Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume II — Page 10
10 In short , death is inevitable and certain. I t is not linked to faith; it cannot be said that death is a certainty with in one particular belief, while it is not in another belief. Everyone believes in death. Those p eople who follow a religion they even believe in a new life after death where they will be rewarded or punished by God Almighty according to their deeds. Christians, Hindus , and Muslims all hold this belief. B ut at the moment I am addressing Ahmadi wome n. Al though I am aware that some other ladies are attending this Jalsa , they are still Muslim and as far as Islam ic principles are concerned, our beliefs are the same. They believe in the Holy Qur’an and we also believe in the Holy Qur’an. The Holy Qur’an emphasizes that one’s real life will begin after death and this present life is simply in preparation , akin to a child going to school. A child does not start school with the intention of staying in school for the rest of his life. Or, that after he completes his schooling, he will not have to take up any employment. A child is sent to school to prepare him for the life to come, so that he is prepared to face the future as a successful G eneral. In the same way, if there is any truth in there being a life after death, then we mus t consider our present life to be equivalent to the time spent in school. Be certain that our real life actually begins after our death, just as a schoolboy’s practical life is considered to begin when he finishes school. T he Holy Prophet ’s sa Example Who can be closer to God Almighty than the Holy Prophet sa ? Who else proved through his actions, that he was ready to sacrifice his every belonging and every desire for God? De spite this, we see that the Holy Prophet sa so diligently prepared for this day. Ha z rat A ’isha h ra relates that even when the Holy Prophet sa had grown older and was over the age of sixty , he would rise in the middle of the night for prayer and would stand before God Almighty for so long that his feet would swell. Ha z rat A’isha h ra s ays , that when she saw this, she was overwhelmed with sympathy. One day, h aving become agitated she asked him , “Why do you make your life so difficult? You stand up for so long during your worship in Sal ā t that your feet swell up and you are overcome with weakness. H as God Almighty not forgiven all your past and future mistakes and has God Almighty not assured you through revelation that he is pleased with you?” Ha z rat A’isha h ra relates that the Holy Prophet sa respon ded, “ A’isha h ra , you are right. Allah has sh owered many blessings upon me, a nd it is also true that Allah has blessed each and every act of mine, but O A’isha h ra , when