…Death

A bitter elixir that carries coldness in its name and stillness in its essence, something we can never get used to, something we forget most throughout our lives yet cannot escape, something every living being will inevitably taste in some way… How strange a feeling it is, isn’t it, that we will die?

The pain felt beforehand and the sense of uncertainty that begins for those left behind afterwards, the mystery… A life that comes with it, motionless, insensitive, thoughtless, and emotionless…

The moment when a living being, breathing to live the next moment, begins to wait breathlessly for its next life…

We know it so well in our words that it’s as if we know death from somewhere. As if it’s one of the foremost things we know and have forgotten…

Our recognition of death comes from where the values we claim to believe in are gathered, that is, from our minds. Because the mind is constantly connected to the outside world, it is well aware of the situation it encounters most often when forming its values. Depending on the circumstances, it can even evaluate and recognize death better than life.

Although life is full of unknown actions, death is a constant reality in every aspect of life. The final meeting of all living creatures that continue their lives in the natural world ensures that our minds clarify the details of our knowledge about death.

The rotting of fruits, the withering of plants, and the end of the lives of living creatures are constant changes that occur in life. Even if humans constantly forget their own death, they do not forget that the fruit they pick will rot. They do not see this as information that reminds them of their own death, but they know very well that there will come a time when the fruit will rot and come to an end. They do not take the message conveyed by a withered rose they see, but they see the change that exists as natural. This situation never seems unusual to them. In the realm of living beings, such occurrences as death, finality, expiration, decay, and annihilation seem natural to rational beings and are easily accepted.

Many people who are unaware, despite having no information about where they are going, summarize the situation when they hear about someone in their environment whose life has ended as follows:

—That’s where we’re all going!

— (I wonder) Where is that?

If they really knew where they were going, could they take it so lightly? Could they really live for today and waste their time, could they really bother with the possessions or positions they will leave behind, without preparing for tomorrow?

Witnessing every final encounter should be perceived as an approaching stop. Despite the commands of the ego prevailing in its ongoing struggle with reason, Allah (swt) has placed the knowledge of death’s existence, its inevitability, and the fact that it is an absolute reality for which one must prepare, in every area of life as the most effective weapon.

That is why Islam commands us, His servants who live with free will^[76], to live with an awareness of death. Incorporating this awareness of death into life will give meaning to life, and believing in being held accountable after death will minimize a person’s tendency to make mistakes. Allah (swt) knows best.

ALLAH (swt) says:

Say: The death from which you flee will surely overtake you. Then you will be returned to Allah, the Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will inform you of what you used to do.^[77]

Intellect is the most valuable thing Allah (swt) has bestowed upon us, His servants, to whom He has given responsibilities. In order to live with the awareness of death, the intellect must be guided by correct knowledge. The most essential function of our intellect is to prepare itself for situations that our body, which it controls, faces or is likely to face, and to produce positive solutions.

In order to prepare itself in the best way for these events, it needs certain definitions. These definitions, once they reach a period of clarity, require the proportional adjustment of the values available for the use of power. After this period of proportion and clarity, it is necessary to make certain choices to determine the boundaries of one’s own world.

These definitions, uses, and choices are the methods that the person will apply to best guide their mind. These methods are the most important decisions made to add value to the use of life, to be conscious, strong, and peaceful. These decisions are necessary for the person to keep their thoughts within bounds and to carry out their actions in a dignified manner.

For a rational person to live a conscious, strong, and peaceful life, they need to correctly apply these guidelines, which we have divided into definitions, uses, and choices.

[76] The will that allows people to act within the framework of fate and destiny given to them.

[77] Surah Al-Jumu’ah, Verse 8.