Osman Nuri Topbas - The Last Breath

Allah Almighty has assigned the attribute of eternity for Himself alone. It is for this reason that all that exists save for His Supreme Essence, is mortal. In fact, Allah says:

"All that is on earth will perish." (Rahmn, 55: 26)

The manifestation of this will be actualized by death:

"Every soul shall have a taste of death..." (Anbiy, 21: 35)

Human beings, therefore, should live in contemplation of this reality. Furthermore, Allah says in the Qurn:

"And the stupor of death comes in truth, This was the thing which thou wast trying to escape!" (Qf, 50: 19)

Since human beings have been put in this world to be tried, their greatest objective should be to strive to attain a place in heaven, the home of peace and elation, by gaining the pleasure of Allah. The only way to achieve this is to attain the state described in the verse:

"The day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail. But only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a sound heart." (Shuar, 26: 88-89)

Such is only possible by disciplining the soul; and the true discipline of the human soul is submission, commitment and obedience to Allah and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless him and grant him peace). In reference to the Prophet, this requires one to take lessons from his twenty three-year long prophetic life, that is, from his spiritual life. Allah Almighty revealed the Holy Qurn through the Archangel Jibrl directly to the heart of the Prophet Muhammad. Thus, in some way, all of the Prophets worship, sayings, manners and actions are interpretations of the Qurn. Within the framework of this reality, it is essential for us to love the Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) more than we love our own lives, belongings, families and all else if we are to benefit fully from his spiritual life. His love moulds the slave in the love of Allah. In other words, loving him means loving Allah and vice versa. For the ultimate union with Allah, ones heart needs to achieve the highest level of love.

The aforementioned are the greatest steps in preparation for our last breath. This means that the results yielded by our final breath are contingent upon the earlier breaths we have taken. Preparation for the last breath begins immediately, since it will only be as good as the breaths we take at the moment. Allahs servants of distinction, who live throughout their lives with love and devotion to the Almighty and His Messenger, peacefully breathe their last by pronouncing the testimony of faith ( shahdah ). They are the ones about whom the Prophet Muhammad gave glad tidings: "He who (sincerely) testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah while taking his last breath will enter Paradise..." (Hkim, Mustadrak , vol. I, no. 503)

In other words, whoever lives throughout his lifetime with the kalima-i tawh+d will breath his last on his journey towards Allah with it on his lips. Such are the ones who have wiped all temporary and worldly loves and idols out of their hearts by saying l (there is no) and then filled them with the love of Allah Almighty by the pronouncement ill (but).

It is essential to know that the universe which has been created by the power of the Almighty is a transitory dwelling decorated with many attractions. Nothing in the world was created without a cause. The objective of human beings in this world is to attain happiness in the Hereafter. That is why our Lord warns us, the believers: "O, ye who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared and die not except in a state of Islam" (l Imrn, 3: 102).

Death, which sooner or later every living being on earth will face, is tantamount to a personal judgment day. We should never forget that we, whether we realize it or not, are actually confronted by death several times every day and night. Death ever waits in ambush for us. Imm Jalluddn Rm says in his Mathnaw :

" Every moment a part of you is perishingAt every moment you are relinquishing a part of your life. "

With every passing day, do we not move a step away from this mortal life and move a step closer to the grave? Are the days not being torn away from our lifes calendar? As though we stand blind against the current of a river, Rm warns us:

"O people, take your last glimpse at the embroidery in the mirror! And think how this beauty will be when it grows old and how a building looks in ruins and do not be misled by the lie in the mirror."

Our last breath is a divine secret that is surrounded by innumerable wisdoms. When deaththe most certain of future realitieswill meet us rests on divine fate. As a matter of fact, humans confront the possibility of death each day of their lives. Illnesses, unexpected events and disasters are all realities they face, but most people due to their weaknesses are unaware of these everyday dangers. Does this not show how fine the line is between this world and the next?