The current times we live in do not allow one to remember death often as we get consumed with the challenges and temptations of life, therefore our minds are always 5 with matters other than the remembrance of death. Parents not remembering death has an impact upon children and the youth as if parents do not remember death, our children and youth will also avoid remembering death. Death is that thing which brings an end to the pleasures of life and it allows mankind to enter the Barzakh.
The ideas of freedom, consumerism and living life to the max have created an environment of where Insan believes he / she will remain on earth for ever, thus the stated above ideas have dominated and influenced the behaviour of mankind and this has resulted in the discussion of death being shunned by many.
As Muslims, we are reminded by the Quran and Hadith to remember death often as there is no guarantee that we will see the end of the day. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ
“Every soul will taste death”
Surah Al-Anbya, verse 35
Irrespective of race and religion, every individual will face death and will be held accountable for his / her actions. As Muslim parents, we must always remind our selves of death and explain to our children what death is and what we must do as Muslims to prepare for death and how we should resist and avoid the temptations of life that lead to Haraam. Our children face lots of challenges and pressures and due to this, our children are enticed to do Haraam as the concept of death is hardly discussed at schools. The environment in which our youth are growing up is becoming more toxic, as a result this is making it harder for our children and youth to hold onto Islamic values. Not holding onto Islamic values will lead to failure and breakdown of the family unit.
Therefore at home we the parents, need to create an atmosphere of Imaan which promotes Islamic ideals, values and concepts. We should encourage our children and youth to read and study Ayat and Hadith about death as this will help them develop their understanding of death from an Islamic perspective. Thus the Islamic concepts that the children and youth acquire will protect them from committing Haraam and will allow our youth to present Islam confidently.
Remembering death often in the current world we live in can be difficult given we are surrounded by Fitnah and engrossed in our daily lives, therefore the Muslims of todays day and age need to remember what the Muslims of the past remembered; the previous world order based on Islam and it was at the heart of all that the Muslims did. An Islamic world order will encourage stronger believers and a new wave of Muslim reverts to the Deen. The Islamic world order will encourage the remembrance of death and help Muslims prepare for the Akhirah.
Death is a gift for a believer as it frees the believer from this world, thus prepare for death and have the longing to meet Allah سبحانه وتعالى.
The Prophet ﷺ said
“The gift to a believer is death.” (Mishkat al-Masabih 1609)
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