We very well
know that none of us is going to live forever; all of us are destined to die;
the icy hands of death will spare none. The young and the old young, the sick
and the healthy, the rich and the poor are in equal danger to become its prey
anytime anywhere. If death is so imminent and impending, should not we be very
well prepared for it? Merely realizing that it can come anytime is not
sufficient; some practical steps need to be taken so that not only we meet our
Lord such that He is pleased with us but also we do not leave our family and
heirs in any spot of bother.
For a
God-fearing person, the foremost preparation for death is that he leads a life
of virtue and shuns vice. He never becomes persistent on a sin and whenever he
is soiled by its stains, he immediately washes them by sincerely repenting
before God. He has to maintain this priority all his life as far as he can.
Now besides
this God-fearing attitude that is constantly required from us as a preparation
for death, there are some other spheres as well that need vigilance and
attention. Some of these include the following.
1. A will
should be made for the assets and wealth that is being left behind. A person may
be sensible enough that the will made should not in any way infringe the rights
of the actual heirs. In this regard, as directed by the Qur’ān, Muslim husbands
must make a will in favour of their wives regarding their maintenance in case
they become widows. A will can also be made in favour of the heirs in case a
particular heir has done some special service or is in some special need.
2. A person may
own intellectual property like books, magazines, websites – in particular if
they are a means of financial return. A clear view about these assets should be
documented and given to the heirs.
3. A person may
be involved in financial obligations and transactions known only to him. This
includes borrowing, lending as well as business and work liabilities. A list of
all these financial obligations must be documented and a responsible person must
be directed what he must do about them.
4. A person may
have in his or her possession important documents and papers like licenses,
agreements, cheque books, old bills etc. A list of these documents should be
made and the heirs guided about them.
5. In case a
person wants to, he or she should also make a will to donate body organs that
may prove useful for others. This is an act of great virtue.
6. Family
relics and artefacts can also be in a person’s possession. Their care-taking and
smooth transfer to the next generation must also be thought of beforehand.
7. A person
should be sensitive about body cleanliness and hygiene. His or her mortal
remains will soon be in the hands of people who will bathe these remains,
enshroud them and consign them to the grave. A lack of physical cleanliness may
make the bathers form an embarrassing opinion about the deceased.
These are some
of the important areas about which we all should write a memorandum and a will
as soon as we can and lodge them in the safe-keeping of a trusted one. Of
course, as long as we live we can keep making changes in the will once made
depending upon the circumstances that may arise.
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