Sheikh Muhammad AL-Mukhtar Ash-Shinqiti

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

Indeed from Allah upon His slaves, are great blessings and lofty, gracious kind favours. And
indeed the greatest and most splendid of these without exception, in this clear Book (the
Qur’an) and the (Straight) Path made evident, by which Allah brings His slaves out from the
darkness into the light. Filling the hearts with light and expanding the chests (freeing them
from the tightness of ignorance and disbelief). (Helping to) move these believing souls away
from the (earthly) hell of desires and evil and the pain of punishment and deception (being
fooled by the life of this world). And from its beautiful exhortations (verses of the Qur’an) is
one, with which Allah sealed and completed the Qur’an. A blessed, important verse, which
was the final advice and instruction of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). A verse which Allah
sealed the Qur’an with, and by which Allah knocks upon the hearts (calls to attention) and
reminds them of their status before the One, the Just Ruler (Allah). A verse which, after its
revelation, the Prophet (pbuh) did not live except for a few days. It is the very last verse (to
be revealed) from the verses of the Qur’an. It comes after 281 verses in “Az-Zahraa Al-Oola”
(Surah Al-Baqarah). Reminding the slaves of Allah of a Great Day that will be witnessed (by
all) and a Meeting (with the Lord) that is promised. On which neither parents nor children
will be of any avail. (An ayah) consisting of two strong exhortations and (informing) of two
great meetings that will be witnessed. For the first one, (Allah says) “Fear & guard
yourselves against the day you will be returned to Allah” (2:281) (e.g. Death).
And for the second, “Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will
not be treated unjustly” (2:281) (e.g. The Day of Judgement). As for the first meeting, then
we are reminded of a day that we frequently forget about. (A time and) place of truth that we
all fully believe in. We are reminded of a Day that is the last of all days. We are reminded of
a Day that will either be a punishment or the fragrance of Musk. We are reminded of the Last
Day, in which the throats will be choked (by fear). For there will be no such day after it, nor
a day like it. Without doubt it is the Great Day (of Reckoning)! An important, momentous
Standing in the Presence of the Mighty, the Gracious (Allah).
“Fear & guard yourselves against the day you will be returned to Allah” (2:281). It is the
verse which has snatched the sleep of the righteous, “They used to sleep but little fo the night”
(51:17) (engaged in the night prayers). So how amazing are these bodies (people), which
retire to their beds thinking of the Day they will meet their Lord! Then rising to stand,
moving (in prayer) in the presence (of Allah). Calling out to Him quietly and loudly,
requesting His Mercy while in the sacred company of their Lord (praying the night prayer).
“Fear & guard yourselves against the day you will be returned to Allah” (2:281). This is the
Great Day (of Reckoning), for which Allah has recorded every deed, small or big, and every
great, weighty deed and every lowly, despicable deed, which led a person to become either
notable and respected or lowly and despised, to become either honoured or debased (in the
Sight of Allah). Thus it is ordained by Allah that our final destination is decided on that Day
that will be witnessed and in that Meeting that is promised!!!
“Everyone on the Earth will perish. And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of
Majesty and Honour. So which of the favour of your Lord would you deny?” (55:26-28).
However, before that day, and before that immense scene, must come a moment in which a
person is taken from the place of illusions and deception (the Dunya) to either a Place of
harsh punishment (Hell) or a Place of pleasure (Paradise). A Moment of moments in which
the slave is ordained to be relocated on that day (from this life to the Hereafter). That is the
moment, in which a person casts his final glances upon his sons and daughters and upon his
brothers and sisters. Casting his final glances upon this world. The signs of the pangs of death
clearly evident on his face and there emerge from deep within, the sighs and moans (of a
dying person). Indeed it is a moment, in which even the disbeliever believes in, and even the
wicked evildoer has full surety of. Indeed it is a moment, in which a person recognises the
true lowly insignificance of this world. Indeed it is a moment, in which a person truly feels
that he has greatly neglected and disobeyed his Lord! Indeed it is a moment, in which a
person feels the deepest regrets and pain over every single moment, in which he leglected and
disobeyed his Lord! He calls out exclaiming, “My Lord! My Lord...!!! Send me back, so that
I may do righteousness in that which I have left behind!” (23:99-100). It is the final, decisive
moment, a time, which is a striking blow (breaking and separating one from this life), which
even drew close and overtook the Messenger of Allah! By this I mean the Angel of Death
(Malakal Mauth)! So it is, that one may exclaim, “Oh would that I knew… Will (at my death)
be the call of Paradise or the call of the Fire!” Oh would that I knew! Will it be said, “Oh you
(righteous) reassured, satisfied soul! Come back to your Lord pleased, and Him Pleased with
you!” (89:27-28). Or will it be said, “Oh you filthy, evil soul… Come out to the punishment
of your Lord and His Anger!” Oh would that I know! HOW EXACTLY WILL MY ENDING
BE?
Oh would that I knew! That time (of death) is one that has snatched the sleep of the righteous,
so they call out in their night prayers “… and cause us to die amongst the righteous!” (3:193).
So in one swift moment, the soul submits to its Creator (returning to Him). “And leg will be
joined with another leg (in the body shroud). The drive will be, on that Day, to your Lord!”
(75:29-30).
Then there… the (righteous) slave will experience a strange new place will amazing,
wonderous constructions! Laa ilaaha ilAllah! (in amazement!). In a single moment, the slave
is taken from a lowly, insignificant place (the Dunya) to a place of everlasting bliss! Laa
ilaaha ilAllah! (in amazement!). In a single moment, he moves from the narrowness of this
world to the vastness of the Hereafter! And in a single moment, he goes from a place of evil
and malice to the place of the Presence of the One, the All-Dominating (Allah)!