What will matter is not how many people you knew...

What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. What will matter are not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what. Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.

"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." How do we prepare for the journey of death? When one undertakes to travel in the world there are numerous preparations to be made: Tickets (means of travel) Passport Visas Inoculations/Health certificates Clothes (befitting the particular climate of the country of destination) Money (in the right currency or recognized changeable funds) Ensure that all is settled at home e.g.

bills paid and etc Leave behind someone trustworthy to look after affairs. The same criteria apply to the transitional journey of death. The only difference being that we must be prepared all day, every day as the date of travel is not known. Fortunately, the tickets are provided by Almighty and we do not have to bear the cost. Since there is a choice of destinations, the passport and visa requirements vary.

For the destination of the pleasure of Almighty (Jannah/Heaven), the passport must confirm Bay'at to Almighty, his Prophets and the infallibles (Aimma). It must also testify to oneness of God (Tawheed), Justice (Adala) and Day of Judgment (Qiyama). For the destination of hell (Jahannam), there is no need of a passport at all. The visas for heaven are even more difficult to obtain.

Numerous qualifications are required amongst them truthfulness, patience, prayer (Salaa), poor rate (Zakaa), invite towards good values (Amr Bil Maroof), forbidding from Evil (Nahi Anal Munkar) and etc. The clothes are simple and easily obtainable - A kafan (Shroud). The Holy Prophet (pbuh) has said: "One of the qualities that purify the heart is to acquire a Kafan." Make sure all debts are paid or provisions made for them; be they in monetary terms or in the form of someone's feelings.

Always keep a record of the dues to Almighty (Qadha Wajibat). The funds to spend there must be in the right currency. In the hereafter, the only acceptable currency is rewards (Thawabs). Besides daily obligatory (Wajibat) and good deeds it is essential to invest in an investment that will yield constant return until Qiyama (Thawab-e-Jariya).