DEATH - DON'T FORGET-3

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) says, "know that every man will return towards the deeds which he performed ( when alive), and will repent upon those that he left behind (unperformed)'  it is written in Amali' of Shaikh Mufeed and Tareekhe Baghdadi', that Imam Ali (A.S.) once saw Prophet Khizr (A.S.) in a dream and asked for His advise. Khizr turned His palm towards Him on which was written: you were a corpse, and Allah gave you life, and very soon you will turn into a corpse. Start building a home for the eternal world, and do not get engrossed in (preparing) the house of this world".

It is related that once there was an intelligent, wise and a kind king. He was dedicated to the well-being of his subjects and always inquired about their affairs. His vizier was also concerned about the people's welfare and assisted the king in this deed. Both of them were friendly towards one another and shared their views. The vizier remained busy in serving the scholars and virtuous men. He listened to their wise words and was ready to sacrifice his life for them. His heart was always inclined towards the abandonment of this world and it's vanishes. But for fear and of the king, he kept it in his heart and worshipped the idols to please the king, so that he would not harm him.He remained worried about the king's deviation and error, inspite of his kindness and mercy. He was always on look to get an opportunity to guide the king towards the right. One night when everyone slept, the king told his vizier, ".Come, we shall ride to the town and see in what state are my subjects living. "The vizier replied that it was a good idea. Both of them mounted and started going around the town. During their stroll they passed from near a garbage place and saw a light coming out of it. The king told the vizier, "We should follow this light and see as to what's happening inside". They came down from their mount and went to that place. When they, peeped inside the crevice, they saw an ugly and indigent man wearing dirty clothes sitting inside reclining on the garbage. He was beating a drum and in front of him was kept a glass of wine. An ugly woman wearing soiled clothes was standing opposite him. When the man asked for wine she served it, and when he played the drum she danced. When he drank wine, the woman praised him in a manner as people praise the kings. He too praised the woman and called her 'Sayyedatun Nisa' (Mistress of the women). They were glorifying each other's beauty and spending a life of peace and happiness. The king and his vizier stood there for some time and saw what they did . They were surprised at these two who were happy even though living a degraded and debase life. They returned back, and the king asked, Did you see them how happy they are, inspite of being in such a dirty condiction. Our happiness when compared to their's is nothing. And I think that they always remain like that . When the Vizier head these words from the mouth of the king , he found the time appropriate to advise and said King , In the eyes of those who recognize the True King , this world and it's luxuries are equal to this garbage place . The palaces and castle which we built bearing hardships, are equal to the ugly faces of these two whom we just saw. And the comforts and pleasures of this perishable world ( in their eyes) are like these two's rejoicing at no true happiness. The King asked the Vizier as to whether he knew such people . The Vizier replied, yes, I do know them. The king asked as to who there were and where they lived? The Vizier replied, They are those people who love the religion of Allah , and aware of the kingdom of the hereafter and it's bliss. They always remain eager for the felicity of the hereafter. The king then asked him as to what is the hereafter? He replied, It is a place of place and contentment, where there shall be no troubles and anxieties. It is such a wealth after which a person does not remain dependent of anyone. Then he briefed the king about the characteristics of the hereafter. The king heard his words and said, "Do you know the way and means to acquire this felicity"? The Vizier replied, "Yes, it is for those who strive to seek this road (to religion and the hereafter)".

The king was impressed and desired to seek the hereafter. He then told the Vizier why he never informed him about it previously nor related it's characteristics? The Vizier said that he was afraid of his kingship and dignity. The king replied, "Whatever characteristics (of the hereafter) you have related to me are not to be ignored. But one should strive to seek them, so that we may be characterised by it's characteristics and succeed", The Vizier said, "O king! If you permit me, I will relate these characteristics in detail to you, so that you may become fully acquainted with them, and your belief may become firm". The king was happy and said, "In fact I order you to do so day and night, so that I may not become engrossed in anything else and become negligent of it. One should not neglect this act, for it is a wonderful and excellent, and we should not avoid such a good duty". Thereafter the Vizier daily advised the king and guided him to the right path. 
Here we quote a sermon of Imam Ali (A.S.) as a gift for the believers: "O people ! Beware of this deceitful world, for it has attracted the hearts towards evil by it's elegance and beauty. It has subdued your wishes by false promises. This world is like a woman has adorned herself only for marriage, and due to her beauty deceives men and attracts them towards her. She ultimately kills her husbands with her own hands. So the present people should take lessons from those people in the past who had fallen prey to it, and save themselves from it's conceit".

Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) says, that once the world came to Prophet Isa (A.S.) in the form of a blue-eyed woman. He asked her as to how many husbands she had? She replied that she had infinite husbands. He then asked her, "Did you divorce all of them "? She replied, "No, rather I ruined them and killed them. Prophet Isa (A.S.) said, "Woe be to those men who shall marry you (who shall be tempted by your allurements), and do not take heed from her earlier husbands (the followers of the world who were ruined by it)". Imam Sadiq (A.S) then said, "Hence Allah has kept it (the world) friends and virtuous servants away from her, and left it for His enemies. Allah was happy to see His Prophet tie a stone on his stomach. Prophet Moosa ate grass, so much that the greenery was seen through his stomach, for his flesh had melted and his skin became thin". In praise of Allah's friends (Awliya) and His Prophets (Ambiya) He (A.S.) says, "Prophets compared this world to a garbage place where the corpses lay, eating of which is not lawful. Hence they never ate to their full, but only ate to extend that they could survive. In the sight of the Prophets it is such a corpse, that a person passing from near it, covers his mouth and nose to save him self from near it's bad odour. Hence they pursued that much that would make them reach their destination and never satiated themselves. The Prophets were astonished at the people who who strived to gather this world and filled the stomachs. The Prophets are pleased with their state, and are happy to be saved from the prosperity of this world. O my brothers ! By Allah ! This world has never been a well-wisher of anyone, in fact it is more dirty and polluted than a corpse. The person who does the job of colouring leather is not troubled by it's bad odour because he is used to it. But a man passing by will be offended by it. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) says, O men! When you see the people of this world running after it,do not follow them, because they quarrel with one another to seek it. They are barling dogs and are like the small ones. 

( Imam Ali (A.S.) says that By Allah! In my eyes,this world is worse than the fleshless bone of a pig given in the hands of a leper. Bone is considered to be the most degraded part of a human body, and that too of a pig, which is in the hands of a leper, both being dirty and unclean than one another.