After I finished reading this verse during the graveside/committal service for my aunt, a trumpeter played TAPS as a farewell. I think it is an honorable way of saying good-bye to a loved one.
Recently people who came to show respect and sympathy to the family whose son/brother was tragically drowned while on vacation in Mexico received a much different message. The message basically was that his soul was on a journey and one didn't know when he would arrive at the final destination. In the Bahai faith there is no message of hope of ever meeting again. How tragic...
The subject of death and dying is eery for most people. Especially for Muslims. They have much reason to grieve. Not only do they lose a loved one physically but the Qur'an gives no assurance of the soul's destination. Their belief is that everyone will spend at least some time in hell(Qur'an 19:71). Only Muslim martyrs can expect to enter paradise directly. Similar to Catholicism, Muslims are told that they can reduce the time suffering in hell if they do good deeds in their lifetime and pray for Muslim souls after their departure. As one of our Muslim friends said, "Don't think we are doing all these things for this life...on the contrary, its for the next life." On Thursday nights, especially Shias have a vigil at the grave of loved ones and pray for the time in hell to be reduced. Muslims do other good deeds like serving a big meal for the neighborhood to get God's favor. Also, there is a hadith(2nd to the Qur'an) that says if a person suffered a lot in their lifetime it reduces punishment. Still, the uncertainty leaves most Muslims insecure and afraid of death.
I was at the bedside of a dying Muslim man, an acquaintance. The room was packed with mourners. Rahmat recognized me but was not lucid enough to understand much of what was being said. I shared the Gospel message with him one more time--probably more for the ones gathered in the room. Then I prayed for him. It may have been too late for him. He had just returned from the Haj and likely was banking on merit from completing this requirement. At any rate, I was not allowed to come to the grave. Only Muslims are allowed that close.
We just said our earthly good-bye to my brother. On his last day on earth he weakly uttered 'Amen' after one of the family members prayed for him--his last word. He gave assent to the hope declared and for his heavenly Father's will to be done. Later in the day my wife prayed as he closed his eyes that he'd see the lights of heaven and hear the music of heaven. And now he is with Jesus--totally healed from his cancer.Hallelujah! We do have much reason to be thankful for, don't we? What a privilege to proclaim this Good News--if we place our trust in Jesus, he'll safely bring us home to heaven at the end of our life.
Dear Lord, thank-you for the hope we have in Jesus...for the sure salvation. Help my Muslim friends to be drawn to Jesus' simple and clear invitation. Amen.
