reality of death

excerpts from Imam Ghazali's book on The Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife

- A philosopher once wrote to one of his brethren as follows, 'oh my brother ! Beware of death in this life before you travel to an abode in which you long for death but find it not'

- Safiya (may God be pleased with her ) told of an old woman who once complained to Aisha RA of the hardness of her heart. 'Remember death frequently' she told her ' and your heart will be softened'

-The world is nothing but a shadow which is shrinking and vanishing away. And while the son of Adamn competes in the world in great happiness, God summons him through his fate and impales him with the arrow of his demise, stripping him of his chattels and his worldly good so that other men come to possess what he has made and gained. In truth, the world does not delight as much as it causes harm; rather it gives little joy and long melancholy. - Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz.

- Nothing remains of this world save a time proportionate to that which remains of this day.

- Said Ibn Masud (RA), Rasulullah (SAWS) once recited "and whosoever God wills to guide, He opens his breath to islam" and said "when light enters into a heart it opens it up. Upon being asked "oh Rasulullah is there a sign whereby this may be recognized? " he said "Yes: turning aside from the abode of beguilement to the abode of eternity, and preparing for death before it comes"