Don’t be distracted, remember death often, cleric advises

An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, has urged Muslims not to allow the goodies of the worldly life to distract them from the reality of death, saying the life of this world is only an enjoyment of deception.

Sheikh Ahmad, who is the National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, expressed concern that despite the inevitability of death, many were so distracted by the transience of life that they do not prepare for the “destroyer of pleasure”.

• AKK pipeline project and Kano’s rebounding industries
• 3 months after, Buhari returns to UK for medical appointment

“We all know we will die but no one wants to die. We are so distracted that we say by word of mouth, ‘death is inevitable’ but then we do not work toward death,” the cleric said in a lecture at a public presentation of a book, “Perspectives on Funeral Rites in Islam and other Other Cultures” in Abuja. The book is authored by Dr Musa Olaofe, Director, Centre for Asian Studies, University of Abuja and Chief Imam, Ansar-Ud-Deen, Abuja Branch.

Sheikh Ahmad said: “This world is a theater of actions, but we must not be distracted. Be constant in remembering the destroyer of pleasure, death.”

He therefore enjoined Muslims to always plan for death and the events afterward.

A former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, said the inevitability of death has made it imperative for all Muslims to know funeral processes in Islam.

He recalled a recent incident in which two persons died in an auto crash. “The husband was asked to wash the dead wife but declined because he didn’t know the process. It’s a shame for many Muslims who don’t know the funeral rites in Islam,” he said.

Also, a former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, recalled how the death of his first child exposed his ignorance of funeral processes in Islam, and enjoined Muslims to endeavour to read the book.

The event was attended by Umar Madibbo, former FCT Minister; Alhaji Musliu Smith, Chairman, Police Service Commission; Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Smith; Major General Abdulmalik Giwa, Hajiya Hajo Sani, among others.