REALITY !!
The silent narrow pathways of graveyards help you to understand
the brevity of life. There is very little noise there – perhaps just the wind
rustling through some lone trees and the faraway chatter of gravediggers that
have taken a break from their work. Perhaps the muffled cries of the deceased’s
child or wife. Perhaps your own nervous heartbeat that thuds loudly in your
chest and ears.
The graves are full of people who were great conversationalists,
talented writers, illustrious cooks and fashion idols. They all met the same
end.
Somehow what shade of lipstick matches your outfit doesn't seem to
matter when you walk those lone pathways. Somehow your sharp mind that often
wins word-wars with others doesn't seem to be able to bring itself to say a
word as you touch the soil beneath your feet, the soil above their heads.
Somehow the expensive shoes that are covered with the dust of that hushed
graveyard don’t seem so valuable anymore.
Everyone who existed died. Everyone who exists will die. The
breath in your chest as it rises and falls is an indication that time is
passing. Every moment gone is a piece of your one chance, gone.
At death you will not wonder – what would my life have been like
if I had more things? You will not wish to have made more money or been more
fashionable. You will not wish you had more degrees to your name.
You will only wish that you had worshiped Him better. Only that,
nothing else. You will wish that you had visited mosques for regular prayers
and earned good deeds by doing service to people. You will wish that you had
treated your close ones with respect. You will wish that you had been fair in
your business dealings. You will wish that you had fulfilled obligations
towards your wife/husband and cared for your parents. You will wish that you
had respected people of character more. You will wish that you had not flaunted
your looks for the lustful gaze of men. You will wish that you had covered your
hair with 'hijab' as per Allah's commandments.
The angel of death stands by unbeknownst to you as your time nears
its end. The angel of death makes mourners of merry people. He obeys the orders
of God without fail, without choice in the matter.
One day it will be me under soil. One day it will be my loved ones
wiping their tears and walking with hushed words away from where I am. One day
I will wish that I had worshiped Him better. I will only wish that, nothing
else.
That day it will be just me and my deeds. And perhaps I will not
have done enough. Perhaps the angel of death will take me before I am ready to
meet my Lord, before I have given away my money to those who had a right to
it…before I had decided to give up everything that leads me away from The Path
of Truth.
And so restlessness is what I seek. Tired eyes and worked hands. I
seek until the day I am deposited into the graveyard, to never rest until I
have given everything I can, worshiped God with every limb of my body and
carried others through their difficulties.
Restlessness in this life is what I seek. The time for rest will
come soon.
