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.
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