Of What We Endure

They ask you about those who return from death, so say: "If you wish to understand the meaning of gratitude, take it from those who shook hands with the Angel of Death hand in hand, then were told: 'Return, for we have granted you a new deadline.'"

These are the ones for whom Allah has decreed a new lease of life. These are the ones whose breaths halted for moments, with the tapes of memories passing before their eyes, amidst the wreckage of accidents, the blood of injuries, the cries of distress, and the calls of warning to ambulance vehicles. They stood motionless, for perhaps these were their last moments of life, so they turned to Allah. Perhaps these were the first moments of a new opportunity.

The first encounter with the Angel of Death has never been easy. Ask them about the scent of death, for they know it well. Beware of their company, for they are the ones who have known the truth with certainty. But between knowledge and weakness, their tents have been pitched. They are intoxicated, yet not truly so. They are the ones who return from the end to the beginning.

When you meet one of them, choose your words carefully, for they are the most humbled after honor. It is easier for you to shake hands with a weakling by nature than to shake hands with a weakling after strength.

Be gentle with your words, for they might fall upon them like the edge of a sword on a wound, cutting through. Know that returning to life after an accident is like a child who doesn't know words or things, who doesn't know movements or actions, who knows nothing but silence and the facade of strength left by the hand of Death before being released.

Death is very easy suddenly, as Allah may reserve for you reserves of forgiveness and mercy, for He did not delay you. But return and extension are very difficult, for the first word will strike your heart when you return to your eternal position in your new intermediate life, saying: "I have granted you respite before, and you were nothing."

I wanted to write all this just as a message to all those whose bodies fell victim to fate's accidents and who were not sought in the revelation of death, so their release was granted, and they returned with their bodies, but their souls roam in the heavens, suspended, refusing the imprisonment of the body and refusing to return to Allah because they know they did not tread the path of the righteous for even a day.

So, I found this image very expressive of the situation in which these people now find the world: to see the world from the seat of a grave and find nothing but the face of the sky and a rope that perhaps Allah will use to pull you to a connection after being cut off.

There are always different, intense, heart-burning, soul-aching matters happening. Tears shed for them are witnessed by the angels of the earth.

These incidents could be a car flipping, a sudden illness, death, separation, betrayal, deception, exploitation, and more.

But when the soul's pain settles, the heart insists on silence and refuses to speak.

Take gratitude from these people.

They may not be its people, but "gratitude is an experience" that cannot be asked about by those who haven't experienced it. There are many admonitions, and everyone can ascend to the pulpit and talk about gratitude, patience, and pain, but their stories remain hearsay until you meet someone who has faced the Angel of Death face to face, and when they disappear, they say, "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, for He did not hold onto us but released us. Praise be to Allah, for when we said: 'Our Lord, send us back so we may do righteousness in what we have left behind,' He granted us respite with which He has mercy on us."

From these, stop and learn the meaning of gratitude, for accidents are not only in their initial moments, but what comes after is even more severe.

And ask those who return about their return: in their states, there is an answer. Look into the corners of their eyes when they look away, for in everything they look at, there is a mirage, for everything their eyes settle upon becomes an arrow, and the arrow is inevitably known after its journey, as hearts bleed where it strikes.

Then reconsider the purpose and wisdom behind all this!

You'll find that the purpose is for you to return to the world so that Allah diverts from you everything else until you see nothing but Him and hear nothing but Him. Allah did not bring you back to the earth for luxury but for a message. Ask those who return about their return, for in their conditions, there is an answer. And look into the corners of their eyes when they look away, for in everything they look at, there is a mirage, and every mirage becomes an arrow when they settle upon it. Hearts bleed where it strikes.

So, take lessons from these people, and do not ask time for the answer.

Indeed, these people saw the Angel of Death present, and fleeing did not avail them, but everything fled from their tongues except the hope of staying, and listen to the words of one of them, for there is benefit and a clear lesson in his speech: "Praise be to Allah, who did not hold us back when the answer was so severe."

#Alhamdulillah #Sabr wa Iman #Malak al-Mawt #Al-A'idun min al-Mawt #Al-Hayat wa al-Mawt #Al-Firaq wa al-'Awda #Al-Sabr fi al-Mihnat #Al-Hawadith wa al-Tahadiyat #Al-Tasamuh wa al-'Afwa  #Al-Hayat ba'd al-Mawt #Al-Samt wa al-Ta'amul #Al-Mawt wa al-Firaq #Al-Hayat wa al-Mu'anasa #Tajribat al-Hayat #Alhamdulillah 'ala_kulli_hal