Nothing is permanent
We need to understand that, although life on earth is temporary, the lessons we learn here, the lives we touch and change, and the wonderful rewards that we accumulate, will endure forever. When I ride in an airplane, I enjoy looking at how small the world seems from a distance. Yet when you zoom in, what seemed so small and insignificant turns out to be very important and major for most of us.
Humans tend to be very shortsighted when planning for their future. We plan for school, college, a career, family, children, retirement – among others. However, it tends to stop at that. Why don’t we plan for what we are certain will happen without a doubt? The answer is because we are scared of the unknown, and are comfortable with what we know.
Almighty Allah tells us the following in the Noble Quran, translated as: “Know that the life of this world is but amusement, diversion, adornment and boasting to one another and competition to get more wealth and children, like the rain whose (resulting) plant-growth pleases the tillers. Then it dries and turns yellow, then it becomes (scattered) debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment, and forgiveness and pleasure from Allah. And the worldly life is nothing but enjoyment of fleeing delusion.” (Al-Hadeed – the Iron 57: 20)
In the verse above, Almighty Allah reprimanded those who neglected to defend their religion and loved ones when the enemies had rallied against them to annihilate them, being afraid for their lives, as well as those who lagged behind in giving zakat and charity. We understand also from the above-quoted verse that the highest benefits and means of pleasure and enjoyment that one can possibly attain in the world are indeed short-lived, insignificant, and confined to a few years of temporary life, and can be destroyed by just one turn of fate. Contrary to this, the life in Hereafter is splendid and eternal. Its benefits are great and permanent and its losses are also great and permanent.
Exegetes of the Noble Quran maintain that the bodies of the unbelievers and weak believers are diverted by mundane pleasures from the sublime goal of worshipping Almighty Allah, and their hearts are diverted from the mention and remembrance of the Majestic Allah.
According to some interpreters of the Noble Quran, in the above verse, Almighty Allah instructed Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to inform the polytheists who had asked him to dismiss the poor Muslims when they (the rich and influential polytheists) wanted to discuss with him religious issues, “that life of this world is but amusement, diversion, adornment and boasting to one another and completion to get more wealth and children...”
Our life on this planet Earth is like a rider who alighted and enjoyed the shade of a tree. Abdullah bin Masoud (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) slept on mat, and when he stood up, it left marks on his flank. He and his companions said, translated as: “O Allah’s Messenger, we can get a soft bed for you.” He replied, “What do I have to do with the world? I am not in the world but as a rider who rests in the shade of a tree, then he gets up and leaves it.” (Sahih At-Tirmidhi # 4, 109)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is an epitome of sportsmanship,
who realized that you cannot always be a winner: Anas bin Malik (RA) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to have a she-camel called ‘AlAdh’ba’a” that could not be surpassed in a race. Once a bedouin came riding a young camel and it surpassed it (Al-Adh’ba’a) in a race. The Muslims were very upset by that, and the Prophet (PBUH) saw the expression on their faces. They said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger, ‘Al-Adh’ba’a’ has been defeated (in a race)! He replied, ‘It is Allah’s Law that noting is raised high in this world, except that He lowers it.’” (Al-Bukhari # 2, 872)
Among the lessons that we learn from the above hadith (prophetic narration) is that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was extremely humble yet he is the best human being ever created by Almighty Allah. A believer should patiently persevere and endure when changes happen: Abu Saeed Al-Khudrei (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: “Nothing afflicts a believer, whether a chronic disease, fatigue, illness, sadness, or even worry that distresses him, except that his sins are expiated by it.” (Muslim # 2, 573)
Finally, we need to understand that inevitably each one of us will individually face Almighty Allah after He resurrects us. At that point, either joy will fill us because of what we did for Allah’s sake or we will regret for failing to do more. — Courtesy of Kuwaiti Society for Cultural Dialogue