"Said al-Asbagh al-Hanzali: 'At daybreak, shortly before the time when Ali (may God ennoble his face) was struck down, Ibn al-Tayyah came to him to call him to the Prayer. He was reclining and sleepy, and remained so when he returned to him. But when he came for the third time Ali arose and walked, saying:
Gird up your loins for death
Death shall surely meet you
Do not be angry at death
When it comes to your valley.
'When he reached the small door Ibn Muljam bore down upon him and dealt him a blow.....
According to Muhammad ibn Ali, after he was stabbed he counseled his sons, and then said nothing but 'There is no deity but God' until he died."
"When al-Hasan ibn Ali (may God be pleased with them both) became increasingly ill, al-Husayn (may God be pleased with Him) entered and said, 'O my brother, why do you sorrow? You are going to join God's Emissary (may God bless him and grant him peace) and Ali ibn Abi Talib, who are your fathers; and Khadija bint Khuwaylid and Fatima bint Muhammad, who are your mothers; and Hamza and Jafar, who are your paternal uncles.' And he replied, "O my brother! I am going to something the likes of which I have never been to before.' "
"Said Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, 'When the people bore down upon al-Husayn (may God be pleased with him), and he became certain that they would kill him, he stood up in the midst of his followers and delivered a sermon. He praised and lauded God and then said, 'The matter is as you have seen. The world has changed and been befouled, its good customs passing away; and it has shriveled up so that all that remains of it is as a drop in the bottom of a vessel. Enough of a life like bad pasturage! Do you not see that the Truth is not acted by, and that falsehood is not denounced? Let the believer aspire to the meeting with God (Exalted is He!). Truly, I see death as nothing but happiness, and life in the company of the wrongdoers as nothing save transgression.' "
"Al-Ghazali: Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife," Trans. T.J. Winter, pgs. 83-84
Masalaam,
Munira
2 comments:
I wonder if eloquence comes with realizing Allah (SwT)... because I could swear I have never heard more eloquent words than those spoken from the lips of the fallen righteous.
"I seek pleasure in death, because I see nothing but transgression living amongst the evil..." That is a monumental idea. Truth. Whoa.
Asalaam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.
-Ayub
When history's greatest minds are also its greatest Servants of Allah, you will get the best of all recorded speech. I am thankful to still find it within reach to inspire me.
Masalaam,
Munira
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