In the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah has clearly stated, "Every soul shall taste death." This means that death is an inseparable part of life—an inevitable and predestined reality.
Perhaps this is why, even subconsciously, we seek an answer to the question: "What kind of death do we desire?" As Oscar Wilde once said, "Death must be beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow."
Honestly, who wouldn’t wish for such a peaceful passing? But is everyone fortunate enough to experience it? Some may plan to live in one place during the monsoon and another during summer and winter.
In this way, we try to structure our lives around various schedules, even though we never truly know where or how we will spend each season. That is to say, we have no power to think beyond the fixed cycle of life and death.
Yet, there remains something to be said! Because some deaths leave people utterly devastated. While no one may be directly responsible for a natural death, how do we perceive unnatural deaths? What can we say about them?
The void left by the final departure of a loved one—does everyone have the strength to bear that burden?
At different times, we witness unnatural deaths—whether through road accidents or casualties of war. Only the families of those lost can truly understand the storm that rages within them.
On Wednesday (January 29), a tragic mid-air collision between a passenger aircraft and a military helicopter in Washington, USA, claimed several young lives.
What must be the mental state of their grieving families now? How will they come to terms with this loss? How will they recover from such devastation?
The crashed aircraft carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three soldiers on board. As of the latest reports, 30 bodies have been recovered from the freezing Potomac River.
We mourn the victims of this accident and extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
These kinds of tragedies and unnatural deaths are not new. In fact, such incidents are increasing over time. Just last Tuesday, a stampede at the Kumbh Mela, one of the largest Hindu religious festivals in northern India, resulted in at least 30 deaths.
Similarly, we can recall the massive wildfires in Los Angeles, USA, which caused unimaginable destruction. Countless such examples exist. The question is—do the effects of these incidents remain limited to those who lost their lives? Absolutely not.
After birth, every person gradually matures and, over time, becomes self-sufficient. Once they reach that stage, their family members start depending on them.
This is the foundation upon which almost every family is built. And it’s not just about family—many others in society, the nation, and even the world, directly or indirectly, rely on that person.
Thus, the unnatural death of an individual does not only impact their family but also brings immense hardship and obstacles for many others.
Especially when someone has responsibilities—losing such a person unexpectedly and unfairly is difficult for anyone to accept.
Not only does it take an emotional toll, but the economic consequences are also significant. A family that loses its sole breadwinner can be thrown into financial ruin in an instant. This is why unnatural death is always unwelcome.
Hazrat Ali (RA) once said, "There is no truth greater than death, and no falsehood greater than hope." Yet, while we accept death as a truth, we are not willing to abandon hope! And we continue to hope—that no one will suffer an untimely or mass death, that everyone will remain vigilant and cautious to prevent such tragedies.
We must always remember: every life is valuable. Each life contributes to maintaining the balance of the world, either directly or indirectly. Therefore, we must become more conscious so that these precious lives are not lost to unnatural causes.
