LIFE AND HEALTH

Fragile Existence

DR. Shehzad Ali of Meerut (U.P.) died on February 6, 2009 at the age of 45. During his first visit, he appeared quite healthy but later he developed cancer.

In spite of treatment, the disease only became more complicated. Finally, he was bed-ridden. During his last days he was reduced to a bag of bones. His digestive system had so deteriorated that he could not even take simple food. Even drinking water had become difficult for him. In those days when anyone came to see him, he would say, ‘Don’t think about me. Think about yourself. Thank God that you have a healthy body. Thank God that you can eat and drink and walk on the earth. All these things are God’s blessings. He can take away all these things and then you will be left without anything.’

A successful man is one who thinks more of death than of life, who regards everything as the gift of God Almighty.

Man has been granted a healthy body. When he is born, he is already in possession of this healthy body. He therefore takes it for granted. He never stops to think that this healthy body is wholly a gift from God. So in acknowledgement of this gift, he should surrender himself to God. The same is the case with life. As long as man is alive he thinks that his life will last forever. He never thinks of his death. This is undoubtedly the biggest mistake.

Herein lies the test for every human being. A successful man is one who thinks more of death than of life, who regards everything as the gift of God Almighty. This is the man who is successful in the test. On the contrary, one who does not acknowledge God and is oblivious of death is the one who has failed in the test. Eternal Paradise awaits the first type of people and eternal Hell awaits the second type of people.