The
fear of death, for most of the people, is not a matter which requires
any evidence because it is totally obvious and we also see that a lot
of people manifest extra-ordinary sensitivity with respect to the term
'death' and its reality. Thus the actual matter is self-evident. That
which requires proof and an answer is the reason for this fear and
alarm as to why we fear death?
Reasons
for the Fear of Death
In
answer to this question, it is possible to mention some reasons, which
have also appeared in our traditions, and which are as follows:
1. Not
having a correct insight
In the
previous discussions, we had mentioned that a lot of people considered
death to be an eternal destruction of themselves. Consequently, it is
but natural that they fear death and visualize it dark and gloomy,
because the love for permanence and eternity is one of the natural
instincts of people and each one in his own way, tries to protect
himself from calamities and diseases and ensure his own permanence,
and death, in his view, is greater and more pain-inflicting than any
disease or calamity, because it is the start of his everlasting
extinction.
Nevertheless, if the alarm and fear of death is as a result of
non-recognition of the reality of death, then for the removal of this
fear, it is vital that its reality, which is found in the Islamic
insight, be understood and with regard to it, a strong conviction be
developed. If a person bases his views regarding death on correct
foundations, many of his fears regarding death will cease to exist
because, once he comprehends that with death, he shall enter into a
world, more extensive and eternal and also that he shall be liberated
from the material, natural and corporeal shackles, how then would he
consider it to be abominable and hateful.
2. A new and an unfamiliar path
One of
the causes due to which man tends to fear death is that man, after
death, steps onto an entirely new path and embarks upon an entirely
new journey. Man, usually tends to travel on frightful paths, over
which he has traveled a number of times and has not encountered any
trouble, better than paths which are comparatively safer, but which
are totally new. Since, the path being new and unfamiliar, it becomes
reason for hesitation and anxiety, especially since no one, who has
traveled this path, has brought any news about it, for the others.
Anyway,
if the fear of death is due to the place and path being unfamiliar,
then it is necessary that the reality of death be completely
comprehended and one's conviction strengthened. In addition to this,
it is necessary to obtain the necessary information by means of the
Revelation and the traditions of the Infallible Imams (a.s.) and the
righteous people, regarding the stages, places of danger and the other
particularities of death and after it, then believe in them and
prepare oneself to encounter them. Just like a person, who during the
course of a journey, finds himself lonely and unaware of his
whereabouts, manages to lessen his perplexity with the help of
necessary information, maps and equipment’s, we too must obtain the
map of the way and the necessary information from authentic and
reliable sources.
In a tradition from Imàm
‘Ali ibn Muĥammed (‘a), it is narrated that he (‘a) approached one of
his companions who was sick and in a state of crying and grieving and
complaining due to fear of death. The Imàm (‘a) then addressed him
saying: “O servant of Allàh, you fear death because you do not
comprehend it”. Then the Imàm (‘a) presented an example and said “If
you had become dirty, and due to the excess of dirt and dirtiness you
were in suffering and inconvenience, and you knew that the cure for
all this lay in your taking a shower, would you wish to go to a bath
and clean yourself or would you wish to remain in the same state of
dirtiness and as a result continue to undergo the suffering.” The
sick man said, “ Yes, I would wish to take the shower “. Then the
Imam (‘a) replied “death (for you) is the very same shower...”[1]
The
point to be considered in the above tradition is that, the sick person
was one of the companions of the Imam (‘a) and was aware of the
Islamic insight regarding death, but in spite of this, was intensely
fearful of death. And so, the Imàm (‘a) by presenting an example
explained to him the states and circumstances after death and thus
calmed him.
3. Lack
of preparation
Some of
the people have comprehended the reality of death and are also aware
of the Islamic insight regarding death. On the other hand, they have
also obtained some information regarding the stations and the journey
after death, however, in spite of all this, they still fear death.
This fear is not due to the two reasons previously mentioned but
because they have not made available for themselves the tools and
things necessary for this journey of theirs, while, on the contrary
they have been paying more-than-necessary importance to their present
lives; like a person who knows that he would have to spend the rest of
his life in another country, but has not collected any money for his
journey. Instead, all that he has gathered is in the form of house,
shop, land or other things which, presently, are neither capable of
being changed, nor transferred. In other words, he has strived and
worked and collected a capital, but the capital is such that it cannot
be transferred and there is also nobody who will buy it. In short, it
is not useful in any way for the objective, which he had in mind. It
was because of this that Imàm Husain (‘a) said:
“You
have ruined and destroyed your hereafter and instead have made
habitable the present life. So you do not like the transfer from a
habitated and comfortable place to a ruined and destroyed one.”
This
kind of fear of death, which results from the lack of preparedness and
the absence of the provisions of the journey usually occurs with the
believers, which in reality is not fear of death but instead, fear of
not possessing the sufficient provisions necessary for this journey.
Another
point is that such a fear is usually mixed with eagerness. Because,
on the one hand, a believer is eager for the Divine meeting and also
for the companionship of the Righteous people. On the other hand, due
to lack of sufficient piety and the necessary provisions, finds
himself in a state of anxiety and fear, whereas the unbelievers do not
possess such a fear and eagerness. They fear the actual death,
because they consider it to be a complete annihilation. Of course, it
could be said that the fear of the unbelievers could have a universal
meaning, and the causes of it could be those mentioned and also those
not mentioned.
Nevertheless, death or transfer into another world is a universal law,
acceptance of which or fear of which shall create no change in the law
itself, and finally sooner or later, everyone shall taste the nectar
or the poison of death. That, which is more important than death, is
the preparation for it, and Insha-Allàh, Allàh shall bestow such a
success upon us.
1 - Ma'anil Akhbar, Pg. 290
2 - Ma'anil Akhbar, Pg. 289