7 Lessons From the Death of Michael Jackson

This post is a brief and timely diversion from our tafseer series.

Michael Jackson was one of the most popular and well-known celebrities and icons of the western world; and now, he’s dead. As Muslims, what lessons can we learn from this event? I’ve listed below some of the lessons that came to my mind:

1. Your Life is a Box. The Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) once drew a dot in the sand, and lines radiating out from it; he said (paraphrased), “this is the human, and their plans/desires.” To live forever, to amass huge wealth, to do this or that thing in their life … he (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) then drew a box that cut through those lines, and he said (paraphrased): “This is a human’s life.” No matter what you intend, your goals, your dreams, your hopes, when Allah pulls the plug, He pulls the plug.
2. Your Appointment is Already Scheduled. If anyone would’ve escaped death by virtue of wealth, or status, or love of the people, it would’ve been Jackson–but he didn’t. He was a celebrity, and perhaps one of the top celebrities; and yet, all that did nothing for him–because the appointment with Malik-al-Mawt, the angel of death, cannot be delayed even one second.
3. You Die Doing What You Love. There was a statement (can’t remember the source) that malik al-mawt comes to a person when they’re doing the thing that they love most. If you look historically, you’ll see the validity; and here, too, it happened while Michael Jackson was planning the ultimate comeback. This is a wake-up call to everyone who thinks they’ll repent “later.” Later never comes; and by then, maybe your heart is already sealed from all the sins you accumulated on it. Turn back to Allah NOW. Don’t set yourself up to die in the midst of sins upon sins.
4. One Man Can Make a Difference. Rasulullah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) changed the world utterly and completely. Michael Jackson touched the lives of millions of people across the globe. Take heart from it: you, too, can make a difference in the world. So dream big, and have big goals. As Muhammad Alshareef reminded us, the reward is based on the intention–so if you intend huge, massive, amazing good deeds (with a sincere intention to do them–and the proof is in the action you take towards them), then you’ll get the reward insha’Allah, whether you make it or not! How awesome is that?
5. Start Early. One of the things about Michael Jackson is that he started practicing his trade at a very young age; while most people spend their time here and there, very few have the focus and willpower to remain upon one thing for hours upon hours. If you focus, and start early, you can achieve an extremely high degree of proficiency. As one rule of thumb says, it takes 10,000 hours (3.5 years if you work at it 8 hours a day) to become a world-class master. So choose what to work on, and start working on it!
6. Knowledge that Benefits. Rumours spread upon Michael Jackson’s death about whether he’s a Muslim or not; Muslim Matters has several posts on this topic. In the end, this is a lesson that we should learn what benefits us, and leave what doesn’t. Are you going to witness his janaazah personally? Then what difference does it make? The fact that there are still rumours about it, only guarantees that people will spend hours and hours and hours reading about it. (And then we complain that we “don’t have time to read Qur’an,” hmm …)
7. People Forget. At time of writing, it’s been about two and a half weeks since he died. Already, the media coverage is decreasing; within a month, a year, two, ten, hardly anybody will remember him or care anymore. This already happened to so many people before us–scholars, celebrities, scientists, charitable people, even prophets, who had their teachings left behind. So then why are we trying to earn the love of the people? We spend so much time and money and energy on it now, and if we disappear for even a year, we’re forgotten. So strive for the love of Allah instead, because the reward of that has no ending.

Wallahu ta’ala ‘alam. I want to reiterate that these are my personal reflections on this event; regardless, we should take benefit from those things around us, and leave what doesn’t benefit us.

Action Item:

• Share your own lessons and reflections from the death of Michael Jackson in the comments. The more benefit, the better, insha’Allah.