Imagine, at the end of our lives we suddenly realise that our lives were futile because we aspired for the wrong things…. What a waste and there is no going back or a second chance!! It’s better to take the time off now to study our options so that we could make a more informed choice. This article is about the two choices in life that we have.
With the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful,
Everyone has aims and objectives in life. Some are short term while others are medium or long term. The question arises: What is our ultimate goal that we would want to achieve with the sum total of our life? Islam teaches that there are basically two options in life that we have:
“And We have pointed out to him (man) the two conspicuous high ways?” Al Quran 90:10.
Very simply put, one can say that it is right or wrong but this is vague. Throughout the Holy Quran these two paths are mentioned and these two paths are linked either to wanting what this worldly life has to offer or to pursuing the hereafter which entails spirituality and getting to know God.
“For him who desires the present life…” Al Quran 17:19 as contrasted with “… those who choose the Hereafter …..” Al Quran 17: 20
So the two options are acquiring what this worldly life has to offer or seeking God. Let’s study these two options further.
Getting a degree, earning, having fun, getting married, buying a car, building a home, having children, getting a “high” by showing off our knowledge or possessions is what this worldly life is all about.
Striving solely for the world makes us selfish and it results in pride, vanity, greed and competition. In pursuing wealth as an example: No matter how much we have, it would not be enough.
We are always thinking of ways to improve on the profits. If a business is a huge success then we would most likely think of opening up more stores or franchising our business or diversifying by investing into other business.
On a personal level no matter how much we earn it would never be enough and we would never know contentment because the standards of our living would change according to what we earn.
The more we earn, the more expensive our tastes become. We would want better clothing, better cars, better living conditions etc. The Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam has said:
“If the son of Adam were to possess two valleys of riches, he would long for the third one, and the stomach of the son of Adam is not filled but with dust. And Allah returns to him who repents.” Al Hadis 1:4:31:284.
This constant striving and preoccupation with the world consumes our time, energies and resources and it therefore distracts us from the true purpose of life:
“The mutual rivalry for piling up (the goods of this world) diverts you (from the purpose of life) until you visit the grave.” Al Quran Sura Al Takathur 102:1.
Although heaven and hell are concepts that we cannot physically see, we can perhaps appreciate that striving for the world leads to hell because of its inner and outer repercussions – greed, pride, vanity, competition, dissatisfaction, jealousy and so forth.
“Those who desire the life of the present and its glitter, to them We shall pay their deeds therein, without diminution. They are those for whom there is nothing in the hereafter but the fire…..” Al Quran 11:15
Islam does not preach total abstinence from worldly affairs. There is no such thing as monks and nuns in Islam. We are supposed to take part in worldly affairs but this must not be our ultimate goal. There is more to our lives. As humans, we are special in so many ways when compared to the rest of creation. Apart from the normal blessings, Allah Subhanatallah has blessed us with special favors such as: His Spirit breathed into us (Al Quran 15:29) also 38:72: He has given us the faculty of understanding (Al Quran 32:9) He has made us rule over all other creation (Al Quran 16:4-8) He has guided us (Al Quran 76:3) and 96:4-5: He has given us an example of a perfect role model in the form of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) (Al Quran 33:21) He has raised us above all creations and made us rulers on earth (Al Quran 2:30) also 6:165.
We must have a very important role to play because Allah Subhanatallah has blessed us with so many special favors. There has to be a better reason for our creation than just being worldly.
“Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and all that is in between.” 21:16
It is in pursuing the Hereafter that we would find the true, more meaningful purpose of our lives. In contrast to our worldly bodies we have a spirit and when we purify our spirits then we develop certain noble qualities. We learn to trust in Allah Subhanatallah for provision and we do not chase after it nor cling onto it, but share freely. When we have this kind of attitude then we have peace of mind by being content. In all matters we want for others what we would want for ourselves. In dealing with others, we never look up to them or down on them based on how wealthy they are or how simple they may be. In this way we inculcate in ourselves humility, contentment, living in harmony, loving etc. and we free ourselves from malice and hatred. It is these kinds of qualities that lead to enlightenment, inner peace and finally, eternal bliss. To such people heaven means little to them for they experience so much more and become so much.
“By the soul, and the order and proportion given to it, and its inspiration as to its wrong and its right: truly he succeeds that purifies it and he fails that corrupts it.” 91:7.
Some of us will argue that striving for the world is fine because we pray and we give charity. Although these deeds are part of the five pillars of Islam it is not the whole of Islam. Our essence, our intentions, the state of our inner beings and our conduct is far more important. These five pillars are just the tools to refine our inner being and conduct.
“Once a man asked the Prophet (SAW) that a such and such a woman is reputed for much prayer, fasting and charity, but she offends her neighbors with her tongue: The Prophet (SAW) said she will go to hell. The man then asked: such and such a woman is reputed less for her fasting, prayer and charity but she does not offend her neighbors. The Prophet (SAW) said she will go to paradise.” Al Hadis 1:2:7:42w.
There are many such Hadith and Quranic verses that stress purity of intention, loving etc. before our ritual acts of prayer. The translator of Al Hadis in his commentary on this matter writes:
“It is of no use to practice virtue with a deep attachment to this world. This is like driving away sparrows from a tree to avoid the noise they make. As soon as you turn your back the sparrows will return. To stop the noise completely it is better to remove the tree completely. Similarly if the tree of love for this world is removed from the mind, virtues may thrive peacefully. The two cannot live together just as darkness and light cannot be together.” AL Hadith Vol 2 page 732
As Muslims, we follow the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and he lived a simple life at the brink of poverty. At times he pawned his armor and even borrowed to give to the needy.
Although he was the leader he never surrounded himself with pomp and glitter but lived as if he was no better than everyone else around him. His focus was never on worldly affairs because he was always striving to better his soul and creating a spiritually aware society.
In contrast to this, we at present live in a materialistic inclined society and most of us have unwittingly adopted the materialistic way. We are being deviously fooled and trapped into being worldly.
A hundred years ago people were enslaved and forced to work by being whipped but today the techniques have changed. Instead of negative stimulation we are positively stimulated by carrots being dangled in front of our eyes.
Although we have perfectly working order cell phones, TVs and cars, we still want new ones because the new ones advertised to us, have more features and are better looking. What we seek is no longer necessity but extravagance. We are drowning in this mundane world.
If we think that we would settle our worldly needs and then dedicate our lives to Allah Subhanatallah then know that this does not happen because the Prophet (SAW) has said that a person that strives for this world would never get satisfied.
Apart from this, who knows whether we will live to see another dawn? What is the point then, of amassing a fortune, or showing off our knowledge, skills and piety because our worldly bodies will eventually wither and die?
The first step to making our lives worthwhile is to change the focus of our lives from being worldly to focusing on purifying and strengthening our souls so that we could understand the reality and greatness of our beings.
We are destined for a truly amazing destiny which you would discover as you read further articles.
Now that we have found a worthy goal for our lives let’s look for a religion that would guide us towards God.
Peace and salutations be upon Allah’s Messengers who are responsible for guiding humanity throughout time. Ameen.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi. Author: Mohammed Hassan Gaffoor (WhatsApp +27849101486)