REPENTANCE: Saving The Last Breath For Repentance? Too Late!

Saving The Last Breath

For Repentance?

Too Late!

(M. Javed Naseem)

Allah the Almighty fashioned man with His own hands and created him with love. In return, unfortunately, the man generally behaves with disobedience and ungratefulness. When a man is chasing a woman he likes, he begs her for attention and love. He cries: “Please, give me a second chance!” Yes, all in life, he wants a second chance from another sinful person who doesn’t even love him. On the contrary, God – the Infinitive Love – gives man a million chances to repent and come back to Him. He offers man Guidance, peace, success and Paradise, still the foolish man ignores God; and keeps chasing the illusion in this world.

Sometimes, the question comes to the mind: Is it the same man who was designated Viceroy to God on this earth and the angels prostrated in front of him?

There is no doubt about it that man loves to play God on this earth but he possesses the godly qualities the least. Most of the time, he proves that he doesn’t deserve this status and is not fit for the job. A man should behave like a man and let God do His job – that is the best course. But for that, he should know the purpose of his life – the purpose of his being a man, and not a pig, a dog, a bull or a monkey!

“I have only created Jinns and men,

that they may serve Me.”

(al-Quran 51:56)

Allah has made it very clear that He created Jinns and Humans only to serve Him. And how do you want to serve your Creator? Use your own imagination! And if you cannot, here’s what Allah wants you to do: Learn righteousness!

“O people! Adore your Guardian-Lord,

who created you and those who came

before you, that you may have the chance

to learn righteousness!”

(al-Quran 2:21)

The life on this earth is just an illusion, a play, a game that we have to play in order to get the best for the Hereafter (the next and real life). As a matter of fact, it is a test, a trial, to see how wisely we handle it. If we handle it according to the guidelines given to us by our Lord Creator, we would be declared ‘successful’ and will be rewarded.

“Every soul shall have a taste of death.

And only on the Day of Judgment shall you

be paid your full recompense. Only he who is

saved far from the Fire and admitted to the

Garden will have attained the object (of Life).

For the life of this world is but goods and

chattels of deception.”

(al-Quran 3:185)

When Allah is not happy with man, He withdraws His guidance from man. The reason is that man keeps following the Devil whom God declared an eternal enemy to man. Man knows it but doesn’t want to understand it. He thinks that he has plenty of time to enjoy and have good time in this world. He saves his last day (even his last breath) to repent and revert to Allah. That’s a bad strategy; it never works! When you see death in front of you, face to face, it is too late to repent and ask for Allah’s guidance. The game is already over and you have lost.

“Of no effect is the repentance of those who

continue to do evil, until death faces one of

them, and he says, ‘Now have I repented indeed’;

nor of those who die rejecting Faith; for them

have We prepared a punishment most grievous.”

(al-Quran 4:18)

We are reminded time and again in different verses of the Quran about repentance before death comes to us. Still we ignore it.

“(In Falsehood will they be) Until, when death

comes to one of them, he says: ‘O my Lord!

Send me back (to life), in order that I may work

righteousness in the things I neglected.’ By no

means! It is but a word he says. Before them

is a barrier till the Day they are raised up.”

(al-Quran 23:99-100)

Allah the Almighty warns us in the Quran to be careful and do some good work to get the reward for the life in the Hereafter. We have the chance, here in this world and now, to prepare for the next world. Once the Angel of Death appears before us to say ‘Hellow’, our time would be up; and it would be too late.

“And spend something (in charity) out of

the substance which We have bestowed on

you, before death should come to any of

you and he should say, "O my Lord! Why

did you not give me respite for a little

while? I should then have given (largely)

in charity, and I should have been one

of the doers of good".

(al-Quran 63:10)

When Pharaoh saw the death face to face, before drowning in the flood, he repented and accepted the sovereignty of Allah. That was like saving his last breath for repentance. But at that stage (when you are dying and have no way out), repentance is not accepted. Allah told him that his repentance is rejected and he would be made an example – a lesson – for the rest of the mankind

“We brought the Children of Israel across the sea.

Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in insolence

and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the

flood, he said: "I believe that there is no god except

Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in. I am

of those who submit (to Allah in Islam)."
(It was said to him): ‘Ah now! But a little while

before, were you in rebellion! And you did

mischief (and violence)!

This day shall We save you in your body,

that you may be a sign to those who come

after you!’ But verily, many among mankind

are heedless of Our signs!"

(al-Quran 10:90-92

Many tyrants, kings and dictators, ignorant, rebellious and disobedient people tried to do that but they all lost. They were destined to Hell. Allah says that “there is no compulsion in Faith (Deen or religion)”. It’s all voluntary. You do it willingly to please your Creator, not unwillingly when you are cornered and helpless.

“Then We raised you up after your death.

You had the chance to be grateful.”

(al-Quran 2:56)

Yes, you had your chance to be grateful and obedient to your Lord Creator but you wasted it!

We should all think about it before the game on this earth is over!

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