Wisdom 28: The Swift Approach of Death
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said:
“When you are turning away (from life) while death is approaching you, how quickly the meeting will take place.”
Key Terms
Idbār (إدبار)
To turn away, depart, move on, or pass away. It is the opposite of Iqbāl.
Iqbāl (إقبال)
To approach, come forward, or draw near. It is the opposite of Idbār.
Al-Multaqā (الملتقى)
The place or time of meeting.
Summary of the Wisdom
In this profound saying, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) reminds us that every passing moment brings us closer to death.
As our lifetime quickly slips away, death steadily approaches us. Therefore, our meeting with death is never far away.
Commentary
From the very moment a person is born, the journey toward death begins.
Every second, minute, hour, day, and year that passes is another step away from this worldly life and another step toward the Hereafter.
Human beings continually leave this world behind while simultaneously moving closer to death. Whether we realize it or not, every breath we take shortens our remaining time in this life.
Our destination is the eternal life of the Hereafter, and our journey toward it never pauses.
Key Message
Imam Ali’s warning awakens us from the sleep of heedlessness.
This world is constantly moving away from us, while death is steadily coming toward us.
It is narrated that the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) asked Prophet Noah (peace be upon him), who lived for approximately 2,500 years:
“O longest-lived of the Prophets, how did you find this world?”
He replied:
“It was like a house with two doors. I entered through one door and left through the other.”
This powerful example reminds us not to become so attached to worldly life that we forget our inevitable meeting with death.
A believer should live in such a way that he or she is always prepared to leave this world at any moment, because while we are moving toward death, death is also moving swiftly toward us—and no one knows when that meeting will occur.
Reflection
It is narrated that a king once said to a man who had lived for two hundred years:
“Ask me for anything you wish.”
The old man replied:
“Give me back the years of my life that have passed, and keep my approaching death away from me.”
The king answered:
“I have no power to do either.”
The old man then said:
“In that case, I have no need of you or anything you can offer.”
This story reminds us that neither wealth nor power can restore the time we have lost or delay the arrival of death.
Self-Assessment
- When does a person’s journey toward death begin?
- Why should we always be prepared to leave this world at any moment?
Quick Links
Home – Quran and Nahj al-Balagha Institute
Eitaa Channel
https://eitaa.com/twonoor
Telegram Channel
https://t.me/twonoor
Keywords: Wisdom 28, Nahj al-Balagha, Imam Ali, The Luminous Path, Death, Hereafter, Time, Spiritual Reflection, Islamic Wisdom.