Then, when I reached the house of another person, it also called out to me (figuratively), saying, 'O Ṣāliḥ! Seek admonition from me! Some people used to live here, but now they are all buried in the earth.'”

In this way, he went on counting and narrating, until he reached our house.^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers! Pay attention! Let us reflect on how our pious predecessors, the virtuous servants of Allah Almighty, used to take heed in various situations. We see the desolate house, the fire burning in the stove, the sunlight, the cold, the heat, and so on, yet we do not take heed. Even funerals take place before our eyes, but we remain heedless. We lower the deceased into the grave with our own hands, yet we do not take heed.

So-and-so was healthy and well, suddenly a heart attack occurred, and he departed from this world. Another young man died in an accident. We constantly hear such news, but we do not remember our own death, and we do not take heed. If only we become mindful and start remembering the grave and the Hereafter.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

1. Funerals are harbingers of death

Once, the angel of death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام was present in the court of Prophet Dāwūd عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام. Prophet Dāwūd عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام asked him about the harbingers of death. The angel of death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام replied: "O Prophet of Allah! Your parents, siblings, neighbours, and acquaintances, where are they?" Prophet Dāwūd عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said: "They have passed away." The angel of death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام remarked: "All of them are bearers of death,