Blessings in this Life and in the Next

By Imam Abdullah El-Amin

We have no idea when we will pass on from this world to the next. It could be the next five minutes or the next 50 years…Only ALLAH knows. Since I have been in the funeral business I have seen what we call “death” come in many ways and forms. From the tiniest pre-mature infant to the ripest old age of those who “know little after having known much.”

Death is inevitable; we just don’t know when it will occur. The Holy Prophet (s) was asked by his Sayyidina Jibril (as) “when would be the hour”? The Prophet (s) answered that “the one being asked knows no more than the one asking.”

This brings us to focus on just what is the purpose of our life here. Is it to just float from day to day going to work, the grocery store, recreation and such? No! ALLAH gives us this life as an opportunity to do His works and thus gain His favor. ALLAH says He “has not created men nor Jinn except to worship Me.” Of course we know the “worship” of ALLAH comes in many ways. We worship Him by following His directives as best we can.

One of the greatest blessings He bestows on us is allowing our children to offer prayers for us when we cross over to the next life and then have them join us in Heaven. ALLAH says in Qur’an 52:21 “And those who believe and whose families follow them in faith – to them shall We join their families: Nor will they be deprived of the good they deserve because of their good works.” This should be the greatest incentive of all to treating our offspring in the best manner.

But unfortunately, there are many men (some women too, but mostly men) who are falling way short in caring for the children they have fathered. I know some guys who do not support their children either financially or with their presence. This is a very serious mistake because they may be jeopardizing their chance to get to Jannah..

Sadly, and weakly, some of these guys blame the woman for their lack of doing their responsibility. They say the woman is crazy or she is the cause of his absence and inaction. But is it the baby’s fault? ALLAH doesn’t necessarily want you to take care of your children because you are so in love with the mother. He wants you to take care of them because you fathered them and it is your responsibility, regardless of what the mother did or didn’t do.

This is important not only for the salvation of the parent, but also strengthens our community and enhances the iman of those we come in contact with.

Men, do not allow the way of the negative side of this world lure you to follow Satan and neglect your family. Be a strong man so your children will grow up to respect you and pray for you when you die. Do you think they will feel like praying for you when they remember waiting for you to come to them…and you never come? Do you think little girls want to be generous with their prayers for you when they missed the opportunity to be called “Princess?” How about your boys who long to talk to you about manly topics and you were always too busy?

Let us get smart and live up to our responsibilities. ALLAH will certainly grant you peace and blessings in this life…but also, more importantly, He will grant you bliss in the next life.

As Salaam Alaikum
(Al Hajj) Abdullah Bey El-Amin

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