Sunday, July 19, 2009

ONE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT HE WILL DIE

Our Prophet ‘sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sal-lam’ once said, “One should live in the world not like a permanent resident but like a traveler, and should never forget that he will die!” Human beings will not live in this world forever. When one is absorbed in worldly pleasures, one’s troubles, worries and distress will increase. The following hadiths [1] should never be forgotten:



1– “A slave of Allahu ta’ala who has not performed many acts of worship will have high grades in the Hereafter if he has good morals.”



2– “The easiest and the most useful worship is to talk little and to be a good-natured person.”



3– “A slave of Allahu ta’ala may have many worships but, his evil humor will deliver him into the depths of hell. It will sometimes lead him into disbelief.”



4– It is reported that once the Sahaba [2] ‘radiy-Allahu ’anhum’ told of a very devout worshipper to the Messenger of Allah ‘sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sal-lam’. That person was spending his days fasting and his nights praying, yet he was bad tempered. Rasulullah ‘sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sal-lam’ answered, “It is not a good state. His destination will be Hell fire.”



5– “I was sent to complement the virtues and to help people so that they may assimilate these virtues.” The virtues also existed in the previously sent monotheistic religions. Islam was sent to complement those virtues. Since this religion exists with all the good commandments and habits, there is no need for another source to inform us regarding the virtues. Therefore, no other prophet will come after the Prophet Muhammad ‘sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sal-lam’.



6– “A good-natured person will attain both worldly and next worldly happiness.” A person with virtues performs his obligations toward Allahu ta’ala and His creatures.



7– “Hell fire will not burn a person who has a good nature and a beautiful physical appearance.”



8– “To be good-natured means to keep close to (and to be in good terms with) those who keep away from you, to forgive those who have hurt you, and to be generous to those who have been miserly toward you.” A good-natured person will do goodness to those who keep cross with him or he will forgive those who harm his honor or hurt him physically or materially.



9– “Allahu ta’ala will fill the heart of a person with belief and trustworthiness if he treats others with soft manners angry as he may be.” He will have no fears or anxieties. The best of all virtues is to do goodness to people who treat you improperly. This behavior is a sign of maturity and it converts your enemies into friends. Imam Ghazali ‘rahmatullahi ’alaih’ says that he has read the following statements in the Injil (Bible), which was revealed to Isa (Jesus) ‘alaihis-salam’: “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” “And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.”


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GLOSSARY

[1] hadith: a saying of the Prophet (‘alaihi ‘s-salam).

[2] Sahaba: (pl.as-Sahabat al-kiram;) a Muslim who saw the Prophet (‘alaihi ‘s-salam) at least once; one of the companions.

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