SLEEP: A REMINDER OF DEATH

SLEEP: A REMINDER OF DEATH Learning from Daily Phenomena T HE Prophet of Islam likened death to sleep and life to the state of wakefulness after sleep. When he woke up every morning, he would say: “All praise and thanks are due to God who gave us life after death.” For humankind, waking and sleeping are likewise symbolic of life and death. Going to sleep is like dying and waking up in the morning is like rising from the grave. Our inevitable awakening after sleeping foreshadows with certainty how we shall arise after death to give an account of our deeds on the Day of Judgement. Man has to pass his life in this world in such a way that every happening becomes a reminder of the Day of Judgement. His sleeping and rising should also serve as reminders of life after death. The gravest aspect of man’s life is that his existence does not come to an end after death. He shall be taken to another world. The present world is a world of action, while the world to come will be one in which he reaps his reward. That will be the beginning of a new and eternal life—either eternal Heaven or eternal Hell. Man is reminded daily of this most important reality when he goes to sleep and when he rises from sleep. In this way, actions of this world come to remind man of the Hereafter. If we are conscious of the above fact on a daily basis, it will certainly show in our behaviour in the day-to-day life. It is not possible that we be aware of this fact while also leading our life without any consideration for striving towards achieving the higher goals we are meant to achieve in this world. We are here for a purpose and for this, one needs to adopt the concept of high thinking and simple living. The Prophet of Islam used to lead a very simple life and he laid great stress on simplicity even for believers. Once he said, “O people, don’t you hear me, O people, don’t you hear me, O people, don’t you hear me. Simplicity is undoubtedly a part of faith. Simplicity is undoubtedly a part of faith.” Man has to pass his life in this world in such a way that every happening becomes a reminder of the Day of Judgement. His sleeping and rising should also serve as reminders of life after death.