Living The Quran
From Issue: 651 [Read full issue]
Lost Opportunity
Al Muminun (The Believers) - Chapter 23: Verses 99-100
"When death comes to one of them, he says, 'My Lord, let me return, let me return to life, so that I may act righteously in whatever I have left behind.' Nay, it is but a meaningless word he utters; for, behind them now is the barrier of death until the day they shall be raised up."
Allah has created everything with a fixed life span. Indeed there is no certainty of life except death. Not only is death itself inescapable, but the place and the very day and hour of death have been forever fixed.
In death we are compelled to return to God. In life, however, we can choose to draw closer to God voluntarily by living our lives according to His will. In this way, we have the opportunity to meet Allah and gain His pleasure even before we leave this world.
Those who fail to use the bounties of Allah to earn His pleasure during this life will forever regret their mistakes, for the cessation of life brings the cessation of opportunities for redemption and salvation.
Compiled From:
"In the Early Hours" - Khurram Murad, pp. 136, 137