MAUT (Death)

Allah Ta’ala has sent this message:
“And every soul shall taste death.”

Our Nabi Sallallahu alayhi Wasallam gave us the following glad tidings:
“Maut is a gift to a Mu’min.”

This feuding mankind is united on one issue: Death is inevitable. It is inescapable. It is unavoidable. It is one of the certainties of life.
Fueding mankind is also unanimous on one thing: One does not have much choice in this matter. All the riches in the world cannot bribe death; all the power and might in the world cannot threaten death; all the status and rank in the world cannot influence death. On this there is no difference amongst all of humankind. It is what happens after death in where different views are held.

The difference between Islam and other religions is a reflection of which religion is true and worthy of being followed. Without fear of contradiction, we can safely state that Islam's concept of what happens after death, is so vividly explained, so clearly defined that it almost appears that death is but another form of the continuation of life. Whereas others view death and afterlife as a somewhat mysterious and baffling event, Islam has elucidated death and clarified in detail what happens after death. You see, in Islam there are no “blind spots”, no secrets, no puzzles in a fundamental subject such as death. The same Allah that clearly defined the misMaut (Death)sion of the temporary life of a Muslim, that same Allah did not leave His believers confused with regards to death and the permanent life of the Hereafter. There is consistency in Islam’s ap proach to every facet of mankind’s existence.

Confusion is turmoil. Clarity is peace. Islam is peace. Muslims are very, very clear and peaceful about death. Let’s discuss the approach to Maut of a true Muslim.

Our Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said that death is a gift to a Mu’min. It is a bridge which links the lover to his Beloved. A Muslim is secure in the knowledge that death is a gift from His Beloved, Allah. A Muslim understands that death is not a punishment. For others it may be a tragedy but for himself it is a boon.

Gifts don’t have to make immediate sense. A father opens an account for the benefit of his child’s education. That child does not understand the value of the father’s gift. That child is weak and would rather prefer the cash to enjoy life right now.

Weakness in Imaan makes us prefer to avoid the gift of death so that we may enjoy life right now. A strong Imaan dictates otherwise. A strong Imaan says that your pleasure in this temporary abode is very, very restricted and limited. Here, in this world you are constantly a target of fear and anxiety. Here in the world you are relentlessly hounded by restlessness and worries. Here in the world you are a continuous target for sicknesses and ailments. In short, here in the world you lead an existence filled with more misery rather than joy, an existence filled more with responsibilities than carefree, cheery, abundant overflowing freedom. And this is the freedom which the human soul is constantly in search of. And this is the freedom which comes only from the gift of death.

A true Muslim does not mind death. It is a gift from freedom of want and destruction. It is a gift from freedom of perplexity and pain. It is a gift from freedom of toil and turmoil. It is a gift from freedom of injustices and oppression. It is a gift from freedom of disappointments and depressions.

For with death a Muslim is unbuckled and freed to soar to a celestial existence wherein His soul resides in peace. For with death a person enters into Allah’s Compassion. For with death Death a person is where he belongs: By Allah.

Upon death does a Muslim not say:

‘Unto Allah do we belong and unto Him do we return’?

Does the Holy Qur’an not inform us that at the time of death, an announcement is made by the angels to a true Muslim:
“O contented soul, Return happily to you Lord who is pleased with you.” (c89, v 27)
Just as the child appreciates his father's gift of education after he becomes an adult, so too, does a Muslim fully fathom the great gift of death after death.

Story:
Once Moulana Thanvi Rahmatullahi alayh whilst walking was jestingly playing with a small child. Suddenly the child said: “Bar-e Abba Allah kare tum mar ja-e. (Grandfather, may Allah Ta’ala make it that you die). Moulana was taken aback and highly disturbed. However, after pondering deeply about the incident, he said to his friends:

“At first I felt offended at the small child’s words. But then I realized that he had given me a valuable Du’a. He had asked Allah to grant me the gift of death so that I may leave this world which is a prison for a Muslim”.

Some time after this incident a certain pious traveller fell asleep in a Masjied. He dreamt that Hadhrat Moulana Thanvi Rahmatullahi Alayh was laughing merrily and heartily. When he woke up, he thought to himself that it is wrong to laugh in such a carefree manner and that this type of laughter was not in the nature of Moulana Thanvi Rahmatullahi alayh. The only explanation for such ecstatic and unbridled joy was that Hadhrat Moulana had passed away. And truly, a few hours thereafter came the news that Moulana had left this temporary world that night.

Out he was of this worldly jail and into the Rahmat of Allah he had, Insha-Allah, entered. The gift from Allah brought laughter and joy to him. Death was the bridge. He led his life as a true loyal friend and he abided by the wishes and commands of his Friend. The time had come for an eager friend to meet his even more eager Companion - Allah.

May Allah grant us all the Taufeeq to accept death as a gift. (Ameen)

Mujlis ul Ulema of South Africa