How to Remember Death in This World
Imam Ali’s (AS) principles of life were, in all aspects, based on the Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). In his social life, he also acted based on the Divine orders and Nabawi Seerah, which can be considered as a perfect example for everyone.
Bakhshali Ghanbari, a Nahj al-Balagha researcher, discussed “social morality based on Nahj al-Balagha” in a series of lectures. Following are excerpts from the fifth session on “avoiding negligence”:
In this session, I will discuss the Sermon 64 of Nahj al-Balagha, a part of which is about avoiding negligence. One of the keywords in Nahj al-Balagha is “negligence”, the opposite of which is awareness and vigilance.
The world has four features according to Nahj al-Balagha. It is changing, it is about learning lessons, it has pain and sorrow, and all of those who live in this world will leave it.
Two kinds of negligence have been mentioned in this book. One is the negligence that is in the human structure. That is, when I talk to you, I am not certainly aware of my back. Therefore, it is a structural negligence and I cannot do anything about it, except those who can get spiritual powers through mysticism and can overcome it.
The second kind is accidental negligence or the one that happens voluntarily and if we decide to overcome it, we can. For example, one of the issues that Imam Ali (AS) referred to and warned about in this sermon, and that may happen to us, is neglecting death.
Note that when we talk about death, we remember it and are aware of it and think about it and the Imam (AS) reminds us of thinking about death. Also, take into account this very precise point because otherwise you will not learn a true lesson from awareness about death and thinking about it. The point is why we should be aware of death, remember it and think about it. It is because in that case we will not lose our today and this moment, will not lose living here and now and will not forget our responsibility here and now.
Imam Ali (AS) says: “and prepare yourselves for death since it is hovering over you. Be a people who wake up when called, and who know that this world is not their abode, and so have it changed (with the next).”
It means that they lived in this world in a way that they attached it to the life in the Hereafter. Because they did not live negligently. If we neglect this fact a little bit, we will get involved in the world so much that we will forget we will die. If humans repeat this sentence to themselves that “I will die”, who will be able to oppress others?
Oppression starts from where we think that we will remain in this world. Imam Ali (AS) said, “Remembering death eliminates your turbulences and makes your hearts fine and tame.”
