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DEATH <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908- 20062002>The story is as follows.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>The holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) was sitting with his companions and they were discussing death.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>The holy Prophet (P) gave this parable.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>One day a man was told that he would die in the next 24 hours. He was extremely worried and started to think very hard. He thought of his very best friend. He went to see him in the middle of the night and explained him his problem and asked him if how could he help. His friend said, "sorry. Our friendship is only so long as you are alive. Once you die, I have nothing to do with you." Obviously, this man was shocked and said to himself, what's the good of having such a friend who cannot help me at such a time.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908- 20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>Then he thought of another friend. He went to see him and asked him if he could help him. This other friend said, "of course I can help you. When you die, I will arrange for your funeral and bury you." The man asked, "and what about after that?" The friend said, "but this is the best I can do for you." The man wasn't quite happy. He was still quite depressed.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>Then he remembered one more friend and went to see him. Though this

THE PARABLE OF DEATH

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Page 1: THE PARABLE OF DEATH

DEATH

<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>The story is as follows.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN

class=86181908-20062002>The holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) was sitting with his companions and they were discussing death.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN

class=86181908-20062002>The holy Prophet (P) gave this parable.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>One day a man was told that he would die in the next 24 hours. He was extremely worried and started to think very hard. He thought of his very best friend. He went to see him in the middle of the night and explained him his problem and asked him if how could he help. His friend said, "sorry. Our friendship is only so long as you are alive. Once you die, I have nothing to do with you."  Obviously, this man was shocked and said to himself, what's the good of having such a friend who cannot help me at such a time.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>Then he thought of another friend. He went to see him and asked him if he could help him. This other friend said, "of course I can help you. When you die, I will arrange for your funeral and bury you." The man asked, "and what about after that?"  The friend said, "but this is the best I can do for you."  The man wasn't quite happy. He was still quite depressed.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>Then he remembered one more friend and went to see him. Though this one was his friend, but he somehow always ignored him and hardly thought of him.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN

class=86181908-20062002>He goes to him and explains his case and asks him if he could help him.  This friend says, "yes I can help you," the friend says.  The man asks, "even after my death?"  The friend says "yes</SPAN><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>. I will be with you all the time."</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>Now the Holy Prophet is asking his companions, "Did you recognise who these friends were?"  The companions said, "no, we didn't."</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>The H.Prophet said, "the first one was his wealth. So long as a person is alive, he may have the control over his wealth. But once a person dies, others inherit the wealth. Nothing helps him in his grave."</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV

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class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>The second friend was his family and friends. When a person dies, they will get together and arrange his funeral and bury him. But  no one can be of any help beyond that.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>The third friend was the deeds and actions of that man.  When a person dies, its only his deeds and actions that are going to accompany him in his next life.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>Yet how often are we negligent of this fact. We are so much engrossed in our worldly affairs that we don't even have time to think about our next life and work towards it!</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV>

<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>P.S.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>Please pass this message to all those who may be interested to read it.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002>Ebrahim.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> </DIV>

<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><SPAN class=86181908-20062002></SPAN> <DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: blue 1.5pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; PADDING-TOP: 0cm"><SPAN style="BACKGROUND: white; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT:

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bold">Subject:</SPAN><SPAN style="BACKGROUND: white; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Fwd: A BEAUTIFUL STORY

Once upon a time<SPAN class=524435512-13062002>  </SPAN>there was a rich King who had 4 wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighbouring kingdoms.

However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate and patient with him.

Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her to help him get through the difficult times.

The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his

wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short.

He thought of his luxurious life and pondered, "I now have 4 wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm

dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.

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Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will

you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!"

His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been

there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I

can only send you to your grave."

Her answer came like a bolt of thunder and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out:

"I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up and there

was his first wife. She was so skinny, she suffered from malnutrition.

Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In Truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives ...

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Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul, often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the ego.

However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

So cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now!

It is your greatest gift to offer the world. <o:p></o:p></SPAN>

</DIV>

<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: white; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN><SPAN style="BACKGROUND: white; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]><![endif]></SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>One day a man came to Imam Ja'fer as-Sadiq a.s. and said that he was very scared of death and didn't know why.

The Imam answered him with the example of the following parable.

One day a man entered into the town at about dawn. As he entered that town a couple of people grabbed him and took him to the palace. They gave him a good bath, changed his clothes and said to him that he was going to be their king and a ruler. The man was extremely surprised with all this. He was a stranger in that town and had no idea what was happening. This man was given all kind of treatment a king deserves. There were servants, ministers, advisers, nice food, etc.

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This poor man was anxious to know how the system worked. How long was he going to be the ruler, when and how would his rule come to an end and what's going to happen when his kingship comes to an end.

As the time went by, this king made friendship with one of the workers in his palace. He once asked this worker about how did the system of finding a new king worked. The worker said to the king that he would explain to him with the condition that he would not reveal to anyone about it. The king promised him.

The worker explained to the king about how their system worked. According to their law, the first person who enters the town at dawn on this particular day becomes their king. He lives in the palace and has everything at his disposal. He changes his old clothes and wears royal clothes and a crown.

He is given two years to rule but he is not informed about it at all. When his time ends, he is driven out of the town in the same clothes that he entered in. He is not allowed to take anything from this town and lives empty handed (except what he came with).

The new king heard all this and remembered it.

When the two years were up, this king was driven out of the town. He was given the same old clothes that he first entered the town in.

But the king looked very happy and relaxed. The people of the town were very surprised to see this. In the past when the old kings were driven out, they wept and moaned and groaned. But with this king, he looked quite cheerful.

Someone asked this outgoing king, "the kings before you, when they were driven out, they wept and didn't want to go. How come you look so happy and cheerful?

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The king replied, "I came to realise within days that this place wasn't my actual home. I was here only for a very short period of time. Therefore, I transferred whatever I could to my actual place where I am going now. I have already built a beautiful house with a beautiful garden. I have a lot of money, gold, silver, diamonds, etc. Why should I weep and be reluctant to go?

So the Imam was trying to make a point that this world is not your permanent abode. You live in this world to make your hereafter better. If you have worked hard for your akherat, you will not be scared of dying, but looking forward to meet your death.

How often we tend to get busy with the worldly pleasure and forget death. We forget that we haven't been created for this world but for the hereafter.