I’ve been studying self development for years now. Nothing has struck me with so much power as the following:

Prophet Mohammed (may peace be upon him) said: “Satan whispers to son of Adam and the angel inspires son of Adam. The whispering of Satan is about promising of Evil and Falsification of truth. The inspiration of the angel is glad tidings and belief in the truth, and whoever finds this should know that it is from Allah and he should praise him and thank him for it and whoever finds the other one should seek refuge in Allah from Satan (the expelled from the mercy of Allah)” then he recited the verse: “Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality” [Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Masud, Muhaddith: Al Albani, Source: Saheeh Attirmithi]

- Subhan Allah, so when you get those positive thoughts, those inspirations, those glimpses of light then know that Allah has sent you backup, support, allies, soldiers to push you forward towards your vision.

Indeed Allah is worthy of worship worthy of praise. Even in our thoughts He is not leaving us alone!

Consider these situations:

You are chatting with a Non Mahram quietly in a dark lane of cyber world, fiddling with your mobile  and you stumble upon a broken rod of balcony that leads you straight down from the fifth floor. Or you are  listening to your favorite rap song, latest hit, while standing on the edge of a railway platform or road, unaware of a fast approaching train or bus and deaf to the shouts of people  because you have stuck an ear phone… Or you are traveling in a vehicle , plane, car or bus while watching a movie and it crashes…These deaths are becoming a common news these days.

  Death approaches in two ways. Either suddenly or with an announcement  of a prolonged  sickness like tumor, cancer…

The difference is:

If  death pounces upon you suddenly either you are involved in a haram or a good deed.

If you are warned by a prolonged sickness you know it is approaches and you have time to make amends.

  A neighbour of mine died all of a sudden, due to heart failure. People spoke that he was lucky to have died without undergoing prolonged sickness.

There are some videos showing sudden death of a football player in the midst of the game.

The question is : Are these deaths really lucky? The answer is simple : Depends upon your daily routine. If you are absorbed in sins then no matter how you die, its a warrant for you. Even if you are sleeping peacefully in your air conditioned bedroom wrapped in a warm blanket.

If you are involved in good acts in the company of good people then your death is an invitation from Allah. Refer to  the 27 th verse of Surah Fajr..  To the Righteous Soul it will be said ” O Soul in complete rest and satisfaction.. Return to your Lord, well pleased and well pleasing unto Him!

How to prepare for a death ? Recall the sahaba, the noted companions of the Prophet (pbuh) : Uthman bin Affan r.a. received multiple glad tidings of paradise in a single gathering when he instantly responded to all the  few calls of charity by the Prophet ( pbuh ). Yet that man wept  when ever he visited grave yard. Your Assignment : When was the last time you walked into the graveyard and recalled your own death?  When was the last time you stumbled upon a rotting bone ? When was the last time you peeped in a grave  dug for a dead body ? Uthman bin Affan was a regular visitor to graveyard.

  Clear your debts: Many of us are sunk in debt. Our houses, cars, business, everything is running on borrowed money ( with or without interest) We have yet to pay the grocer’s bill. We delay salaries to our labours. Clearing Debt is among those rare things which many of us procrastinate for next salary . A man who dies with debt will not find the gates of heavens opened for him when his soul is taken to Allah. Rather it hangs in between World and heavens. This , even if you are a martyr !!! Sahih Hadith

  If Allah tests you with a prolonged sickness , then know that He is giving you a chance to repent. Your death did not catch you suddenly . These rising of temperatures, and shivering cold, with bundles of medicines around you are reminding you to correct your affairs before your medicines give up.

   If you are still healthy ? Then chart a timetable of good deeds. Keep doing good passionately. Don’t be bored of visiting your sick relatives. Don’t get irritated when your mother calls you to help her. Don’t get distracted to movies and songs but sooth your ears and spirit with Qur’anic recitation. List your debt and start paying off, your inheritors may  not pay your debts but rather be busy in planning to spend the money which you left behind…Pay them off.

  Take life seriously. You will not be able to get out of it alive.  Death does not knock on your door and say ” May I come in ?”

Author Nisaar Nadiadwala can be reached at nisaar_yusuf@yahoo.com

Wow… Just wow….right now I am reading Medicine of the Hearts by Ibn Al Qayyem and he said something that hit me deep down in my heart that I could not afford but to close the book and share it with you here. He said:

“One of the effects of sins is that it brings fear and feelings of loneliness to the heart. Because of sins Allah throws fear and horror into the heart of the sinner so that you never see him but afraid and terrified. Whoever fears Allah, Allah will secure him from everything and whoever doesn’t Allah will scare him from everything.

One of the  punishments of the sins is that they bring great loneliness to the heart so that the sinner finds himself lonely, he finds himself lonely between him and his Lord, he finds himself lonely between him and other people, he finds himself lonely between him and himself. The more the sins increase the more loneliness increases. The most bitter life is the life of the loners and the most vibrant good life is the life of those who are happy.”

I experienced both of them fear and loneliness.

ONE: when I know that I have a sin that I didn’t quit I find myself always in fear, fear that our company’s system might get corrupted, fear that a meeting will fail, fear that I will be poor, fear that I will be sick, fear of my future, fear of people, and sometimes fear without a reason although everything in my life seems in control.

TWO: loneliness, no matter how many friends I am surrounded with I still feel lonely and bored and I say “why am I here?!”

ON THE OTHER hand when I know that I have quit a sin that I know I do regularly three things happen:

1. I feel the sweetness of the feeling of success and victory.

2. I really don’t care about life troubles anymore. I just feel that I am in this sphere of protection 24/7.

3. I never fear lonely even if I am alone. I just find myself busy, happy, relaxed, content and a great feeling of tranquility deep down in my heart and calmness.

Believe me brothers and sisters there is nothing worse than fearing of loneliness and fear, your life simply becomes a misery. No one knows your sins better than you and no one will really appreciate and understand the bitterness of the feelings of loneliness and fear that you are experiencing. They might show compassion when you complain to them but when they leave each one will get busy and forget you and you will go back to your lonely cubicle of depression, loneliness and fear.

Sit with yourself. Remember what sins you need to quit and QUIT THEM NOW. You cannot afford to live a single additional minute in these feelings of loneliness, fear and depression.

Thank you for reading this far.