The ayat we have heard remind us of the inevitable and the absolute truth: Death.  No one can ever deny it.  Where are the fathers and the forefathers?  Where did they go?  Where are our young ones who have left us young and energetic?  Where are the healthy ones?  Where are the rich ones?  Did their wealth protect them from the angel of death?

Few years back, at one of the masaajid here in Houston, we witnessed two janazahs one for a 90 year old man and the second for a 2-week old baby.  It was a sight worthy of contemplation.  Death does not discriminate.  When your time is due, you can never delay it--not one second later; nor can you rush it one second sooner.  What is happening is that we have been greatly distracted by the glitter of this life and the gathering of wealth and the indulgence in its deceptive pleasures. 

Allah says, “Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you until you visit the graveyards.”  

The time of death is concealed and wishes are deceiving.  Funerals pass by people, and they prepare them, pray over them, accompany them and carry them to their graves.  People view them casually.  They might even get saddened at their sight.  But they never think seriously about being there themselves.  They have so much in life to think about death. 

Many delay their repentance and returning to Allah, until they finish their education, finish the project they are working on, finish building the house in which they may never live, or until they pay off their mortgage—thus are life’s endless projects and deceptive pleasures.  They are always interrupted by the ever unwelcome guest, death.  Allah says, “Let them eat and enjoy themselves and be diverted by [false] hope, for they are going to know.” (hijr:3)

The Messenger of Allah said, “Who of you prefers the money of his inheritors to his own money?  For your money is what you have put forward (by spending it in good causes) and the money of your inheritors is what you have left behind”

Dear brothers and sisters,,,

To those who are heedless in this life we say what the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Always remember the destroyer of all pleasures (meaning death)” What a perfect advice!  Very few words and great meanings.  Indeed he who remembers death as it should be remembered will hold himself accountable and question himself about his deeds and aspirations.  But he whose heart is heedless will require more than just a few words.  Imam al Qurtubi said, “He needs long speeches and embellished statements.”  Remember death my dear Muslims because it indeed places you on the right track, and awakens you from your drunkenness.  Ibn Masud said, “People are asleep and when they die they wake up.” 

By Allah remembering death makes you aware of the reality of life.  Al Hasan al Basry said, “Death has exposed the reality of life and left no reason for one with sound mind to be happy in it.”  However, it can also make the difficulties of life seem easier.  The Prophet (pbuh) said, “None will remember it (meaning death) while in hardship but will feel ease and while at ease but will feel disturbed.” 

Sh. Ibn Humaid said in one of his speeches, “Each one of us will come to an end, and each soul will die.  The earth will eat our flesh and drink our blood—just as we walk over it, eat from it and drink from its water.”

The Prophet (pbuh) encouraged us to often visit the graveyards for they will remind us of our final moment in this life—thus the responsibility to prepare for it.  Standing at an edge of a grave while crying, He said, “O my brothers! For this, prepare yourselves.”  It was narrated that he also said, “The wise one is he who reproaches himself and prepares for what is after death”

When one remembers death all the time, Allah will bless him with three things: immediate repentance, contentment of the heart, and vigor for worship.  However, he who is heedless and forgets death will be afflicted with three things: delay in repentance, discontentment, and laziness in worship. 

You may never think that you will live forever, but you may be made to think that you will live long enough to enjoy life to the fullest, thinking that perhaps in the far future, you may repent.  That is the deceit of the shaytan.  No matter how long you will live, the end is known.  So prepare for it and the first thing you must do is to repent to Allah (swt). Allah says, “Then did you think that We created you in vain and that to Us you would not be returned?”

What does death do to you?  Death snatches one from among his family and loved ones.  It strips him off of his wealth and lets him not leave this life except in a shroud of cloth which will soon disintegrate.  Death breaks hearts, sheds tears, destroys pleasures, divides people, and ruins all hope.  The dead are made to be lonely after having lived with their families; they live in darkness; and the grave is their new home.  Think my dear brothers and sisters about what happens inside that grave: the soil of the earth changes the nice appearance of the face.  The body disintegrates.  The children are orphaned, the wives are widowed, and the wealth is divided.  So how would you like your new home to be: a garden from paradise or a pit of fire?  Who is left for you?  Would you not want the one who will be with you all the time be your friend and beloved now?  Allah says, “And you have certainly come to Us alone as We created you the first time, and you have left whatever We bestowed upon you behind you.” (anaam: 94)

Al Hasan al Basry again said, “O son of Adam! Fear Allah, and let two things never happen to you: the hardships and agony of death, and sorrow and regret.  Beware of agonies and regrets, for death will come to you suddenly and no one can describe to you what you will face and see.  Beware, so as not to die while in a state of disobedience. Otherwise you will meet Allah with no excuse.”

Now I should conclude with a word of encouragement:  The Prophet (pbuh) said, “None of you should die except in the state of having good thoughts about Allah” And if you do so, Allah will be for you as you have thought of Him.  Allah said in a hadith Qudsi, “And I am as my servant think of Me”  (meaning if you think that He will forgive you, Allah will forgive you.)

Khutbah 2

It is time for you to settle your accounts with Allah first.  Return to Him in repentance before your repentance may never be accepted and that is the time when the soul reaches the throat.

Settle your accounts with the people.  Pay your debts before you can never pay them except with what you will need the most: your good deeds.  And if you run out of good deeds, it will be their evil deeds thrown on you.  The Prophet once said, “Do you know who the bankrupt is?  They said, “The bankrupt among us is the one who has no money.”  He said, “the bankrupt is one who comes with good deeds, yet he comes while he had cursed this person, backbit that person, usurped the money of the other person, and harmed another person.  So this person will take some of his good deeds, and that will take some until when he runs out of good deeds, so their evil deeds will be thrown on him until he is thrown into the Hellfire.” 

Settle your accounts before you leave this life.  Stop the haram.  Ask forgiveness from those whom you have hurt.  Do your obligations, and check your contracts to see that they agree with Allah’s commandments.  Your wealth, your wives and your children will be your enemies in the Hereafter if you do not act upon the responsibility that Allah has given you towards them.  Allah said, “Indeed some of your wealth and children are enemies to you so beware of them”