My encounter with death.

Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatulahi wa Barakatu, 

I would love to share with you a 'frightening' experience of mine.
I had an encounter with death, and it wasn't a typical one where I witnessed it with my two eyes (Alhamdulilah), or experienced it physically (Alhamdulilah). It was through a dream I had.
Now, on occasion I will experience these random dreams I have where I am encountering the Day of Judgement. I choose not to share them mainly for the sake of keeping terrifying dreams to myself, however, THIS dream I felt the absolute need to share. Perhaps we can all benefit from it, and give ourselves a reality check (including myself) on just how short life really is.

What are we doing while we are alive? Are we wasting time chasing the dunya and refusing to be obedient to Allah and His messenger (sallahu aleyhi wasselam)? (And by refusing to be obedient, I don't mean abandoning prayer, fasting and all the minimum obligatory acts, but I mean the small deeds like learning what proper modesty is, learning good manners,  improving ourselves through sisterly advice, and not be swallowed by our own nafs and pride). May Allah always protect us from the evils of ourselves and keep us steadfast upon the haq of deen-Al Islam. Ameen.

So, the dream.
This dream I had was not so much terrifying, but a true reminder. When I think about it, my heart still races and I pray that it will continue to leave this effect on me as time passes. I can't recall the exact details but it went something like this:
It started out at home, and I was physically dead but my soul was alive. I had died and questioning period with Allah had begun. I was being sent to the grave and when I got there I was laid upon a conveyor belt that was bringing me slowly through each and every part of my deeds from the beginning of my life as a Muslim. I was crying and pleading to Allah to forgive me my sins and to have mercy on me during the questioning period. I pleaded to Him that I wasn't ready to go, to give me more time, and that it was TOO soon! I kept crying and saying La ilaha ilAllah over and over again. I had reached finally onto the conveyor belt and  the questioning began, the conveyor belt was long, real long, it was like many stations set up of multiple choice questions that I had to answer and be held accountable for what I had done in my life. SUBHANA'ALLAH. I kept thinking "if only I had done this more during my time alive", " if only I could have done more good deeds."
...and suddenly I woke up. Could you imagine if I hadn't woken up from this dream?
Alhamdulilah, it was JUST a dream but it left me really panicking and hastening to work and strive harder in the way of Allah.
I remembered the verses mentioned in the Qur'an to the disbelievers;" Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah), he says: My Lord! Send me back," (23:99) the verse followed after mentions "So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! it is but a word that he speaks and behind them is a barrier until the Day when they will be resurrected." (23:100).Could you imagine the disbelievers or hypocrites that have all the opportunity to do good and seek the truth, yet they choose not to because they follow their desires and are too attached to the wordly life?! Subhana'Allah. We are Muslims, blessed with Islam, we should be doing AS MUCH as we can on a daily basis earning only the pleasure of Allah....but are we? This made me REALLY think deeply.

SERIOUSLY we take time for granted and waste so much of it arguing with others, hating on other people's blessings (which ALLAH is the one who blessed them with in the first place), we waste so much time being ungrateful to Allah, we complain about everything, we forget to pray the Sunnah prayers, or say simple duaa's to help increase our ibaadah, we brag about our ibaadah even if it's just the BARE minimum, we are so easy to point fingers at others when we should focus on ourselves, and we forget our MANNERS AND have bad character.

All this time wasted, for what? To satisfy our own nafs? Why do we need to show off to people to gain their pleasure? So we can feel good about ourselves for 5-10 minutes? Do we seek applause from people because we lack the enthusiasm to want to please Allah instead? During the first while of my life as a new Muslim, I was ignorant. I suffered many of the characteristics that I see in many Muslims today.
I made it a point, a goal, and an absolute MUST to change the way I was and the FIRST STEP is to admit that you are ignorant and to stop pretending to be someone you are not. If you are not polite, humble, and modest then admit it to yourself, nobody needs to know but Allah. The SECOND STEP, is to research, learn and read from reliable sources such as the Qur'an and Sunnah to educate yourself (do not blindly follow the people) and to keep yourself in GOOD company (with sisters who are enthusiastic about seeking knowledge and Allah's pleasure alone). The THIRD STEP? APPLY the knowledge that you have learnt, otherwise it is pointless and valueless. FOURTH STEP? Remind yourself that you are doing this to seek Allah's pleasure, not your own, and not anyone else's. Finally, the FIFTH STEP, self reflect on your actions and if you notice that there is a reoccurring pattern of how others treat you, or  how you feel about yourself then seek Allah for forgiveness and guidance. THIS is what I went through in order to leave my nafs and focus on what pleases Allah and not the creation. I still am going through my learning curve and every single day is a struggle, and it will never end, just like the journey to seeking knowledge. As soon as you stop, you become ignorant, and when you become ignorant you fall into sins.

What a reminder this dream was.
All of it was surreal but every part of it was SO real because we will ALL die, and we will ALL go through our questioning period with Allah.

All I can say is, just be ready.

Death is a creep.

Adolf Hitler (dicator)
Born: 1889-04-20 - Died: 1945-04-30
Cause of Death: "Suicide"

He was 56.

Alexander McQueen (fashion designer)
Born: 17 March 1969  Died: 11 February 2010

Cause of Death: "He hung himself."

He was 41.

Amy Winehouse (singer)

Born: 1983-09-14 - Died: 2011-07-23
Cause of Death: "Unexplained (but most likely drug overdose)"
She was 28.

Anna Nicole Smith (Tv personality)
Born: 1967-11-28 - Died: 2007-02-08 
Cause of death: "accidental overdose"
She was 39.

Heath Ledger (Actor)
Born: 1979-04-04 - Died: 2008-01-22
Cause of Death: "Accidental Drug Overdose"
He was 28.

Michael Jackson (pop artist)
Born: August 29, 1958  Died: June 25, 2009
Cause of Death: "drug overdose"
He was 50.

Ruslana Korshunova (runway model)

Born: 1987-07-02 - Died: 2008-06-28
Cause of Death: "Suicide"
She was 21

Whitney Houston (singer)

Born: 1963-08-09 - Died: 2012-02-11
Cause of Death: "Unknown (she had drug abuse problems but they are still uncertain how she died "yeah right, liars")"

She was 49.

So what do all these well-known individuals have in common? 
They are all dead. 
Allah took their lives, and He will take ours as well. 
All the fame, fortune, and power couldn't save them from their death. Did they die as kafirs? Allah knows best. But the most important thing we need to know is that, they died the way they will be resurrected. 

I would like to stress the importance of remembering death on a daily basis. We often get so caught up with our worldly lives that death is the last thing that is on our minds. We need also stop idolizing these music stars and celebrities because they aren't immortal. Allah shows us many great examples of the lives He took. Without Islam, we are nobody and without Allah we are nothing. 

We should all spend at least ten minutes or so, before we pray and before we go to sleep, to reflect these verses and to also ask ourselves " How do I want to die?" Let us not be of those in these verses, and remember it's never too late to repent. Allah has given us the gift of time, so let us use it to our advantage. It's never too late, until the angel of death comes to take our souls. 

"And they say, “There is not but our worldly life; we die and live (i.e. some people die and others live, replacing them) and nothing destroys us except time.” And they have of that no knowledge; they are only assuming. And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, their argument is only that they say, “Bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful.” Say, “God causes you to live, then causes you to die; then He will assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt,” but most of the people do not know." (Quran, 45:24-26)

"[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back that I might do righteousness in that which I left behind (i.e. in that which I neglected).” No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected. So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another. And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is they who are the successful. But those whose scales are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally. The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles (i.e. their lips having been contracted by scorching until the teeth are exposed). "(Quran, 23:99-104)

"Then when the Horn is blown with one blast, and the earth and the mountains are lifted and leveled with one blow [i.e. stroke] - Then on that Day, the Occurrence [i.e. Resurrection] will occur, And the heaven will split [open], for that Day it is infirm (i.e. weak, enfeebled and unstable). And the angels are at its edges. And there will bear the Throne of your Lord above them, that Day, eight [of them]. That Day, you will be exhibited [for judgment]; not hidden among you is anything concealed (i.e. any person or any secret you might attempt to conceal). So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, “Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account.” So he will be in a pleasant life - In an elevated Garden, Its [fruit] to be picked hanging near. [They will be told], “Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you put forth (i.e. literally, advanced in anticipation of reward in the Hereafter) in the days past.” But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, “Oh, I wish I had not been given my record, and had not known what is my account. I wish it [i.e. my death] had been the decisive one (i.e. ending life rather than being the gateway to eternal life). My wealth has not availed me. Gone from me is my authority.” [God will say], “Seize him and shackle him. Then into Hellfire drive him. Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert him.” Indeed, he did not used to believe in God, the Most Great. " (Quran, 69:13-33)

*I put the cause of death simply in quotations as only Allah knows the truth of how He took the lives of these people. As always, never EVER believe what you see, and hear from the media.*

What if this was your last Ramadan?

What if it was my last Ramadan?

Wow, what a simple yet profound question.

I often wonder and think to myself, "what if it WAS my last Ramadan?"..  what if I were to die this year..what if I were to die next week ? Would I be ready to meet Allah? Would I be ready to withstand the greatest fitnah in the grave? *shiver*

My answer still lingers in my mind. I want to answer with an enthusiastic "YES! YES I AM READY!" but then a part of me steps back and reevaluates my current state of imaan, my current list of deeds, and the intentions in my heart. Are they pure enough to earn Allah's pleasure? Does my imaan make me remember Allah 24/7 and what about my deeds? Am I doing enough?

Questions, questions, questions. But where are my answers?

I realised I have been so preoccupied with other priorities, I had taken a step back with my progress with Allah. How easy it is to get caught up with our worldly affairs even if it means with just our daily routines and expanding our social network. How easy it is to replace your passion for your deen with your passion for the culinary, the social, and the arts. Little diversions will lead to bigger ones if you don't stop yourself in your tracks and realise "hey, i'm not spending as much time as I should on strengthening that rope with my Lord." But sometimes, the more diverted you become, the harder it is for you to get back on track and could you just imagine, dying at that moment in time when you are far from Allah?
I often ponder at the thought : " What if I died this very moment ? What would I be doing? How would I be resurrected" I now see the importance of always trying to fill our lives with Islam (every moment of our lives). Even if it is simply making dhikr of the tongue while cooking, reading Qur'an before you do anything or praying two rakkat before you take a nap or go to sleep. You are at least doing something that, if you were to die, you would die knowing that you remembered Allah every moment that you could. We can never physically prepare ourselves for our death, but we can try our best to prepare ourselves earning the Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah when we are in our graves or standing in line on the Day of Judgement. *shiver*

Time is precious and can you honestly say that you are using your time wisely? We are nearing the end of Ramadan soon insha'Allah, and if you haven't done anything but eat and sleep all Ramadan then it's time to start getting your act together as you never know if this will be your last Ramadan. I can't express to you and to myself just how important time is as it states in the Qur'an :

1. By Al-'Asr (the time).

2. Verily! Man is in loss,

3. Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf)which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar)which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad, etc.).

Time is a non refundable transaction in this dunya, but can be refunded to you in the Akhirah if you spend it wisely. This blessed month is a time for reflection, solitude, and strengthening your relationship with your Creator.


I leave you with the Hadith of the sermon that Rasulullah (saw) gave about Ramadan :

 Baihaqi reported on the authority of Salman Al-Farsi (Radhi Allah ‘Anh) that the Prophet (‘Alaihi Salat was-Salam) delivered a sermon on the last day of the month of Sha’ban. In it he (‘Alaihi Salat was-Salam) said,
 
“O People! The month of Allah (Ramadan) has come with its mercies, blessings and forgivenesses. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and pray). Allah has honoured you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered.
 
Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in all earnestness with hearts free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fast, and to recite the Holy Qur’an. Indeed!, miserable is the o­ne who is deprived of Allah’s forgiveness in this great month. While fasting remember the hunger and thirst o­n the Day of Judgement. Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from sounds that should not be heard.
 
Be kind to orphans so that if your children may become orphans they will also be treated with kindness. Do repent to Allah for your sins and supplicate with raised hands at the times of prayer as these are the best times, during which Allah Almighty looks at His servants with mercy. Allah Answers if they supplicate, Responds if they call, Grants if He is asked, and Accepts if they entreat. O people! you have made your conscience the slave of your desires.
 
Make it free by invoking Allah for forgiveness. Your back may break from the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate yourself before Allah for long intervals, and make this load lighter. Understand fully that Allah has promised in His Honour and Majesty that, people who perform salat and sajda (prostration) will be guarded from Hell-fire o­n the Day of Judgement.
 
O people! If anyone amongst you arranges for iftar (meal at sunset) for any believer, Allah will reward him as if he had freed a slave, and Allah will forgive him his sins. A companion asked: “but not all of us have the means to do so” The Prophet (SAAWS) replied: Keep yourself away from Hell-fire though it may consist of half a date or even some water if you have nothing else.
 
O people! Anyone who during this month cultivates good manners, will walk over the Sirat (bridge to Paradise) o­n the day when feet will tend to slip. For anyone who during this month eases the workload of his servants, Allah will make easy his accounting, and for anyone who doesn’t hurt others during this month, Allah will safeguard him from His Wrath o­n the Day of Judgement. Anyone who respects and treats an orphan with kindness during this month, Allah shall look at him with kindness o­n that Day. Anyone who treats his kinsmen well during this month, Allah will bestow His Mercy o­n him o­n that Day, while anyone who mistreats his kinsmen during this month, Allah will keep away from His Mercy.
 
Whomever offers the recommended prayers during this month, Allah will save him from Hell, and whomever observes his obligations during this month, his reward will be seventy times the reward during other months. Whomever repeatedly invokes Allah’s blessings o­n me, Allah will keep his scale of good deeds heavy, while the scales of others will be tending to lightness. Whomever recites during this month an ayat (verse) of the Holy Qur’an, will get the reward of reciting the whole Qur’an in other months.
 
O people! The gates of Paradise remain open during this month. Pray to your Lord that they may not be closed for you. While the gates of Hell are closed, pray to your Lord that they never open for you. Satan has been chained, invoke your Lord not to let him dominate you.”



 If this was your last Ramadan would you be content with what you accomplished this month?

What is happening to the world today?

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu.

I would like to ask "WHAT is happening to the world today?".
Day in and day out, I hear nothing but bad, I see nothing but evil, I feel nothing but despair.

The only things that keeps me positive and in light of the good things, is my faith in God, my husband, and my beautiful sisters in Islam. Well, that is actually all I need in my life as all the other things are nothing but pollution to ones mind, body, and soul.

 Alhamdulillah for my blessed life.

I have been thinking though, how close we must be to the Day of Judgement. I try to remind myself often, each and every day, that one final moment I will take my last breath on this earth before I die. Before the trumpet sounds, what will I be doing? How will I die? Will I be given good news of Paradise?

These are questions we often bury in the back of our minds, but I really feel as if it should be on our TOP 5 list of priorities. Being a Muslim, we should believe in THE LAST DAY, so why haven't we acted upon it? I have been reading up on a book by Ibn Kathir, and his interpretation on THE LAST DAY (you can also find it posted on my posts) and I pulled only a few Ahadith which are spine-chillingly accurate, to say the least.

'Alî ibn Abi Talib said, "The Prophet led us in praying Salat al-Fajr (the morning prayer). When he had finished, a man called to him: 'When will the Hour be? The Prophet reprimanded him and said 'Be quiet!' After a while he raised his eyes to the sky and said, 'Glorified be the One Who raised it and is taking care of it.' Then he lowered his gaze to the earth and said, 'Glory be to the One Who has outspread it and has created it.' Then the Prophet said, 'Where is the one who asked me about the Hour?' The man knelt down and said, 'I asked you.' The Prophet said, 'The Hour will come when leaders are oppressors, when people believe in the stars and reject al-Qadar (the Divine Decree of destiny) when a trust becomes a way of making a profit, when people give to charity (Sadaqah) reluctantly, when adultery becomes widespread - when this happens, then your people will perish.'"

'Imran ibn Husayn said, "The Prophet said, 'Some people of this Ummah will be swallowed up by the earth, some will be transformed into animals, and some will be bombarded with stones.' One of the Muslims asked, 'When will that be, O Messenger of Allâh?' He said, 'When singers and musical instruments will become popular, and much wine will be drunk.'" (Narrated by at-Tirmidhî)

'Alî ibn Abi Talib said, "The Prophet said: 'If my Ummah bears fifteen traits, tribulation will befall it.' Someone asked, 'What are they, O Messenger of Allâh?' He said, 'When any gain is shared out only among the rich, with no benefit to the poor; when a trust becomes a means of making a profit; when paying Zakat becomes a burden; when a man obeys his wife and disobeys his mother; and treats his friend kindly whilst shunning his father; when voices are raised in the mosques; when the leader of a people is the worst of them; when people treat a man with respect because they fear some evil he may do; when much wine is drunk; when men wear silk; when female singers and musical instruments become popular; when the last ones of this Ummah curse the first ones - then let them expect a red wind, or the earth to swallow them, or to be transformed into animals.'" (at-Tirmidhî)


'Abdullâh said, "The Prophet said, 'Just before the Hour, there will be days in which knowledge will disappear and ignorance will appear, and there will be much killing.' " (Ibn Majah; also narrated by al-Bukhârî and Muslim, from the Hadîth of al-A'mash.)

'Abdullâh ibn Mas'ud said: "The Prophet said, 'Islâm began as something strange, and it will revert to being strange as it was in the beginning, so good tidings for the strangers.' Someone asked, 'Who are the strangers?' He said, 'The ones who break away from their people (literally, 'tribes') for the sake of Islâm.' "

Keeping these prophetic sayings in mind, we should really re-evaluate ourselves and our current situations. Have we really been so caught up with the dunya that we forget to prepare ourselves for our death, and for the Hereafter? We can't actually prepare for our death as we never know when it will creep up on us but by preparing, I mean, have we done the best we could to avoid the punishment of Allah swt? 

Sisters in Islam, young and old. Just as Allah(swt) gave you life, He can easily take it away from you. How will you like to die? In the middle of listening to music, talking to boys, committing adultery, drinking alcohol at a club, dressing like a prostitute, worshipping tv idols, celebrating pagan holidays, or any other thing that the Westerners of today like to partake in. 

Do we know exactly what our duties as a Muslim are? Do you know how to be a servant of Allah rather then a servant of shaitan? Tv, music, parties, is easy to fall into but so hard to get back out of, and I speak on behalf of myself through my past experiences. I am grateful for Islam saving my life, in the dunya and inshaa'Allah the Hereafter.

What are you grateful for? What have you done to show your gratitude to your Creator?

Imagine, the next minute, the next hour, tomorrow, next week was going to be the day that you die. 

What would you want your last actions to be?