After Your Funeral ━ An Islamic Reminder
In this fast-paced world, we often become deeply absorbed in our daily routines, material desires, and constant striving. We chase after wealth, social status, and momentary pleasures, forgetting the one certainty every soul must face: death. Have you ever thought about what happens after your funeral?
The moment your body is lowered into the grave, everything you worked so hard for — your wealth, status, social media presence — stays behind
Allah ﷻ reminds us in the Qur’an:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ
“Every soul will taste death…”
(Surah Al-Imran, 3:185)
Let us take a moment to reflect — not on the noise of life — but on the silence that follows after we depart from it.
ONE HOUR AFTER YOUR FUNERAL
The crying subsidies. Your family goes home and starts to take care of your relatives food and beverages business. Meanwhile your body meets the soil.
TWO HOURS LATER,
There are those who call your house and make excuses for not being able to attend the funeral. Meanwhile, some people in your house start talking about sports and politics.
AFTER SIX HOURS,
Only your immediate family remains and everyone else returns home and starts planning their next day.
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS LATER,
Your internal organs begin to dissolve. Meanwhile messages and calls from people who don’t know that you’re dead continue to arrive on your mobile phone.
THREE DAYS LATER,
Interviews are held with candidates to fill your vacant position at your workplace. At that time, your body begins to swell and a foamy liquid comes out of your mouth and nose.
FIVE DAYS LATER,
Your daughter and son return to work and I your body turns from green to red as your blood begins to rot your organs.
TWO WEEKS LATER,
Your children will meet with a Lawyer for property sharing and your nails and teeth begin to fall out.
A YEAR LATER SOMEONE SAYS,
“Wow, is that all? It’s like yesterday,”
TEN YEARS LATER,
A friend sees and remembers you in an old photo. All that remains of your body are bones.
It takes such a short time to completely forget your existence in this world.
Now reconsider the people and events that your obsessed with today. Do you think it’s worth it?
What a powerful reminder of the fleeting nature of life. Rasulullah ﷺ said:
“Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler along a path.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6416)
Let this serve as a wake-up call. Chase what truly matters:
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Sincere salah
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Good character
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Serving others
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Seeking Allah’s forgiveness
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And preparing for the Akhirah (Hereafter)
Because in the end, nothing will follow us to the grave except our deeds.
Let us live with purpose, remembering that our return to Allah is near. May we be among those who are remembered not just for who we were, but for the good we left behind.
(O Allah, grant us a good ending and guide us to that which You love and are pleased with.)
