LIFE EXPECTANCY TIMEPIECE
I came across this advertisement about a life expectancy timepiece. Apparently this is one timepiece everyone should have in order to remind themselves of the frailty of life so that they will be nicer to everyone they meet from now on. (If I have cash to throw around, I know of a number of people I'd like to give this to as presents.......).
And what's interesting about this Life Expectancy Timepiece is that it utilizes actuarial tables that insurance companies use, taking that calculated data to arrive at your estimated life span.
COUNTDOWN?
This number will then start counting down the number of years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds before the scythed one comes to take you away on a one-way trip.
TIME TO REPENT?
Sounds simple and I'm sure everyone wishes they can own this timepiece, so that you will know how much longer you have before you are called to be before Allah. And perhaps you think you'll have time to repent, and atone yourself before your time is up.
ONLY ALLAH, THE EXALTED KNOWS
But for the Believers, only Allah knows when exactly your life will be snuffed out. When death comes a-knocking, it matters not who you are or what you've got; how old you are or where you belong, whether you have friends aplenty or live all alone...
ARE YOU AFRAID TO DIE?
Death will one day definitely come a-knocking at your door. Do you dread that day? Are you afraid to die? Do you really think you will? Why is it that we're so terrified of Death, when we all know it's inevitable?
DEATH IS INEVITABLE
There are some who don't even believe about life after death. They don't believe in the existence of Allah, neither do they believe in the existence of Heaven and Hell. Still others believe that they will live forever. But regardless of your beliefs or where you think you're going from here, one thing seems to be undisputed: we will all experience Death at some point.
MY LOVED ONES IN HEREAFTER
My own curiosity is more about why we're so afraid of it. Maybe it's because I've lived through so many. So many I've loved have left this place called Earth and are now in hereafter.
Each time I've had these experiences, they've all been vastly different. Not just because of the nature of my relationships with those who've passed, but also because of the nature of who I was and/or AM when it happens.
MEMORIES AND PRESENCE WILL LINGER FOREVER
One thing that seems most obvious to me now is this: We do not LOSE them. Though they've left us physically, their memories and presence will linger and live forever.
Over the last 5 decades, I've seen death knocking on many doors, and many of them, doors of people who are really very very dear to me.
THE DAY I LOST MY ONLY LITTLE BROTHER
I recalled vividly the day I lost my little brother. The year was 1965, and at that time I was 6 years old, too small to realise and know what was happening in the world at that time.
The funny thing was, I wasn't even aware that my mum was pregnant. All I knew at that time was having one elder sister, Wan Arfah, and four older brothers, Wan Fusil, Wan Ishak, Wan Elias and Wan Saleh and one younger sister, Wan Sofiah.
MAK WENT INTO LABOUR
Everything happened so quickly. I recalled faintly the commotion when Mak went into labour (at that time, I thought she was sick), and later was told that Ayah had taken her to the hospital.
Everything was a blur. The only thing I could distinctly remember was Ayah coming back from the hospital without Mak.
TEARS STREAMED DOWN MY DAD'S FACE
I recalled vividly Ayah standing at the door to our house at Jalan Lada, carrying a bundle, and I saw the tears streaming from his eyes, the tears of a father who had to bury his child, yet again.
To me, at that time, the bundle looked like a big fish tightly wrapped. I couldn't even remember the funeral. I didn't even cry. How could I as I didn't even know what had happened.
THE THIRD SON AYAH HAD TO BURY
This was the third son Ayah had to bury. I'm sure every single one had been devastating for him. No dad has to bury their own kid, but Ayah had to bury three of his boys. The first two were my eldest brother, Wan Mohammed Yusoff who died within four days after he was born, and my second brother, Wan Mohamed Faisol, who died at the age of four and a half.
MY LITTLE BROTHER, WAN MOHAMMED ZAKERY
Later Ayah told us that he had named my little brother Wan Mohammed Zakery. As we were in Singapore at that time, he was buried at Bidadari graveyard. I heard that the Singapore government had excavated the graveyard in 2008 to make way for some developments and all the graves were moved to another location.
I LOVE YOU, LIL BRO
Dear Zakery, my little brother, though I do not know you, though I've never touched you, though I've never seen your face, you have always been in my heart, and will always remain there. There's not a day or a moment that I do not think of you lil bro.
MY LOVED ONES WHO HAVE DEPARTED
Neither do I not think of all my loved ones who have left me the last 5 decades. People I dearly loved like Pan (my paternal grandma who passed away in 1981), Mami PahBee (my maternal aunty), Pak Mat (my maternal uncle), Mamak Udin (my maternal uncle), Mama Chak (my paternal aunty), and all the other uncles, aunties, cousins, and some of my dear friends like Rosli, Norlida, Arifah, Fauzi, Ruben, Maniam, Bahiyah, and more recenlty, Eda (someone I was very close to when I was in Singapore) who died of breast cancer.
I've also lost both my maternal grandparents and paternal grandfather long before I was brought into this world.
MAK, AYAH, MAK - YOU SHALL RESIDE IN A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART
And my most devastating loss was losing Mak (2000), Ayah (2008) and Mak, my ma-in-law (2009). Even though all of you have left me, you will forever remain in my heart, and I will always pray for you.
When Death comes knocking
it matters not
what role you played
in the drama of Life,
how many convertibles or expensive cars you owned
or how many trophies or medals you won
whether you have realized your dream
or simply lived in vain
When Death comes knocking
It's simply time for you to go.....
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