Death is lurking

Sayyidunā Iyās b. Qatādah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was the chief of his tribe. One day, he saw a white hair in his beard and made dua, “O Allah Almighty! I seek refuge in You from sudden accidents. I know that death is lying in wait, and I cannot escape it.” He then went to his people and said, “O Banū SaꜤd! I dedicated my youth to you, now grant me my old age.” After that, he returned to his home and engaged in worship until he passed away.^[1]

Why do we not take heed?

Dear Islamic brothers, our righteous elders, pious predecessors and the noble servants of Allah Almighty possessed such pure minds that they used to take heed of advice. Sayyidunā Iyās b. Qatādah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه saw a white hair in his blessed beard, and just that one white hair was enough to provide a lesson for him. He took heed and engaged in worship.

Alas, we remain heedless! We do not gain counsel and are deprived of an insightful gaze. Every particle in the universe is giving us the message of impermanence, from rising funeral biers to the expanding graveyards, the passing of youth, the days that go by, the diminishing moonlight; they all carry lessons for us. All these things are telling us, 'O heedless human, death is approaching.'

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب         صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Encouragement to take heed

O devotees of the Prophet, in many places of the noble Quran, we have been urged to take heed. In Surah al-Nūr, verse 44, Allah Almighty says: