(The following has been extracted, abridged and edited from the book “Remembrance of death by Shaikh Zakariyya Rahimahullaah)

Ibn Umar RadhiyAllaahu Anhu says, “I was one among ten people who came into the presence of Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam. One Ansari stood up and asked Nabi SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam, “Who is the most intelligent and careful person?”
Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam replied, “Those people who remember death most and prepare for it most. These are people who have excelled in the nobility of this world and the honour of the hereafter.”
(Makaarimul-Akhlaaq of Ibn Abid Dunyaa page 18, Al-Mu’jamus-Sagheer no. 1008, Al-Mu’jamul-Awsat no. 6488, Ibn Majah no. 4259 with different wordings)

Many ahadeeth under different topics have been narrated from Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam regarding the remembrance of death. In different narrations, Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam has commanded us to remember the breaker of pleasures excessively, i.e., death.
(Nasai no. 1824, Tirmidhi no. 2307/2460)

Excessive remembrance of death is a means of:

1. restraining hopes
2. preparing for death
3. non-attachment towards the world (which is the actual object)
4. preventing amassing unused wealth
5. helping to gather a treasure for the hereafter
6. encouraging repentance from sin and
7. preventing oppressing others and not fulfilling their rights.

In short this deed includes within itself many benefits. For this reason it is the practice of the Mashaayikh of Sulook (the divines) to specially control their followers to meditate over death according to their appropriate conditions.

Once, Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam read the following verse, “Whoever Allaah Ta’ala wishes to grant guidance He opens his chest for Islam (he understands Islam completely).”
(An'aam verse 12)

Thereafter, Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“When the Light of Islam enters a person’s bosom his bosom opens up for it.”
Someone said, “0 Rasulullaah! Is there any sign which indicates that Islaam has entered the bosom?”
Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam replied, “When disinclination towards the deceptive House (the world) develops, there is an inclination towards the everlasting world (Aakhirah) and there is preparation before the coming of death.”‘
(Mustadrak of Haakim no. 7863, Shuabul-Imaan no. 10068)

Abu Dharr RadhiyAllaahu Anhu says that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam told him,
“Visit the graveyard, it will remind you of the Aakhirah. Give ghusl (bath) to the dead, it is a remedy for those bodies which are devoid of good deeds. From it a lot of advice is attained. Take part in the janaazah salaah. It is possible that it will create some grief and sadness in you, for a person who is concerned with his Aakhirah is under the Shadow of Allaah and he searches for every good.”
(Mustadrak of Haakim no. 1395/7941, Shuabul-Imaan no. 8851)

In one hadeeth, Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam has said,
“Visit the sick and accompany the janaazah (bier) for this is a reminder of the aakhirah (hereafter).”
(Ibn Hibbaan no. 2955, Musnad Ahmad no. 11445, Musnad Abu Ya’laa no. 1222/1320)

A wise person was accompanying a janaazah. En-route the people were expressing their grief and sorrow for the deceased.
The wise person remarked, “It would be much more beneficial if you expressed grief and sorrow over yourselves. This person has passed away and he has saved himself from three calamities:

1) In future he will not have any fear of seeing the Angel of Death;

2) He will not experience the difficulties of death and

3) He has no fear of an evil end (death). Hence, you should worry, since you have to pass through these three stages.”

Abu Dardaa RadhiyAllaahu Anhu was once accompanying a Janaazah. A wayfarer asked, ‘Whose jananzah is this?'
Abu Dardaa RadhiyAllaahu Anhu replied, “This is your janaazah and if you dislike what I say then it is my janaazah.” (Meaning that this is the time to remember your death. It is unsuitable to turn one’s attention towards useless talk on this occasion).

It is the saying of Hasan Basri Rahimahullaah,
“It is very astonishing that those people who have been commanded to prepare for the journey (of the hereafter) and the announcement for their early departure has already been made yet they are involved in the play of this world.”
It is famous about him that whenever he used to see a janaazah his condition would become such, because of grief and sorrow, that it seemed as if he had just returned from the burial of his mother.
(Tambeehul Ghaafileen page 562/3)

To be Continued In Sha Allaah

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً    عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ