Bismillahir
Rahmaanir Raheem
By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh)
At the
Johannesburg International Airport[1], some brothers requested that I give them
some nasihah (advice) before leaving.
I
mentioned the following : ‘The Airport itself presents sufficient Ibrat
(lesson) for a person’s Islaah (reformation).
Boards
are seen, computer screens inform, and announcements are repeatedly heard of
Arrivals and Departures.
We should take lesson from this.
We have ‘arrived’. Our scheduled arrival to
the destination of this world has come to pass. We have journeyed from
Aalame-Arwah[2] to this transitory world. Our next journey is to
‘Aalame-Barzakh’[3].
In this material world, the time of departure
is given for the flights that are leaving for various cities and countries. A
person can make preparations for travel, accordingly. As is common experience
though, flights are generally delayed.
Our departure, to the Aakhirah (Hereafter), is
scheduled, but absolutely unknown to us. Moreover, this time of departure will
not be delayed or cancelled.
“…At length when death approaches one of you, Our
angels take his soul
and they Never fail in
their duty.”
[Surah An`aam : 6 : 61]
In a
couplet that deeply impresses upon the reality of this life, my Shaykh, Hazrat
Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh), states:
Strange
is the visa of life;
It can
be cancelled at anytime.
The duration
of its validity is unknown
And its
extension too, impossible
Therefore,
we need to be ever ready for the journey to the Hereafter.
Passengers
are either seated in the VIP lounge or in the ordinary waiting area. Whether
the person intends traveling ‘First Class’, ‘Business Class’ or ‘Economy
Class’; all will depart. Each has a boarding pass in hand. It is just a matter
of time before departure.
The
Azaan in our right ear, and the Iqaamat in our left ear, was already given at
the time of our birth. All that is left is the Janaza Salaah at the time of our
death. Just as the time between the Iqaamat and Salaah is negligible – so too
is the time span of our lives.
As
someone has mentioned : Our life is just like the ‘dash’ between the date of
birth and the date of passing away, which is inscribed on many tombstones.
Though this ‘dash’ of life is so short, it is such a significant stage in our
journey, that it either ‘makes’ or ‘breaks’ our Hereafter. This little dash
either delivers a person to Jannat or Jahannum. So before someone mentions the
date of our departure, we should convert the ‘dash’ of life to time spent
securing provisions for the coming journey.
Then I
mentioned that now two new boards are to be found :
UNDERGROUND PARKING
and
PRAYER ROOM UPSTAIRS
Our
‘parking’ too is reserved. …What then should we do? Before ‘departure’ and
before being ‘parked’ under the ground, we should visit the ‘prayer room’ –
meaning, that we should bring the submission and servitude found in prayer or
Salaah, into our lives. Submit to the One who gave us this life because very
soon will we be returning to Him.
“…And the destination (of all) is to Allah.”
[Surah Ahzaab 35 : 18]
In
addition, this world is very much like a time-share. The occupants make full
use of all facilities during the week/s or month/s – the lounge, fridge, stove,
furniture, air conditioner and the luxuries of the timeshare. However, they
know that they will have to move out as soon as their time expires.
Similarly,
we should make use of the bounties of Allah Ta’ala in this world but we should
not give our hearts to this world. …How can we give our hearts to a world which
is so unfaithful? …The home in which
there is excitement and celebration of a wedding is suddenly plunged into grief,
sorrow and mourning.
We
should keep before us the following Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
waSallam): ‘Verily, the world has been created for you and you have been
created for the Aakhirah.’
Preparation
for the Aakhirah (Hereafter) does not mean that we will be deprived of the good
things of this world. Eat, drink, marry, conduct business and do all other
activities according to the teachings of Shari'ah and Sunnah of Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam). This is all that is required.
“…(O my Lord) Take You my soul (at death) as one
submitting to Your Will (as a Muslim), and unite me with the righteous.”
[Surah Yusuf 12 : 101]
[1] Now known as O R TAMBO International
[2] Aalame-Arwah : The
World of Souls
[3] Aalame-Barzakh : The
period of life after death until the Resurrection
