Lessons from Death

Today was 'a day of sorts'.
I am trying to pinpoint the mood I am currently in. It seems to waver between hope and depair...Haha, that says a lot.

The mood has its foundations based on the news articles that appeared in both the Berita Harian and ST on Uddin's sudden passing on Monday. I read the papers daily, and never has an article affected me, (and the children) so badly. "Mercy Relief Worker dies on Mission"...I am sure the general readers would see it as another picture, another story.

But to my kids, he was their 'Uncle Din.'- the cheerful, fun-loving man who played with and talked to them when there were family gatherings. What others will not see is the pain and sorrow that the family carries in mourning his loss...the more than 24hours wait...till the body was brought back from Manila to Singapore...to the arms of a griefing mother who had not seen her son for so long; only to whisper a last goodbye.
(Al-Fatehah buat Shalahudin bin Johari 1971-2009)


Death affects people in many ways. I have lost too many loved ones recently, and the lesson each one has taught me is that Life...is indeed something so precious that I really need to look at what is important in my life so that I will not waste it.

Death is the Mighty Leveller...in death, everyone seems to be the same...a cold, lifeless form. But where does the soul go? And if we leave all our earthly possessions behind, what then can we bring along to the other world? Am I prepared to face my Creator with whatever little that I have spiritually? What have I done in readying myself for this inevitable journey.

Death is not biased. It does not pick on the old or the sickly only. Humans are mere mortals, and there is no one in the world who can predict when he would go. That lie the hands of God, the Almighty.

"When a man dies, his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge and righteous offspring who will pray for him." [Sahih Muslim: 3084]

The Malays have a phrase "Harimau mati meninggalkan belang, Manusia mati meninggalkan nama".- a man will be remembered by his character, and his deeds.

The point is this.
A reminder to myself, my kids and my family.
"See good...hear good...speak good...Be good & Do good."