Passing the Examination of Life
by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh)
If in any school, university, college or institute, questions of an examination are given, or there is a paper ‘leak-out’, the examination is cancelled or reset.
Allah Ta’ala has given us the final question paper consisting of three outwardly simple questions. The preparation time has also been given – i.e. our lives. The examiners are also known: Munkar and Nakir[1]. The consequences, too, have been spelt out. There are tremendous rewards and honour in passing the examination, and there is disgrace and punishment upon failure.
Even though it would take just a few seconds to learn such simple questions and answers, such that even three and four-year-olds could be taught the same and memorize them, it is not as easy as it seems.
Had it been so easy, many more would have led their lives according to the demands and dictates of the nafs because the answers are known. However, this is not the reality of our final examination.
These answers depend on one’s life and one’s preparations for it.
The three questions to be asked, as we know, are :
Who is your Rabb[2]?
What is your Deen[3]?
Who is this man? (i.e. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
If we say that Allah Ta’ala is our Rabb (Sustainer), we have to recognize Him as our Creator, the One who has blessed us with all our spiritual, physical and material gifts. We have to recognize Him through His signs and submit to and obey Him in this worldly life. This recognition is what will bring Ibadah (worship) into practice.
The second question can only be answered if a person has lived a life of submission to Allah Ta’ala by following the Shariah which He revealed to His Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
The third question can only be answered if a person has followed the way of life of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). It won’t be possible for the person who lived the lifestyle of the enemies of Islam to answer this question easily.
Although we claim that we have Imaan and love for Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), our actions contradict our claim. We assert and affirm that the true religion is Islam, but we do not practise its beautiful teachings.—Why?
A person may bribe, lie and cheat to pass an examination of this world, but there is no possibility of the same in the Qabr.
To fly through the examination of the Qabr, we need to develop our Imaan in Allah Ta’ala, adorn our hearts with His Love and Ma’rifat (recognition) and grace our lives with a practical expression of Islam by following the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
There is no other way to pass this most crucial examination of life. And we should always keep in mind that there is no re-testing and no re-marking. A person either passes or fails.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the ability to understand the greatness of this test and the ability to prepare for the questioning of the grave; so that we may, pass without any difficulty and with distinction, Aameen.
[1] Munkar and Nakir: The two angels who question a person in his grave shortly after death.
[2] Rabb: Sustainer, Nourisher
[3] Deen: Religion