The Death of a Legend: What Does This Imply?

June 25, 2009, the world is in shock as breaking news reports of Michael Jackson’s sudden death begin to appear on every news channel. “Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles this afternoon.” “Michael Jackson dies aged 50.” “We can now confirm that the Pop Singer Michael Jackson has died after suffering what appears to have been a cardiac arrest.” Images of mourning fans and the hospital Jackson was rushed to, splash the TV screens. Music channels such as MTV start playing the Pop star’s songs in honor of his death. Fans are distraught as the news starts to sink in; the King of Pop is no more.

To many, MJ was a renowned pop icon who forever changed the face of the music industry. For others he was a trend setter, an innovator, with a unique sense of fashion and dance moves which created millions of copycats world wide. And yet to numerous others he was a criminal, a pedophile, a wacko, thus being nicknamed “Wacko Jacko”. No matter how he will be remembered, the fact of the matter remains that death brought the King of Pop’s life to a sudden stop.

A few days ago, no one could have imagined something like this happening to someone at the height of his game. Without a doubt, death is the biggest reality and yet it took not only its victim but also the world by surprise!

“Death is the surest calculation that can be made.”  ~Ludwig Büchner, Force and Matter

“Death is the only inescapable, unavoidable, sure thing. We are sentenced to die the day we’re born.”  - Gary Mark Gilmore

Death comes without warning and has an appointed time for every one of us. Statistics show that 6000 people die every day. Death comes to people of all ages, all sizes, all nationalities whether you’re a King, a Pop Star, a President, doctor, or the poorest person on the face of the earth.

“Death is the great leveler.” – Claudian

“You can be a king or a street sweeper,
but everybody dances with the Grim Reaper.”
~Robert Alton Harris

Every soul shall taste death, no matter where a person is, in an airplane or outer space.

“Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!” -  Quran Chapter 4:78

No amount of money, none of one’s loved ones, none of the world’s best doctors can save a person from his/her ultimate destiny.

“The goal of all life is death.”  ~Sigmund Freud

 Perhaps it was thought that Michael Jackson would never die or wouldn’t die so soon; and perhaps this is how we all think about ourselves. It is unbelievable to see that something so certain is taken so lightly. We don’t reflect on the reason we exist. Why are we here? Is this it, just to come and go like a leaf that sprouts from a tree branch and when it falls to the ground lies forgotten, rotting into nothingness? Why can’t I live forever? Will I have to leave this world with all its beautiful things and the people I’ve loved? Will I leave everything behind and take nothing with me? What’s the point of living if you have to stop living some day? These are some of the questions that come into our minds at some point in life, especially when incidents like these take place in our own personal lives.

“The death of someone we know always reminds us that we are still alive – perhaps for some purpose which we ought to re-examine.”  ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic’s Notebook, 1960

            So why are we doing what we’re doing? What’s our objective? Do any of our actions serve an ultimate purpose? If every man made thing has been designed for a purpose, then for a greater reason have we not been designed for a purpose?

            One of the many things that differentiate us from the animals is the ability to think and distinguish between the right and wrongs of our actions. Not only that but also to rationalize, develop and innovate. We should thus open our eyes and contemplate about the world around us, and look for the answer to the very simple question of the purpose of our existence. The answer to this question will dictate the reasoning to each of our actions.

If we say that there is no purpose in life, that we came from nothingness and will return to nothingness, or that there is no consequence to our actions, then this will dictate our behavior. As a result, we will chase whatever this world has to offer from money to power to sensual gratification and do what ever it takes to fulfill these desires, even if it is at the expense of others. We feel that we must make as much use of this world as possible since there is nowhere else to go and nothing else to look forward to!

            On the other hand, if we say that there must be a designer for all that exists, that there must be a purpose to our creation and that eventually we will be accountable for our actions, then understandably this will dictate our conduct and deeds. The natural consequence of this would be that we seek out on how to build a relationship with our Creator, and find out how the creator wishes for us to behave; for it is only from the one who is worthy, that these consistent morals should be followed. It is unjust to follow a way of life where the morality of man is constantly changing.

So, if one acknowledges that there is a designer, what kind of relationship is he/she supposed to have with the Creator? To be able to answer this question, we first need to know who our Creator is. The Creator is one, in all that is unique to Him. The characteristics and the rights of the Creator are for Him alone. All the attributes that belong to God the Creator are not shared by anyone. He alone is the Creator, alone in controlling the universe and all that takes place therein. God is the only one to who all forms of worship should be directed, whether that be fear, hope, calling upon for relief and deliverance, sacrificing to, or any other worship done to draw near to Him.

Belief in One God who has no partners produces in its believer the highest degree of self-respect and self-esteem. For he knows that God alone is the Possessor of all power, and that none besides Him can benefit or harm him, or provide for his needs, or give and take away life or wield authority or influence. This conviction makes him indifferent to, independent and fearless of all powers other than those of God. He never bows his head in homage to any of God’s creatures, nor does he stretch out his hand before anyone else. He is not overawed by anybody’s greatness. This attitude can not be attained by beliefs that associate other beings with God or that deny God, as it is necessary for them that they bow in homage to some creatures, regard them able to benefit or harm them, fear them and place their hopes in them.

Every religion in some way or form directs some of what is rightfully God’s to other than Him. In many cultures and beliefs around the world people make sacrifices to man made structures like idols and statues, or believe that they will be forgiven by God through worshipping someone’s grave. Some believe that certain Prophets of God like Jesus (peace be upon him) for example, can be called upon or supplicated to for guidance and relief from hardships. Some even believe that Jesus is the actual son of God, even though Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) “himself” never claimed such a thing. Imagine providing someone with what their hearts desire, then someone else is given credit instead of you; this is exactly what mankind does when they direct their worship to other than God. After being blessed with innumerable blessings, gratitude is shown to the creation instead of the Creator.

One might now ask, ‘Ok, so if there is a creator and He is One without partners and He wants us to worship Him wholly and solely, what kind of lifestyle are we supposed to adopt? Does there even exist a system of life that allows man to live in accordance with his human nature in a way that benefits him and society while still obeying and worshipping the Creator?’ This can be answered by first looking at the “man made” systems of life.

Among the man made systems that claim to organize the affairs of people are Communism and Capitalism. In the first the state takes ownership of all facilities for production, tries to own everything under the premise of equality between the people. Saying that all humans are equal, and therefore all humans should have the same material needs, and the same material desires. The second system claims that the means to create wealth are owned by individuals, and the individual has full right to sell his or her labor at what ever rate he wishes. In this system the rich continuously become richer, while the poor continuously become poorer because of the underlying rhetoric of ‘every man for himself.’

            One of the major problems with these two systems is that they break up the relationship between the creation and its Creator. Karl Marx, the author of the communist manifesto, was adamantly anti religious and the governments that followed his ideas sought to control or eliminate religion. Likewise, Capitalist governments have a division between state and belief. They allow a person to believe what he/she likes as long as it does not affect the state policy. In other words, God’s commands should not be brought into the daily working of society.

            So what’s the answer?

There is one way of life, a system, which has been developed by God Himself and it not only acknowledges the Creator, but ensures that the rules and regulations of every aspect of man’s affairs are organized and just. This system is known as a ‘Deen’, an Arabic word which means that every aspect of life is an act of worship when done within the limits prescribed by God. So when a man goes out to work he is allowed freedom to own his possessions, has freedom to gain wealth and prosper, but at the same time he is not allowed to cheat in the market place, exploit those who need his goods, in addition to this he must give in charity to those who are poorer than him, thus creating a balance in society. When he hires people he must treat them fairly, and pay them their salaries “before their sweat dries….”

“Seek the abode of the Hereafter in that, which God has given you, and neglect not your portion of the world, and be kind as God has been kind to you and seek not corruption in the earth…..”

            Other aspects of this system, this way of life, besides the economic facet have also been organized by the Creator in a way so as to provide and look after the needs of society and civilization as a whole, and the needs of an individual in particular. The health care system, the judicial system, the political system, how to manage the environment, how to organize the social structure, the foreign policies, etc. all are structured to benefit mankind in this life and the next. This system is not man made and accordingly has no flaws like the Creator who developed it. If followed and implemented perfectly it will create a world filled with peace and harmony.

This system of life is called “Islam” an Arabic word which means to submit your will to the Lord of the Worlds, Allah, God, the Creator. A “Muslim” is another Arabic word which means a person who submits his will to God.

Note:  All the Messengers and Prophets sent by God such as Noah, Moses, Jesus, Muhammed (peace be upon them all) and many others were neither Jews nor Christians nor idol worshippers, but were those who submitted their will to the All Mighty Lord, the Creator of the heavens and earth and all that exists, meaning they were Muslims. They only preached and practiced what God ordered them to do without associating partners to Him.

A brief description of our Creator,

“Say (O Muhammed): ‘He is Allah, (the) One. Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all the creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.’”

(Quran Chapter 112:1-4)

“Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (Quran Chapter 2:255)

“He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. He is Allah beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”

(Quran Chapter 59:22-24)

It is misunderstood that Islam is just a religion (a set of beliefs, a set of rituals); it is more than that. Islam is a complete system of life, a complete way of life; from dealing with bodily and dental hygiene to human rights to running a state.