Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) stated, "The believer is like
a mirror to other believers (in truthfulness)." Like a
mirror, your friend gives you an honest image.
He forgives your mistakes, but does not hide or
exaggerate your strengths and weaknesses.
Once the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was asked,
"What person can be the best friend?" "He who helps
you remember Allah (SWT), and reminds you when you
forget Him," the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), counseled.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was further asked,
"Who is the best among people?" Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)
replied, "He who, when you look at him, you remember
Allah (SWT)". Such a friend reflects qualities of love, mercy,
honesty, service, patience, optimism, professionalism,
and the entire lifestyle taught by Islam.
Imam Ali (as) Says: "The poor is one who does not
have any friend."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Live amongst people in such a manner
that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive
they crave for your company (friendship)."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Friendship transfers a stranger
in to a relative."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Do not choose as your friend
the enemy of your friend."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Two true friends are a single soul in
different bodies."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "He who discards a friend for slight
offence risks loneliness."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "In time of distress a man can
distinguished between his friend and enemy."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) Says: "Be careful to have
truthful friends and try to obtain them, for they are
your support when you are in welfare, and your advocator
when you have misfortune."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Be not friend with a fool, for he will
harm you while meaning to do good to you."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "It is better to listen to a wise enemy
than to seek counsel from a foolish friend."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Keep away from friendship of liar
surely he will show you as near what is far from you and
will show as far what is near you."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "O' Kumayl! Say what is just in any
condition. Be friends with the righteous and avoid
the evil doers, stay away from the hypocrites and
do not accompany the treacherous."
Imam Sajjad (as) Says: "Beware of the companionship of
the sinful, and helping of the unjust."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "If a friend envies you, then he is not
a true friend."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Verily, there are three (types of)
friends for a Muslim,
1) The friend who says: I am with you whether you are alive
or dead', and this is his deed.
2) The friend who says: I am with you unto the threshold
of your grave and then I will leave you', and this is his children.
3) The friend who says: I will be with you until when you die',
and this is his wealth which will belong to the inheritors
when he dies."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "He who is deserted by friends and
relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers."
Imam Hassan (as) Says: "Befriend people in the same manner
you would like them to befriend you."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) Says: "Be the friend of him who may
grace you, not of one whom you are better than."
(Viz. make friends with ones who are higher than you so
that you progress.)
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) Says: "My most beloved brother is
he who (makes me aware of) my faults."
Imam Hassan Askari (as) Says: "Those who advise their
friend secretly are respecting them, and those who advise
them openly are humiliating them."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) has narrated from his father
Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) who said his father
Imam Sajjad (as) stated: "O' my son! Beware of five (groups)
and do not seek companionship (friendship) with them,
do not speak with them, and do not make friends
with them on (the) way."
Then, Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) asked his father
who they were and might he introduces them to him.
Imam Sajjad (as) responded:
1) "Beware of and do not associate with the one who tells lies.
He is as a mirage which makes near for you what is far,
and makes far to you what is near."
2) "Beware of and do not associate with an immoral person,
because he will sell you at the price of a morsel or less
than that."
3) "Beware of and do not associate with a miser because he
will deprive you of his wealth when you are seriously in need
of it."
4) "Beware of and do not associate with a fool, because
he wants to be of avail to you but he harms you."
5) "Beware of and do not associate with the one who
disregards his kinfolks, because I found him (such a person)
cursed in the Book Allah, Almighty and Glorious, in three
occurrences." They are:
(Sura Al-Baqarah, 2:27; Sura Ar-Rad, 13:25; and
Sura Muhammad, 47:22).
Death is not the end
Death can never be the end.
Death can never be the end.
Death is the road.
Life is the traveller.
The Soul is the Guide
Life is the traveller.
The Soul is the Guide
…
Our heart thinks of life
Our soul thinks of Immortality.These creatures, who from Time had birth,
Within his bosom at the end
Shall sleep; Time hath nor enemy nor friend.
All we in one long caravan
Are journeying since the world began;
We know not whither, but we know
Time guideth at the front, and all must go.
Like as the wind upon the fieldBows every herb, and all must yield,
So we beneath Time’s passing breath
Bow each in turn, – why tears for birth or death?I sit around and wonder,
and watch the days go by.
I look at all the pictures,
and ask, why did you have to die?You've always been there for me,
because you were my best friend,
and I was always there for you
until the very end.But now it's time to let you go,
your spirit now is free.
Even though you won't really be gone,
because you'll live inside of me.So when we have to leave you
at your resting place,
I will always remember
your smiling, beautiful face.This is hardly a goodbye,
so I won't weep anymore,
because now you're in better place
then you ever were before.Even though that I will miss you,
and I'll think about you everyday
you'll always be my best friend,
and that's all I have to say.There are many traditions from around the world that determine what a funeral looks like. In some cultures the body is cremated and the ashes may be kept in an urn. In other cultures, the body is put into the ground itself without a coffin. Some traditions have people who are designated wailers who are there to help people cry. What these cultures all have in common is the desire to mark the importance of the individuals life and to mourn for the loss of the departed. Siblings that pass away have special meaning to us. They are often close in age to us and their death may bring to mind our own mortality. Life is no longer taken for granted. Someone from our generation has passed away. If the death is unexpected, there may be loose ends in the relationship that have not been dealt with. It is common that a death of a sibling brings upon a search for meaning. We may ask ourselves if we are accomplishing the goals that we have set for ourselves.
In the name of Allah Most Merciful, the All Compasionate
Starting with the basic concept of Islam; Allah (Subhanahu Wata'ala) has created this universe, and each and everything within it. As Allah says in the Quran, " Allah, it is He, Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place and the sky as a conopy and He has given you shape and made your shapes good (looking) and has provided you with the good things. That is Allah, your Lord : so Blesses be Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). [Chapter 40, Verse 64]
And thus, each and every one of our possessions is the blessing of Allah. As He alone is the creator and owner of everything. Life in this world is temporary' and it is a test for the Human Beings; for which we will be awarded in the everlasting' Hereafter. Allah (Jallah Shaanuhu) has created us for His Ibaadah ( worship ). He has prescribed rules for those who Believe in Allah; and those who abide by them, will succeed and prosper in the Hereafter.
Allah says in the Quran, "(It is He) who created death and life to test which of you is best in conduct; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving." [Chapter 67, Verse 2]
Loss and grief is part of the test. When a person encounters loss or grief, it actually a test, which Allah is putting us through. Allah says, " Be sure, We shall test you through fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but glad tidings to those who patiently persevere." [Surah Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 155]
It is natural to feel sorrow over a loss, whether it be concerning wealth and possesion or losing a loved one. But Islam teaches muslims to remain steadfast at all times. When a hard time befalls him, or a grief overwhelms him, a muslim should turn his attention to Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala, and should pray and supplicate. And Allah will give him the strength to endure the loss and pain.
Islam teaches us to remain patient in the greatest of losses and not to greive unnecessesarily over what has been lost; as life in this world is temporary. Eveything is bound to an end one day. Moreover, everything is predistined Allah Jallah Shanuhu has already written the "fate" of everyone, as Allah says in Surah Hadeed, " No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is incribed in the Book of Decrees (Al Lauh ul Mahfooz) before We bring it into existance. Verily, that is easy for Allah. In order that you may not grieve at the things that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allah likes not prideful boasters. [Surah Al Hadeed, Verses 22-23]
A muslim should never complain about a loss he faces; as everything in this world belongs to Allah, and whatever happens is due to Allah's decision and whatever Allah has decided is, for the benefit of the muslim, whether the benefit is in this world or the hereafter, or both, this too is Allah's decision.
On the occasion of death, of Prophet Muhammad's (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) son, Ibrahim, the Prophet said, "Our eyes our filled with tears, our hearts with grief but, we say nothing with our lips except that which pleases Allah Verily to Allah we belong and to Him we return."
This example from the life of the Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) as well as countless others from that of Sahabah (R.A), teach us to be patient and submit to the will of Allah, and accept His decision for us.
On dealing with sorrow, Shekih Al Sheraim said, a muslim must supplicate to Allah to ward off sorrow before it strikes him. But when it happens, a Muslim must be patient and Allah will reward him by forgiving his sins. He should also supplicate to Allah so that He removes the sadness from his heart and replaces it with happiness.
