He became absorbed in watching the pigeons coming to the edge of the window to eat the spilled crumbs. As almost every single one of them was busy eating, one or two of them pecking at the others, unsettling them and setting about eating what was in front of them, went beyond drawing the man’s attention and caused his bad memories from the past to come alive in his mind.
He remembered the heartbreaking circumstances among what he had done to earn his living. What was left in his hands from them other than bad memories, worldly anxieties, otherworldly responsibilities, and the rights of others he had infringed upon?
After the pigeons whose business was done left, sparrows came to the edge of the window. Fine crumbs were their share as well. As he saw those making love/courting each other after filling their bellies, he realized that he could not catch up even with them when it came to enjoying life.
The gathering of dark clouds over the forested hills opposite caught his attention. They were gathering in such a way as if obeying a command, as it were. Those rain clouds, which were not very high above the ground, increased so much that the sun became invisible. The structures of the clouds were stretching upward as if wanting to climb vertically to very high altitudes. While the wind that provided their rapid movement supplied the air current from the movements of these huge cloud masses that were formed, the rapid and sudden surge in temperature of the environment due to that mobility causes an explosion. The sound coming to the man’s ear as thunder caused his slowing mind to come back to itself once again. He extracted the warning, “Look at me and take a lesson!” from what was going on.
During the most active times of his life, he had experienced many explosions, openings, and developments, but in the end, what had remained of them? There were no longer any traces of his voice when entering the home, or of his cough when entering the workplace.
The door knocked lightly and opened with a creak; the nurse had arrived with medications in hand. She measured his fever and blood pressure, then gave him his medicine, wished him a speedy recovery, and left. Afterwards, his eyes drifted into a gaze; from his mind, he remembered the sincere efforts of his family for his care.
The man went deep; he realized that he had reached the end of his appointed hour of death, which he thought was much farther away, yet stood right beside him at every moment.
He thought whether his wealth, property, and fame would be of any use on this long journey. Then he thought of his wife and children, who helped him very selflessly. Each of them could help up to this final point, and they did, thank Allah.
When he remembered his family, he could not prevent the drops flowing from his eyes. From his tightly held hand, he could feel his wife shaking with silent sobs. Wealth and property had helped him lead a comfortable life up to this point, and had sent the charity and good deeds he could manage over to the side of the hereafter. His children and works were going to be a continuous source of reward behind him as ongoing charity. But these were not of a nature to accompany him the moment he faced his appointed hour, to be companions on that long road. Yes, these were valuable in their own meaning and station, but in this station of death, they no longer had a say.
Suddenly, his deeds came to his mind. His circumstances, such as his sincere behaviors, unadvertised help, and unannounced acts of worship, could be together with him on this journey. In any case, they were not material and registered things like the others.
He bowed his head toward his heart, closed his eyes, and said from his heart, “My Lord! (Ya Rab) While requesting the forgiveness of my sins, while presenting my servitude that I performed for You and led in the direction of Your consent, I essentially want to be accepted into Your presence awaiting Your mercy; please accept it, my God!”
While the pigeon was taking the crumbs at the edge of the window one by one, the appointed hour took the man from the edge of life in a single swoop and carried him away.
However, he had so much work here, but that departure was that final departure; may the end be good!
