My father's death came as a surprise. He was almost in tip-top shape before that unfortunate incident happened when he suffered a stroke that could not revive him back to life. The family was in deep despair, most especially my mother. It's been over 9 years since we lost our father but she tells it like it just happened yesterday. She never forgot my father in all those years.
You have not experienced pain until someone you love very dearly pass away. In the realm of death, an awakening shakes you up and makes you realize that life is brief and can end in an instant. You pilot your life and cruise in predictable fashion, only to find yourself at the end of the road and about to hit a hard, blank wall called death. SMASH!!! Your time is up. In the Philippines, just as many Catholics are keen on celebrating Christmas, all Souls Day (Nov.1) is an occasion that is no less than a spectacle in this country. It is given of utmost importance that it is even declared a non-working holiday so that people may have time to visit their graves. The roads leading up to a cemetery is lined with vendors selling candles, flowers and food, turning the peaceful cemetery into one arena of frenzy.
As the only Muslim in my family, I refused being dragged to the cemetery, but upon my mother's request, I obliged. My views (and knowledge) about death has differed from when I was a Catholic. Islam gave me a crystal-clear picture of how life is really meant to be lived and the unforeseen events that happen after it. Below the graves, there were matters that only them and Allah could see, and this was a terrifying thought.
To say how Islam views death is to also say how it views life. To Muslims, the present life is a preparation for the next realm of existence. A great consciousness of life in the Hereafter is imposed upon every Muslim so that we use this life purposefully to please Allah and by aiming to do good deeds. The present life is a trial for what's to come in the next, which are just of two things: a blessed life in Paradise or a wretched life in the Fires of Hell.
The concept of Life after Death is an enigmatic one that many are in doubt of. The Quran very clearly tells the non-believers that there is no denying this matter:
And they say, “There is not but our worldly life; we die and live (i.e. some people die and others live, replacing them) and nothing destroys us except time.” And they have of that no knowledge; they are only assuming. And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, their argument is only that they say, “Bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful.” Say, “God causes you to live, then causes you to die; then He will assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt,” but most of the people do not know. 
(Quran, 45:24-26)
For sure, Allah will bring us all back to life and gather His creations for the Day of Judgement, and that will mark the start of life for all eternity. But those who deny it give more importance to their worldly desires and only realize at the time of death the horror of this terrifying Day, as stated in the Quran:
[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back that I might do righteousness in that which I left behind (i.e. in that which I neglected).” No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected. So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another. And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is they who are the successful. But those whose scales are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally. The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles (i.e. their lips having been contracted by scorching until the teeth are exposed). (Quran, 23:99-104)
Just thinking about the Final Hour gives me tremors. It's hard to make amends for the mistakes of the past when death looks you straight in the eyes. That means that we only have Here and Now.
In a hadith, Imam Malik Ibn Anas saw the Death Angel in his sleep, and the Imam asked him: " How much left for me to live?". The Angel pointed to his five fingers. Then the Imam asked him: " Does that mean 5 years, or 5 months, or 5 days ?". Before the Imam had a chance to get an answer back, he woke up. The Imam went to someone who would interpret dreams. That man told him: " Imam Malik, when the Angel pointed to his five fingers he didn't mean 5 years or months or days, but the Angel meant that your question ' how much left for me to live' is among 5 matters that only Allah (SWT) knows about, and he recited a verse from the Quran:
To Muslims who want to know the basic etiquette when visiting the graves, please read on:
During visit to graves, one cannot perform prayers (salat). Graveyards can never be used as masjids. It is makrooh (disliked or not recommended) to perform prayers facing a grave. It is not permissible to put candles and light them up on graves. One must avoid uttering nasty and nonsense words which are unrelated to grave visits, walking in an arrogant manner and one must be in a modest state. One must avoid relieving nature in graveyards. It is makrooh to cut down trees and plants in graveyards. It is makrooh to make sacrifice near a grave, even though it is performed for the sake of Allah. And it is definitely haram to make sacrifice in order to make the dead content and get help from them. There are some who said it is shirk (attributing partners to Allah); because, making sacrifice is a kind of worship and only Allah can be worshipped.
Death is the end of our physical existence but in the supernatural state, our lives carry on into the next dimension for all eternity. May Allah be pleased with us in this world and grant us a blessed life in the Hereafter. Ameen.
The concept of Life after Death is an enigmatic one that many are in doubt of. The Quran very clearly tells the non-believers that there is no denying this matter:
And they say, “There is not but our worldly life; we die and live (i.e. some people die and others live, replacing them) and nothing destroys us except time.” And they have of that no knowledge; they are only assuming. And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, their argument is only that they say, “Bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful.” Say, “God causes you to live, then causes you to die; then He will assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt,” but most of the people do not know. (Quran, 45:24-26)For sure, Allah will bring us all back to life and gather His creations for the Day of Judgement, and that will mark the start of life for all eternity. But those who deny it give more importance to their worldly desires and only realize at the time of death the horror of this terrifying Day, as stated in the Quran:
[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back that I might do righteousness in that which I left behind (i.e. in that which I neglected).” No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected. So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another. And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is they who are the successful. But those whose scales are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally. The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles (i.e. their lips having been contracted by scorching until the teeth are exposed). (Quran, 23:99-104) Just thinking about the Final Hour gives me tremors. It's hard to make amends for the mistakes of the past when death looks you straight in the eyes. That means that we only have Here and Now.
In a hadith, Imam Malik Ibn Anas saw the Death Angel in his sleep, and the Imam asked him: " How much left for me to live?". The Angel pointed to his five fingers. Then the Imam asked him: " Does that mean 5 years, or 5 months, or 5 days ?". Before the Imam had a chance to get an answer back, he woke up. The Imam went to someone who would interpret dreams. That man told him: " Imam Malik, when the Angel pointed to his five fingers he didn't mean 5 years or months or days, but the Angel meant that your question ' how much left for me to live' is among 5 matters that only Allah (SWT) knows about, and he recited a verse from the Quran:
To Muslims who want to know the basic etiquette when visiting the graves, please read on:
During visit to graves, one cannot perform prayers (salat). Graveyards can never be used as masjids. It is makrooh (disliked or not recommended) to perform prayers facing a grave. It is not permissible to put candles and light them up on graves. One must avoid uttering nasty and nonsense words which are unrelated to grave visits, walking in an arrogant manner and one must be in a modest state. One must avoid relieving nature in graveyards. It is makrooh to cut down trees and plants in graveyards. It is makrooh to make sacrifice near a grave, even though it is performed for the sake of Allah. And it is definitely haram to make sacrifice in order to make the dead content and get help from them. There are some who said it is shirk (attributing partners to Allah); because, making sacrifice is a kind of worship and only Allah can be worshipped.
Death is the end of our physical existence but in the supernatural state, our lives carry on into the next dimension for all eternity. May Allah be pleased with us in this world and grant us a blessed life in the Hereafter. Ameen.
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