Categories
Poems

The First Night in the Grave

Every soul shall taste death (Qur’an)

The first night in the grave,

You will forget every smile, every hug, every handshake and every wave.

The first night in the grave,

You will forget your job, your career, your bank account and every penny you saved.

The first night in the grave,

You will remember the Qur’an you read and the charity you gave.

The first night in the grave,

You will feel the tightness, the loneliness, the darkness, the emptiness… just like a cave.

The first night in the grave,

Only those with Salah, Fasting, Hijab, the Sunnah and Istighfaar will be brave.

The first night in the grave,

Another minute in the Masjid, another second of dhikr you will crave.

The first night in the grave,

With the tight squeeze of the qabr, you will forget every party and every rave.

The first night in the grave,

People will forget you quickly, rapidly, you will just be a name on a headstone engraved.

The first night in the grave,

You will beg for mercy, beg for time, beg to return and beg for your sins to be waived.

The first night in the grave,

Are you ready? Allah make it easy, may the path to Jannah be easily paved.

Ismail ibn Nazir Satia (one who is in dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure)

1 Rajab 1442

Categories
Spirituality

The Death of ‘Inna Lillah wa Inna Ilayhi Rajioon’ With the Birth and Rise of Smartphones.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم


We are living in very sad times, on a daily basis, we are hearing about the death of loved ones. Sometimes you may know the person and sometimes you may not. 


In Islam, we are always told to have empathy and put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. With the rise of Social Media, many Muslims have lost empathy and dignity.  Happiness is shared with emojis which are half-hearted and meaningless. Sadness and grief are shared with a quick emoji but the person could be smiling on the other side. 


In short, Social Media has made us fake, plastic, and artificial. Nothing is heartfelt. And what breaks my heart is someone’s grandmother passes away and someone’s father passes away, the message is forwarded to groups, but the reply is:
I L W I R
WHAT.IS.THAT?
You think the opposite person received sympathy with your ILWIR. No dua, no words of comfort, and half-hearted replies. Nowadays, people have gone one step ahead with GIFs.


Learn to be compassionate and merciful, it’s NEVER about the time and minutes, you need a drop of mercy in your heart (and there’s always predictive text which makes it easier). 


Ismail ibn Nazir Satia (one who is in dire need of Allah’s mercy, forgiveness and pleasure)

Categories
Miscellaneous

Regrets of the Dying

http://www.bronnieware.com/blog/regrets-of-the-dying

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Based around this article, Bronnie has released a full length book titled The Top Five Regrets of the Dying – A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing. It is a memoir of her own life and how it was transformed through the regrets of the dying people she cared for. This inspiring memoir is available internationally through Hay House, with translations in 29 languages.  More information about regret-free living is available here.

Categories
Personalities

The Final Moments and Wafaat of Shaykh Yunus Sahib (Rahmatullahi alayhi)

By Mawlana AbdulRaheem Saheb, Bolton, UK
sh yunus
Shaykh Yunus Sahib (rahmatullahi alayhi) spent the whole month of Ramadhan according to his normal routine.
Hashim (his khadim) says he kept all fasts, performed all taraweeh, kept up with ma’moolaat of reciting Quran and the Majlis of Dhikr bi’l-Jahr (loud dhikr). In the last  ten days, there were 110 Ulama Kiraam and Murideen who came to spend time with Shaykh.
He was in good spirits on Eid day as well. Mufti Abrar from Canada says his friend had brought some food for shaykh. And texted him that I’m here with shaykh, Do you want to talk to him? I can FaceTime you.” Abrar said “Will he talk on face time” his friend said hopefully he will.  Abrar reluctantly said “Go on then.” Shaykh spoke and made light a hearted joke as well. There was a tree behind him and shaykh couldn’t figure it out so he asked “Is that your wife in burqa behind you?” He said “No, Hazrat I haven’t married yet.”
His remaining days were normal. Students had not yet arrived. People from the city would come and sit close by and benefit. One week before his passing away, he wasn’t feeling well.
On the 7th of Shawwal, Maulana Salman Sahib who is the Nazim of Mazahirul Uloom, gathered all teachers in the masjid and made iftitaahi dua, then he went up to Shaykh’s room with about seven to eight teachers to request for du’aas for the year that is commencing. Hazrat gave a few words of naseehat and said my health is not good and I don’t think I will be able to teach. Maulana Salman Sahib said “Hazrat, you say this every year. InshaAllah you will live for another ten years and keep teaching.” Shaykh smiled and said, “What am I going to do by living for ten more years?”
Mufti Tahir Sahib was also there. He says then Hazrat gave some advices about fitnas and staying away from fitnas. He made a short 2 minute du’a.
On the last jumuah of his life, he had performed ghusl, in spite of all difficulties. Then he had arrived at the masjid before everyone else like he used to do, and he had spent long hours in the masjid. I remember when I was studying here in 1984, I would see him come early and pray long nawaafil until khutbah. Once  I saw him looking at his his watch and it was the first time in my life I had seen someone checking time during salah.
He was not so well but still kept himself busy. I asked Hashim if he had started work on Nibraas (his sharh of Bukhari, of which one volume has been published). He said “No, but the day before he died he was still studying and he wrote some notes on Hashiya of Musnade Ahmed.” Allahu Akbar! This is the day before he died.
He prayed Maghrib properly. At Isha time he was not well, yet prayed Isha while the person next to him had to remind him of the takbeers. He spent the night in a subconscious state (ghashi). At Fajr time, Hashim asked “Fajr ka waqt ho Gaya he wudhu kara dun? (It is time for Fajr. Shall I make you do wudhu?)” He said “kara do (go on)” but there was no movement in his hands, so they left him. Then Hashim asked “Khameera khilaaun? (Shall we give you some khameera?)” He nodded in approval, but he couldn’t open his mouth. Then Hashim held him in his lap. They alerted the Madrasah to call for a doctor, but no doctor was available, so they took him to the hospital who said the heartbeat is not there and Shaykh has already passed away.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon.
May Allah elevate his ranks and grant him a high place in Jannah.
The news spread like wildfire. People began to arrive from all neighbouring areas. Police were alerted who provided excellent security. The army was also called in for protection. Many roads were blocked causing people to park their vehicles at a distance and walk for many kilometres.
The body was paced for people who wanted to see him for the last time. And queues were just huge, reaching as far as Jame Masjid.
People were coming from all over the place. Some youngsters were coming from as far as Ambala (name of a city). One person asked where are you going? They said one buzurg (saint) has died in Saharanpur, so we are going to his janaza. He said take me as well.
Locals say “Saharanpur has never seen such a huge janaza and possibly never will.” 
Salatul janaza was scheduled after asr at 5.30. The organisers prayed their asr at 5.20 and when the large jamaat started, they lifted the janaza and began to walk towards the graveyard. This eased the passing through the narrow alleys and then by the time people finished their asr and proceeded to the graveyard, the janaza had already gone on to the wider roads. It was placed on qibla side and the rows were formed all over the roads and wherever possible. Some people, in their zeal, phoned their friends who kept their mobiles on and they joined the salah on their mobiles (although this is not correct, but the point is to demonstrate how zealous people were).
The janaza salah was led by Hazrat peer saheb, (Hazrat Mawlana Talha saheb) son of Hazrat Shaykh Zakaria Rahmatullahi alayhi, who had great love for shaykh and shaykh would also call him for dua on khatme Bukhari shareef.
The whole gathering was of locals. People from other states like Gujarat, MP, AP, Maharashtra, etc in fact most of India, were unable to make it. There was no possibility of foreigners making it. 
The following day, foreigners and guests from other states began to arrive. Nazim Sahib had organised everything beautifully for all guests.
Shaykh’s khulafa, murideen, and students are still in shock at his sudden departure. But that is the way Shaykh lived and that is the way he left everyone. During his life, people would come to visit him, park their cars and rush towards his room. Many times it seemed as though he knew we were coming and he was waiting for us. He would get really happy. The hardest bit would be to leave him. It felt so sad to leave him in a state where he had no family nor anyone to stay with him on a permanent basis. And now he’s left us all, all of sudden. It feels so hard to leave Saharanpur.
Imam Bukhari Rahmatullahi alayhi died on the 1st of shawwal and Shaykh went from this dunya on the 17th of shawwal, just a few weeks after Ramadan. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (rahmatullahi alayhi) says that the pious would like for a person to die after a good action he had performed such as hajj or fasting of Ramadhan etc.
Shaykh Yunus Sahib (rahmatullahi alayhi) taught Saheeh Bukhari for nearly 50 years, starting from 1388 to 1437 AH.
My friend, Mawlana Arif, saw shaykh in a dream that he is sitting with another buzrug and on a chaar paai (bed). They both have a glass in their hands and they are enjoying the tasty drink.
Of course, he had gone through many tough times during his life, so he must be enjoying the rest he so much deserves. May Allah Ta’ala elevate his ranks among the illyyeen (elevated). May Allah Ta’ala keep him close to Imam Bukhari and Hafiz Ibn Hajar, and close to his beloved teachers and mashaaikh, in particular his shaykh and teacher, Barakatul Asr Hazrat Shaykh al-Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi alayhi) and Hazrat Maulana As’adullah Sahib (rahmatullahi alayhi), the senior disciple of Hakim al-Ummat Thanawi (rahmatullahi alayhi), besides whom Shaykh Yunus Sahib (rahmatullahi alayhi) was laid to rest as per his bequest. Ameen.