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Preparing for the end

My face lit up as Haleemah stepped out of the Mosque; I had been waiting. Haleemah is that girl who would always stay back after Tafsir to ruminate on what the lecturer has said. Today was one of those days when the lecturer talks about death and the grave and everyone hangs their head in solemnity until distraction creeps in. However, I was surprised when the appearance on Haleemah’s face did not match the eagerness to go back to gisting that was plastered on mine. I saw sorrow weigh down her feet as she dragged them down the stairs of the central mosque.

Alliyah, what’s your purpose in life? She asked as she approached. I was caught off guard. I smiled and said, “Na to make money o”, but Haleemah didn’t smile back. Then, I knew something was up. I asked her what she meant by the question. I mean why exactly were we created? There is a purpose we must fulfill. Do you know what it is? She asked in return.

I pondered for a while before I nonchalantly replied that we were created to serve Allah. I was not seeing the point of the conversation; all I wanted was to go back to our pending gist. Then why have we not been doing that? She retorted. My face was bleeding from puzzles, questions, and confusion. Haleemah, if this is because of the lecture on death, I know you will soon come over it. I told her.

Alliyah, she called with her hands on my shoulder and her eyeballs competing with mine. “Yes, it is because of the lecture, but it is different this time. I’ve been wondering why we keep praying that death strikes at the time when Allah is most pleased with us, but we still do the things that displease Allah. How about we truly prepare for death?”

“This is the month of Ramadan. The month that reminds us of our purpose in life. Why not also use the month to prepare for the end? Life coaches have proven that if you do a habit consistently for 21 days, it will become an addiction. If you also stay away from a habit for 21 days, you will be able to stay away from it forever. So, we are sticking to timely prayers, abstinence from Haram, and abiding by Halal for 30 days, why not make it an addiction and subsequently, a lifestyle? A lifestyle we will be glad to die upon anytime.”

I was lost, perplexed, and anxious all at once. I did not know what to say. I wanted to say that I will think about it. However, Haleemah has known me enough to sense the doubts in me. She said, “Trust me, Alliyah, there is no better time to start this. This is Ramadan; a time when the gates of Jahanam are closed, and that of Jannah are open.”

Alliyah, please let’s dig beneath the thirst of this month till we go beyond the thirst for food and Haram to the thirst for the horizon of piety.

With tears clouding my eyeballs, I hugged her and said, “Yes, cheers to digging beneath the thirst till we reach the horizon of piety.”

As I said that, I felt another layer in me unleashed. I’ve always prayed to Almighty Allah for ease. I guess that what I feel right now is ease and bliss. The tranquility of being guided again.

It’s less than two months until Ramadan. What are you doing to prepare for it?