بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
This world is one big attraction, making those who in reality are meagre and full of weakness look strong and mighty, making those who are ignorant seem intelligent, and portraying those who have been misguided and enslaved to their own desires as being the most guided of people.
Surah Al-Kahf prepares us to face this life and focus our attention towards the One who gives us this life. Indeed it is full of lessons and reminders. And it is no wonder that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) wants us to recite this Surah regularly especially on Fridays.
We are granted this life to be tested which of us would remain steadfast in the dhikr (remembrance) and shukr (gratitude) of Allah. Living in a landmine where every step you take can lead to your possible destruction, it may not be destruction of the body but rather of the soul, we see people being annihilated every single day.
Allah gives us an example of two men in Surah Al-Kahf, one was tested with extreme wealth but he finally lost all of it because he forgets His Lord, deluded with his good life, ungrateful and, arrogant.
Allah tells us in the Surah in part,
وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَـٰبٍ وَحَفَفْنَـٰهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًا ﴿٣٢﴾ كِلْتَا ٱلْجَنَّتَيْنِ ءَاتَتْ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمْ تَظْلِم مِّنْهُ شَيْـًٔا ۚ وَفَجَّرْنَا خِلَـٰلَهُمَا نَهَرًا ﴿٣٣
And present to them an example of two men: We granted to one of them two gardens of grapevines, and We bordered them with palm trees and placed between them [fields of] crops. Each of the two gardens produced its fruit and did not fall short thereof in anything. And We caused to gush forth within them a river. (33) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:32-33]
وَكَانَ لَهُۥ ثَمَرٌ فَقَالَ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُۥٓ أَنَا۠ أَكْثَرُ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا ﴿٣٤
وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُۥ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ قَالَ مَآ أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَبَدًا ﴿٣٥﴾ وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا ﴿٣٦
And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, "I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men." (34) And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said, "I do not think that this will perish - ever. (35) And I do not think the Hour will occur. And even if I should be brought back to my Lord, I will surely find better than this as a return." (36) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:34-36]
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا ﴿٤٢﴾ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا ﴿٤٣
And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone." (42) And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor could he defend himself. (43) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:42-43]
Remember, no one lives in this dunya (world) except that he will die.
Al-Hasan al-Basri had some wise words concerning the dunya when he said: "So beware of this land (the dunya) that is falling down and is misleading and deceiving, being decorated by its deceit and having eluded (others) by its delusion, and having killed its people with its hopes. It looks forward with anticipation towards the one who proposes to it for marriage. Hence it becomes like the unveiled bride - all the eyes are looking towards it, and the souls are in love with it, and the hearts are captivated by it."
Indeed he was true in his words, as we are all guilty of the crime of being deceived by the dunya with its beauty and glamor. Some of us were fortunate to get out, Alhamdulillah, while others have wandered off into the everlasting dark tunnel that had no light at its beginning and has no light at its end, busy themselves with the dunya, and the only thing that will allow him to leave is death itself. May Allah save us from an evil ending and grant us an excellent ending at the highest of iman (faith in the Oneness of Allah).
No matter how much good you may see in this dunya, in reality it is just a wolf dressed in sheep's clothing. Had there been any good in it, then Allah would have made it a place of reward, and place of dissension of His mercy but rather Allah only sent one of His mercies upon the earth through which we are kind to one another, and rather He has made it a place of trial and tribulation.
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Paradise is surrounded by adversity, and Hellfire is surrounded by lusts.” [Muslim]
And the world is a true prison for the believer.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.” [Sahih Muslim]
Likewise, had there been good in it we would have seen the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) being attached to it and living in its luxuries but rather he sacrificed it all with full certainty in that which will come after is better and everlasting. Thus, he (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "The dunya is cursed. Cursed is all that is in it except for the remembrance of Allah, and that which resembles it, a scholar, and a student (of knowledge)." [Related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Bayhaqi.]
This dunya is an endless pit for the one who is not careful and falls into it. So watch you step.
May Allah have mercy on us, and make us of those who turn to Him often in repentance, of those who benefit from admonition and of those who when they are given are thankful, and when tested are patient.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
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