it is not going to be him, then let it be you.”
If you are young and handsome now, fear Allah,subhanahu wa ta’ala, and cover as He commanded you. If you are healthy now, worship Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, as much as you can before you are old. If you are wealthy now, use your wealth for the sake of Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, before the day comes when you may lose it. If you have some free time now, spend it memorizing Qur’an and reading hadith before a time comes when you will not find the time. If you are alive now, take advantage of your life in preparation for the next leg of your journey, in preparation for your meeting with Allah,subhanahu wa ta’ala.
Ibn ‘Abbas, radiallahu ‘anhuma, heard the Prophet,sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, advising someone saying:
“Take advantage of five before five: You’re youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you become occupied, and your life before your death.”