Complete Deprivation

Death, a state of complete deprivation, means departing from this world and entering the eternal world of the Hereafter. Those who make this reality their supreme concern and lead righteous lives will be held deserving of gaining entry into Paradise in the world Hereafter.

“Every human being is bound to taste death” (3:185). This verse of the Quran gives a serious warning to everyone. The fact is that death is no simple matter for anyone. Death means departing quite finally from one world and entering into another world.

According to the Quran, in the present world, all things in the heaven and on the earth have been subjected to man. (45:13)

In the present world, man apparently has everything he needs to live his life. But in the world of the Hereafter in which he will find himself after death, he will be totally deprived of everything—his family, his friends and all his wherewithal. This will be as serious for him as a fish being taken out of water and cast into the desert.

This is a very delicate and serious matter which every man and woman should take seriously. Everyone should think in terms of this grave reality, and should plan his life according to it. Everyone should sleep at night with this thinking and should get up in the morning with the same thinking. Everyone should make this reality the focus of his attention. Everyone should strive to live with it and die with it. Only those who make this reality their supreme concern, will be able to lead righteous lives in this world and will be held deserving of gaining entry into Paradise in the world after death.