Operation Death: Too Late For Tears

This is a tale of an average man,
Who acts contrary to Allah's plan,

If you are reflected herein,
Then repent, and commit no sin.

It was early in the morning at four
When death knocked upon a bedroom door

"Who is there?" the sleeping one cried
I'm Izrael let me inside

At once, the man began to shiver
As one sweating in deadly fever

He shouted to his wife
"Don't let him take away my life."

"Please go away, O Angel of Death
I'm not ready yet

My family, on me depend
Give me a chance, to go back and mend.

The angel knocked again and again
"Friend, I'll take your life without any pain

It's your soul that Allah requires
I come not with my own desires.

Bewildered, the man began to cry
"O Angel, I'm so afraid to die

I'll give you gold and be your slave
Don't send me to the unlit grave.

"Let me in O friend", the angel said
"Open the door, get up from your bed

If you do not allow me in
I will walk through it like a Jinn.

The man held a gun in his right hand
Ready to defy the Angel's stand

"I'll point my gun towards your head
You dare come in - I'll shoot you dead.

By now, the Angel was in the room
Saying, "O friend - prepare for your doom

Foolish man - Angels never die
Put down your gun and do not sigh."

"Why are you afraid - Tell me O man
To die according to Allah's plan?

Come - smile at me, do not be grim
Be happy to return to him."

"O Angel, I bow my head in shame
I had no time to remember Allah's name

From dawn 'til dusk, I made my wealth
Not even caring for my spiritual health."

"Allah's commands I never obeyed,
Nor five times a day I ever prayed,

A Ramadhaan came and a Ramadhaan went,
But no time had I to repent."

"The Hajj was already obligatory upon me
But I would not part with my money

All charities I did ignore
Taking usury more and more."

"Sometimes I sipped my favorite wine,
With flirting women I sat to dine.

O angel I appeal to you,
Spare my life for a year or two."

"The laws of the Qur'aan, I will obey
I'll begin Salaat - this very day.

My Fast and Hajj I will complete
And keep away from self-conceit."

"I will refrain from usury
And give all my wealth to charity

Wine and unlawful women , I will detest
Allah's oneness I will attest."

We Angels do what Allah demands
We cannot go against His commands

Death is ordained for everyone
Father, mother, daughter and son."

"I'm afraid, this moment is your last
Now be reminded of your past.

I do understand your fears
But it is now too late for tears."

"You lived in this world, two score or more
Never did you, your people adore

Your parents you did not obey
Hungry beggars, you turned away."

"Your two ill-gotten, female offspring
In nightclubs, for livelihood they sing.

Instead of making more Muslims
You made your children non-Muslims."

"You ignored the muadhin's Adhan (call to prayer)
Nor did you read the holy Quraan.

Breaking promises all you life
Backbiting friends and causing strife."

"From hoarded goods, great profits you made
And your poor workers - you underpaid.

Horses and cards were your leisure
Money-making was your pleasure."

"You ate vitamins and grew more fat
With the very sick - you never sat.

A pint of blood, you never gave
which could a little baby save."

"O human, you have done enough wrong
You bought good properties for a song.

When the farmers appealed to you
You did not have mercy, this is true."

The ending however is very sad
Eventually, the man became mad

With a cry, he jumped out of bed
And suddenly, he fell down dead.

O! Reader take a moral from here
Never know, your end may be near.

Change your living and make amends
For heaven, on your deeds depend.

by G.H.E. Vanker

500 Years of Worship

Angel Jibrail (as) told Rasulullah (peace be upon him) the following incident about a man in the past who worshipped Allah Ta'ala continuously for 500 years. He was granted a shelter on top of a mountain that was surrounded by salty water. However, Allah caused a stream of sweet water to flow through the mountain for that individual. The man would drink from this water and use it to make ablution. Allah Ta'ala also raised a pomegranate tree from which the man would eat one fruit every day.

One day, this person supplicated to Allah that, "Oh Allah, bring my death while I am in the state of prostration." Allah accepted this dua of his. Whenever Jibrail (as) came down to the Earth, he found this man prostrating to Allah. Jibrail (as) said that on the day of Judgement, Allah will tell the angels to take this individual to Paradise through His mercy. However, this man will insist that he should enter paradise through the good deeds that he had performed.

Then, Allah will tell the angels to compare his good deeds with the blessings that were given to him in the world. It will be seen that 500 years of his worship does not even equal to the gift of eye sight that was given to him by Allah. The angels will be asked to take him towards the hell fire. Then the man will plead, "Oh Allah! Enter me into Paradise only through Your mercy." At that point, the following discussion will take place between Allah and that man.

Allah: Oh my servant, who created you?

The worshipper: Oh Allah, You have created me.

Allah: Were you created because of the good deeds you have done or because of My mercy?

The worshipper: Because of Your mercy.

Allah: Who granted you the ability to worship for 500 years?

The worshipper: Oh the Almighty! You have granted me that ability.

Allah: Who placed you on the mountain surrounded by the ocean? Who caused a stream of sweet water to flow in between the salty water? Who caused a pomegranate tree to grow for you? Who granted you death while in the state of prostration?

The worshipper: Oh the Sustainer of the Worlds! You have done all of these.

Then Allah will say, "All these have happened due to My mercy and you too will enter Paradise only through My Mercy."

Source: Obtained from the book "Tambihul Ghafileen" by Shaikh Abul Laith Samarkandi.

We can never thank Allah for the blessings that He has given us. Let us use these blessings to recognize Allah before our death.