In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Abu Ya’la Shaddad ibn Aws reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
The intelligent person is the one who takes himself to account and works for what will come after death. The stupid man is the one who follows his own whims and hopes that his desires will be gratified by Allah.[at-Tirmidhi]
True intelligence is not having abundant knowledge but having realization that the afterlife is more important than this life. It is to realize that this life is only a means to the end. It is to realize that this life is just a bridge to the next life. And only the stupid person stops on the bridge and builds his house there. It does not mean we have to be miserable on the bridge, but we need to realize this life should not be our goal. The bridge is there to help us get to the other side and we should use the bridge as such. The bridge may appear to be long but
وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ ﴿٤ ...[Qur'an, Al-Hadid 57:4]
...and He is with you wherever you are. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing. (4)
Imagine you suddenly woke up on a fast train loaded with all luxuries and amenities. Those of intelligence would ask themselves certain urgent questions. How did I get here? Where am I going? What's going to happen? (Because you are on a moving train, a lot of things could happen). Given all that, what am I supposed to be doing while I am on this train? An intelligence really asking oneself these fundamental questions. This what troubles the soul, the thing that makes us human. But most people on that train will never stop and ask these fundamental questions but stop and enjoy the luxuries and amenities.
Our train is moving fast...regardless how much you eat, drink and partake on other blessings, you have to get off the train when the train arrives at its destination and it may not be the place you like, but you have no choice but to get off, no more luxuries, no more amenities you can enjoy.
The intelligent person is the one who seeks their benefit of this life and who acts in a way that would secure his eternal benefit. One must take himself to account by being mindful of Allah, by following the Qur'an and Sunnah, by fulfilling the rights of Allah and the rights of His creation. One takes himself to account by preferring the afterlife over his whims and desire. One takes himself to account by looking at the bigger picture. By preferring the best over that which is ok.
When there are two things that are permissible, for example having a car, and one has the money to by a BMW, however he knows there is a relative who is in need of money. Well the BMW is nicer and probably more reliable than a cheaper car, but it is wiser for him to buy a Honda, a reliable car, and use the rest of the money to help out the relative in need. In this way he prefers the pleasure of Allah and the pleasure he will attain in Paradise over the pleasure he would have attain in this world.
The intelligent person seeks Allah, while the fool seek this life and hopes that Allah will fulfill his vain desire of this world without taking himself to account. An intelligent person takes the haraam and makruh out of his life in order to gain the pleasure of Allah.
Remember,
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:46]
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)
We ask Allah to guide us on a straight path, the way that leads us to the pleasure of Allah, the eternal good.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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