16. Remember death

You are probably asking yourself now: Is she serious? How is remembering death going to make me any happier? Well, it will. This is truly not an invitation for depression and grief, nor is it gloomy, bleak advice favouring pessimism and passiveness. It is just a reminder of an absolute fact, a fact that we all tend to forget while 124 Seymour & Shervington, 2001. 125 de Bono, 1996. immersed in this transient, falsely embellished world and cheated by its charming coquetries. We are all one breath away from death. We usually do not remember that and we do not like to be reminded, either. Nevertheless, it is an inescapable fact. Allah (~) says: (A : ~ I •Jy) ~Say [to them], 'Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you will be sent it>ack to [Allah], the All-Knower of 0 the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do) (Quran 62: 8) Ghazfili the Elder divided people into three classes: 1) those who are addicted to the world, 2) those who are repentant and 126 3) those who have surrendered to Allah. The people who are addicted to the world do not remember death, and do not like to. Allah (~) describes them, saying: (V : ~ I . J _,.....) ~But they will never long for it [death], because of what [deeds] their hands have sent before them!..) (Quran 62: 7) Those who are repentant, on the other hand, remember death and fear it. They do not like death, as they fear that they will die before they repent from their sins and purify their souls from corrupt deeds. He is just not prepared for death. The third type of person is those who are dedicated to Allah: the ones who always remember death because they would like to meet with the Beloved. Such a 126 Ghaziili, (~l)JI .J.J. .!..Al> \:,ii), 2004. person is waiting to live in the neighbourhood of Allah. Remembering death keeps them unattached to false worldly desires and urges them to work and perform good deeds in order to prepare for the next (eternal) world. That is how remembering death helps you in your journey towards detachment. Prophet Muhammad(~) said: «Remember (death) often - the terminator of pleasures.» 127 «Ibn 'Umar said: "I, along with ten other Companions, was near the Messenger of Allah(~). Then a man from the An~ar asked him, 'O Prophet of Allah! Who are the wisest and most honoured of people?' The Prophet answered, 'Those who remember death most and prepare most for it. They pass away with honour in this world and the next.' "» 128 Remembering death is not about denying the joy of living. On the contrary, it is about enjoying the freedom of flowing with life, knowing that it is a temporary residence. «Ibn 'Umar related that the Prophet (~) took hold of his shoulders and said: "Be in the world as if you are a stranger or a traveller." Ibn 'Umar used to say: "When you arrive at the evening do not expect to see the morning and when you arrive at the morning do not expect to see the evening. During health prepare for illness and while you are alive prepare for death."» 129 Going through life without attachment makes you happier and more content; and leaves you grateful and satisfied, whereas attaching yourself to life gives it the power to control you, to dominate your feelings and emotions. 127 Tirmidhi, who graded it 'good, but at one point in its chain there is a single narrator.' 128 Tabariini (its chain of narration is good). 129 Al-Bukhari.