Weekly Jumuah Special: How Remembering Death Can Make You More Productive
by UQS | Nov 29, 2012 | Articles, Quran & Productivity | 23 comments
by Khawlah bint Yayha
In last week's Jumuah special I shared some gems of advice on how to deal with stress and worries in Islam. But I excluded one tip— a tip from the Prophet [saws] himself to us, a tip that's a true stress buster, a wake up call, and a great piece of productivity advice. What is this tip?
Remember more often the destroyer of pleasures— death. [The Messenger (saws) on the authority of Abu Hurairah]
Looking at the faces of our brothers and sisters in Syria, Gaza, and many more places, as they carry their lifeless children in their arms, begs the question: What is the difference between them and us?
When you ask them, most of these men, women, and even children say: We live with death on our doorstep. Literally any moment a bomb can drop on their houses.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says, Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in a fortress built up strong and high. [Quran 4: 78].
Have you ever thought about the day that you'll die? If so, how did you act on this thought?
Today we'll discuss how remembering death can make you more productive in your life.
Are you Scared of Death?
Fear of death is a feeling affecting most people. We fear the unknown, and Allah (swt) made death a part of the unseen, a thing having to do with the soul, which remains a mystery to us. An example is a youth, full of energy, who all of a sudden drops dead. His limbs come to a complete standstill and his book of deeds is closed. If you've had a loved one pass away, you know the feeling; suddenly they're just not there anymore.
The Believer
If you're a believer and you think positively of Allah (swt) you'll realise that by your death you're returning to a generous and a merciful Lord Who will reward you for good deeds with good things and Who will pardon your bad deeds with His mercy and forgiveness. This will happen only if you're a believer who trusts in Allah and if your heart is humble before Him. He is the Accepter of repentance.
Why Life and Death?
The purpose of our creation is nothing but to worship Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala . How do we know this? Because Allah (swt) tells us this in His book. But what is the reason why Allah created life and death specifically?
Allah says in Surah al Mulk, ayah 2: He who has created death as well as life, so that He might put you to a test which of you is best in conduct, and [make you realize that] He alone is almighty, truly forgiving.
Here the clear answer is this: life and death are a test to see who among us would strive to be the best in deeds.
What is one of the differences between this world and Paradise? In this life there is death, while in the Hereafter there is no death. The inhabitants of Jannah will live forever. But on the flip side, those who are in the hellfire will also live forever. May Allah (swt) save us from this terrible fate.
This takes us to the following question: what are we doing in this life to prepare for a death that will lead us to an eternal life?
Are You Ready to Meet Allah?
Ibn al-Mubaarak said that Saalih Al-Mariy used to say, If the remembrance of death leaves me for an hour my heart becomes spoilt.
Imagine Allah (swt) takes your soul before you finish reading this article. Are you ready?
Do you know that your children will inherit the good and the bad that you leave behind? What kind of example are you giving?
Our ultimate goal is to be on such a level that when we die we know that we couldn't have done more good deeds. Abdur-Rahman ibn Mahdee said, If Hammaad bin Salamah is told, 'You will die tomorrow.' He will not be able to increase anything in his deed, because his time is full of worship and remembrance of Allaah.'
So How Do You Prepare for Death?
The best way to prepare for death is life. Living your life in a good way is how you prepare for death. Remember the meaning of the ayah of Surah al Mulk: life and death is a test to see who is best in deeds.
So sitting back and being scared to die is not the way to remember death as the Prophet [saws] advised you. The productive way to prepare is to make remembering death soften your hard heart, to make remembering death an inspiration for you to leave bad habits and let the thought of death motivate you to do the best you can.
We prepare for death by keeping our promises, by helping people in need, and by being good to our families.
Become productive by remembering death!
It is said that, Whoever frequently remembers death is honoured with three things: quick repentance, contentment, and energy for acts of worship; and whoever forgets death is punished with three things: delayed repentance, lack of contentment, and laziness in acts of worship.
Now look at yourself: are you often delaying your repentance and remaining unhappy with what you have? Do you feel too lazy to pray? All of these are signs that you don't remember death in a productive way.
Three tips on how to remember death in a productive way:
1. Think about death and hasten to repent.
If you're always thinking about death, you'll think about the Hereafter and repent to Allah (swt).
2. Think about death and be content with a little.
If you often remember death you know this world is just temporary, so the problems of the world don't get to you.
3. Think about death and get energy to worship.
If death is constantly on your mind your heart feels the need to be pure, so that you can meet Allah (swt) with a pure heart.
Allah says: The day on which neither wealth nor sons will be of any use, except for whoever brings to Allah a sound heart. [Quran, 26:88-89]
An Ayah of Priorities!
Allah (swt) says, Until when death comes to one of them, he says, 'My Lord send me back.' [Quran, 23:99].
Qataadah said while commenting on this verse, By Allah, he would not wish by this statement to go back to his family and wealth nor to collect the good things of this world and satisfy his desires. He would rather wish to go back and do acts of obedience to Allah.
SubhanAllah, there it is, those are your priorities laid out for you!
May we be of those who love to meet Allah (swt) and whom Allah (swt) loves to meet. Ameen.
Let's learn something together and memorize a dua' which has to do with life and death, which you should say every night before you go to sleep:
"Bismika Allaahumma amootu wa ahyaa."
In Your Name O Allah I die and I live.
Make it a habit and say it every night from now on insha'Allah!
Pray you will benefit,
~ Khawlah bint Yahya, United Kingdom
THE AYAH JOURNAL, Qur'an & Productivity is a global project with the exciting goal to inspire every Muslim worldwide to open the Qur'an every day, pick one ayah and apply it to your own life by making acting on the ayah your mission for the day. Let's bring back the message of the Qur'an to our daily life! Check www.ayahjournal.com and follow us on www.facebook.com/ayahjournal for vibrant Qur'an & Productivity tips.
Anita on November 30, 2012 at 8:15 pm
MashaLlah very nice article .really like it
Jazak Allah khair
Burhan ibnu somal on November 30, 2012 at 11:21 pm
I am very very happy to read this important article of quran and i wish all muslim brothers and sisters to do how is it and my allaah bigger to give us forgiveness……,amin amin
Nafisa on November 30, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Jazana wa Jazakumullahu bikhair, nice article. Islam is really the best religion:) Alhamdulillah for being a muslimah
Shakera Unnisa on November 30, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Jazakallahu khairan sister for reminding all of us about this,
Allahumma hasibni hisabaiy yaseera,Ameen .
Faridah M. Jamil on November 30, 2012 at 11:20 pm
Minnie Delacruz on December 1, 2012 at 12:06 am
this article make me strong for my belief.i love it.
Mumtaz Talukdar on December 1, 2012 at 1:51 am
Jazak Allah khair.
Sehar Hussain on December 1, 2012 at 7:38 am
Ma Sha Allah v nice atticle i realy want dis thanku for providng us its make me more religious Subhan Allah
Noorie Zakriya on December 1, 2012 at 5:33 am
JazakAllah Khair.
Abdul Kalam Kalam on December 1, 2012 at 6:40 am
jazakallahu khairan sister
Sohel Feni on December 1, 2012 at 11:09 am
AbdurRab Chowdhury, M. D. on December 1, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Excellent! Jazak Allah Khair
Bint Nisar on December 1, 2012 at 9:27 pm
JazakALLAH khayr for the great reminder.
Just to add, the mentioned dua should be recited 3 times:
Allahumma Bismika Amutu wa Ahyaa
Syeda Amina on December 2, 2012 at 4:33 am
Mashaallah! Truly a productive article
DrZia-ul Haque on December 2, 2012 at 5:06 am
zazakallah hu bi khairuhu.
A Renish on December 2, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Masha Allah, its gr8. As humans we need periodical refreshment to stay 'tuned'
Abdul Karim Ch on December 2, 2012 at 10:50 am
jazakum-Allah kullu khair for all of your efforts and reminding the mankind in whole and especialy the believers the most essential things.
Abdi on December 4, 2012 at 8:18 am
Allahu-Akbar….what a great summon from our beloved ukhty…..May Allah (S.W.T) reward all your efforts abundantly!
Abdulazeez on December 4, 2012 at 5:18 pm
May Allah reward you and accept it as an act of ibadah.
Mwajuma bint Rajab on December 6, 2012 at 5:34 pm
mashaallah ts a very good article.. reminding us that we are only passing in this world lets prepare for an everlasting life "Jannat firdarus". JAZAKUMULLAHU KHAIR.
munawar ikhlas on December 8, 2012 at 12:08 am
jazakAllah khair
Farida Nassor Mohammed on May 16, 2014 at 11:23 am
shukran for amazing reminder JazakAllah Khair
lukman imam on October 6, 2015 at 1:51 pm
this is an important article for every muslim and muslimah