Life-Death Continuum
Dr. Pasha
(Bringing Islam to the World One Concept at a Time!
Taking the Qur'an to Every Home and Heart that Needs It --
And which One Does Not?)
Who does not deal with life? And does not think and talk about it?
But death seems somehow different.
Everybody knows death is coming. Most have seen it with their own eyes. And yet most behave and carry on as if it will not come and can be postponed or put off.
In places like America, we avoid the talk of death, as much as we can. And we shield each other from dealing with death's imminence and inevitability, even though the Death Industry, with its many forms and branches, is a robust and active one.
But Islam deals with death in the most sensible way possible. Hadith Sharif asks us to think about our mortality often, so we would know how to behave in life.
And suggests the living should come to terms with death and make peace with it.
Psychologically, there is no better or healthier way to navigate life or deal with our inescapable demise.
And the death and disappearance of all those around us.
It also has profound sociological, economic, political and financial implications.
Is that the end, then? I mean death. Is it the final stage of life?
The Qur'an calls it Mawut: death. So, it is death, the end, all right.
But the Qur'an also calls it something else, and so does Hadith Sharif:
"Completion of the term."
Or:
"Fulfillment of the mandate."
In military or police or government or bureaucratic language:
"Expiration of earthly detail, or deployment, or assignment, or posting.
Leading to return to base or recall to headquarters or home base."
Or the tour of duty.
Check out what Hazrat Isa, alaihis salam, says to Allah:
Fa-Lammaa Tawffaytanee...
Paraphrase:
"When my term on earth was over."
Another paraphrase:
"When you took me to the final stage of my tenure on earth."
Maybe I will revisit this again. But for now let me end by saying that life and death are two seamlessly interwoven stages of creation.
And there is an invisible curtain between life and death. And that curtain is removed upon what is called death: when the tour of duty ends.
At that time, all cobwebs and illusions are dispelled and reality becomes crystal clear for all to see.
As the Qur'an says:
Fa-Basarukal Yawum Hadeed!
Paraphrase:
"Your eyesight was never sharper than it is today!"
Is death, then, an opportunity for everyone to see the things that were hidden from them?
The invisible part of reality -- Aalam al-Ghayib?
Not just sub-atomic matter and nano-particles, but age-old phenomena generally invisible to the naked eye, or to the worldly vision as it were -- in Aalam Ash-Shahaadah that is-- such as Angels for example.
And Heaven and Hell -- Jannat and Jahannam?
And is death the venue when people will get all the answers that they were looking for in their earthly life?
And find light about all things that were murky -- controversial and confusing should we say?
But for some it may be too late to do anything about it.
"For some?" I don't know.
So, it makes sense to think about death actively, frequently, and positively. And not just think, but also prepare for the inevitability of your visitor.
How exactly do you plan to welcome this visitor -- death -- when it shows up at your door? Often without warning and without prior notice.
For, death is coming and no one can claim an exception. So, we may as well do a bit of homework and find out how best to get ready for it. And deal with it when it comes calling.
And how Life-before-Death can be best leveraged to yield maximum returns in Life-after-Death.
Do you think Wall Street would like this talk?
The Great Big Crash is coming. The Hour is nigh. As-Saa'ah is upon us. No one can stop or delay it.
And then this great Big Bust would be followed, close upon its heels, by a most magnificent, ever-lasting and stupendous Big Boom of the kind no human mind can possibly imagine or comprehend.
So shouldn't we all scramble to acquire and buy up all low-lying assets now when there is still time?
I am not trying to cozy up to Big Banks or Wall Street. Read the Hadith and you would understand the language and imagery I am using here.
Or read the Qur'an.
END
