Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
If in any school, university, college or institute,
questions of an examination are given or there is a paper ‘leak-out’, the
examination is cancelled or reset.
Allah Ta’ala has given us the final question paper
consisting of three outwardly simple questions. The preparation time has also
been given - i.e. our lives. The examiners are also known: Munkar and Nakeer[1].
The consequences too have been spelt out. There is tremendous reward and honour
in passing the examination, and there is disgrace and punishment on failure.
Even though it would take just a few seconds to
learn these simple questions and answers, such that even 3 and 4 year olds
could be taught the same, and can memorize them, it is not as easy as it seems.
Had it been so extremely easy, many more would have
led their lives in accordance to the demands and dictates of the nafs ....
because the answers are known. However this is not the reality of our final
examination.
These answers depend on one’s life and one’s
preparations for it.
The 3 questions to be asked (and their answers), as we know, are :
1
2
3
If we say that Allah Ta’ala is our Rabb (Sustainer),
we have to recognize Him as our Creator; as the One who has blessed us with all
our spiritual, physical and material gifts. We have to recognize Him through
His signs and we have to submit to and obey Him in this worldly life. This
Ma`rifat or recognition is what will bring Ibaadah (worship) into practice and
be the means by which the person will be able to answer the first question in
the grave, immediately, and without any doubt.
The second question can be answered without any
difficulty if the person has lived a life of Submission to Allah Ta’ala,
conforming to the Shari'ah which Allah Ta'ala revealed to His Messenger (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam).
The third question can readily be answered if the
person has followed the beautiful and noble way of life of Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). It won’t be possible for the person who lived
the lifestyle of the enemies of Islam to answer this question easily.
Although we claim that we have Imaan and love for
Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), our actions
contradict our claim. We assert and affirm that the true religion is Islam but
we do not practise on its beautiful teachings. …Why?
A person may bribe, lie and cheat just to pass an
examination of this world but there is no possibility for the same in the
Qabr. To fly through the examination of the Qabr, we need to develop
our Imaan in Allah Ta’ala, adorn our hearts with His Love and Ma’rifat (Recognition)
and grace our lives with a practical expression of Islam by following the
Qur`aan and the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).
This is the only way to pass this most crucial
examination of life, with ease. And we should always keep in mind that there is
no re-testing and no re-marking. A person either passes or he fails.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding of the
greatness of this test, and the effort to work in the direction of preparation
for the questioning of the grave, that we may pass without any difficulty and
with distinction.
[1] Munkar and Nakeer : Two angels who
question a person in his grave, shortly after death.
By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi Alaih)
