Death: A Cause for Mercy
Respected Brother,
Assalam Alaikum!
Yesterday evening, a gentleman informed me by phone of the death of your mother. We belong to God, and to Him we shall return.
On returning from South Korea on 17th August I could have come via Mumbai and in that way could have had the good fortune of participating in your mother’s last rites. But maybe this was not destined.
May God bless your mother with a place in Jannat ul-Firdaus [the highest level of Paradise], and along with this, bless us also with a place in Heaven.
A mother is a great blessing for her children. In a mother’s love there is reason for hope for every servant of God—that God will shower him with His mercy, just as a mother showers her children with her mercy.
When a mother dies leaving her children behind in this world, her death contains a valuable learning lesson. In departing from this world she tells those who grieve for her that one day they too will leave the world, just as she has. In her death she conveys this message to them: “O you who are alive, remember that your countdown is happening. You too will have to face death one day.”
This reminder is no trivial matter. It can completely shake a person out of his complacency. It calls out to the living, saying: “O people! There is now very little time left for you. Use every moment of the time you may have in the best possible manner before the opportunities to use your time get over!”
Death is destined for every being that takes birth on this planet. Some people may think that death is the greatest tragedy. But God has made death a cause of mercy for us in a very surprising way. When someone dies, the bereaved should adopt patience. There is good news of great reward for those who are patient.
In such matters how does being patient become a means for Divine reward? The reason is that being patient is actually synonymous with willingly accepting God’s decision. It is undoubtedly the biggest blessing for someone that God should decide something that he doesn’t like (for instance, the death of a close relative) and that he should accept it wholeheartedly, knowing that it was sent by God. A death such as this becomes for the bereaved a means for this great Divine reward.
It is also God’s mercy that the one who has died has departed. The deceased had to depart at the appointed time. But in this incident God, in His mercy, has placed something very valuable. And that is, if the bereaved consider this as a Divine decision and accept it, God will look upon their acceptance in such a way that they will get back what they have lost, and in greater measure.
The event of death appears, on the face of it, to be a tragedy. But in this world, along with every minus there is also a plus. And undoubtedly the event of death is not an exception to this rule.
Your well-wisher,
Wahiduddin
23rd August 2003
