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Understanding Death: Spiritual Reflections and Life's Inevitable Truth

Explores death's inevitability, spiritual insights from Islamic teachings, the transient nature of life, and preparing for the afterlife with wisdom from scholars and prophets.

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Dr. Fathi Neana Consultant Orthpaedics and Traumatology Dr. Ayat Neena Healthcare professional pharmacist August 20, 2026 Death The inevitable truth
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Death is an inevitable reality. Every soul will taste death, as God Almighty says: “And We did not grant immortality to any human being before you. So if you die, will they be immortal? (34). Every soul will taste death, and We test you with evil and good as a trial; and to Us you will be returned.” (35) (Surat Al-Anbiya).
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We witness this reality every day with the death of loved ones, friends, and colleagues. Or when we pass by cemeteries that remind us of those who came before us and who lived on and cultivated the earth before us. Death is what humbles and subdues humankind, no matter how powerful, wealthy, or influential they may be.
Death cuts down the pride of the mighty. It is the disease for which there is no cure, and it is the cup from which everyone will inevitably drink. Death is what reveals to us the true nature of this worldly life, showing that it is a place of trial and transience, not a place of eternity.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described it as the destroyer of pleasures, saying: "Frequently remember the destroyer of pleasures." This is to deter the soul from sins and wishful thinking, clarifying that it is an imminent reality and the end of every living being. He urged us to prepare for it through righteous deeds and not to wish it upon anyone who has suffered harm, explaining that nothing accompanies a person to their grave except their deeds.
With advancing age and the appearance of signs of approaching death, such as gray hair and falling teeth, this world and all its contents become part of the past, and a person becomes preoccupied with what is to come—death and what follows it. They worry about who will handle the funeral and burial arrangements and where they will be buried. This is natural and logical, as the human journey is comprised of stages, and this worldly life is one of these stages, not everything.
God Almighty says: “And it is He who gives you life, then causes you to die, then gives you life again. Indeed, mankind is ungrateful.” (Al-Hajj: 66). He also says: “How can you disbelieve in God when you were lifeless and He gave you life, then He will cause you to die, then He will give you life again, and then to Him you will be returned?” (Al-Baqarah: 28).
Therefore, there are three stages: The life we live on Earth, then death, and then true life in the Hereafter. These become four stages: If we include the stage before our life on Earth, when we were lifeless before the soul was breathed into us.
The third stage, the afterlife, is unseen, yet we are certain of it after witnessing the first two stages firsthand. Logically, only the third remains, which is part of the unseen known only to God. Our knowledge of it and its conditions comes from His words, for He has informed us that it is the eternal, everlasting life, the final stage that completes the entire human journey.
As a person ages, they realize they are nearing the end of this worldly life and moving on to the next. This contrasts with younger people, who are often preoccupied with this first stage, this worldly life. Their interests are entirely different. They seek an apartment or villa, strive for a prestigious job, a beautiful spouse, a comfortable vehicle, a spacious house, property, real estate, outings, evenings out, and attending banquets and parties.
The elderly, however, are not concerned with all of this. They seek a burial place and strive to increase their good deeds for the afterlife. This is because, after years of experience, he learned that the Hereafter and what God has prepared therein is better than this worldly life, as God Almighty says: “And the Hereafter is better for you than the first life” (Ad-Duha: 4). He also says: “And the Hereafter is better and more enduring” (Al-A'la: 17).
Therefore, you find that everything in this world becomes insignificant to him, so he does not grieve over what he has lost. Material things have no value to him since he will depart from them. That is why we find many wise and wealthy people who spent their fortunes on charitable works before their death.
Despite all this, we find ourselves disliking and fearing death, to the point that some of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), may God be pleased with them, who are the Mothers of the Believers, said, “We dislike death.” Perhaps the reason for this is that death doesn't give us time; it comes when we haven't fully prepared to receive it, like an unwelcome guest who arrives at an inopportune time and without warning, leaving no opportunity to prepare for its arrival.
Perhaps our aversion to death also stems from our preoccupation with worldly matters, as if we will live forever, and our neglect of the Hereafter. The opposite would be more appropriate, for the Hereafter is the eternal and everlasting abode.
The Commander of the Faithful, Sulayman ibn Abd al- Malik, posed a question to the eminent scholar Abu Hazim Salama ibn Dinar, saying: "O Abu Hazim, why do we dislike death?" He replied: "Because you have ruined your Hereafter and built up this world, so you dislike moving from prosperity to ruin." Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik said: "You speak the truth."
They entered upon Imam al-Shafi'i as he was dying and asked him, "How are you this morning?" He said, “I am departing from this world, parting from my brothers, facing the consequences of my evil deeds, drinking from the cup of death, and returning to God. I do not know whether my soul will go to Paradise, so I may congratulate it, or to Hell, so I may offer it my condolences.”
When death approached Ibrahim al-Nakha’i, he wept. He was asked, “Why do you weep?” He replied, “I await a messenger from God to give me glad tidings of Paradise or Hell.” A man lamented his death. He was asked, “What troubles you?” He replied, “What do you think of one who embarks on a long journey without provisions, dwells in a desolate grave without companionship, and stands before a just Judge without defense?”
How strange are the children of Adam! They live in this world eager to amass and hoard everything, then depart having left everything behind, with nothing remaining but their deeds. If a person grieves today for the loss of a loved one or friend who has passed away, their turn will surely come tomorrow, and their loved ones and friends will grieve for them as well.
It is a mistake to think or believe that anything in this world is eternal and without end. God Almighty says: “Everyone upon the earth will perish, and there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.” (Ar-Rahman 26-27) Eternal life belongs to Him alone, Glory be to Him. There is nothing after Him.
The annihilation of all creation is a clear and undeniable truth, which we witness every moment as a reality. Perhaps we express its meaning in different ways, each according to their life experience, and perhaps the reasons are many, but the ultimate result is the same.
O God, grant us a good end in all matters and protect us from the disgrace of this world and the torment of the Hereafter. O God, cause us to die as Muslims, cause us to live as Muslims, and join us with the righteous. O Turner of hearts and eyes, keep our hearts steadfast in Your religion.
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Dr. Fathi Neana - Dr. Ayat Neena Thank you for watching