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never woken up without believing that I might die before nightfall. I have never slept without believing
that I might die before the morning and have never taken a step without believing that I might die before
taking the next. It always seems to me that I can see each nation humbled to its knees and each nation
called to its record of deeds. It always seems to me that I can see the dwellers of Paradise, wherein are
delights everlasting, and the dwellers of Hell, wherein they are in disgracing torment." The Prophet
(PBUH ) commented, "Now you know, so stick to the truth as long as you live." Indeed Mu'aadh had
submitted himself and his destiny to Allah, for Allah was all that mattered to him. It was just that Ibn
Mas'uud described him as "an ummah, a leader having all the good and righteous qualities, obedient to
Allah and haniifan, who worshipped none but Allah. We used to liken him to Ibraahiim (Abraham)
(PBUH)."
Mu'aadh advocated knowledge and the remembrance of Allah. Moreover, he invited mankind to seek the
useful and true knowledge saying, "I warn you against the deviation of wise men. You will know the
truth when you see it, for it has a distinctive light!" He believed that worship was an end and a means to
reach justice. One day a Muslim asked him, "Teach me." Mu'aadh asked him, "Will you obey me if I
teach you?" The man answered, "I will not disobey you in anything." He said then, "Fast, then break your
fast. Pray during the night but you must get some sleep. Earn what is halaal and what is rightfully yours
and do not earn sin. Die as a true Muslim. Finally, I warn you against the supplication of those who have
been wronged or oppressed." He believed that education meant knowledge and practice; therefore, he
said, "Learn whatever you like to learn, yet Allah will not make your learning worthwhile unless you
practice what you have learned." He believed that belief and remembrance of Allah meant the perpetual
calling to mind of His greatness and the perpetual calling of oneself to account for deeds before Allah
does so.
Al-Aswad lbn Hilaal reported, As we were walking with Mu'aadh one day, he said, "Let us sit down
for a while to meditate on Allah."
Perhaps the reason behind his discrete silence was his unremitting meditation and contemplation.
Likewise, his once telling the Prophet (PBUH) that he nevertook a step without believing that he
might die before taking the next was due to his engrossment in the remembrance of Allah and in calling
himself to account for his deeds.
At the end, death summoned Mu'aadh. It was time to meet Allah. When the stupor of death creeps
upon someone, his subconscious takes the reins and spurs the tongue - if it is able to - to disclose the
reality of all mankind in concise words that summarize his life story. In those blessed moments, Mu'aadh
faintly uttered great words that revealed a great believer, for he gazed up into the sky and humbly
supplicated Allah, the Most Merciful, saying, "Allah I used to fear You but now I implore You. Allah,
You know that I did not devote my life to travel in the lands or to earn money or property but rather
consecrated it to knowledge, faith and obedience, notwithstanding intense heat or hardships."
He stretched his hand as if he were shaking death and went into a coma. His last words were, "O
Death, welcome! You are a long-awaited beloved.
At last Mu'aadh ascended to Allah's Paradise.