Remembering Death

Death. Excessive usage of this word, along with "the angel of death", "heaven", "hell", "judgement", and "recompense" will most probably score us a one-way ticket to the local psychiatric institute, compliments of our friends and family. Because death seems like such a horrible topic to discuss with the potential of mentally traumatizing people, many of us wonder what the logic is behind the Holy Qur'an and a vast majority of our scholars constantly reminding us about death. Isn't our religion supposed to give us peace of mind instead of sending shivers down our spine? To understand why Islam places such a great emphasis on remembering death we must first briefly understand what death is.




Medically speaking, it's the time when our hearts stop beating and can no longer support all our organs. It's the time when the body literally switches off and says goodbye to this world. We stop living; there's no more waking up every morning, spending time with family, going to work, and having fun. From the philosophical point of view and the view of the Abrahamic faiths, death is the time when the soul departs from the body. It's the time when God says "time's up", and our test in this world is finally over. It's when we officially embark on the journey to the next world in order to return to the One who gave us life. "How do you deny Allah, and you were dead and He gave you life? Again He will cause you to die and again bring you to life, then you shall be brought back to Him." (2:28)



Almost every day we hear tragic news reports about deaths which have occurred due to freak accidents, murders, old age, illness, or numerous other natural causes. We say: "To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return" (2:156), but let's face it, how many of us actually wholeheartedly believe that we are going to return to our Lord? While we appear to formally acknowledge death, we have become somewhat immune to this reality, and instead, we subconsciously believe that we are eternal beings.



The reason why we are encouraged to be steadfast in the remembrance of our death is because it is directly related with our fear of Allah, and remembering that there is an afterlife reinforces the idea that we are mortal beings. On the spectrum of Muslims who falter when it comes to remembering death, we have two main categories: 1) Those who completely disregard the laws of Halal and Haram as defined by Islam, and 2) those who do follow most of the Islamic laws, yet stumble when it comes to "perfecting" our Islamic practice and etiquette.



The first group of people knowingly and openly commit forbidden acts, while having little if any concern for obeying the commands of Allah. The main reason for such Muslims is that they are surrounded by drugs, alcohol, cheating, gambling, illegitimate relationships, disrespecting parents, and broken families in the society we live in, and they decide to jump on the bandwagon.



Imam Ali (peace be upon him) has said: "He who sells his next life for his present life in this world loses both of them."



As described by our Imam, this first group of people "sell" their next life by completely detaching themselves from the reality that they will be held accountable for what they do. The Holy Qur'an has warned us against being misled by the societies we live in: "Let not the strutting about of the Unbelievers through the land deceive you. Little is it for enjoyment: Their ultimate abode is Hell. What an evil bed (to lie on)!" (3:196-197)



The second group of people are those who make up the majority of the Muslim population. We're the children who eat Halal food but lie to our parents. We're the teenagers who pray on time, but when we're around friends, we skip all religious activities and loosen up on both social and physical forms of Hijab. We're the adults who posses a wide range of religious knowledge and attend mosque every week, yet would rather pay for a holiday halfway across the world when Hajj is still obligatory on us. We're the parents who raise our children saying, "Everything you do must be to seek nearness to Allah", but when it comes to their marriages, we consider superficial things such as wealth and status to be superior to piety and religious practice of their spouses. We're the grandparents who always gave our grandchildren religious classes, but while celebrating their weddings, we'll figure out some way to commit Haram in the name of "fun".



In this second category of believers, the reason why we fulfill most obligatory acts yet are not concerned with doing complete justice to our faith is because we are not entirely fearful of death and Allah. We think, "Oh, it's not that bad...it's not as though we do Haram every day." We forget the saying of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny): "Do not look at the minuteness of the sin; rather, look Whom you have sinned against."



So now that we've acknowledged how forgetfulness of death causes us to indulge in the temporary and forbidden pleasures of this world, it's essential for us to bear death in mind in order for us to remain fearful of Allah and to become better people.



Some may find this a bit peculiar, and others may label this as slightly psychotic. However, consider the following practices: sitting in an empty grave for 5 minutes; visiting graveyards; looking at photographs of deceased loved ones; reading the verse of the Holy Qur'an which speak of death; and visiting a dying person. In essence, putting ourselves in such mental and physical environments which remind us of death can be extremely beneficial towards redefining our goals and purpose in this world. It is narrated that as he grew older, one of the four special deputies of the Twelfth Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance) would sit in a grave and recite one-thirtieth of the Holy Qur'an every single day!



A popular company once arranged for a compulsory mock funeral for all of its employees, in which the friends and families of the "deceased" person were invited to mourn over his/her mock death. Data collected from the mock funeral participants indicated that the employees had become much more determined people which, as a result, profited the company. The families and friends of the employees also disclosed that the mock funeral had transformed their loved ones into much more forgiving, caring, and sincere people, who were concerned about how much good they could do to this world before they died. The employees achieved all this simply because they were reminded of their deaths.



In our capitalist, materialistic society, everyone is concerned with investments and future returns. People have become so absorbed with planning ahead that it's quite normal to find grandparents planning for the education of their unborn grandchildren. So it makes absolutely no sense that we knowingly fail to pre-plan our position in the afterlife, and that we pretend we will be able to escape death and will not have to recompense for our deeds in this world. Remembrance of death will help us fear our Lord. And fearing our Lord will ultimately help us attain heaven in the afterlife: "…for those who fear their Lord are Gardens with rivers flowing beneath; therein are they to dwell (forever), a gift from the presence of Allah; and that which is in the presence of Allah is the best (bliss) for the righteous." (3:198)

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, ‘If one considers equal an Imam who is not from Allah’s side with the Imam who is from Allah’s side, then he is a Mushrik.’ Ghaibatun Nomaani page 63

[The Dinner Table (5), 110]

*

When Allah will say: O Isa son of Marium! Remember My favor on you and on your mother, when I strengthened you I with the holy Spirit, you spoke to the people in the cradle and I when of old age, and when I taught you the Book and the wisdom and the Taurat and the Injeel; and when you determined out of clay a thing like the form of a bird by My permission, then you breathed into it and it became a bird by My permission, and you healed the blind and the leprous by My permission; and when you brought forth the dead by My permission; and when I withheld the children of Israel from you when you came to them with clear arguments, but those who disbelieved among them said: This is nothing but clear enchantment.
[The Dinner Table (5), 110]

Demand of Fadak & it's Political Reasons

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It may be said that Fatima Zahra (p.b.u.h) (the Lady of Paradise) was least interested in the worldly possessions. And a person who had all along remained aloof from such things of the world and did not like at all rather hated its deceit and intrigues, on what grounds she consistently agitated before the Government for assertion of her rights over Fadak?




She (p.b.u.h) being a Lady of exalted disposition, enjoying great spiritual prestige where these characteristics of hers were well accepted by all in the Islamic world, why was she so persistent on the question of Fadak? And she continued her struggle for its return so that the land which was usurped by the government could come back to her. Afterall what was the reason behind all these efforts? Specially when she was least interested in the world and its possessions, and in her eyes the value of it was less than mucus coming out of goat’s sneeze or was even lower value than a bone of a pig in the mouth of a leper; and was lighter than the wing of a fly.



What was the factor that had forced her (p.b.u.h) to bear all these hardships, affliction and troubles? Was a small piece of land and a few date trees the cause of it? She was fully aware that all her efforts would go in vain and that she would not get back the land from the Government. It is but natural that such questions arise in the minds of conscious readers. The questions are not complex for those who study deeply the circumstances and events of the early Islam, after the demise of the Holy Prophet (p.b..u.h). It is not difficult for them to get the answer. A little application of attention would serve the purpose to get satisfactory answers to these questions.



The first reason was to deprive Fatima Zahra (p.b.u.h) from her lawful property and to smash the progeny of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) financially, thereby initiating an economic war with Ali (p.b.u.h), and to make him financially bankrupt and poor. The people seeing him, financially weak would disregard him and would not rally around him. It was also meant for inflicting a blow on his social and religious status. This was the same shameless line of action that was adopted by hypocrites (munafiqeen) with the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h). They used to propagate that whoever goes to the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h), he should not be helped financially or he should not be given anything, so that the people would stay away from the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) and would not gather around him.



The second reason was that the income of Fadak was sufficiently high. According to Ibn Abil Hadeed Moatazali, the number of date trees in Fadak were equal to the total number of date trees in the Oasis of Kufa, put-together. Allama Majlisi (ra) quotes from the book entitled ‘Kashful Mahajja’, the annual income of Fadak was 24,000 dinars. Another tradition says that the income was 70,000 dinars. This disparity between the amounts might have occurred, may be, due to the fluctuation of income over the years. Anyway this excess income was likely to come to the notice of the Government, and it was not correct and proper to hide it from coming to the notice of the Government.



Third reason behind the demand of Fadak, was an implication, of the demand of her illustrious husband, Ali (p.b.u.h) for the Khilafat, the same Khilafat that was for her father, the Holy Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h). To substantiate this point a reference to the world famous learned scholar Ibn Abil Hadeed Moatazali is made where he had said that while he was studying at Madressa Arabiya in Baghdad, once he asked the teacher Ali bin al-Faraqi, “whether Fatima (p.b.u.h) was truthful?” He had answered, “Of course”. Then I asked him why Abu Bakr, who knew she was truthful, did not return Fadak to her?



He smiled and gave a very beautiful reply (Here, we should note that he was a very serious person and never was boisterous). He said that if today he would have conceded Fadak to her only on hearing that it was hers, she could say that Khilafat was the right of her husband and that Abu Bakr had usurped his legal rights. Under the circumstances, Abu Bakr would not be having any excuses that could be advanced justifying his denial. And it would have become his duty to accept every matter advanced by her as Abu Bakr was fully aware that whatever Fatima (p.b.u.h) demands is factually her right and there is no need of any witnesses to substantiate her claim.



Fourth reason was that right is always demanded, not automatically given. (Right is a thing which is taken, not given). So the one whose right was usurped, it is his duty to claim his right and to struggle for it, since the right is his whether the claimant needs it and he does have any attachment with it. This things (the right to claim) does not have any relation with piety and keeping aloof from this world. One should not sit pretty over such matters, if the right has been usurped.



Fifth reason: a man, however aloof he may have remained from worldly possessions, and struggle for the other world for salvation, it is his duty to correct himself in his own life and preserve his human dignity. It’s his bounded duty to spend money on companionate gestures (sila-e-rahmi), and in the way of God. Anyway, even for these acts money will be required.



Does not history confirm this fact that the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) was the most pious and God-fearing person among all the Muslims. Even then, in the furtherance of the cause of Islam, he need the property of Hazrat Khadija, may God be pleased with her.



Sixth reason: judicious thinking demands that one should struggle for assertion of his usurped right since this demand will not be devoid of the following two situations:



As a first instance, if his struggle and effort is successful he gets what he wanted. Thus his objective would be achieved in his struggle.



As a second instance, if he fails, and could not achieve his right, the tyranny of the oppressor would be fully exposed, and everybody would come to know of it. It will be a proclamation that his right was usurped.



In addition, he will also prove that his property was taken from him and usurped.



Further, the usurper who poses himself as a reformer of the society and spoils his honesty and piety, would be exposed before the people in stark nakedness. Then it would become a common knowledge that he is nothing but an imposter. And that whatever good qualities he had been exhibiting was a façade and a ruse.



Seventh reason: to invite attention of the masses towards their own self, people used to adopt so many ‘isms’ and different ways and means to their advantage. To win the heart of the masses, in the various means used to include money, morals and (false) promises, but the sure and most noble way of winning the hearts of the masses of the society is to be an “oppressed person”, and to expose the tyranny of the oppressor. The oppressed person, belonging to any cast and clan anyway, attracts the hearts of the people to himself. In the same way, people hate the oppressor, however, high he may be placed in the society.



Those who want to attract people and want to instigate an awakening in them and stir their soul, adopt the medium of address and speech to meet their aim and objective. This medium brings success and is very popular. Here, we would have been more graphic by giving many reasons, but we would prefer to shorten the topic.



Thus, keeping in view of the above mentioned causes and reasons, Siddiqa Tahera Fatima Zahra (p.b.u.h) rose and turned towards the mosque of her beloved father (p.b.u.h) to claim her right.



She did not go to the house of 1st caliph for talks, nor did she choose to argue with him on this matter. Instead, he selected a place which was the Islamic Centre in those days and meeting point of all Muslims of that time, and that place was the mosque of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h). She also selected the best time to go to the mosque. At this time, the mosque used to be full to capacity by Muhajireen and Ansars, and with persons of all economical classes. This great and exalted Lady of Islam did not go to mosque alone, but took along with her a group of ladies, who had formed a circle around her.



Before her arrival in the mosque a curtain was hanged at a pre-arranged place so that she might sit behind that. Her personality was an example of the most exalted lady among all the veiled women of the world. The arrangement of curtain was made so that she remained out of sight of people.



The above matters that we have mentioned are of very great importance. The 1st caliph also had prepared himself to hear what the exalted lady had to say. Note, that she was the daughter of that person, who had said that “I am the most learned and cultured man in the whole of Arab”, and that Lady also was the example for all women in knowledge and wisdom.



Holy Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.a) said:



“(An angel) informed me and gave me glad tidings that my daughter, Fatima is the Chief of all the women of my nation. . .”



Khasaes of Imam Nisa’I, pg. 34



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