What gives the material world meaning and directs its motion is the law of birth and death. This is one of the general, major and universal laws that govern the material world and all its constituents. For instance, a phenomenon such as the big bang is [in fact] birth and death at the level of the whole ecosystem, a part of the material world. Furthermore, phenomena such as the black hole and supernovas are a result of birth and death of its constituents. They are indications of this law that makes the material world move.
The presence of each constituent of the universe starts with a birth and moves towards a death, to be reborn in another state. To provide Further explanation we can discuss the sun. The sun -like other constituents of the universe- experiences the stages of birth, life and death and is currently in its middle age. The sun was born in the form of a rich source of hydrogen, concurrent with the formation of the solar system. Since then, it started to burn
and to consume its energy reserves. In this process, when two atoms of hydrogen are combined, one atom of helium is created, and because the atomic mass density of helium is less than that of the two atoms of hydrogen together, a mass shortage happens which, according to Einstein’s formula is then converted into energy. Considering the trend in which the sun is consuming its stored hydrogen to generate energy, this storage will eventually reach an end. Thereafter, helium will start to burn which itself will be the beginning of the formation of heavier elements on the surface of this gigantic celestial mass.
Accordingly, the surface gravity of the sun will increase. The sun will then start to crumple up until it shrunk to the size of a football. In this state, its surface gravity shall increase noticeably so that even light cannot escape from it. The time has finally arrived for the sun to die. The sun turns into a black hole which continuously increases in density until it reaches the critical density level, and an explosion occurs that is indeed another birth. As a result, the supernova born from the heart of this explosion once more generates the same process at the heart of the material world in a different form. Similar processes of birth and death are experienced by infinite universal constituents all across the vast universe and there is no running from it. After the death of stars such as the sun and the formation of black holes, sets such as the planet Earth and its moons are sucked into them. Hence, they approach their death.
The human being -as an inseparable constituent of the universe- is also subject to the law of birth and death, and he has no possibility whatsoever to escape from it. Death is the definite manifestation of God’s grace which calls on everyone [and everything] without exception.
It embraces all constituents of the universe including humans in a particular way. Without death, human beings would become trapped in the eternal need of earthly life, and they would be forced to satisfy necessities such as food and clothing, accommodation, and the like for thousands and thousands of years. In fact, death is part of an intelligent plan which, on the one hand, puts an end to human’s needs and, on the other hand, is the transforming factor (from one state to another) that prevents them from living a stagnant and static life.
This extremely intelligent plan rescues human beings from the state of highest conflict and does not allow them to remain in need and deep darkness for all eternity. Death is the determining factor as to human being’s return to Him. No factor other than death can guide us towards Him step by step. However, considering the human being’s feeble ability to recognize, understand and perceive this divine plan, the phenomenon of death has become compulsory and movement towards Him inherent. Otherwise, the never-ending excuses of the majority of people would prevent movement towards Him. In other words, due to the lack of knowledge about this divine path (that is the ilayhe-rajeoon path) and not recognizing one’s true benefit, the human beings would still prefer to stay in this world of needs. Therefore, God’s grace has been once more conferred on mankind in this case, by making everyone experience death without exception and calling them towards Himself.
“Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even though you were in lofty towers”
-Quran; Sura An-nisa, Verse 78
In the world of mysticism, one of the greatest love affairs is the love affair with death. There is no mystic who has not experienced such love and who has not demonstrated enthusiasm for meeting God and joining Him.
Why be afraid of death when it approaches?
Isn’t it a path towards Thee that I well know?
Death is neither a garden nor a park it is a way to the abode of the Beloved So, why should I mourn my death?
When He is the one who makes it happen, I well wish for it! If one views the truth behind it death is not seen as a death anymore, but a mere relocation from a small cottage to a house and from a house to a royal feast.
“Since this sleep guides me to Thy feast I will utterly accept it as long as this joy and enthusiasm exists, I will joyfully sleep to awake once more”
-Nezami Ganjavi
A mystic is not attached to life. He eagerly awaits the divine royal feast that is beyond this transient world, and his being is entirely fill with the burning desire for such presence. Thus, the mystic awaits the moment in which he surrenders his soul to God and enters His feast.
My soul that is entrusted to me by the Beloved I will surrender it back to Him, as soon as we meet.
-Hafez
The mystic does not have a sense of belonging to this earthly world. He considers a preeminent position for his existence which can only be reclaimed through death.
I am a bird from the garden of heaven
I am not from the earthly world
They have made me a bodily cage only for a few days
-Molana Rumi
He well knows that his true life begins when he is freed from this life of complete need.
I am well aware that my life is my death
I become eternal only once freed from this life
-Molana Rumi
The mystic ceaselessly counts down the seconds to become a stage closer to Him. He knows very well that he nears Him through death. Furthermore, as a result of this closeness, the individual’s needs also decrease until he finally finds himself in the arm of his Rab, and such neediness comes to an end.
“Oh! How I wish for the day in which I shall fly to the side of my beloved to flutter freely around Him”
-Molana Rumi
Of course, the enthusiasm for death does not indicate that one should overlook the precious opportunity of life. And quite the opposite, it is necessary to increase this opportunity as much as possible. The human being cannot violate the laws governing the universe that include the law of death: however, they can intelligently use these laws to their own benefits as the natural longevity of humans has a coefficient in which the individual plays a crucial role. In an attempt to get the maximum benefit and result from this stage of the movement within the ilayhe-rajeoon path, the individual can increase this longevity. Exactly like a student who, at the last minute of his exam, tries to make the ultimate use of the remaining short time to answer at least one more question, an aware individual also endeavors to get the maximum benefit from his presence at this stage. Thus, he seeks a longer life.
For each of us to understand as to whether we are living life compliant with the divine plan or we are playing a role in the satanic plan, through a moment’s reflection and evaluation, we can find an answer to the question: ‘Am I afraid of death or not?’. A positive answer manifests that we are following Satan’s plan. However, if without any feelings of depression and [sense of] escape from life the answer is ‘No’, it indicates that we are living in accordance with the divine plan. Since opposing the laws of the [symbolic] book of the universe (the book of apparent divine signs) inevitably causes the human beings to suffer serious loss and harm, withstanding and obstinacy against the law of death can also cause psycheal and mental imbalances, and consequently, lead to physical disorders. In other words, when we do not accept this law that is one of the most indisputable laws of the universe and we resist it, we will certainly suffer ‘the fear of death’ which is one of the major reasons that individuals become affected by various mental, psycheal and physical illnesses. In such cases, similar to all other mentosomatic disorders that originate from [incorrect] worldview, the mind, psyche and physical body become involved respectively.
