What remains after we die?

/ Sameera

Trigger warning.

What remains of a person when they die?
A body to be cremated or buried.
Tears to be exchanged with grief.
Darkened eyes and a wish for a bright future
ahead.
but where?
Where does a person go after they die?
Why death is a personal experience
but mourning isn’t?
Why is the ending bitter?

I write and crumple paper. I eat my questions.
Churn them inside my stomach.
With a blotting paper I clean ‘extra’ things from my pain.
I soak in the oblivion. Wait for my end.

This is poetry. I say. I write. I end.
In between my words, I place truth I cannot digest.

What remains of a person after they die?
A grief soaked clothing they wore,
a white empty shroud waiting for a body,
brief exchange of tears and warmth.
something that a body craved when alive.

Where does a person go after they die?
“We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return. (2:156)”
But where are you Allah?
Inside my heart or on a prayer mat?
Where will I find you?
I manifest my grief.
and pray.
If there is a way?
and if it is
Is it the only way?

Why is death a personal experience but mourning isn’t?
I wish I could detach my arms from the warmth of people who no longer exist.
I wish.

Why is the ending bitter?
Perhaps it isn’t.
Perhaps it won’t be.

If only
people could hear what we will say after they die.
If only
we could say the same words when they were alive.

Nothing much remains after death,
few truths to learn
and let go,
few more deaths to endure
before we finally die.

Remains of questions,
and unanswered prayers
memories turning into poetry.
you and me.
and an unwritten legacy.

©Sameera Mansuri 2020.

17 thoughts on “What remains after we die?”

  1. Allah swt said in Ayatul Kursi.
    And He the Almighty the Subsisting The Most Merciful, The All Hearing , the All seeing is on ARSH.
    He is not on everyone’s heart or in every Atom.
    Allah swt clearifies In Quran in ayatul Kursi He is throned on Arsh.
    And Has power over Everything.

    So the Aqeedah that Allah swt is in me you
    Or the one who commits etc etc is Batil and misguidance.

    May Allah swt open up heart ameen.

    Btw poem is very poignant.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      • There is nothing to believe when Allah swt is cleared that up. With His own Mouth.

        You either Believe in it or disbeliefs
        Or believe in the Batil aqeeda.

        It is black and white.

        Liked by 1 person

      • #aquib

        To say ALLAH swt is present
        everywhere and in all of the living and non living Creature PHYSICALLY is utterly wrong and ILLOGICAL statement, since everyone be any criminal, filthy thing can’t be God.
        We all are the Creation of ALLAH, the sun the moon the insects, atoms, the CONSTANT, the mechanism, humans, mountains, the sky etc etc etc all are HIS creations.

        Allah swt clearly said in SEVERAL PLACES

        Allah, it is He Who has created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them in six days. Then He rose over (istawa) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). You (mankind) have none, besides Him, as a Wali (protector or helper) or an intercessor. Will you not then remember (or receive admonition)?” [32:4]  

        “Surely, your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then rose over (istawa) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty), disposing the affair of all things.” [10:3]

         “To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allah unless and until they are followed by good deeds).” [35:10]

         “He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him).” [57:3]

        (BTW DAYS HERE DOES NOT MEAN DAYS OF THIS EARTH IE OF 86400 SECS).

        So Allah swt is on HIS throne, THE KURSI,
        Therefore we recite AYATUL KURSI, that HE HAS POWER OVER EVERY THING.

        Saying that Allah is with us does not mean that He is mixed with (or dwells in) His creation; rather He is with His slaves by His knowledge. He is above His Throne and nothing is hidden from Him of what they do. With regard to the ayah (interpretation of the meaning): 

        “And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).” [50:16] 

        This is a METAPHORICAL statement.
        The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “You are the Most High and there is nothing above You…”

        There are many similar ayat (verses) and ahadeeth (prophetic narrations). But at the same time, Allah tells us that He is with His slaves wherever they are:

        “Have you not seen that Allah knows whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth? There is no najwa (secret counsel) of three but He is their fourth (with His Knowledge, while He Himself is over the Throne, over the seventh heaven), — nor of five but He is their sixth (with His Knowledge), — nor of less than that or more but He is with them (with His Knowledge) wheresoever they may be.” [58:7]

        Allah has combined mention of His being above His Throne with mention of His being with His slaves in one ayah (verse), where He says (interpretation of the meaning):

        “He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then rose over (istawa) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). He knows what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, and what descends from the heaven and what ascends thereto. And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be.” [57:4]

        Most of the mufassireen (exegesists) said that what is meant is that He is near by means of His angels whose task it is to record people’s deeds. And those who said that it means that He is near explained it as meaning that He is near by His knowledge, as is said concerning how He is with us.

        May Allah swt grant us Hidayat. Ameen

        Like

  3. This is poetry. I say. I write. I end.
    In between my words, I place truth I cannot digest.

    This is really beautiful. You are an amazing poet ma sha Allah. You know this already, but still I am saying.

    Allah is everywhere sister. Everything is a creation of Allah azza wa jall, and in all are signs of Allah.
    All the prayers are answered by the merciful Lord.

    Take care sister. Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatahu Allahi.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Walekumassalam wa rahmatullahi wa barkatahu.
      I have come to terms with now, with introspection maybe. Yes Allah ta’ala is everywhere and we must learn to see Him.

      May all your prayers get answered and His blessings remain on you.

      Take care. Jazak’allah.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment