At certain times of life, we are faced with our own mortality. A friend, a relative or a loved one dies, and you stop and think about your own mortality.
In Islam, our mortality exists so as to prepare ourselves for the hereafter. Well and good. But what we must not forget is that we must also prepare, for our loved ones that we leave behind, stability. That too is our responsibility.
I am now reaching my half a century, and I see everyday, signs of our mortality.
In my family circle, my grandmother passed away a year and a half ago.
My wife's grandmother passed away in our house nearly 8 years ago.
Close relatives too have gone to meet their maker over the pass few years. My wife's cousin just recently lost his loving wife to the big C a month ago.
My close cousin, who was the same age as I was, also died of cancer, about four years ago. He was doing very well in the hospitality industry when he was diagnosed with nasal cancer which spread to his brain. From diagnosis to death - six months.
Another cousin of mine in Singapore was also recently diagnose with cancer of the colon, but has had an operation. I wish him well and hope he recovers completely. He too is the same age as I. Scary.
Friends too come and ago. Classmates, dorm mates, school mates and college mates. Too many to count. Office colleagues too - all called back too early.
How does one mitigate this mortality factor in one's mindset. Most friends - Melayu lah - figure that by doing the Umrah or performing the Haj puts one in readiness to face one's mortality. Well, I've done my Umrah...and am still not ready.
Some say at my age, we should all taubat and reflect on the things that we had done - good and bad - and commit ourselves in service to Allat swt. Excellent idea! Yet, I still procrastinate.
There are still so many things I want to do in life. So many countries to visit. So many greens to put. So many sights to see. So many buffets to bite into. So many people to know. So many ideas to put to script and film. Yet facing our mortality, we know we cannot achieve all that we want to do it one lifetime.
I envy those who has the means to do a lot in his one lifetime. Lucky devils.
Whilst the kampung folks go in pursuit of pahla to prepare for everlasting peace in the Hereafter, city folks rush in pursuit of wealth and power in the Here and Now. Some really filthy rcih buggers just build mosques to cleanse away their sins forever cause they believe that anytime anyone prays in the mosque that they build, their sins are washed away bit by bit. Haiya, I don't even have money to build a small surau! This is not fair lah!
Anyway, my mother has actually built a nice little mosque in her village in Sungei Geringging in Pariamman, Padang, Sumatra. So I guess, she's safe.
Now, knowing that we will not be here forever, have you thought about what are you will leaving behind? What is your legacy?
My father has tons - books, films, awards etc. He is part of our country's film history. Unlike me, an insignificant cog in a giant wheel controlled by many who doesn't really care where our film industry is heading.
We are in the end just mortals. When we die, people cry, they sob. At the most for a few hours. A insignifcant obituary in mankind's tapestry. And life goes on. The circle repeats.
Mortals. That's who we are.
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