Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Death

Death-المَوت

1 . Death clings to you more closely than your own shadows and has greater authority over you than [you have over] yourselves.

1 ـ اَلْمَوْتُ اَلْزَمُ لَكُمْ مِنْ ظِلِّكُمْ، وأمْلَكُ بِكُمْ (أمْلَكُكُمْ)مِنْ أنْفُسِكُمْ

2 . Continuously remember death and remember what you will face after death; and never wish for death except after being sure that you have fulfilled the condition for security [in the Hereafter].

2 ـ أَدِمْ ذِكْرَ المَوْتِ، وذِكْرَ ما تَقْدِمُ عَلَيْهِ بَعْدَ المَوْتِ ولاتَتَمَنَّ المَوْتَ إلاّ بِشَرط وَثيق

3 . Increase your remembrance of death and of the place you have to go suddenly and return to after death, until it comes to you while you are on your guard against it and have prepared yourself for it, and let it not come over you suddenly thereby taking you by surprise.

3 ـ أكْثِرْ ذِكْرَ المَوْتِ وَما تَهْجِمُ عَلَيْهِ، وتُفْضي إلَيْهِ بَعْدَ المَوْتِ حَتّى يَأتِيَكَ، وَقَدْ أخَذْتَ لَهُ حِذْرَكَ،وَ شَدَدْتَ لَهُ أزْرَكَ، ولايَأتِيَكَ بَغْتَةً فَيَبْهَرَكَ

4 . Prepare yourselves for death for indeed it overshadows you.

4 ـ اِسْتَعِدُّوا لِلْمَوْتِ فَقَدْ أظَلَّكُمْ (أطَلَّكُمْ ).

5 . Let your ears hear the call of death before it calls you.

5 ـ أسْمِعُوا دَعْوَةَ المَوْتِ آذانَكُمْ قَبْلَ أنْ يُدْعى بِكُمْ

6 . Remember the destroyer of pleasures and the spoiler of lustful desires and the caller towards separation.

6 ـ اُذْكُرُوا هادِمَ اللَّذّاتِ، ومُنَغِّصَ الشَّهَواتِ، وداعِيَ الشَّتاتِ

7 . Beware of death and be adequately prepared for it, [for by this] you will be happy in your place of [final] return.

7 ـ اِحْذَرِ المَوْتَ، وأحْسِنْ لَهُ الإسْتِعْدادَ، تَسْعَدْ بِمُنْقَلَبِكَ

8 . Beware of insufficient provisions and increase your preparations for your departure.

8 ـ إحْذَرْ قِلَّةَ الزّادِ، وأكْثِرْ مِنَ الاِسْتِعْدادِ لِرِحْلَتِكَ

9 . Is there nobody who is ready to meet his Lord before his soul leaves [his body]?

9 ـ ألا مُسْتَعِدٌّ لِلِقاءِ رَبِّهِ قَبْلَ زُهُوقِ نَفْسِهِ

10 . The best gift for a believer is death.

10 ـ أفْضَلُ تُحْفَةِ المُؤْمِنِ المَوْتُ

11 . More severe than death is that which one seeks to be freed from through death.

11 ـ أشَدُّ مِنَ المَوْتِ ما يُتَمَنَّى الخِلاصُ مِنْهُ بِالمَوْتِ

12 . Verily one who walks on the face of the earth will surely end up inside it.

12 ـ إنَّ مَنْ مَشى عَلى ظَهْرِ الأرْضِ لَصائِرٌ إلى بَطْنِها

13 . Verily it behoves you to prepare for the matter about the timing of whose sudden occurrence you have no knowledge of before it overcomes you.

13 ـ إنَّ أمْراً لاتَعْلَمُ مَتى يَفْجَأُكَ يَنْبَغي أنْ تَسْتَعِدَّ لَهُ قَبْلَ أنْ يَغْشاكَ

14 . Verily this matter has not started with you nor will it end with you, for this companion of yours travels, so consider him to have gone on one of his travels, and if he comes back to you [then so be it], otherwise you are [all] going towards him [and will meet him].

14 ـ إنَّ هذا الأمْرَ لَيْسَ بِكُمْ بَدَأَ، ولا إلَيْكُمُ انْتَهى، وقَدْ كانَ صاحِبُكُمْ هذا يُسافِرُ، فَعُدُّوهُ في بَعْضِ سَفَراتِهِ، فَإنْ قَدِمَ عَلَيْكُمْ، وإلاّ قَدِمْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ

15 . Verily the one who approaches, bringing with him [either everlasting] felicity or wretchedness, is deserving of the best preparation.

15 ـ إنَّ قادِماً يَقْدَمُ بِالفَوْزِ، أوِ الشِّقْوَةِ لَمُسْتَحِقٌّ لأفْضَلِ العُدَّةِ

16 . Indeed the absent one who is driven forward by the [succession of the] new night and day, is indeed worthy of a quick return.

16 ـ إنَّ غائِباً يَحْدُوهُ الجَديدانِ اَللَّيْلُ والنَّهارُ، لَحَرِيٌّ بِسُرْعَةِ الأوْبَةِ

17 . Verily in front of you there is a path that covers a long distance, and severe hardships, and you cannot do without good exploration and acquiring the necessary amount of provisions.

17 ـ إنَّ أمامَكَ طَريقاً ذا مَسافَة بَعيدَة، ومَشَقَّة شَديدَة، ولاغِنى بِكَ مِنْ حُسْنِ الاِرْتيادِ، وقَدْرِ بَلاغِكَ مِنَ الزّادِ

18 . Verily our statement: “Indeed we belong to Allah” is an affirmation we make to ourselves that we are owned and our statement: “Indeed we will return to Him” is an affirmation to ourselves that we will die.

18 ـ إنَّ قَوْلَنا «إنّا لِلّهِ » إقْرارٌ عَلى أنْفُسِنا بِالمِلْكِ، وقَوْلَنا « إنّا إلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ » إقْرارٌ عَلى أنْفُسِنا بِالهُلْكِ

19 . Verily before you is an arduous mountain-pass [that is difficult to traverse] where the one with a light burden will be in a better condition than the one with a heavy burden and the one who has to go through it slowly will be worse off than the one who can pass through swiftly. Indeed its place of descent for you inevitably leads either to Paradise or hellfire.

19 ـ إنَّ أمامَكَ عَقَبَةً كَؤُوداً، المُخِفُّ فيها أحْسَنُ حالاً مِنَ المُثْقِلِ، وَالمُبْطِيُ عَلَيْها أقْبَحُ أمْراً مِنَ المُسْرِعِ، إنَّ مَهْبِطَها بِكَ لامَحالَةَ عَلى جَنَّة أوْ نار

20 . Verily this death is a swift seeker - neither does the steadfast escape it nor does the fleer frustrate it.

20 ـ إنَّ هذا المَوْتَ لَطالِبٌ حَثيثٌ، لايَفُوتُهُ المُقيمُ، ولا يُعْجِزُهُ مَنْ هَرَبَ

21 . Verily death is a relief for the one who was a slave to his lust and a prisoner of his vain desire, because the more his life lengthened the more his sins would increase and his offenses against his soul would become worse.

21 ـ إنَّ فِي المَوْتِ لَراحَةٌ لِمَنْ كانَ عَبْدَ شَهْوَتِهِ، وأسْيرَ أهْوِيَتِهِ، لأنَّهُ كُلَّما طالَتْ حَياتُهُ كَثُرَتْ سَيِّئاتُهُ، وعَظُمَتْ عَلى نَفْسِهِ جِناياتُهُ

22 . Verily death has agonies that are more terrible than can ever be described or comprehended by the intellects of the people of this world.

22 ـ إنَّ لِلْمَوْتِ لَغَمَرات، هِيَ أفْظَعُ مِنْ أنْ تُسْتَغْرَقَ بِصِفَة، أوْ تَعْتَدِلَ عَلى عُقُولِ أهْلِ الدُّنْيا

23 . Verily death has been tied to your forelocks whilst this world coils behind you.

23 ـ إنَّ المَوْتَ لَمَعْقُودٌ بِنَواصيكُمْ، والدُّنْيا تُطْوى مِنْ خَلْفِكُمْ

24 . Verily death is a visitor who is not loved, a killer who is not held accountable and an invincible adversary.

24 ـ إنَّ المَوْتَ لَزائِرٌ غَيْرُ مَحْبُوب، وواتِرٌ (وَ واثِرٌ) غَيْرُ مَطْلُوب، وقِرْنٌ غَيْرُ مَغْلُوب

25 . Departure [from this world] is imminent.

25 ـ الرَّحيلُ وَشيكٌ

26 . Death is soothing.

26 ـ اَلْمَوْتُ مُريحٌ

27 . The matter is near.

27 ـ اَلأمْرُ قَريبٌ

28 . Death is expiration [and loss of opportunity].

28 ـ اَلْمَوْتُ فَوْتٌ

29 . Death is a heedless watchman (or friend).

29 ـ اَلْمَوْتُ رَقيبٌ (رَفيقٌ) غافِلٌ

30 . Death is the gate of the Hereafter.

30 ـ اَلْمَوْتُ بابُ الا خِرَةِ

31 . White hair [of old age] is a messenger of death.

31 ـ اَلْمَشيبُ رَسُولُ المَوْتِ

32 . Death is the first justice of the Hereafter.

32 ـ اَلْمَوْتُ أوَّلُ عَدْلِ الاخِرَةِ

33 . Death is preferable to vileness.

33 ـ اَلْمَنِيَّةُ ولاالدَّنِيَّةُ

34 . Death is separation from the transient abode and a journey to the everlasting abode.

34 ـ اَلْمَوْتُ مُفارَقَةُ دارِ الفَناءِ، وارْتِحالٌ إلى دارِ البَقاءِ

35 . Verily you are on the run from the death whose fleer is not saved and must eventually meet it.

35 ـ إنَّكَ طَريدُ المَوْتِ الَّذي لايَنْجُو هارِبُهُ، ولابُدَّ أنَّهُ مُدْرِكُهُ

36 . Verily behind you is a swift seeker in the form of death, so do not be negligent.

36 ـ إنَّ وَرائَكَ طالِباً حَثيثاًمِنَ المَوْتِ فَلا تَغْفُلْ

37 . Verily you are all running away from the death which will take you if you remain steadfast [to resist it] and will catch up with you if you [try to] flee.

37 ـ إنَّكُمْ طُرَداءُ المَوْتِ، الَّذي إنْ أقَمْتُمْ أخَذَكُمْ، وإنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنْهُ أدْرَكَكُمْ

38 . When death arrives, hopes are exposed.

38 ـ إذا حَضَرَتِ المَنِيَّةُ افْتَضَحَتِ الأُمْنِيَّةُ

39 . When one cannot remain secure from the onslaught of death, then not being prepared for it is incompetence.

39 ـ إذا كانَ هُجُومُ المَوْتِ لايُؤمَنُ، فَمِنَ العَجْزِ تَرْكُ التَّأَهُّبِ لَهُ

40 . Deaths cut off hopes.

40 ـ اَلْمَنايا تَقْطَعُ الآمالَ

41 . When you are moving away [from this world] and death is moving towards you, then how quickly you will meet each other!

41 ـ إذا كُنْتَ في إدْبار، والمَوْتُ في إقْبال، فَما أسْرَعَ المُلْتَقى

42 . When the bringer of the news of death comes frequently to you, he will [soon also] announce your death to others.

42 ـ إذا كَثُرَ النّاعي إلَيْكَ، قامَ النّاعي بِكَ

43 . The one who does not prepare for death and take benefit of respite is negligent of the onslaught of death.

43 ـ تارِكُ التَّأَهُّبِ لِلْمَوْتِ، واغْتِنامِ المَهَلِ غافِلٌ عَنْ هُجُومِ الأجَلِ

44 . Begin your journey for you have been pushed forward and prepare for death for it has overshadowed you.

44 ـ تَرَحَّلُوا فَقَدْ جُدَّبِكُمْ، واسْتَعِدُّوا لِلْمَوْتِ فَقَدْ أظَلَّكُمْ

45 . Remembrance of death makes the means [and comforts] of this world seem trivial.

45 ـ ذِكْرُ المَوْتِ يُهَوِّنُ أسْبابَ الدُّنْيا

46 . Sometimes the choker (or drinker) is choked by water [and dies] before quenching his thirst.

46 ـ رُبَّما شَرِقَ شارِقٌ (شارِبٌ) بِالماءِ قَبْلَ رَيِّهِ

47 . Death is the cause of loss.

47 ـ سَبَبُ الفَوْتِ المَوْتُ

48 . Fill yourselves with desire for the bounties of Paradise, [and] you will love death and loathe [this worldly] life.

48 ـ شَوِّقُوا أنْفُسَكُمْ إلى نَعيمِ الجَنَّةِ، تُحِبُّوا المَوْتَ وتَمْقُتُوا الحَياةَ

49 . I am amazed at the one who forgets death while he sees others dying [around him].

49 ـ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ نَسِيَ المَوْتَ وهُوَ يَرى مَنْ يَمُوتُ

50 . I am amazed at the person who sees his body and his lifespan decreasing every day and still does not make preparations for death.

50 ـ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يَرى أنَّهُ يُنْقَصُ كُلَّ يَوْم في نَفْسِهِ وعُمْرِهِ وهُوَ لايَتَأَهَّبُ لِلْمَوْتِ

51 . I am amazed at the one who fears the ambush [of death] and still does not desist.

51 ـ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ خافَ البَياتَ فَلَمْ يَكُفَّ

52 . The end of death is loss.

52 ـ غايَةُ المَوْتِ الفَوْتُ

53 . The absent death is more deserving of being awaited and is closer in its approach [than any other traveller whose return is expected].

53 ـ غائِبُ المَوْتِ أحَقُّ مُنْـتَظَر وأقْرَبُ قادِم

54 . In death there is [either] delight or regret.

54 ـ فِي المَوْتِ غِبْطَةٌ أوْ نِدامَةٌ

55 . In every soul there is death.1

55 ـ في كُلِّ نَفْس مَوْتٌ

56 . In death there is comfort for the felicitous.

56 ـ فِي المَوْتِ راحَةُ السُّعَداءِ

57 . Death may [at times] be hastened.

57 ـ قَدْ تُعاجِلُ المَنِيَّةُ

58 . Every expected thing [eventually] arrives.

58 ـ كُلُّ مُتَوَقَّع آت

59 . Every comer is near.2

59 ـ كُلُّ آت قَريبٌ

60 . Every near one is close by.

60 ـ كُلُّ قَريب دان

61 . Every person will meet his death.

61 ـ كُلُّ امْرِء لاق حِمامَهُ

62 . How can one who is sought by death remain safe?

62 ـ كَيْفَ يَسْلَمُ مَنِ المَوْتُ طالِبُهُ؟ !

63 . How can you forget death while its signs are [constantly] reminding you [of it]?

63 ـ كَيْفَ تَنْسَى المَوْتَ وآثارُهُ تُذَكِّرُكَ

64 . For every rising one there is a setting.

64 ـ لِكُلِّ ناجِم أُفُولٌ

65 . For every [being with a] soul there is death.

65 ـ لِكُلِّ نَفْس حِمامٌ

66 . For every living thing there is death.

66 ـ لِكُلِّ حَيّ مَوْتٌ

67 . For all [beings with] souls there is death.

67 ـ لِلنُّفُوسِ حِمامٌ

68 . The affluent person will never be saved from death because of his abundant wealth.

68 ـ لَنْ يَنْجُوَ مِنَ المَوْتِ غَنِيٌّ لِكَثْرَةِ مالِهِ

69 . The poor person will never be saved from death because of his poverty.

69 ـ لَنْ يَسْلَمَ مِنَ المَوْتِ فَقيرٌ لإقْلالِهِ

70 . If death could be bought, the affluent would have surely bought it.

70 ـ لَوْ أنَّ المَوْتَ يُشْتَرى لأشْتَراهُ الأغْنِياءُ

71 . One who dies, passes away.

71 ـ مَنْ ماتَ فاتَ

72 . One who is certain of the [eventual] departure [from this world] prepares for the journey.

72 ـ مَنْ أيْقَنَ بِالنُّقْلَةِ تَأهَّبَ لِلْرَّحِيلِ

73 . One who sees death with the eyes of his certitude, sees it nearby.

73 ـ مَنْ رَأَى المَوْتَ بِعَيْنِ يَقينِهِ رَاهُ قَريباً

74 . One who sees death with the eyes of his hope, sees it far away.

74 ـ مَنْ رَأَى الْمَوْتَ بِعَيْنِ أمَلِهِ رَاهُ بَعيداً

75 . One who remembers death forgets his aspirations.

75 ـ مَنْ ذَكَرَ المَنِيَّةَ نَسِيَ الأُمْنِيَّةَ

76 . One who recalls the distance of his journey, prepares [for it].

76 ـ مَنْ تَذَكَّرَ بُعْدَ السَّفَرِ اِسْتَعَدَّ

77 . One who frequently remembers death is saved from the deceptions of this world.

77 ـ مَنْ أكْثَرَ ذِكْرَ المَوْتِ نَجا مِنْ خِداعِ الدُّنْيا

78 . One who is missed by the arrow of death is fettered by old age.

78 ـ مَنْ أخْطَأَهُ سَهْمُ المَنِيَّةُ قَـيَّدَهُ الهِرَمُ

79 . One who anticipates death hastens towards good deeds.

79 ـ مَنْ تَرَقَّبَ المَوْتَ سارَعَ إلَى الْخَيْراتِ

80 . One who visualizes death before his very own eyes, the affairs of this world become easy [and trivial] for him.

80 ـ مَنْ صَوَّرَ المَوْتَ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ هانَ أمْرُ الدُّنْيا عَلَيْهِ

81 . One who frequently remembers death is pleased with whatever suffices him of this world.

81 ـ مَنْ أكْثَرَ ذِكْرَ المَوْتِ رَضِيَ مِنَ الدُّنْيا بِالكَفافِ

82 . Whoever frequently remembers death, his desire in [the pleasures of] this world is reduced.

82 ـ مَنْ أكْثَرَ مِنْ ذِكْرِ المَوْتِ قَلَّتْ فِي الدُّنْيا رَغْبَتُهُ

83 . Whoever frequently remembers death is satisfied with the little he possesses of this world.

83 ـ مَنْ ذَكَرَ المَوْتَ رَضِيَ مِنَ الدُّنْيا بِاليَسيرِ

84 . Whoever has [the angel of] death given charge over him, is overrun and annihilated by it.

84 ـ مَنْ وُكِّلَ بِهِ المَوْتُ إجتاحَهُ وأفْناهُ

85 . One who is sought by death cannot be saved from it.

85 ـ ما يَنْجُو مِنَ الْمَوتِ مَنْ طَلَبَهُ

86 . One who counts tomorrow as part of his lifetime has not recognized the reality of death.

86 ـ ما أنْزَلَ المَوْتَ مَنْزِلَهُ مَنْ عَدَّ غَداً مِنْ أجَلِهِ

87 . How beneficial death is for the one who has filled his heart with faith and God-wariness!

87 ـ ما أنْفَعَ المَوْتَ لِمَنْ أشْعَرَ الإيمانَ والتَّقْوى قَلْبَهُ

88 . The deaths of this world are easier to bear than the deaths [and chastisements] of the Hereafter.

88 ـ مَوْتاتُ الدُّنيا أهْوَنُ مِنْ مَوْتاتِ الآخِرَةِ

89 . We are the helpers of death and our lives are targets of mortality, so how can we expect to live forever while the night and day do not elevate anything in status but that they quickly destroyed that which they have built and separated that which they have brought together.

89 ـ نَحْنُ أعْوانُ المَنُونِ، وأنْفُسُنا نَصْبُ الحُتُوفِ، فَمِنْ أيْنَ نَرْجُو البَقاءَ، وهذا اللَّيْلُ والنَّهارُ لَمْ يَرْفَعا مِنْ شَيْء شَرَفاً إلاّ أسْرَعَا الْكَرَّةَ في هَدْمِ ما بَنَيا، وتَفْريقِ ما جَمَعا

90 . Are the people who have been given time to live [in this world] awaiting anything but the time of death, while the hour is close and the journey is at hand?

90 ـ هَلْ (وأهْلُ مُدَّةِ البَقاءِ) يَنْتَظِرُ أهْلُ مُدَّةِ البَقاءِ، إلاّ آوِنَةَ الفَناءِ مَعَ قُرْبِ الزَّوالِ وأُزُوفِ الاِنْتِقالِ

91 . Can the near ones repel [death] from you, or can the wailing [of the women and children] be of any benefit to you?

91 ـ هَلْ يَدْفَعُ عَنْكُمْ الأقارِبُ، أوْ تَنْفَعُكُمُ النَّواحِبُ

92 . Far be it for death to lose the one whom it seeks or for the one who flees it to get saved [from it].

92 ـ هَيْهاتَ أنْ يَفُوتَ المَوْتَ مَنْ طَلَبَ أوْ يَنْجُوَ مِنْهُ مَنْ هَرَبَ

93 . The arrival of death cuts off action and exposes [false] hopes.

93 ـ وافِدُ المَوْتِ يَقْطَعُ العَمَلَ، ويَفْضَحُ الأمَلَ

94 . The arrival of death expunges respite, brings the appointed time closer and dashes [one’s] hope.

94 ـ وافِدُ المَوْتِ يُبيدُ المَهَلَ، ويُدْنِي الأجَلَ، ويُقْعِدُ الأمَلَ

95 . There is no soother like death.

95 ـ لامُريحَ كَالمَوْتِ

96 . Death does not desist from extermination [and will annihilate all].

96 ـ لاتَرْعَوِى الْمَنِيَّةُ اخْتِراماً

97 . There is none whose arrival is nearer than death.

97 ـ لاقادِمَ أقْرَبُ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ

98 . There is no absent one that approaches quicker than death.

98 ـ لاغائِبَ أقْدَمُ مِنَ المَوْتِ

99 . There is no blame on the one who flees from his death.

99 ـ لالَوْمَ لِهارِب مِنْ حَتْفِهِ

100 . Destiny holds sway over the expectations [and plans of man] until death occurs in the [execution of his own] plans.

100 ـ يَغْلِبُ (تَذِلُّ الأُمُورُ لِلْمَقاديرِ) المِقْدارُ عَلَى التَّقْديرِ حَتّى يَكُونَ الحَتْفُ فِي التَّدْبيرِ

101 . It behoves the one who knows about the quickness of his departure to be well prepared for the move.

101 ـ يَنْبَغي لِمَنْ عَرَفَ سُرْعَةَ رِحْلَتِهِ أنْ يُحْسِنَ التَّأَهُّبَ لِنُقْلَتِهِ

102 . Death is preferable to the shame of disgrace.

102 ـ اَلْمَوْتُ ولا ابْتِذالُ الخِزْيَةِ

103 . Death comes to every living thing.

103 ـ اَلمَوْتُ يَأْتي عَلى كُلِّ حَىّ

Notes

1. Or: In every breath there is death.

2. Here the ‘comer’ being referred to is death.

The Dead

The dead-الموتى

1 . Do not remember the dead negatively [by recalling their bad actions] for this suffices as a sin.

1 ـ لاتَذْكُرِ المَوْتى بِسُوء، فَكَفى بِذلِكَ إثْماً