A short life or a long life; the Islamic view.

Very often we hear and read the expression: ‘life is short’ and, indeed, the lifespan granted to us by our Creator the Almighty, is sometimes less than many of us would wish for. Most people would wish to spend it in doing something positive, productive and beneficial for themselves. Unfortunately, while many of us make the best of our opportunities and work our hardest to bring comfort into the lives of ourselves and our families, we still find little time for enjoyment and life seems to be too short.

Allah, the Giver of life, said in the Quran: ‘the life of this world is merely an illusory enjoyment’. S3 V185

This life is meant to be short; it is only transitory and not permanent but just a passageway to a life which will be permanent and blissful for those who achieve it. The Quran again highlights this fact in this verse: ‘The present life is nothing but sport and amusement. The true life is in the abode of the Hereafter, if only they knew.’ S29 V64

The purpose of Islamic teachings and guidance is to inform mankind of their ultimate destination and how hard and full of tests this life will be for us to reach the blessed life in the hereafter. The Quran tells us about this in this verse: ‘O man! You are striving unto your Lord and you will meet Him’. S V6

As an indication of the tests and trials in this life, Allah says: ‘Blessed is He in whose Hand is the dominion of the Universe, and Who has power over everything. Who created death and life that He might try you as to which of you is better in deed. He is the Most Mighty, the Most Forgiving.’ S67 V1-2

Islamic guidance points us towards a possibly long and arduous passage that would lead us to eternal life. But, even if our time in this life is very short, we must still pay a significant price for the glorious and blessed life in the Hereafter. That price is our obedience to Allah, the Creator of all and everything, and our submission to Him. In Islamic terminology it is called ‘Islam’.

Islam came to mankind as a complete package of divine guidance. Allah proclaimed in the Quran that the way forward to Him is only through Islam; a state of submission to Allah as guided by Him. Allah’s guiding revelation is simple and logically contained in the overall scheme of our life and death cycle, within its justice and rewards framework. The Quran says: ‘We have made this Quran easy as a reminder. Is there, then, any who will take heed?’ S54 V17) A short span of life of this world still affords us the God given opportunity to take our place in the hereafter.

Islam’s message to the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, was, on the one hand a confirmation of the age old divine guidance given to all prophets and messengers. On the other, it was a completion of intended divine guidance to mankind and an assertion that without this guidance humanity would be lost.

Islam tells us about the natural transition from the temporary life of this world to the permanent life in the hereafter, whilst affirming that both worlds are Allah’s creation.

Islam also deals with the intellectual aspects of mankind, regarding them as the catalyst in forming our beliefs and philosophical understanding of the purpose for our existence and indeed the universe. Intellect can be a means to fortune for people or, ironically, lead them to a state of misfortune. The divine guidance is also concerned with people’s intellectual wellbeing and with helping them to appreciate Allah’s Glory in His creation, so that they will work for Him throughout their lives and achieve a favourable result in the Hereafter.

A life not lived in accordance with Allah’s guidance and in submission to Him, does not open the doors to Allah’s blessings in the life of the Hereafter according to the Quran. People would wish to prolong their stay here by any means, because it is believed by them that this is the only life, but pleasure is a mirage, never reached and never satisfying. 

‘You will certainly find them most eager to cling on to life, indeed even more eager than those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity. Each one of them wishes to live a thousand years although the bestowal of long life cannot remove him from chastisement. Allah sees whatever they do.’ S2 V96

We create a small world of our own that pleases us and give us some entertainment. An assumption of power and glory makes us proud of ownership and in authority. In our time, people own millions and billions and ‘invest’ their wealth to further benefit from what they have already made for themselves. Does it open any door to God’s pleasure and His blessings?

Money cannot buy longer lives. Everyday we see billionaires and powerful authoritarians who do not survive when their time comes.

The only thing that our money can do is to buy us the pleasure of our Creator, both by our faith and what we do with our wealth. His pleasure with us together with His mercy in the life after our death, if we have used this wealth solely for pleasure of Allah, could cause us to continue with better possessions and ownership in Paradise and last for ever.

The Quran has a beautiful and expressive way of highlighting  both the life of this world and the Hereafter. It says: ‘know well that the life of this world is merely sport and diversion and adornment and an object of your boasting with one another, and a rivalry in the multiplication of riches and children. Its likeness is that of rain; when it produces vegetation it delights the tillers. But then it withers and you see it turn yellow, and then it crumbles away. In the Hereafter there is (either) grievous chastisement (or) forgiveness from Allah and His Good Pleasure. The life of this world is nothing but delusion.’

The following verse gives us further cause to strive for our own salvation. It says: ‘So vie with one another in seeking to attain your Lord’s forgiveness and a Garden whose width is as the width of the heaven and the earth, one which has been prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is Allah’s bounty which He bestows upon those whom He pleases. Allah is the Lord of abounding bounty’. S57 V20-21

If we manage to make our lives a pleasure to Allah, its very shortness can prolong our life in the Hereafter and make it eternal. Yes, life is short, but that means that our hard work is also short and our pleasure can become real sooner and be longer with the forgiveness and blessings of our Lord.

We pray to Allah that all mankind submits to Him and that He is pleased with our deeds and actions and shows us His mercy.

PEACE – an Islamic perspective

Peace is one of the most elusive but precious commodities that all people, individuals and nations, desperately search for in their lives. We look for peace everywhere. We often turn to our holy scriptures in our search and even turn to philosophy and ancient wisdom in the hope that they will provide the answer. Indeed we even wage wars, kill, plunder and destroy other’s peace in our vain attempts to experience it for ourselves. Some become pacifists or Sufis, seeking to find the peace within, only to find that their chosen spiritual life fails them. It would seem that the big questions are always there; where is peace to be found and how do we achieve it?

Islam has its own concept of peace and my understanding of this comes from studying the Islamic scriptures:

The purpose of divine guidance offered in Islam is to establish peace. The Quran says unequivocally, that ‘Allah does not love those who spread mischief in the land’.

To establish peace we need to understand the elements necessary in building the essential pillars to support it. Achieving peace demands that we take practical steps.

To have a clear mind about peace, Allah, the God Almighty, named Himself ‘Peace’. It is one of His beautiful names in Islam. According to Islam, following the path to God is what causes peace. In a practical world, the following would ensure peace in human society and create an inner peace:

Justice and fairness for all help create peace:

A just society is one which reflects the justice shown by a loving community, whose members are fair-minded and ensure that wrongdoers are stopped in their tracks. Injustice is a shameful human characteristic that causes God’s wrath and destroys the fabric of human society, but a just society prospers, flourishes and grows in happiness and blessings. An unjust society creates fear, disengagement, false pride and suppresses people’s rights. A just and fair society helps develop a positive character in its people who will stand out above all others. An unjust society, inevitably, causes corruption, produces mischievous people, and stops human society functioning at its best level. Islamic guidance on justice is firm and clear.

The Quran says: ‘Believers! Be upholders of justice and bearers of witness to Truth for the Sake of Allah, even though it may be against yourselves or against your parents or kinsmen, or the rich or the poor, for Allah is more concerned with their well-being than you are. Do not then follow your own desires lest you keep away from justice. If you twist or turn away (from Truth), know that Allah is well aware of all that you do’. S4 V135

‘Allah commands you to deliver trusts to those worthy of them; and when you judge between people judge with justice’. S4 V58

Justice and fairness is never a selective act. A mindset of fairness knows no discrimination between people and helps people live in peace and in happiness.

Respecting the rights of others and doing good:

Human rights are our most vulnerable possession but they continue to be regularly violated by many, either at an individual or family level and, what is even more concerning, even more frequently by those in positions of power or authority. We strive for peace by violating just that which is necessary to create it. This continuing violation of human rights is the most potent tool in the arsenal of those determined to destroy peace and the path leading to it.

According to the Quran, a belief in the Most Merciful and Most Just Creator, Allah, to Whom all will return and be accountable for their actions and deeds in the Hereafter, is the most powerful and effective deterrent to any peace breaking action. Such a belief ensures that violators of human rights will face a judgement day and will be made accountable for their peace breaking actions. Instead, the Quran guides, we should be promoting human brotherhood and fraternity, encouraging a harmonious human society and entering into trustful relationships. The Quran says:

‘Say to them (O Mohammad): come, let me recite what your Lord has forbidden (made sacred): that you associate nothing with Him; and do good to your parents; and do not slay your children out of fear of poverty. We provide you and will likewise provide them with sustenance; and do not even draw near to things shameful – be they open or secret; and do not slay the soul sanctified by Allah except in just cause; this He has enjoined upon you so that you may understand. And do not even draw near to the property of the orphan in his minority except in the best manner; and give full measure and weight with justice, We do not burden anyone beyond his capacity; when you speak , be just, even though it concerns a near of kin; and fulfil the covenant of Allah. That is what He has enjoined upon you so that you may take heed’. S V151-152

The Quran also says: ‘seek by means of the wealth that Allah has granted you the abode of the Hereafter, but forget not your share in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, and do not strive to create mischief in the land, for Allah loves not those who create mischief’. S V77

A good human character

The best of human traits will foster and sustain the foundations of a peaceful human society.  We all have morals, but how we treat others reflects on how we think and what our morals are. Even the most immoral people have their own set of morals and rules of engagement with others. Our values and morality impact on other people’s fate and their way of life. Peace loving people cannot be without love towards all humanity. They know no discrimination when dealing and deciding about people.

We need to promote a high human morality, common to all people and engage in a collective way to move forward and create a happier, peaceful and contented human society.

In conclusion; peace is not necessarily found within ourselves, but is rather the consequence of our actions and deeds. Peace needs to be sown before it can be reaped. Peace within and around us are integral to each other and we cannot have one without another. The Quran highlights this fact in this verse: ‘Whatever good happens to you is from Allah; and whatever misfortune smites you is because of your own action. We have sent you to mankind (O Mohammad) as a Messenger, and Allah is sufficient as a witness’. S4 V79