Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Prioritizing Our Lives and Doing Righteous Deeds

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Everyday is an opportunity to try to gain Allah's love. Everything we do on this earth, whether it be seeking knowledge, helping people, entertaining guests, earning a livelihood, offering a sacrificial animal, reciting Qur'an and other acts of worship (obligatory or otherwise) or even mundane acts, should be for the love of Allah, and none besides.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ‌ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا ﴿٣٠﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِ‌ى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ‌ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ‌ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرً‌ۭا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَ‌قٍ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَ‌آئِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْ‌تَفَقًا ﴿٣١

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds. (30) Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place. (31)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:30-31]

We want Allah to love us because our entire life, this temporal life and the eternal life of the Hereafter, depended Him alone. That Day will come sooner than we thought, starting with our own death. Allah reminds us don't see that Day as far, it is close.

إِنَّهُمْ يَرَ‌وْنَهُۥ بَعِيدًا ﴿٦﴾ وَنَرَ‌ىٰهُ قَرِ‌يبًا ﴿٧

Indeed, they see it [as] distant, (6) But We see it [as] near. (7)

[Qur'an, Al-Ma'rij 70:6]

Our view of Judgment Day is that 'we have a long way to go till it comes." We don't see it as near because we are busy with this dunya. We let materialism takes over our lives. There are deaths everywhere. I lost 2 of my younger siblings this year within a span of less than 2 months. Just in the past few weeks, we heard so many deaths in just one place -- Makkah/Mina. These are reminders that our turn is coming. What have we prepared for that Day?

This Surah keeps reminding us at least every Friday to prioritize our lives and prepare for the Day.

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ‌ عِندَ رَ‌بِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ‌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦﴾ وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ‌ ٱلْجِبَالَ وَتَرَ‌ى ٱلْأَرْ‌ضَ بَارِ‌زَةً وَحَشَرْ‌نَـٰهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ‌ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿٤٧

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) And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth prominent, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone. (47)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:46-47]

The way we prepare ourselves is to make a conscious effort to obey Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ‌ۭ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَ‌ٰحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْ‌جُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَ‌بِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِ‌كْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَ‌بِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا ﴿١١٠

Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." (110)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:110]

رَ‌بَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَ‌حْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِ‌نَا رَ‌شَدًا

Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam