Bismillah.
I was standing by the barbecue pit, staring at the juicy tikkas (pieces of meat) and the glowing coals. As the fat from the skewers dripped on the coals, the flames roared and rose higher. At that moment, the fire looked angry and scary, crackling more brightly with each fat dripping. A strange visualization came to me for a fleeting instant and my mind envisioned those pieces of fat as human skin. The more it burned, the more the fire blazed…
No, I’m not crazy to be thinking of such vampirish thoughts right on Eid day, the day of joy and celebration. It is something that we’re never supposed to be heedless of yet tend to forget, and so Allah reminds by such scenes. Harsh though it may sound, but such an end might be awaiting us forever and ever.
Allah says in the Quran,
“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted in Might and Wise”. [An-Nisa 56]
Right below the human skin is the layer of fat. Just like any oil or fat of this world, maybe that is what will ignite the fire of Hell. As Allah says, “… then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.” [Al-Baqarah 24]
The question then is, am I living my life such that I’m offering myself as fuel for that Big Fire? Do I disbelieve in His verses and commands? Do I disobey Him? Do I become heedless of Him on occasions of festivity? Or do I repent and turn to Him every moment? What have I learned this Eid?
Wassalam.
P.S. Here’s an interesting story that relates to this post.
