A true story translated by Muhammad Alshareef

[LadyRose]

Asalaamu caleykum waraxmatulaahi wabarakaatu

 

Brothers/sisters, please take a few minutes to read this article...

 

When I read this article tears slipped from my eyes, I realised it's true death is age blind. And that you can die in a few seconds; never know when god may take away your soul.

 

She’s My Sister

 

Her cheeks were worn and sunken and her skin hugged her bones. That didn’t stop her though, you could never catch her not reciting Qur’an. Always vigil in her personal prayer room Dad had set up for her. Bowing, prostrating, raising her hands in prayer. That was the way she was from dawn to sunset and back again, boredom was for others.

 

As for me I craved nothing more than fashion magazines and novels. I treated myself all the time to videos until those trips to the rental place became my trademark. As they say, when something becomes habit people tend to distinguish you by it. I was negligent in my responsibilities and laziness characterized my Salah.

 

One night, I turned the video off after a marathon three hours of watching. The adhan softly rose in that quiet night. I slipped peacefully into my blanket.

 

Her voice carried from her prayer room. “Yes? Would you like anything Noorah?”

 

With a sharp needle she popped my plans. ‘Don’t sleep before you pray Fajr!’

 

“Agh ... there’s still an hour before Fajr, that was only the first Adhaan!”

 

With those loving pinches of hers, she called me closer. She was always like that, even before the fierce sickness shook her spirit and shut her in bed.

 

‘Hanan can you come sit beside me.’

 

I could never refuse any of her requests, you could touch the purity and sincerity. “Yes, Noorah?”

 

‘Please sit here.’

 

“OK, I’m sitting. What’s on your mind?”

 

With the sweetest mono voice she began reciting:

 

[Every soul shall taste death and you will merely be repaid your earnings on Resurrection Day]

 

She stopped thoughtfully. Then she asked, ‘Do you believe in death?’

 

“Of course I do.”

 

‘Do you believe that you shall be responsible for whatever you do, regardless of how small or large?’

 

“I do, but … Allah is Forgiving and Merciful and I’ve got a long life waiting for me.”

 

‘Stop it Hanan ... aren’t you afraid of death and it’s abruptness? Look at Hind. She was younger than you but she died in a car accident. So did so and so, and so and so. Death is age-blind and your age could never be a measure of when you shall die.’

 

The darkness of the room filled my skin with fear. “I’m scared of the dark and now you made me scared of death, how am I supposed to go to sleep now. Noorah, I thought you promised you’d go with us on vacation during the summer break.”

 

Impact. Her voice broke and her heart quivered. ‘I might be going on a long trip this year Hanan, but somewhere else. Just maybe. All of our lives are in Allah’s hands and we all belong to Him.’

 

My eyes welled and the tears slipped down both cheeks.

 

I pondered my sisters grizzly sickness, how the doctors had informed my father privately that there was not much hope that Noorah was going to outlive the disease. She wasn’t told though. Who hinted to her? Or was it that she could sense the truth.

 

‘What are you thinking about Hanan?’ Her voice was sharp. ‘Do you think I am just saying this because I am sick? Uh - uh. In fact, I may live longer than people who are not sick. And you Hanan, how long are you going to live? Twenty years, maybe? Forty? Then what?’ Through the dark she reached for my hand and squeezed gently. ‘There’s no difference between us; we’re all going to leave this world to live in Paradise or agonize in Hell. Listen to the words of Allah:

 

[Anyone who is pushed away from the Fire and shown into Jannah will have triumphed.]

 

I left my sister’s room dazed, her words ringing in my ears: May Allah guide you Hanan - don’t forget your prayer.

 

Eight O’clock in the morning. Pounding on my door. I don’t usually wake up at this time. Crying. Confusion. O Allah, what happened?

 

Noorahs condition became critical after Fajr, they took her immediately to the hospital ... Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un.

 

There wasn’t going to be any trips this summer. It was written that I would spend the summer at home.

 

After an eternity...

 

It was one O’clock in the afternoon. Mother phoned the hospital. ‘Yes. You can come and see her now.’ Dad’s voice had changed, mother could sense something had gone deathly wrong. We left immediately.

 

Where was that avenue I used to travel and thought was so short? Why was it so long now, so very long. Where was the cherished crowd and traffic that would give me a chance to gaze left and right. Everyone, just move out of our way. Mother was shaking her head in her hands – crying – as she made dua’ for her Noorah.

 

We arrived at the hospitals main entrance.

 

One man was moaning, another was involved in an accident and a third’s eyes were iced, you couldn’t tell if he was alive or dead.

 

We skipped stairs to Noorahs floor. She was in intensive care.

 

The nurse approached us. ‘Let me take you to her.’ As we walked down the aisles the nurse went on expressing how sweet a girl Noorah was. She reassured Mother somewhat that Noorah’s condition had gotten better than what it was in the morning.

 

‘Sorry. No more than one visitor at a time.’ This was the intensive care unit. Through the small window in the door and past the flurry of white robes I caught my sisters eyes. Mother was standing beside her. After two minutes, mother came out unable to control her crying.

 

‘You may enter and say Salam to her on condition that you do not speak too long,’ they told me. ‘Two minutes should be enough.’

 

“How are you Noorah? You were fine last night sister, what happened?”

 

We held hands, she squeezed harmlessly. ‘Even now, Alhamdulillah, I’m doing fine.’

 

“Alhamdulillah ... but ... your hands are so cold.”

 

I sat on her bedside and rested my fingers on her knee. She jerked it away.

 

“Sorry ... did I hurt you?”

 

“No, it is just that I remembered Allah’s words

 

[One leg will be wrapped to the other leg (in the death shroud)]

 

... Hanan pray for me. I may be meeting the first day of the hearafter very soon. It is a long journey and I haven’t prepared enough good deeds in my suitcase.’

 

A tear escaped my eye and ran down my cheek at her words. I cried and she joined me. The room blurred away and left us – two sisters - to cry together. Rivulets of tears splashed down on my sister’s palm which I held with both hands. Dad was now becoming more worried about me. I’ve never cried like that before.

 

At home and upstairs in my room, I watched the sun pass away with a sorrowful day. Silence mingled in our corridors. A cousin came in my room, another. The visitors were many and all the voices from downstairs stirred together. Only one thing was clear at that point ... Noorah had died!

 

I stopped distinguishing who came and who went. I couldn’t remember what they said. O Allah, where was I? What was going on? I couldn’t even cry anymore.

 

Later that week they told me what had happened. Dad had taken my hand to say goodbye to my sister for the last time, I had kissed Noorah’s head.

 

I remember only one thing though, seeing her spread on that bed, the bed that she was going to die on. I remembered the verse she recited:

 

[One leg will be wrapped to the other leg (in the death shroud)] and I knew too well the truth of the next verse: [The drive on that day we be to your Lord (Allah)!]

 

I tiptoed into her prayer room that night. Staring at the quiet dressers and silenced mirrors, I treasured who it was that had shared my mother’s stomach with me. Noorah was my twin sister.

 

I remembered who I had swapped sorrows with. Who had comforted my rainy days. I remembered who had prayed for my guidance and who had spent so many tears for so many long nights telling me about death and accountability. May Allah save us all.

 

Tonight is Noorah’s first night that she shall spend in her tomb. O Allah, have mercy on her and illumine her grave. This was her Qur’an, her prayer mat and …and this was the spring rose-colored dress that she told me she would hide until she got married, the dress she wanted to keep just for her husband.

 

I remembered my sister and cried over all the days that I had lost. I prayed to Allah to have mercy on me, accept me and forgive me. I prayed to Allah to keep her firm in her grave as she always liked to mention in her supplications.

 

At that moment, I stopped. I asked myself: what if it was I who had died? Where would I be moving on to? Fear pressed me and the tears began all over again.

 

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar...

 

The first adhan rose softly from the Masjid, how beautiful it sounded this time. I felt calm and relaxed as I repeated the Muadhdhins call. I wrapped the shawl around my shoulders and stood to pray Fajr. I prayed as if it was my last prayer, a farewell prayer, just like Noorah had done yesterday. It had been her last Fajr.

 

Now and in sha’ Allah for the rest of my life, if I awake in the mornings I do not count on being alive by evening, and in the evening I do not count on being alive by morning.

 

We are all going on Noorah’s journey – what have we prepared for it?

 

W/salaam wr wb

[Kamila]

Asalaamu caleeykum Ladyrose,

 

I felt emotional

 

Maasha alaah Maasha alaah,

 

Walaahi Oh Walaahi Waxaad noo sheegtay waa run Dhimashada ma naqaano meesha ay noo soo joogto goormaan toobad keeneynaa ala ma markii aan dhimanaa ala markaas maxeey tobod wax kuu tari maka fakartay dadkee dhihi doono hadal kaan markii akhiro la tago maka fakartay walaalkeey iyo walaashey muslimada aheedeey.

"YAAQUULU YAALAYTANI QADAMTU LI XAYAATII"

MAXAAN NULOSHEYDA DANBE AAN WAX UGU SOO HORMAR SAN WAAYEY.

Ala markaas maxeey tareeysaa waano maxeey tareeysaa markaas shalayti alaahu akbar alaahu akbar Ilaahoow Ilaahoow Cadaab hana galin ee Ilaahoow Noo danbi dhaaf kuligeen Ilaahow Ilaahow rabiyoow raxmaanoow laabteena Islaamka u fur Ilaahoow Rabiyow raxmaanoow shaydaanka naga qabo Ilaahow Ilaahoow rabiyoow raxmaanoow Muslimiinta Gacmahooda u sareeysii Ilaahoow Ilaahoow Rabiyow Raxmaanoow Janada Fardoowsa nagali kuligeenba .............Amiin Amiin Amiin.

 

W.salaamu caleeykum

_______________Kamila________________

Ilaah aan ka cabsano Saad iyo caad

[Paragon]

What a story, Walaahi it an emotional story.

 

Thankz for sharing it with us

 

Illaah hana wada hanuuniyo...Aamiin

[Armstrong]

Salaamu Alaikum,

 

Excellent Story I hope we all take lessons from this and every death. For surely every soul shall taste death prepare now or if not prepare to fail.

 

W.Salaam,

 

Mujahid

[Amatullah]

As salaamu calykum waraxmatulaahi wabarakaatu

 

That was really touching story sis and hopefully we have learned that death is age blind and by now and we should have our suite cases prepared for the here after.

 

"O Allah the changer of the hearts, change our hearts to obedeint to you" Amiiin.

 

wa salaams

[Kamila]

Salaamu caleeykum waraxmatulaahi wa barakaatu yaa akhwaanil Muslimiin.

 

Please read carefuly.

 

The righteous will die and the wicked will die...

The worriers for just causes will die and those who run from death will die

Those who busy themselves with correct belief will die...

and those who treat people as their slaves will die...

The brave who rejects injustice will die, and the coward who seeks to cling on to the life at any price will die...

The people of great concern and lofty goals will die, and wretched people who live only for cheap enjoyment will die...

Wherever we will be, in a fortress or in a tent, we will die...

 

All will die:

 

Allah (God) says:

 

Everyone shall taste death...

[Quraan 3: 185]

 

[ Adapted Slightly from the Book Death, from Ali Hasan Abdul Hameed translated into English by Abu Talhah, Dawood Ronald Burbank. Published By Al-Hidaayah 1994. ]

 

No one will escape death. Allah says:

 

Say: Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you will be sent back to (Allah), the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do.

[Quraan 62: 8]

 

This life is a period of trials and tests. Allah says:

 

He (Allah) has created death and life, that He may test which of you is the best in deed. He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.

[Quraan 67:2]

 

Man is called to exert the right efforts to achieve the true success in this life and in the hereafter. When exerted according to Allah's way, the outcome is:

 

Whoever works righteousness whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (in the Oneness of Allah), verily to him (or to her) We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise).

[Quraan 16: 97]

 

But those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) such are the dwellers of the Fire, they shall abide therein forever.

[Quraan 2: 39]

 

Those who invoke other than Allah even if they call themselves "Muslims", once evidences are established upon them that they are setting up rivals with Allah, and they die insisting on that, they exit the fold of Islam because they have committed shirk (worshipping or associating others with Allah). Prophets, themselves, are warned to keep away from Shirk in all its forms. In fact after mentioning the names in the good ranks of eighteen Prophets

 

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, David Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aron, Zachariah, John, Jesus, Elias, Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot together with thier fathers, their progeny, and their brethren.

 

in Surat (Chapter) of Al-An'aam (Chapter 6 in the Quraan), Allah warned that:

 

But if they had joined in the worship others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.

[Quraan 6:88]

 

A similar note was made clear to the last Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (scw) , in which Allah says:

 

And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad ), as it was to those (Allah's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.

[Quraan 39:65]

 

One of the close and learned companions of the Prophet Muhammad (scw) by the name of Abdullah bin Mas'oud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Prophet said one statement and said another. The Prophet said: "Whoever dies while still invoking anything otherthan Allah as a rival to Allah, will enter Hell (Fire)." An I said "Whoever dies without invoking anything as a rival to Allah, will enter Paradise."

[shahih Al Bukhari Volume 6 Hadeeth 24]

 

When the appointed term of each soul is concluded, the only thing that counts then, is its stand towards its Creator. At the time when the soul examines the actual death it will be too late for anyone to repent:

 

And Allah will never grant reprieve to any soul when its appointed time has come, and Allah is aware of all that you do.

[Quraan 63: 11]

 

Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah and those who persist in their rejection of the Resurrection), he says: " My Lord! Send me back (to life) so that I may work in righteousness regarding things left behind!" But no! It is only a word he says; and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the day they are raised up.

[Quraan 23: 99-100]

 

Before it is too late, all people are called to reflect on their way of life, about the purpose of existence and the end. Certainly to Allah will be the return. He made His Message clear and said:

 

There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut (all froms of false deities) and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower

[Quraan 2: 256]

 

In his Farewell Pilgramage to Makkah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) addressed the people on Friday, the 9th day of the 12th month of the 10th year of the Islamic Hijrah calendar, corresponding to the year 632 of the western calendar: He said:

 

"... I have left you among you the Book of Allah and if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray. And you will be asked about me (on the Day of resurrection), (now tell me) what would you say? They ( the audience) said, conveyed (the Message), discharged (the ministry of prophethood) and given wise (sincere) counsel."

 

The Prophet then raised his forefinger towards the sky and pointing at the people (said):

 

"O Allah be withness, O Allah, be witness, saying it thrice."

[sahih Muslim V.2 pp. 611-617]

 

This is all about death.

 

W.salaam

[Buubto]

ASALAAMU ALEIKUM WR WB

 

LadyRose thanx sis for the reminder walaahi it was emotional message, i end up crying indeed we all going to experience that road, may Allah guide is to the right path Amin. May Allah reward u.

 

Kamiila thanx sis for the reminder too may Allah reward u (Amin). indeed we need someone to remind us about death.

[Samafal]

Allahu Akbar. Thanks sister lady rose and also sister kamila for reminding us the death as our prophet saw did when he said '' kathiruu thikra hathima ladat'' do more thinking on the cutter of sweets (worldly life).

 

As noor's death came younger so may ours, let us reflect on and think about it. look she had a plan in mind to get married which she never did. How many plans have we got in mind and how will this be possible when death is possible too. O' Allah save us from the hell fire, surely no one will go to paradise for good deeds he has done without the mercy of allah.

[Armstrong]

Salaamu Alaikum,

 

Ameen to yacquub's dua

Ya Allah help us all to have taqwa and die as Muslims - Ameen

 

W/Salaam