Assalamualikum wa rahmatullahi wa baraktahu. The word “DEATH” is not just a word. It’s a sentence. Indeed, a life changing one. It’s not the end of one’s life, it’s a beginning to a permanent journey.
When we live in this duniya, our guardians take care of us, comfort us, do their best to provide us with both need and luxuries..but in the hereafter life, it is our deeds, that acts, as a subscription to our provision (reward or punishment). Indeed, What we sow, is what we reap!!
There are few famous quotes, that have stuck with me, since the day I came across them. It said-
1) Don’t be astonished by my state (grave). For once I was like you and for other, you will become like me
2) You will be forgotten, like you never existed
3) It is not the living who brings the deceased to their final destination (grave). It is the deceased, instead.
For those who are alive, we must be thankful that ALLAH Has given us another day to repent and become a better practicing muslim. We must strive our best, everyday, to please Allah and seek his forgiveness.
There is an authentic Hadith regarding benefiting the deceased. The hadith is:
“When a man dies, his good deeds come to an end, except three: Ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who will pray for him.”
One of the most beautiful aspects of Islam is- Sadqe jaaria.
Alhamdulilah we must thank ALLAH for his mercy of allowing us to perform the above acts for our deceased, so that even when their account books have been closed (as they cannot perform any good deed any more) we can do it on behalf of them. This shall in shaa ALLAH raise their rank and reward, as well.
As we make an effort for performing sadqe jaaria not just for ourselves but also for our deceased loved ones, we must make an effort to look out in other 4 things, that I feel are very important-
1) Social Media: Just like sadqe jaaria (continuos reward) there is also a concept of continuous sin.
I have seen many cases of young teenagers, wherein, the family of the deceased, is trying to put down all their social media accounts (tik tok, fb, insta etc). Sometimes the efforts are successful, but at times, it goes in vain due to public status of account, lack of access etc. All these efforts, because of the content they posted earlier when they were alive. The more number of people see it, share it, enjoy it, the sin keeps falling onto the deceased.
Humble request to each and everyone out there, Do not post any picture or video (be it a post or story or status or highlight) with songs, pics, videos, reels without hijab (both men n women). Anything that can make you regret in the grave, DO NOT POST IT.
Another advice that I can give is, let someone from ur family or friends, who are concerned for your aqirah, do it for you. This is for those who are taking their last breaths. This is one act that should be encouraged. If they give you the access, it will be easy on both the parties to do the rightful.
Even those pics and videos that are present at home in albums and phones, do not show them to non mehrams. And if you are non mahram, yourself, do not look into the deceased pictures in the form of admiring them or when you miss them. For mahram, keep those pictures to yourself and to non mehrams, please delete it. If one cannot protect it at all (from non mehrams) in such cases, discard everything. I know that this is not easy for us (living). We have so many memories attached with that person. But, think of the deceased. How relaxed they will be, if this is done. For our selfishness, let not those who passed away, bear the harm.
2) Know their debts:
Debt is one deed, that is not let pass, even for the Martyr. This is a grave deed everyone must be thoughtful about. Let’s look into this narration:
We were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he raised his head towards the sky, then he put his palm on his forehead and said: “Subhaan-Allaah! What a strict issue has been revealed to me!” We remained silent and were afraid. The following morning I asked him, “O Messenger of Allaah, what is this strict issue that has been revealed?” He said, “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if a man were killed in battle for the sake of Allaah, then brought back to life, then killed and brought back to life again, then killed, and he owed a debt, he would not enter Paradise until his debt was paid off.” Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i, 4367.
This hadith tells us the seriousness regarding the issue of debt. If you owe money to someone, pray Allah that he gives you so that you can get it off you. Secondly, make an effort (the right way) to clear it off. Thirdly, keep an account of it in a book. Let some of your closed ones know regarding this matter. So that even if you pass away, someone from them, can help to repay it on behalf of you in sha allah.
3) Zakat!!!
Zakat is an essential pillar of Islam and not paying it has its own consequences. When you see yourself eligible for zakat, pay it up. As mentioned earlier, make dua to Allah to help us all pay zakat righteously. Save and make effort to pay on time. And lastly, keep an account and let your close ones, concerned for your aqirah, know about it. For if one passes away with a pending amount, one of them can pay it
4) Wealth distribution:
Not one, but i have seen number of cases where the siblings are fighting for their share. The sisters, either get their share (less than what Shariah has mentioned or what they rightly deserve) or they get no share at all. The spouse (especially the wife) either gets something (given the deserved part or less than that) or nothing at all.
This is for everyone, to make a will and divide it according to the Shariah during their lifetime. Some people opt for dividing it equally among spouse and children. Whatever the guardian decides, there must be no partiality. This is so important, that when it is not done and the guardian passes away, we see a wave of anger, jealousy, hatred, murders, black magic etc and what not, within the family members, and that too for what? To only gain a worldly benefit. A benefit, that his owner (the guardian) couldn’t take along with him in his grave and left it behind for his/her lineage.
Allahumma inni asaluka husnal qAtima (aameen). Let’s in shaa ALLAH live our best and do not land up in doing deeds that can cost us huge in grave.
Barakallahu feekum. Jazakallah khair for reading it. Share for sadq-e-jaaria.
Assalamualikum wa rahmatullahi wa baraktahu
The one who created your heart- ALLAH, can also fix it. 