Jumah Nugget: 7 Reasons Why You Need to Contemplate Death Before It’s Too Late

7 Reasons Why You Need to Contemplate Death Before It’s Too Late

Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception — Qur’an 3[Al-’Imran]:185

As Allah ordained, this week has been an unprecedented one for me. On Monday, we paid condolence to one of my friends who lost his brother in Palestine. On Tuesday, we had janazah for a long-standing community member of our masjid. I thought Wednesday would be a day of break, but before sunset, we heard about the passing of a 21-year-old boy from our community as well. After salatul jumah today, we’d be having his funeral prayer. We ask Allah to shower His mercy upon them all and grant their families fortitude through this time of trial.

In our faith, contemplation about death is a fundamental aspect of spiritual growth and self-awareness. The Quran and Sunnah provide profound insights into the transient nature of this life and the importance of preparing for the reality of the Hereafter. This is not meant to instill fear but to inspire a sense of purpose and direction in the lives of the living. These thought serves as a transformative tool, urging us to live a life of righteousness, gratitude, and accountability before the inevitable journey that awaits us.

While we paid a condolence visit to the family of the bereaved young man, I was asked to give a brief admonition which I wasn’t prepared for. I reminded myself and those present about this hadith of the Prophet which I’d share below with a few other key points that we could reflect upon.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Remember often the destroyer of pleasures: death.” — Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2307

Now, here are seven reasons for us to contemplate death and prepare before it is too late:

The Inevitability of Death: The fact remains that we are all going to die, whether we like it or not. So contemplating the inevitability of death serves as a powerful reminder that life in this world is temporary. Therefore, as faithful believers, we need to prioritize our actions and make preparation for the eternal life to come. Allah says:

Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good. And to Us, you will be returned — Qur’an 21[Al-Anbiya]:25

2. Moral Reflection: Contemplating death often leads to moral reflection by encouraging individuals to assess their actions and make amends where necessary. It also helps to live ethically with integrity, while recognizing that you will be held accountable for your deeds. After we left the venue of the condolence, this was what some of the brothers mentioned to me.

3. Rethinking the Purpose of Life: Contemplating death encourages believers to reflect on the purpose of life. It is a test from Allah to determine the righteousness of our deeds. Recalling that life is finite should motivate us to live intentionally. Every action, big or small, is significant in the evaluation of our character. Hence, remember this life is a test and we will all receive the result of our actions in the afterlife. Allah says:

It is He who created death and life to test you, as to which of you is best in deed. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving. — Qur’an 67[Al-Mulk]:2

Al Baqi cemetery in Madinah

4. Preparation for the Hereafter: A lot of us underscore the importance of preparing for the Hereafter by wallowing in worldly pleasures. However, engaging in acts of worship, seeking forgiveness, and performing righteous deeds are ways to prepare for the meeting with our Lord — The Creator of the Universe. This was why someone once asked Hassan Al Basri: “What is the secret of your piety?” And he responded with four things but I will just highlight one of the points relevant to this discussion. He said:

I understood that death was waiting for me, so I started to prepare for my meeting with Allah Ta’ala.

5. Gratitude and Accountability: The contrast between life and death enhances the appreciation of life itself. The awareness that life is a precious gift encourages us to savor the moment, express gratitude, and cultivate a deeper sense of contentment while remaining accountable. Therefore, contemplating death fosters gratitude for the blessings of Allah and also reminds us to be accountable for how we utilize these blessings. Allah says:

O mankind! What has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous, who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you? — Qur’an 82[Al-Infitar]:6–8

6. Coping with Grief and Loss: Experiencing the death of loved ones or facing one’s mortality can be a profound teacher in dealing with grief and loss. It becomes an admonition to cherish the time spent with loved ones, express love and appreciation, and cope with the inevitable pain of separation. I reminded the parents who lost their son that Allah’s Apostle lost six out of his seven children in his lifetime. Yet he chose to be patient and didn’t question Allah’s decree. Hence, it’s incumbent upon us to also execute beautiful patience during periods of trial to gain maximum rewards.

7. Evaluation of Priorities: When situations like this occur, it prompts us to reevaluate our priorities. What are we living for? In the end, will all these matter? Are we going to take the worldly chase along to our graves? Reflecting on death encourages us to focus on what truly matters and this is our relationship with Allah and our loved ones. Not getting entangled in trivial pursuits and concerns of the world.

Finally, as I was about to wrap up this piece, the news also reached me of an acquaintance who lost her grandmother. The reality is that people are dying daily — if you know, you know! And the big question is what have you prepared for the morrow? May Allah grant us the wisdom to reflect upon these teachings and live our lives following His guidance. We ask Allah for steadfastness, forgiveness, and a good ending. Amin!

O you who believe! Fear Allâh and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what you do. — Qur’an 59[Al-Hashr]:18

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Yaumul Jum’ah 25th Jumadal ‘Ula 1445H // Friday 8th December 2023.