All praise is due to Allah, the Creator of the heavens and earth. May His blessings continue to be on the noblest of mankind, Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), his household, his companions, and all those who remain on the path of truth till the Day of Judgement.
Today, I want us to reflect on what truly benefits those who have passed away. As we all know, death is a certainty. But what we do in this life can have a lasting impact on our own souls and the souls of those who leave us behind.
Obviously, we often forget in the daily grind, but reminders are key. Just as we forget things in this busy world, so too can we forget the importance of our actions.
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, at this juncture, this question becomes pertinent: what truly matters after we die? There are two main things. The first is the righteous deeds we carry out in our lifetime. The second is the good work done in our name after we are gone.
The Holy Quran is a guide for the living. The Quran is a gift from Allah, and it is more than just beautiful verses. It is a guide for us, the living! It is a wake-up call to those who have strayed from the right path. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent as a warner, to show us the way to avoid hellfire.
Don’t be ignorant, as ignorance is not an excuse. You need to seek knowledge! There is no shame in asking questions! The Quran itself tells us to consult the knowledgeable if we don’t know something. Therefore, ignorance is a disease, and knowledge is the cure.
How can we help those who have passed away? First is to organise funeral prayers for the departed soul. It is advisable to attend the funeral prayers whenever possible. This is a way to show respect and ask Allah’s forgiveness for the deceased.
Second is debt repayment: Let us strive to settle our debts before we die. No one wants their family members to be burdened after they are gone.
Third, if any, the will of the departed soul should be fulfilled. It is obligatory to make sure your will reflects your wishes according to the Islamic inheritance law. And following the Prophet’s tradition, take a moment after the burial to offer prayers for the deceased.
Another important point to bear in mind is that all the missed fasts should be completed. In other words, if the deceased missed any obligatory fasts, it becomes the responsibility of their heirs to complete them.
Furthermore, these are actions that have lasting impact even when we are gone. There are even deeds that continue to benefit the deceased after we are gone. A case in point is continuous charity such as donations that keep on giving, such as boreholes, functional community water projects that serve the people or educational resources that the people benefit from.
It is also important to share knowledge. This means you should teach others of what you know so the knowledge lives on after your demise.
And if the deceased is lucky to have pious children, they will continue to remember their departed parents in their prayers, and this is a true blessing from Allah(swt). These are just a few examples.
Remember the admonition of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who says the best charity is the one given while you are still healthy and strong. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Brothers and sisters in Islam, I urge you all to live a good life, fulfill your obligations, and remember those who have passed away. May Allah SWT bless us all (Amin).
Mallam Harun Umar is from Afemai Mosque in Benin City.
