FRIDAY SERMON: How do you wish to be remembered? By Arc. Abdullah Musa Abdul

How Do You Wish To Be Remembered

I begin with the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
“My Lord! Bestow Hukm (knowledge and wisdom) on me, and join me with the righteous. And grant me an honorable mention in later generations. And make me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight.” Qur’an 26: 83-85.

History of the world is filled with the accounts of men and women who shaped it. And among them, there are those that truly understood the implication of history and therefore, tried their best to be on the positive side of human endeavor while there are those that were indifferent to history and what it bears hence, they championed the negative side of history. The best part of history is that whatever anyone is doing others are always watching; they either speak for or against it while he is alive or after he is long gone, buried beneath the sod.

The verse of the Qur’an referenced above highlights the passion and concern of the friend of Allaah, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) regarding history and how he wished to be remembered. He supplicated to Allaah Exalted be He, to grant him the grace that posterity should remember him as a good and pious man after his death and not as an unjust, impious, wicked individual whose history is full of wickedness. This is in no way suggesting that he sought for fame through worldly gains but rather he sought for that which is deeply rooted in true greatness and only achievable through genuine and valuable service to humanity of liberating them from the shackles of paganism, wickedness, evil and backwardness to the success of this world and the Hereafter.

Muhammad ibn Idris Ash Shafi’ was referenced to have said that; “some people have passed away but their (excellent) character has kept them alive. Others are alive but their (evil) character has killed them.” Many have walked the face of the earth and are being remembered for either their good or evil. How do you wish to be remembered after death?Are we among those who will do anything and everything to attain worldly greatness while being totally indifferent to the provisions of the Hereafter?

Do we wish to be remembered as influential persons whose got wealth and authority with no piety or do we wish to be remembered as humble pious men whose influence was felt positively and never to be forgotten by those around them?

Oh beloved sisters, do you wish to be remembered as that young seductive lady whose beauty was  a subject of discussion or do you wish to be remembered as a pious, modest successful woman? Oh beloved brothers, do you wish to be remembered as that man whose authority, wealth was the subject of discussion in the society or do you wish to be remembered as a humble, pious, generous and mindful
individual whose focus was the Hereafter?

Are we the type that yearn for positive change and work towards it by exemplifying it or do we just use such slogans with ulterior motives to achieve personal gains?

Hear this out: Whether we obey Allah or choose not to, we are going to die one day and the world will not come to a standstill but it will amplify our goods or evils no matter how hidden they were.

If it is our desire to please Allaah, then the presence of the kings and the rulers and the wealthy will not affect our taqwa (piety).

Do we wish to be recognized as celebrities without beauty and wealth? Then hold deen firmly and the angels will announce our piety. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated on the strength of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger if Allaah (peace be upon him) said: “When Allaah loves a person, He calls Jibril and says: ‘I love so and so, so love him.’ So Jibril loves him, then he calls out to the people of heaven, ‘Allaah loves so and so, so love him.’ So the people of heaven love him and he finds acceptance on earth.” What are we? Who are we? What is our drive in life? What do we hope for when we die and what are we doing to achieve this hope?

Allaah Exalted be He says: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” Qur’an 59:18. Hence, whatever anyone does should be for the betterment of his Hereafter. No Muslim should mortgage his Hereafter for a miserable price, the world and its beauty is something that is perishable. Jannah (Paradise) is a non perishable abode. Allaah Exalted be He says regarding this world; “And put forward to them the example of the life of this world, it is like the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But (later) it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allah is Able to do everything.” Qur’an 18: 45.

How do we treat those under our employment? Today we might be the bosses but we never can tell the heights Allaah is going to take them tomorrow. How do we want them to remember us the day they help in carrying our dead body to the grave? The testimony of those under our employment in regards to our character is a true reflection of who we are. They will tell the world who we are when we die.

Think and ponder over the reality of this world and you will come to the sudden realization that nothing is worth achieving if Taqwa (piety) is relegated to the tail end.
May our Kind and Generous Allaah unite us in Jannatul firdaus.