Death.

It is something which is sure to happen to all living being, and yet it is something which we avoid thinking about.

Even our universe, time and space have a beginning… and will ultimately end.

If death is our ultimate destiny, shouldn’t we pay more attention to it? Shouldn’t we spend more time planning for it? Shouldn’t we spend life less frivolously1?

The reason I’m writing this is because an ex-colleague of mine recently died of cancer.

Before he passed on he wrote his thoughts down with the expressed intention that this should be shared with everyone.

In thinking about death, I’m reminded about this quote from prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.

Although we’re only on this world for a short while, our legacy lives on. So perhaps… we should focus more of our time striving to leave a legacy that shall benefit mankind2.

On that note here is his legacy. It is his last writings documenting his thoughts as he was facing his approaching mortality.

I would like to end by quoting from the holy Quran:-

[2:156] …”Verily, unto God do we belong and, verily, unto Him we shall return.”

  1. [10:23] Yet as soon as He has saved them from this [danger], lo! they behave outrageously on earth, offending against all right ! O men! All your outrageous deeds are bound to fall back upon your own selves! [You care only for] the enjoyment of life in this world: [but remember that] in the end unto Us you must return, whereupon We shall make you truly understand all that you were doing [in life]. [back]
  2. [6:60] And He it is who causes you to be [like] dead at night, and knows what you work in daytime; and He brings you back to life each days in order that a term set [by Him] be fulfilled. In the end, unto Him you must return: and then He will make you understand all that you were doing [in life]. [back]