these are not the only signs of death. There are more signs like sickness, complete loss or weakness of vision, and impaired hearing. There are many of us who have already encountered the signs of Sayyiduna Izra’eel’s arrival, but are still heedless! Our current state is such that we attribute white hair to flu or to the difficulties and stress of life. Similarly, we remain negligent during sickness and easily tend to forget the countless number of people who die as a result of different ailments. Little do we realize that the illness that seems ‘minor’ could become fatal. Then we leave behind those we hold dear; our enemies become happy and we will be buried in a dark grave with nothing but our good or bad deeds.

Without a doubt, we do not know whether today is our last day or whether the upcoming night is our last. In fact, we have no guarantee that we will be able to take another breath. It is possible that the breath we are taking is the last one! We often receive news of individuals who were perfectly fine and healthy who suddenly experience heart failures and pass away. Therefore, remember death instead of fulfilling unlawful desires.

The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘When a person falls ill, Allah Almighty sends two angels and instructs them to go and see what His bondsman says. If the patient praises Allah Almighty (i.e. saying اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه), then the angels relay his utterance to Allah Almighty, and Allah Almighty knows better. Allah Almighty says, ‘If I give this bondsman death due to this illness, I will make him enter Paradise and if I grant him health, I will give him better flesh and blood than before and forgive his sins.’

(Muwatta Imam Maalik, vol. 2, p. 429, Hadith 1798)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                           صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Overcome by death!

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Muhammad Qarashi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه said: “A young rich man lived in a city and possessed every type of worldly blessing. He had a very beautiful slave girl whom he loved a lot. He was living a life of luxury and comfort but he was deprived from the blessing of having a family. For a long time, he remained without this felicity until his slave girl became pregnant. The