In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The fact that this world is temporary, that does not mean we should not think about the dunya (worldly life). And if we are serious about akhirah (the afterlife), that does not mean we should forget the dunya.
The dunya is our means to akhirah. It is the farmland of the akhirah.
That is, if we do not sow the seeds of righteous deeds in the few days of our life here on this dunya, the opportunity will be lost forever. When we reach the threshold of the other world and death seizes us, deeds come to an end and all hopes are extinguished. If we continue to remain in the slavery of lusts and the captivity of various carnal desires until the Angel of Death arrives, it is possible that Shaytan may achieve his ultimate objective of wresting away our faith. Let us clear our hearts and turn our attention to the focal point of absolute perfection and try to ponder on verse 17 of Surah Sajdah where Allah's promise has been made very clear:
فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّآ أُخْفِىَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٧[Qur'an, As-Sajdah 32:17]
And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do. (17)
On the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) took me by the shoulder and said,
“Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer.”
The stranger is the one who is in a land and he is not from its people or he is a wayfarer. He is the one who passes through a land and he is passing by as a traveler. The likes of these, he does not take this land as a residence or an abode since he is a traveler.
Due to this, he would say, “In the evening do not expect to live to the morning, and in the morning do not expect to live to the evening” meaning if the evening comes do not say, “I am going to live to the morning”, How many people live through the evening and do not live to the morning? Likewise is his statement, “And in the morning do not expect to live to the evening.” How many people live through the morning and do not live to the evening? Ibn Umar’s intent in that: A person should utilize the opportunity to do righteous actions, so that he does not waste and neglect it without realizing it.
[Bukhari]
While the dunya is extremely tempting, what is with Allah is better and last longer. Allah Almighty says,
فَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٣٦[Qur'an, Ash-Shura 42:36]
So whatever thing you have been given - it is but [for] enjoyment of the worldly life. But what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who have believed and upon their Lord rely (36)
Though I haven't seen what Allah has is actually better but I trust it is better than anything here. This ayah is about changing our attitude.
Allah will put you to the test whether you recite this ayah or not, whether you believe this ayah or not. Allah Almighty says,
[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:155-156]
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ﴿١٥٦
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (155)
For example, your finances may not be great, so you are tempted to venture into haram dealings. Your child got accepted in one of the best schools or in medical or law school and you can't afford the educational expenses -- so you help your child fills out a loan application or secure the loan, leaving her/him with a whopping 150k-250k debt the moment he/she graduated -- what a way for your child to start a life! You want to get married and want to hold the nikah/wedding in the masjid -- but you are pressured to put up a lavish wedding that nobody will remember after a few days and the debt is piled on you.
People have been making irresponsible decisions -- about their education, marriage, family, job, business, etc. Many of us get suck into the world of pride and show. But if at that very moment we remember what with Allah is better and last longer, we will not be tempted and we will do the right thing.
May Allah help us sow the seeds of righteous deeds and increase us in Iman. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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