The mystery of the unknown hour.
Ustad Abdini explains the wisdom behind not knowing the exact time of the death and appearance of the Imam (a. third.).
He tells a powerful story from the text to illustrate this. A man came to his father, worried about his sick wife. He wanted to ensure that his financial rights and his children's inheritance would be secure. He thought his sick wife would die first. He was so sure of this that he began to plan how he would marry again. But, in a sudden twist, the man himself died soon after. His sick wife, on the other hand, lived for many years, remarried and enjoyed a long life.
Why doesn't God tell us when we will die? Because if we knew, the value of our actions would be destroyed. If we knew the exact date of our death, we would just relax until the last moment, then do the bare minimum. It is the uncertainty of the "when" that keeps us alert, vigilant and sincere in our actions. Every good deed we do today is done in the shadow of the unknown. This uncertainty is a training tool from God to keep us honest and ready.
Ustad Abdinis conclusion: The hidden hour of the end of our life is a gift. It is a divine strategy to keep us awake. Don't plan your obedience for tomorrow. The one who is guaranteed the future is the one who remembers the uncertainty of each moment.
Class 568.
Coffee 568.
Practical Islam - Said Samer Hakim.