Allah has enhanced the world with many blessings that are pleasing to humankind. And has informed them that they can use these however they want to. But, along with this He has told them to be thankful for all these blessings and not to forget the Hereafter by being too preoccupied with greed in this world. This is because the life people lead in this world is not their real life. Their real life is the life of the Hereafter that starts with their death and continues till infinity. For this reason, forgetting the Hereafter and remaining engrossed with greed for 70-80 years of worldly life shows great heedlessness.

As a matter of fact, those who forget the Hereafter are deprived of the many beauties of this world and the blessings of the Hereafter. The effects of this deprivation in this world can be firstly seen in their understanding. People, who become passionately attached to this life, cannot properly assess the reason for their creation, their responsibilities towards Allah, and death and life after death, having become unable to think clearly. This situation shows that they are actually in a state of deception, while they think that they are doing the right things.

Because of their distorted value judgements, they think the real meaning of life consists of material things like money, wealth, and property, beauty, reputation, fame, respect, and leaving wealth and a respectable name for those they leave behind. And they spend all their lives trying to gain all these assets whereas, in fact, as our Prophet (as) has also advised, "the best richness is the richness of the soul." (Bukhari)

Yet, such people spend years trying to achieve a respectable position in the eyes of others and search for ways to gain their appreciation, but they do not think for a moment that they need to thank Allah, Who created them and given them life, Who presented them with countless blessings and continual sustenance, and helped them in all their affairs. Or, they spend their days working hard without stopping to rest so as to be richer than everybody else and are always in quest of new projects, but they do not think that it is Allah Who has given them their riches and fail to set aside the time to perform their duties as His servants.

So, as a result of the wrong choice they make, they are deprived of the most valuable blessing given to mankind in this world-the ability to reason. In this state of thoughtlessness, they turn to denial and because of this they lose Heaven and face Hell in the Hereafter. In the Qur'an, Allah explains the situation of "'those who took their religion as a diversion and a game, and were deluded by the life of the world'. Today We will forget them just as they forgot the encounter of this Day and denied Our Signs." (Surat al-A'raf: 51)

It is pointed out that unbelievers "rejoice in the life of the world. Yet the life of the world, compared to the Hereafter, is only fleeting enjoyment." (Surat ar-Ra'd: 26)

What people have to do to rid themselves of this thoughtlessness that leads them to destruction is very simple: if they realize that the blessings they are given in this world are all granted by Allah and if they do not forget that the real reason for their existence is to seek Allah's approval, they will not have any obstacles to block or pressure their minds. Allah's promise to His sincere servants is as follows:

To those who act rightly, male or female, being believers, We will give a good life and We will recompense them according to their noblest deeds. (Surat an-Nahl: 97)

Oct 21, 2009

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