We live in a world that encourages constant comfort rest, ease, indulgence, and distractions that numb the soul. But every now and then, a powerful line of wisdom hits like a thunderclap, shaking us out of spiritual slumber. One such reminder is:
دعِ النومَ، ذِكرُ الموتِ للنفسِ يُرعِدُ
دنا الأجلُ المحتومُ والوَهمُ يَبعُدُ
ولا نفسٌ تَستهدي ولا عقلٌ يُرشِدُ
"Abandon sleep, for the remembrance of death makes the soul tremble. The destined end draws near, while delusion drifts far. No soul seeks guidance, nor does reason lead."
This is not a call to literal insomnia but a wake-up call a metaphor for spiritual alertness in an age of heedlessness.
Many of us push away thoughts of death, clinging to the illusion that we have plenty of time. Like students who procrastinate until the night before an exam, we assume tomorrow will come and we'll "get serious" then. But the reality is that death doesn’t knock first, it simply enters.
Allah reminds us in the Qur’an:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ
"Every soul will taste death..." (Surah Al-Imran, 3:185)
Yet our minds are often preoccupied with temporary goals money, status, likes on social media while the hereafter remains just a distant thought. We sleep through Fajr, neglect Salah, delay repentance, and scroll through distractions, unaware that each breath is a step closer to our final day.
When you remember death deeply, it humbles you. Your ego shrinks. Your grudges fade. Your desire for show-off and sins suddenly feels childish. That trembling of the soul is mercy in itself a sign that you’re still spiritually alive.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ هَادِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ، يَعْنِي الْمَوْتَ
“Remember often the destroyer of pleasures: death.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2307)
This remembrance is not meant to paralyze us with fear, but to re-prioritize our lives. When you know your time is limited, you love deeper, forgive quicker, and worship more sincerely.
The line “No soul seeks guidance, nor does reason lead” points to the tragedy of negligence. Today, many wait for a “sign” before they return to Allah maybe a dream, a near-death experience, or a miracle. But guidance doesn’t always come dramatically; it starts with sincere intention and small, consistent steps.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ
“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (Qur’an 13:11)
Don’t wait to “feel ready.” Start seeking knowledge. Start making dua. Start praying. Start trying. That’s how guidance is unlocked through effort and humility.
Take the example of a successful professional who suddenly loses a loved one or gets diagnosed with a serious illness. Life stops. All the meetings, phone calls, and routines fade into the background. Reality sets in: this dunya is not forever. Many have said, "It was death that brought me back to life." Let that reminder come before the grave does.
In conclusion, abandoning sleep doesn’t mean denying rest, but refusing to let comfort kill your purpose. Wake up to your responsibilities toward Allah, toward your soul, and toward the people around you. Don’t let the illusion of time make you forget the certainty of the end.
May Allah make us among those who remember Him often, prepare for the hereafter, and meet death with hearts full of light and tongues full of dhikr. Ameen.