As my days on this Earth become increasingly fewer, (interesting oxymoron), so my mind naturally focuses on the journey that awaits beyond this temporal existence. In that vein, I have been wanting to make preparations for my departure in terms of sorting out my personal finances and others things which my sons will take on, should they be here to do so (for there is no gurantee they will outlive me). As morbid or depressing as this all sounds, it’s not meant to be. It’s more about pragmatism.
With that in mind, last night I sat my older sons down and together, we drafted a document which outlines what I would like to happen in the event of my death. It is still very rough around the edges and not legally binding at all. However, the wheels had to be set in motion and I hope to return to this exercise soon to make the document watertight.
It’s a blessing that my financial affairs are pretty straight forward. My legacy in material terms contains objects which would only have sentimental value to my sons. To the next person, they would be items which would otherwise find themselves on the back shelf of a random charity shop. And I’m glad it’s like that. I wouldn’t want to leave this life knowing my sons would be wrangling over property inheritance which would take months, if not years, to assign to each of them. It would hurt me to know that such things would cause a huge bone of contention and potentially sever their fraternal ties. Insha’Allah, I’d like to think they are not of that nature anyway.
Coming back to last night, I know the drafting of this document wasn’t an easy task for them. It’s a subject which, naturally, as young people, they’d rather avoid. However, it’s a reality that has to be confronted head on and I wanted to give them the courage to face it without fear. It’s not like anyone can dodge death anyway! What is for sure, is that ageing does bring home the sobering truth that there is more to life. It’s just that, as a Muslim, I don’t say that phrase in the way that most people would expect. What I see is that this life is not the end game. Our vision has to extend beyond it. It’s just a preparatory portal into the next domain. And that shouldn’t mean that in the quest to be successful, we become bereft of any worldly indulgences. But even through these indulgences, we strive to retain the focus on the higher goal of making it count towards the post-Earthly existence.
So, writing up a preliminary will is an act of duty and responsibility, in my opinion. If anything, every adult, young or old, should consider doing it. There is no telling who will depart this duniya first and perhaps the only reason I didn’t do it sooner myself is because I was delusional about living long. The last few years have shown me that people of all ages are passing away, just as predicted in prophetic wisdom about the end of Time. I hope I don’t leave a quagmire behind. Insha’Allah there will be no pieces left for my sons to pick up after me.
