I had once read somewhere that man is so oblivious that he doesn't even know that the cloth that is meant to be his kafan (Shroud) has arrived in the market.
A very young man who was a friend of my father and uncle, passed away 2 days ago. I had never known him really. Even when I heard the news, I couldn't recall who they were talking about until my uncle showed me his picture. It broke me. I remembered him. I had seen him many times. Yes, I remembered him walking down the street, standing near the shop, having fun with his friends in the front of our house, laughing out loud, you know like young, full of life people do. I remembered him alive. He was in his early thirties, single and very much healthy. And he died. Just like that. All of a sudden. His own heart just refused to beat any more leaving him still, leaving him dead. He was a living, breathing person one second and the next second, he was a mere body, a corpse.
This is the heartbreaking reality of man. Man who walks the earth as if he'd never die, as if he were the owner of this world. But in truth, he is not even the owner of his own heart, his own life. But we're humans. We're always so sure. Especially when we're young. We're sure we won't die, why? Because we're healthy and energetic. And young! But death doesn't ask your age, does it? That is, if it asks anything. I have learnt that the only surety we have is that nothing is for sure. Every breath that we take is a breath less than the total number of breaths that we are fated to take. That little blood pumping organ that is caged up inside our bodies can get tired of its tedious job any time and resign without any former notice.
I want to buy the best dress there is in the market but I, a fool, don't know that, that white cloth that escapes my notice might be my would-be kafan. I had once read somewhere that man is so oblivious that he doesn't even know (or care to know) that the cloth that is meant to be his kafan (Shroud) has arrived in the market. He didn't know that. You don't know that. And neither do I.
Oh Allah please forgive our sins and have mercy upon us. Amen.