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The
Devotion of Abu Talib's Son A
Research on the Attitude of Imam Ali
(AS) Towards Death By
Ahmad Sadeqi Ardestani The
general impression is that death has a dreadful face, so the majority of
people are afraid of death and run away from it. Even those things which
are associated with death such as: Shroud, cemetery, corpse, coffin and
serious illnesses frighten the general public away. What
Is Death? Why Is This Reality So Frightful? and Why
Do Men Resort to Anything to Run Away from It?
Apparently, death is something that happens before our very eyes in
great numbers and we see those who were beside us are not present anymore,
and this is the best "meaning of death", and perhaps there is no
need to do any other researches on it!
But since on the one hand death is one of the principles in which
we believe, and on the other hand it is the title of our discussion, it
would be appropriate to research into it.
"Death" is a transfer from one world to another world in
which there are movement, life, impressionability and impressiveness in
different forms.
There are many examples in the Qur'an and in religious traditions
conveying this meaning and some of them are as follows: 1.
The Qur'an says: "And if indeed you die or you are slain,
certainly to Allah shall you be gathered together." (3:158) 2.
Allah says: "... you shall be return to Us." (23:116) 3.
Imam Ali (AS) said: "O people! We and you have been created to be
immortal. You are just transferred from this house to another house.
Hence, make provision from this transitory world for the world you are
going to live in forever!" (Bihar ul Anvar, vol. 70, p. 96)
Once Imam Ali (AS) was asked to describe "Death". He
said: "You enter before Allah consciously, and you will belong to one
of these three groups: Group one is given good news of eternal blessings;
group two is given bad news of eternal chastisements, and it is not known
what happens to another group three, so they will remain sad and
anxious!" (Bihar ul Anvar, vol. 6, p. 154)
We know that death does not mean mortality. On the contrary, it is
a return to Allah. Now these questions arise: Why are the majority of
people afraid of death? Why do they run away from it? Why do they want not
to die?
In order to answer these questions, we should consider the roots of
"fear of death", lack of understanding of life and death, great
affection for material concerns, and ignorance of the pleasure of meeting
Allah.
For studying these matters, we use the inspiring statements of Imam
Ali (AS): A-
The Concept of Life and Death.
In Imam Ali's opinion, spiritual and human life has a number of
characteristics and the attention to these characteristics causes us to
have a better outlook on life because in his opinion, eating, sleeping,
reproducing and gratifying lust, are not all the factors that compose
life. In order to have a "human spiritual life", we should
consider other factors too. This matter has been mentioned in traditions
and we refer to some of them here: 1.
Give your hearts to the world to come before your bodies are transferred
from this world. Since you have been created for the next world, and this
world is your prison.... You should also know piety is the basis of life
and you die when you lose your faith. (Al-Irshad Mufid, p. 157) 2.
Belief in monotheism is the cause of the real life of every mankind. (Fehreste
Ghorar ul Hekam va Durar ul Kelam Amedi, pp. 262, 401) 3.
In Imam Ali's opinion, in order to reach a lasting spiritual life, we
should apply the humanizing science. He said: "Science is the
foundation of life." (Ibid.)
Because science is the basis of existence and human's life. Imam
Ali addressed Kumail Ibn Ziyad Nakhaii, his confident: "Learned-men
will be alive until the world exists. Although their bodies are
disappeared and decomposed, their achievements will remain in the
hearts." (Dr. Subhi, Nahjul-Balagha, p. 496)
According to Imam Ali (AS) the above-mentioned characteristics make
life meaningful and their loss makes worldly life equal to death. Thus,
one of the reasons why people are afraid of death and try to escape from
it - is that they don't know the real meaning of life and death as Imam
Ali (AS) states, so they give their hearts to it ignorantly. B.
Affection for World
According to narratives, another reason that makes mankind give up
the ghost with difficulty is his great affection for material concerns and
awareness of his embarrassing situation in the future.
It is narrated that someone visited the Prophet (SAW), and asked
him: "Why don't I like death and why do I escape from it?" The
Prophet (SAW) said: "Do you have wealth?" He answered,
"Yes."
The Prophet (SAW) said: "Did you send something beforehand (by
doing financial duties, such as: giving money, food, help, etc., to the
needy)?"
The man said: "No."
The Prophet (SAW) said: "You are afraid of death because you
have not been
able to build your futurity up." (Mahjjat al-Bayza, vol. 8, p.
258)
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (AS) said: "A man visited Abuzar Ghaffari
and asked: "Why are we afraid of death?" Abuzar replied:
"You have occupied yourself with the affairs of this world and have
ruined your future life. Therefore, you are sorry and horrified to be
transferred from the habitable house to the damaged house." (Usul-Kafi,
vol. 2, p. 458)
Great affection for the world, awareness of this matter that all
deeds pass into nothingness, awareness of the record of deeds, and of the
bad situation in the world to come, cause some people to be afraid of
death.
Imam Ali (AS) said: "Release yourself from carnal desires in
order to be able to meet Allah." (Bihar, vol. 6, p. 135) C.
Ignorance of the Pleasure of Meeting Allah
The other reason that makes the majority of people be afraid of
death, is that they don't know what death is. Besides, they are ignorant
of the pleasure of meeting Allah.
Imam Javad (AS) was asked: "Why do a group of Muslims dislike
death?" He replied: "Since they don't know what death is. The
noble men surely like death and know that the world to come is better than
this world.
Haven't you see that an infant and an insane person avoid eating
medicine which cures them of their illness? This is because of their
ignorance of the effect of medicine....? (Ibid., p. 156)
Imam Hassan Mujtaba (AS) was asked: "What is death of which
people have no knowledge?" He replied: "Death brings the
believers contentment because it transfers them from this world which is
full of sufferings to the next which is the world of eternal
blessings...." (Ibid., 154)
It is also narrated that the Prophet (SAW) introduced this world as
"Prison of Believers" and death as "A bridge which
believers cross and enter Paradise." (Ibid.) The
Attitude of Imam Ali (AS) Towards Death
In order to have a better understanding of Imam Ali's opinion and
message, we study some of his sayings about this world and its vanities
and the tranquilizing and beautiful face of death. 1.
Death brings comfort to happy men. (Ghurar ul-Hekam, vol. 2, p.
514) 2.
The asceticism of Imam Ali (AS) was that his food was two loaves of
bread(i), his clothes had been patched up(ii), and at the time of his
death, 700 dirhams were his personal property(iii), and by living simple
life, he had easily prepared himself for the death. [i] Nahjul-Balagha,
Letter 45, p. 417. ([ii] Ibid., p. 229). ([iii] Bihar- ul-Anwar ,
vol. 43, p. 359) 3.
When some accused him of negligence about "The Battle of
Siffin", he shouted, "By Allah, I don't care whether I proceed
towards death or death advances towards me." (Nahjul-Balagha,
p. 91) 4.
When they intended to swear allegiance to Imam Ali (AS). He said: "If
I speak out they would call me greedy towards power. But if I keep
silence, they would say I was afraid of death. By Allah, the son of Abu
Talib is more familiar with death than an infant with the breast of its
mother. (Ibid., p. 52) 5.
When Imam Ali (AS) was asked why he was so eager to meet Allah, he
replied: "Allah has blessed me with Islam which is the religion of
angels and prophets, so why should not I be eager to meet Allah."
(Bihar0ul Anwar, vol. 6, p. 127) |