Everlasting Life. Everyone would want to live forever. If at death’s door, the angel of death has to offer us a few minutes of life in exchange for everything we earned throughout our entire life, then any reasonable person would jump at the deal showing that our living is more precious to us than everything else that we own.
With the name of Allah most Beneficient ever Merciful
We can have everlasting life but the irony of it is that we have to surrender our lives to our Creator before death relieves us of it.
“Think not of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay they live finding their sustenance from their Lord.” Al Quran Sura Al Imran 3:169
In Sufism being slain in Allah’s way is not in the battle field but it means killing one’s desires. It is the following verse that gives us an indication of this type of martyrdom.
“… We give to men (trials) by turns: that Allah might know those that believe, and that He may take to Himself from your ranks Martyr-witness (to truth) and Allah loves not those that do wrong.” Al Quran Sura Al Imran 3:139
Our great religious scholars have also written along the same lines. “know that all the world is eating and eaten: know that those who have everlasting life (in Allah) are fortunate and accepted. This world and its inhabitants are (in the end) dispersed: that other world and its inhabitants are continuing (forever). This world and its lovers are cut off: the people of that (other) world are eternalized and united. The truly noble man, then, is he that gives to himself The Water of Life that remains unto everlasting.” Matnawi Book 3 verse 30.
“O you who believe! respond to Allah and the Messenger when He calls you to that which will give you life and know that Allah intervenes between a person and (the inclinations of his heart and that it is He to Whom you shall all be gathered (after having been raised to life).” Al Quran Sura Anfal 8:24
In Sufism, humanity is in a state of “nasooth,” which is characterized by eat and be eaten. By killing our baser desire we can progress from this state to the state of “malakooth” which is angelic in nature and from this state we progress to the ultimate state where nothing exists but Allah. In this state is an eternal life of bliss.
By submitting ourselves to the will of Allah Subhanatallah we become lost in Him and He has been, and will be, forever. “All that is on earth will perish: but will abide (forever) The Face of thy Lord…” Al Quran 35:26.
On an internal level, when we have killed our ‘nafs’ then we will attain a final nafs called “nafs e mutmaina” which is characterized by peace. We would be in tune with what Allah Subhanatallah wants. We have totally submitted to Him and this is what Islam basically means–peace and submission.
“The creation of these creatures of this world is for the purpose of manifestation, to the end that the treasure of Divine providence may not remain hidden. He (Allah) said, “I was a hidden treasure”: Take heed! Do not let thy spiritual substance be lost: Become manifest.” Molana Jalalludeen Rumi (RA)
Peace and Salutations be upon Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi 2013. Author: Mohammad Hassan Gaffoor. WhatsApp (+27849101486)
His WhatsApp: +27 84 910 1486