What’s your goal and purpose in life. Everyone has desires, plans & ambitions in life.
With the name of Allah, most Bountiful, ever Merciful
Some of us are searching for a beautiful wife, some of us want to buy a new cell phone with all the latest features, some of us want to buy a new computer, some of us want to buy the latest BMW, some of us are planning a holiday, some of us are planning on having a unique wedding, some of us desire that our child becomes a doctor or some other job with a status attached to it and some of us are planning to extend our houses or to renovate them etc.
If we get one desire fulfilled, then we have another ready. Whatever our needs are, they cannot be fulfilled in a short period of time and we have to make an effort to fulfill these desires. Some are short term and it does not take much effort while others are long term and takes years of striving to materialize.
In short: we are spending large amounts of time, energy and resources in trying to fulfill these desires. These ambitions become the focus of our lives. It is what we live for and what we die for.
Well the Quraan talks about exactly our situation, but instead of fine horses we seek fine cars, instead of acres of crops and fields full of livestock we seek business and warehouse full with merchandise–
“Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covert. Women and sons: heaped hoards of gold and silver: horses branded (for blood and excellence) and wealth of cattle and well tilled lands. Such are the possessions of this world’s life: but with Allah is the best of goals (to return to)” 3:14
Some of us will argue that it is fine because we pray five times a day and we went for Hajj. Yes, this is what Allah and His Rasool (SAW) taught us to do but that is not all that they taught.
From the above verses it is clear that they do not want us to make this material world the focus of our lives because it would DIVERT us or distract us from the actual goal 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.” Sura Al Takathur 102:1
We would become so engrossed in the world that we would not have time to think about Allah. Even our prayers would mean nothing because it would be done to ease our conscience or to ask Allah for more. Instead of thinking of Allah in our prayers we would be thinking of the world.
“It is of no use to practice virtue with a deep attachment of this world. It 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.” commentary AL Hadith page 732
If we think that we would settle our worldly needs and then dedicate our lives to Allah then know that this does not happen because a person that strives for this world would never get satisfied. Apart from this who knows whether we will live to see another dawn.
As Muslims we believe that life on earth is just a temporary abode and the life of the hereafter is permanent, lasting forever. We are taught to strive for the hereafter, and by striving for this world we would not achieve success in the hereafter.
“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…..” 11:15
There is nothing wrong with working so that one can earn a livelihood. If fact, this is what the Prophet (SAW) encouraged. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy but it must come with helping and serving others. A wealthy person can reach a very high state if he/she spends their wealth on good deeds.
It becomes a sin when we make ‘wealth’ the object of life and focus all our energies towards just this. Thus even a poor person making the world his focus in life commits a sin and wrongs his own soul.
“The Prophet (SAW) prayed: “O Allah, make for the family of Muhammad (SAW) the provisions which is bare subsistence.” Muslim 7080
If we claim to be followers of Muhammad (SAW) should we not be making the same prayer for our children? Instead, we seek to build an empire for them.
Remember– what we strive for is what we will get, and striving for material things is futile because it temporarily belongs to us. Are we not going to die and leave it all behind?
Apart from this, it does not bring about happiness. On the contrary, it brings about unhappiness because a person is not satisfied and will always be wanting more. Look around, wealthy people still work and quite often, they work harder than others. They slaves to their wealth.
Striving to perfect our souls is more important because our souls continue living even after our bodies die. By perfecting our souls we would achieve inner peace, contentment and happiness.
On a social level, striving for wealth breeds greed, avarice and competition between people, whereas sharing and caring brings about love and brotherhood in a community. These are the very first teachings of the Prophet (SAW) and he taught them long before prayer, fasting, hajj etc.
Peace & salutations be upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam. Ameen..
Published by: Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi 2009. Author: Mohammed Hassan Gaffoor (WhatsApp +27849101486.
Listen to our nasheed ‘Robotic’ on materialism.