.:Bullet Proof Read:.

As one stands before a Muslim cemetery, one sees graves stretch right up to the horizon. The calm, the quiet, the peace and serenity that hovers above the tombstones almost deceive us of the reality that lies beneath. While we give our salam to and pray for the inhabitants of those graves, we barely think of our own death. The cool, sudden breeze across the graveyard may bring a shiver down our spines but that feeling of fear is often short-lived.

How does one move from temporal reflections on death to a more permanent state of constant awareness of its reality and sure coming?

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said in a Hadeeth: “Abundantly remember the destroyer of pleasures (meaning death)”

The way to realise this hadith in our lives is to first understand what the pleasures are. In our lives, we sometimes find that the most constant pleasures are the little things… that go almost unnoticeable because they’re a part of our daily routine. So go ahead, list them out… What are your pleasures in this world? Then do your best to convert those such that what pleases you shall only be what pleases Allah.

I’ve learnt that one can lessen one’s desires for any worldly thing by seeing its value (or use) in the future. You know very well what you may like now, you may dislike, even hate or simply have no need of five years down the road or even in the very next month. Life has taught us this valuable lesson as we grew up so let us learn from our experiences.

All right I’m done talking.

Here’s a beneficial piece on the Constant Awareness of Being ‘Prepared’:

It is a duty upon every sane person to be prepared for his departure (from this world), for one does not know when he will be served by his Lord’s commands (to take away his soul) nor does he know how long it is going to be before he will be summoned (for the Day of Judgment).

I have seen so many people enchanted by their youth. They have forgotten that their peers no longer exist, yet they are preoccupied with prolonged hopes (to stay alive).

A person in the process of acquiring knowledge may tell himself; ‘I will acquire knowledge today and will adopt it the following day.’ Such (postponement) may leave him in his deviation whilst giving himself a break (for the day)! Delaying his readiness to achieve repentance, whilst exposing himself to be indulged in (sins, such as) backbiting or listening to such (backbiting) or getting involved in a Shubhah (suspected, Halaal or Haraam) matters. He hopes to cancel it out (i.e. the bad deed/s) through his would be observance, the following day, forgetting that death may be sudden.

The wise one is he who values each and every moment of his life, observing one’s due duties. Then, if death was to come suddenly, one would be ready (to face The Judge, Allaah subhanahu wata’aala). However, if one is granted his wish (in his life being prolonged) that would mean the increasing of (one’s scale of) good deeds.

Imam Ibn al-Jawzee
SOURCE: islaam.com