To Him We Shall Return

don’t spend all your life collecting this world’s treasures
death awaits us all, “The Destroyer of all pleasures”
every soul shall taste the bitterness of death
so prepare for the day when all your deeds are measured
you will die the way you lived and you’ll be raised the way you die
wherever you may be, whether you’re in fortresses up high
perfectly on cue, right at its appointed time
they say that death is the only truth and this life is but a lie

and that time will come too, when your loved ones will cry
voices trembling as they inform your relatives late at night
“so sad you had to go, you were such a nice guy”
they said it wasn’t your time, but that’s not up to you and i
people will gather at your home when they hear the news of the calamity
standard formality, expressing their condolences to your family

the movement of time is nothing more than
an erosion of existence in this Dunya [world]
so fulfil your Fara'id [obligations], renew your intentions
and hold onto The Prophet’s sunnah [practice]
because time waits for no man, so why should it wait for you?
you thought life was just a game until death decided to make its move
you were given chance after chance but now it’s too late for you
you procrastinate, to prostrate, to the One that created you
you see time is killing us while we think we’re killing time
the place where you’ll be buried has already been assigned
we deal with death like it’s doubtful when the promise is divine
will you be satisfied when you’re lying in a space that’s confined?

Uthman Ibn Affan would cry every time he’d see the grave
the possessor of two lights, may Allah be pleased with his slave
he’d say, that the grave is the very first step into the Akhira [afterlife]
who’s successful in the Kabr [grave] will be successful all the way
but, these days we just laugh and joke in the cemetery
some don’t even visit, believing it’s unnecessary
brother don’t forget that even your life is temporary
don’t live your life like death is not in your vocabulary
others use the term death defying but nobody’s ever defied death
with every step that you take, you’re getting closer to your last breath the cries of The Sahabah [companions]
they would drown the sound of the Khutbah [sermon]
every time that death was mentioned

now our own loved ones pass away yet we show no apprehension
tomorrow’s not guaranteed but you’re still worried about your pension
you were too busy with this world, gave the hereafter no attention
don’t build a life in this Dunya [world] by destroying your Akhirah [afterlife]
read and take heed from Surat Al Waqiyah [Quran, Ch. 56]
this life’s a test, you can’t retake or restart it
the cloth which’ll make your shroud may have already hit the market

oh, Son of Adam, you’re only a number of days
and whenever a day passes, part of you passes away you’re a traveller in this world brother, you’re not here to stay
so prepare for the day when your own limbs will have their say
you will regret every moment that you chose to disobey
imagine standing before Allah, while your deeds are being weighed
when people gave you advice, you didn’t give them the time of day
you thought you’d practice when you’re older but, it didn’t go your way
so we, laid you to rest, right side facing the Ka'bah
i just pray the last words on your lips was the Shahada [statement of faith]
friends and family turn up to pray your Janaza [funeral]
if anyone could escape death it would have been the Prophets and Sahaba

hear the footsteps of your friends as they walk away from your Kabr [grave]
your family is in pieces, may Allah grant them Sabr [patience]
no should have, would have, could have
now you can’t blame it on Qadr [fate]
spoke as if you fought at Badr
but didn’t get up to pray Fajr [morning prayer]
Shaytan may have whispered in your ear but it was still your own decision
now you wishing you spent your whole night in a state of submission
two Angels appear and they ask you three questions
who is your lord? what is your religion?
who is your prophet? i pray you state the right answers

love for this world is a disease, it’s a sickness worse than cancer
because if you disliked to meet Allah, Allah dislikes to meet you
remember you have an open enemy that will try to defeat you
Shaytan won’t leave you alone, he’ll try and misguide you to the end
so if you’re losing the battle to him now, then tell me what will you do then?
once the Angel of Death takes your soul it will be too late to repent
it’s advice to myself, first and foremost we all need to make amends
don’t want your soul to leave your body
like a thorn branch ripping through wet wool
the world is small, our desires are large
the dirt will ensure we’re finally full

Angels of dark faces whipping you, calling you by the worst of names
telling you to taste the punishment of the blazing flame
saying, ‘Oh evil soul, come out to the anger and wrath of Allah’
so while you’re alive make sure everything you do is Fisabilillah [for the sake of Allah]
constantly remember death and try your best not to get mislead
if you could hear what happens in the grave
then you would stop burying your dead
my brother you could be here one morning and be gone by the afternoon
that’s why we say, Inna Lillah Wa Inna Alayhi Raji'ooon
[To Him we belong, and to Him we shall return]