Deathbed by Imam al-Ghazali - Poem / Poetry Appreciation / Exercises on Poem / Question-Answer on Poem / Theme and Summary of Poem / Poem Analysis

Deathbed 

Poet: Imam al-Ghazali

Say unto brethren when they see me dead,

And weep for me, lamenting me in sadness:

Think ye I am this corpse ye are to bury?

I swear by God, this dead one is not I.

I in the Spirit am, and this my body

My dwelling was my garment for a time.

I am a treasure: hidden I was beneath

This talisman of dust, wherein I suffered.

I am a pearl; a shell imprisoned me,

But leaving it, all trials I have left.

I am a bird, and this was once my cage;

But I have flown, leaving it as a token.

I praise God who hath set me free, and made

For me a dwelling in the heavenly heights.

Ere now I was a dead man in your midst,

But I have come to life, and doffed my shroud.

Vocabulary List 

Beneath (Extending or directly underneath) [নিচে] Bird (A feathered creature) [পাখি] Brethren (Brothers/close friends) [ভাইয়েরা/বন্ধুরা] Bury (Put or hide under ground) [কবর দেওয়া] But (Except/however) [কিন্তু] By (Through the agency of) [দ্বারা/নামে] Cage (An enclosure made of wire or metal bars) [খাঁচা] Come (Move or travel toward) [আসা] Corpse (A dead body) [মৃতদেহ] Dead (No longer alive) [মৃত] Doffed (Removed an item of clothing) [খুলে ফেলা/ত্যাগ করা] Dust (Fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles of earth) [ধূলিকণা/মাটি] Dwelling (A house, flat, or other place of residence) [বাসস্থান] Ere (Before in time) [পূর্বে/আগে] Flown (Moved through the air) [উড়ে গেছে] For (In favor of/intended to) [জন্য] Free (Not under the control or in the power of another) [মুক্ত] Garment (An item of clothing) [পোশাক] God (The creator and ruler of the universe) [ঈশ্বর/আল্লাহ] Hath (Archaic third person singular present of have) [করেছেন/আছে] Have (Possess, own, or hold) [আছি/করেছি] Heavenly (Of heaven, divine) [স্বর্গীয়] Heights (High places) [উচ্চতা/চূড়া] Hidden (Kept out of sight) [লুকানো] I (First person pronoun) [আমি] Imprisoned (Kept in prison/confined) [বন্দি করেছিল] In (Expressing the situation of being enclosed) [ভিতরে] Is (Third person singular present of be) [হয়] It (This thing) [ইহা/এটি] Lamenting (Expressing passionate grief about) [বিলাপ করা/শোক করা] Leaving (Going away from) [ছেড়ে যাওয়া/ত্যাগ করা] Left (Gone away from) [ফেলে এসেছি] Life (The condition that distinguishes active organisms) [জীবন] Made (Formed by putting parts together) [তৈরি করেছেন] Man (An adult human male) [মানুষ] Me (Objective form of I) [আমাকে/আমার] Midst (In the middle of) [মাঝে] My (Belonging to me) [আমার] Not (Used to express negation) [না/নয়] Now (At the present time) [এখন] Of (Expressing relationship between a part and a whole) [এর] Once (On one occasion or for one time only) [একসময়] One (A single person or thing) [একজন/একটি] Pearl (A hard, lustrous spherical mass formed within the shell of an oyster) [মুক্তা] Praise (Express warm approval or admiration of) [প্রশংসা করা] Sadness (The condition or quality of being sad) [দুঃখ/শোক] Say (Utter words) [বলো] See (Perceive with the eyes) [দেখে] Set (Put, lay, or stand) [করা/দেওয়া] Shell (The hard protective outer case of a mollusk) [খোলস] Shroud (A length of cloth in which a dead person is wrapped) [কাফন] Spirit (The nonphysical part of a person; the soul) [আত্মা] Suffered (Experienced something bad or unpleasant) [কষ্ট পেয়েছি] Swear (Make a solemn statement or promise) [শপথ করা] Talisman (An object thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck) [তাবিজ] The (Definite article) [টি/টা] They (Third person plural pronoun) [তারা] Think (Have a particular opinion, belief, or idea) [ভাবা/মনে করা] This (Used to identify a specific person or thing) [এই/এটি] Time (The indefinite continued progress of existence) [সময়] To (Expressing motion in the direction of) [প্রতি/দিকে] Token (A thing serving as a visible or tangible representation of a fact/memory) [স্মৃতিচিহ্ন] Treasure (A quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects) [গুপ্তধন/সম্পদ] Trials (Experiences or situations that test a person's endurance) [কষ্ট/পরীক্ষা] Unto (Archaic term for 'to') [প্রতি/উদ্দেশে] Was (Past tense of be) [ছিল/ছিলাম] Weep (Shed tears) [কাঁদা] When (At what time) [যখন] Wherein (In which) [যেখানে] Who (What or which person) [যিনি] Ye (Archaic plural form of 'thou'/you) [তোমরা] Your (Belonging to you) [তোমাদের]

Verse Paraphrase and Translation

English Verse	Paraphrase	Bangla Meaning
Say unto brethren when they see me dead, / And weep for me, lamenting me in sadness:	Tell my brothers and friends, when they look at my lifeless body and cry for me in deep sorrow:	যখন আমার ভাইয়েরা আমাকে মৃত দেখবে এবং গভীর শোকে আমার জন্য কাঁদবে, তখন তাদের বোলো:
Think ye I am this corpse ye are to bury? / I swear by God, this dead one is not I.	Do you really believe I am just this lifeless meat you are about to bury? I promise by God, this dead body is not my true self.	তোমরা কি ভাবছ আমি এই মৃতদেহটি যা তোমরা কবর দিতে যাচ্ছ? আমি ঈশ্বরের নামে শপথ করে বলছি, এই মৃতদেহটি আমি নই।
I in the Spirit am, and this my body / My dwelling was my garment for a time.	My true existence is as a soul; this physical body was merely my temporary house and clothing.	আমি আত্মায় বিরাজমান, এবং এই শরীরটি কেবল কিছু সময়ের জন্য আমার বাসস্থান ও পোশাক ছিল।
I am a treasure: hidden I was beneath / This talisman of dust, wherein I suffered.	I am a precious, divine treasure that was concealed under this magical charm made of earthly dust, where I endured pain.	আমি একটি গুপ্তধন: যা ধূলিকণার এই তাবিজের (শরীরের) নিচে লুকানো ছিল, যেখানে আমি কষ্ট পেয়েছি।
I am a pearl; a shell imprisoned me, / But leaving it, all trials I have left.	I am like a valuable pearl that was trapped inside a hard shell; by leaving it behind, I have escaped all earthly hardships.	আমি একটি মুক্তা; একটি খোলস আমাকে বন্দি করে রেখেছিল, কিন্তু এটি ত্যাগ করার মাধ্যমে আমি সমস্ত কষ্ট পেছনে ফেলে এসেছি।
I am a bird, and this was once my cage; / But I have flown, leaving it as a token.	I am a free spiritual bird, and this body was my cage; now I have flown away, leaving the body behind merely as a sign.	আমি একটি পাখি, এবং এটি একসময় আমার খাঁচা ছিল; কিন্তু আমি উড়ে গেছি, এটিকে কেবল একটি স্মৃতিচিহ্ন হিসেবে রেখে।
I praise God who hath set me free, and made / For me a dwelling in the heavenly heights.	I thank the Creator who liberated me and provided me with a permanent home in the high heavens.	আমি ঈশ্বরের প্রশংসা করি যিনি আমাকে মুক্ত করেছেন এবং স্বর্গের উচ্চতায় আমার জন্য একটি বাসস্থান তৈরি করেছেন।
Ere now I was a dead man in your midst, / But I have come to life, and doffed my shroud.	Before this, while living among you on earth, I was actually "dead"; but now, by shedding my mortal body, I have truly awakened to eternal life.	এর আগে তোমাদের মাঝে আমি একজন মৃত মানুষ ছিলাম, কিন্তু এখন আমি জীবন ফিরে পেয়েছি এবং আমার কাফন খুলে ফেলেছি।

Summary

Imam al-Ghazali’s poem "Deathbed" is a profound spiritual reflection on the nature of death and the human soul. Speaking from beyond physical life, the speaker addresses his grieving friends and loved ones, urging them not to weep over his corpse. He clarifies that the lifeless body they are preparing to bury is not his true identity. Using powerful metaphors, he describes his physical body as a mere temporary garment, a "talisman of dust," a confining shell, and a bird's cage where his soul suffered earthly trials. The true self is the eternal spirit—a hidden treasure, a precious pearl, and a liberated bird. By leaving the physical body behind, the soul escapes the imprisonment of the mortal world. The poet joyfully praises God for granting him true freedom and an eternal dwelling in heaven. Ultimately, the poem beautifully reverses the traditional concept of life and death: earthly existence is portrayed as a state of "death" and limitation, while physical death is celebrated as the soul's glorious awakening to true, eternal life.

[ইমাম আল-গাজ্জালির "ডেথবেড" কবিতাটি মৃত্যু এবং মানব আত্মার প্রকৃতি সম্পর্কে একটি গভীর আধ্যাত্মিক চিন্তাধারা। শারীরিক জীবনের ওপার থেকে কথা বলতে গিয়ে, বক্তা তার শোকাহত বন্ধু এবং প্রিয়জনদের তার মৃতদেহের উপর না কাঁদার আহ্বান জানান। তিনি স্পষ্ট করেন যে তারা যে প্রাণহীন দেহটি কবর দেওয়ার প্রস্তুতি নিচ্ছে তা তার আসল পরিচয় নয়। শক্তিশালী রূপক ব্যবহার করে, তিনি তার শারীরিক দেহকে নিছক একটি অস্থায়ী পোশাক, "ধূলিকণার তাবিজ", একটি বন্দি করা খোলস এবং একটি পাখির খাঁচা হিসেবে বর্ণনা করেছেন যেখানে তার আত্মা জাগতিক কষ্ট ভোগ করেছে। আসল সত্তা হলো চিরন্তন আত্মা—একটি লুকানো গুপ্তধন, একটি মূল্যবান মুক্তা এবং একটি মুক্ত পাখি। ভৌত দেহকে পেছনে ফেলে, আত্মা মরণশীল জগতের বন্দিদশা থেকে রক্ষা পায়। কবি তাকে প্রকৃত স্বাধীনতা এবং স্বর্গে চিরস্থায়ী বাসস্থান প্রদানের জন্য আনন্দের সাথে ঈশ্বরের প্রশংসা করেন। পরিশেষে, কবিতাটি জীবন ও মৃত্যুর ঐতিহ্যগত ধারণাকে সুন্দরভাবে উল্টে দেয়: পার্থিব অস্তিত্বকে "মৃত্যু" এবং সীমাবদ্ধতার অবস্থা হিসেবে চিত্রিত করা হয়েছে, যেখানে শারীরিক মৃত্যুকে সত্যিকারের, চিরন্তন জীবনের প্রতি আত্মার মহিমান্বিত জাগরণ হিসেবে উদযাপন করা হয়েছে।]

Theme

The central theme of the poem is the immortality and liberation of the human soul. It contrasts the temporary, confining nature of the physical body with the eternal, precious nature of the spirit. The poem presents death not as an end to be mourned, but as a joyful spiritual awakening—a release from worldly suffering and a glorious transition into true, eternal life with God.

 [কবিতাটির মূলভাব হলো মানব আত্মার অমরত্ব এবং মুক্তি। এটি ভৌত দেহের অস্থায়ী, সীমাবদ্ধ প্রকৃতির সাথে আত্মার চিরন্তন, মূল্যবান প্রকৃতির বৈপরীত্য তুলে ধরে। কবিতাটি মৃত্যুকে শোক করার মতো কোনো শেষ পরিণতি হিসেবে উপস্থাপন করে না, বরং এটিকে একটি আনন্দময় আধ্যাত্মিক জাগরণ হিসেবে দেখে—যা জাগতিক কষ্ট থেকে মুক্তি এবং ঈশ্বরের সাথে সত্যিকারের, চিরন্তন জীবনে একটি মহিমান্বিত উত্তরণ।]

Short Answer Questions on- "Peace" by George Herbert

1. What is the main message of the poem regarding the soul and the body?

The main message is that a human being is not just a physical body, but a soul that lives inside that body. The poet argues that the body is like a temporary house or a garment (clothing) that we wear for a while. When we die, the soul simply "moves out" of the body. Therefore, death is not the end of a person, but a change of address for the soul.

2. How does al-Ghazali use the "bird and cage" metaphor to explain death?

He compares the soul to a bird and the physical body (and the world) to a cage. While we are alive, our soul is restricted by our physical needs and the rules of the world. At the moment of death, the cage door is opened. The soul is finally free to fly back to its original home in the spiritual world. This makes death a moment of freedom, not something to fear.

3. Why does the poet tell his grieving friends and family not to cry?

He tells them not to cry because he is actually in a better state now than he was when he was alive. He wants them to understand that the cold body they see is just a "shell" he has left behind. He is now happy, at peace, and in the presence of God. He believes that if they truly loved him, they should be happy that he has reached his final, peaceful destination.

4. According to the poem, what is the difference between "seeming" dead and "being" alive?

The poet says that what people call "death" is actually the beginning of real life. To the world, he "seems" dead because his body doesn't move. But to himself, he is more alive than ever because his soul is no longer trapped in a heavy, physical body. He suggests that our life on earth is like a dream, and death is the moment we finally wake up.

5. How does the poem describe the meeting between the soul and God (The Beloved)?

The poem views death as a "bridge" that allows a lover to finally meet his Beloved. Al-Ghazali sees God as the source of all love and peace. He describes the moment of meeting God with great joy and excitement. To him, death is like an invited guest or a long-awaited reunion with a dear friend.

6. What is the poet’s perspective on worldly wealth and power at the end of life?

He suggests that wealth, status, and power are completely useless at the moment of death. They stay behind with the "garment" (the body) and go into the ground. The only thing the soul takes with it is its spiritual condition and its relationship with God. The poem encourages people to focus on their character and faith rather than collecting material things.

7. What does the speaker mean when he says, "I am a soul, and this is my corpse"?

This is a statement of identity. He is telling his survivors to look at him correctly. He wants them to distinguish between the "I" (the eternal soul) and the "this" (the temporary physical body). By saying this, he reminds us that our true self is spiritual and does not rot or disappear when the heart stops beating.

8. How does the poem encourage a person to change their view of the world?

The poem encourages us to see the world as a temporary stopping place, like a hotel or a path. It tells us not to get too attached to physical beauty or comfort because they are all going to fade. Instead, we should live our lives with our eyes on the "next world," preparing ourselves for the day we finally fly free.

9. Why is the setting of a "deathbed" important for the poem’s impact?

The setting is important because it is the most honest moment of a person's life. When someone is on their deathbed, they no longer care about lying or impressing others. By writing these words as his final message, al-Ghazali gives the poem a sense of truth and urgency. It feels like a final, sincere piece of advice from someone who has already seen the "other side."

10. What lesson about "fear" can we learn from al-Ghazali's final words?

The lesson is that fear of death comes from a misunderstanding of what life is. If we think we are our bodies, we will be terrified of death. But if we understand that we are souls, death becomes a natural and even beautiful part of our journey. The poem teaches us that faith and knowledge can turn our greatest fear (death) into our greatest hope (reunion with God).

Multiple-choice questions based on the poem:

1. Who is the author of the poem "Deathbed"?

• A) Jalaluddin Rumi

• B) Imam al-Ghazali

• C) Maya Angelou

• D) Robert Hayden

2. What is the speaker’s body compared to in the poem?

• A) A golden treasure

• B) An empty house or garment

• C) A tall mountain

• D) A beautiful flower

3. Why does the speaker tell his friends not to weep?

• A) Because he is angry at them.

• B) Because he has gone to a place of peace and light.

• C) Because he will come back to life soon.

• D) Because crying is a waste of time.

4. In the bird metaphor, what does the "cage" represent?

• A) Heaven

• B) The physical body and the world

• C) A real garden

• D) A library of books

5. Where was this poem reportedly found after the poet died?

• A) In a locked safe

• B) Under his pillow

• C) In a local mosque

• D) In a university library

6. According to the poem, what is the "real" part of a human?

• A) The brain

• B) The money they earned

• C) The soul

• D) The physical face

7. How does the speaker feel about the moment of death?

• A) He is terrified and scared.

• B) He is confused and lost.

• C) He is joyful and ready to meet God.

• D) He is bored and tired.

8. What stays behind when the soul leaves for the afterlife?

• A) The person's kindness

• B) The cold corpse and earthly wealth

• C) The person's memories

• D) The person's soul

9. Death is described as a "bridge" that leads to:

• A) A new planet

• B) The Beloved (God)

• C) A deep sleep

• D) A dark cave

10. What is the central message of al-Ghazali’s "Deathbed"?

• A) That life is long and easy.

• B) That death is a transition of the soul to an eternal, better home.

• C) That we should try to live forever on earth.

• D) That physical beauty is the most important thing.

Detailed Summary of "Alone"

The poem "Deathbed" (often titled "If my dead body...") is traditionally attributed to Imam al-Ghazali, a famous Islamic scholar and philosopher. It was reportedly found under his pillow after he passed away. The poem is a beautiful reflection on the nature of life, death, and the soul's journey back to God.

1. The Body is a Temporary House

The poem begins with the speaker looking at his own dead body. He tells his friends and family not to be fooled by what they see. He explains that his body was just a "house" or a "garment" that he wore for a short time. Now that he has moved out, the house is empty. He wants everyone to understand that the cold body lying there is not the real "him."

2. Death as a Journey, Not an End

Al-Ghazali describes death as a transition or a move from one place to another. He compares himself to a bird that was once kept in a cage but has finally been set free. Death is not the destruction of the person; it is the soul returning to its original home. He views the afterlife as a place of peace and light, far away from the struggles of the physical world.

3. Comforting the Mourners

A large part of the poem is dedicated to comforting those who are left behind. He tells his loved ones not to weep or feel sad. He says, "I am a soul, and this is my corpse; it was my shell and my garment for a time." He explains that he is now happy and at peace in the presence of God, so their tears are unnecessary.

4. The Vanity of the World

The poem highlights how unimportant physical things become at the moment of death. Wealth, status, and even the physical beauty of the body no longer matter. All that remains is the soul and the spiritual state it reached during life. It serves as a reminder to the living to focus on their character and their relationship with the Divine rather than material gains.

5. Meeting the Beloved (God)

The central theme is the return to the Creator. Al-Ghazali speaks with joy about meeting God. He describes death as a "bridge" that connects a lover to his Beloved. For a believer, death is not something to be feared, but a welcome reunion with the Source of all life and love.

বিস্তারিত সারসংক্ষেপ (Bangla Summary)

ইমাম আল-গাজ্জালির "Deathbed" (শেষ শয্যা) কবিতাটি মানুষের নশ্বরতা এবং আত্মার অবিনশ্বরতা নিয়ে এক অসাধারণ প্রতিফলন। কথিত আছে, তাঁর মৃত্যুর পর বালিশের নিচে এই কবিতাটি পাওয়া গিয়েছিল।

১. দেহ একটি অস্থায়ী ঘর: কবিতাটির শুরুতে কবি তাঁর মৃতদেহের দিকে তাকিয়ে থাকা প্রিয়জনদের উদ্দেশ্য করে বলছেন যে, তারা যেন এই মৃতদেহ দেখে বিভ্রান্ত না হয়। তিনি বুঝিয়েছেন যে, তাঁর দেহটি ছিল একটি অস্থায়ী ‘ঘর’ বা ‘পোশাক’ যা তিনি কিছু সময়ের জন্য পরেছিলেন। এখন তিনি সেই ঘর ছেড়ে চলে গেছেন, তাই পড়ে থাকা দেহটি আসলে তিনি নিজে নন।

২. মৃত্যু এক যাত্রা, শেষ নয়: আল-গাজ্জালি মৃত্যুকে এক জগত থেকে অন্য জগতে যাওয়ার একটি মাধ্যম হিসেবে বর্ণনা করেছেন। তিনি নিজেকে একটি পাখির সাথে তুলনা করেছেন যা খাঁচায় বন্দি ছিল এবং এখন মুক্তি পেয়েছে। মৃত্যু মানে মানুষের বিনাশ নয়, বরং আত্মার নিজের আসল ঠিকানায় ফিরে যাওয়া।

৩. শোকাতুরদের সান্ত্বনা: কবি তাঁর প্রিয়জনদের কান্নাকাটি করতে নিষেধ করেছেন। তিনি বলেছেন, "আমি একটি আত্মা, আর এটি আমার মৃতদেহ; এটি কিছু সময়ের জন্য আমার খোলস ছিল।" তিনি এখন স্রষ্টার সান্নিধ্যে শান্তিতে আছেন, তাই তাদের দুঃখ পাওয়ার কোনো কারণ নেই।

৪. পৃথিবীর অসারতা: কবিতাটি আমাদের মনে করিয়ে দেয় যে মৃত্যুর মুহূর্তে পার্থিব ধন-সম্পদ বা পদমর্যাদা কতটা তুচ্ছ। যা অবশিষ্ট থাকে তা হলো মানুষের আমল বা চরিত্র এবং স্রষ্টার সাথে তার আধ্যাত্মিক সম্পর্ক।

৫. স্রষ্টার সাথে মিলন: এই কবিতার মূল বিষয়বস্তু হলো স্রষ্টার কাছে ফিরে যাওয়া। গাজ্জালি মৃত্যুকে একটি ‘সেতু’ হিসেবে দেখেছেন যা একজন প্রেমিককে তাঁর পরম প্রিয়তমের (আল্লাহ) সাথে মিলিয়ে দেয়। একজন বিশ্বাসীর কাছে মৃত্যু ভয়ের কোনো বিষয় নয়, বরং এটি হলো পরম আনন্দের এক মিলন।