Next Life Is Better For You
Quran. Hadith. Life of Nabi saw and Companions ra
Humanity at large falls into one of tan general categories. Those who desire this world and what it has to offer, and those who desire the afterlife and what it has to offer. This, of course, includes Muslims
Some of you are after worldly gain in this world, while others desire a heavenly reward in the Hereafter. Qur’an 3:152
While many so-called Muslims are running after the luxuries and ornaments of this life, true Muslims understand that the afterlife is better for them than this life
And the next life is certainly far better for you than this one. [Qur’an 93:4]
If or when we clearly understand this point, we would be fully focused on making it there, and this life would simply become a means for the afterlife.
Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter, We will increase their harvest. And whoever desires only the harvest of this world, We will give them some of it, but they will have no share in the Hereafter. [Qur’an 42:20]
This type of clarity of understanding is lacking in the ummah today and it is crucial for one’s salvation. It all begins with being very clear on what we’re doing here on earth, our purpose in life, how we need to be and what we need to do to fulfill our purpose and attain success in both this world and the next.
Our Prophet informed us that when Allah wants good for His servant, He gives them the understanding of deen.
When Allah wishes good for anyone, He bestows upon him the Fiqh (comprehension) of the religion.
(Bukhari 71/Muslim 1037)
The fact that you are reading this manual is a testament to Allah’s wanting good for you, so begin by thanking Him, and pay close attention to what I’m about to share.
Many people in this life chase success, but not every-one is on the right path to success. Nobody knows a product like its maker or designer, and every product designer usually puts together a user manual explaining precisely what the product is for, how the product to be used, and how to care for the product.
As Muslims, we know Allah is our Maker. He knows us best, and He sent down the Qur’an as a guide telling us exactly what our purpose is and how to achieve this purpose to achieve success in both this life and the afterlife.
Every living creature shall taste death, and you shall only be repaid your full reward on the Day of Resurrection: So whoever is wrested from the Hellfire and entered into the lush grove of Paradise has triumphed forever, While the pathetic life of this world is nothing but the passing enjoyment of delusion. [Qur’an 3:185]
The verse stipulates that to be triumphant or to be truly sucessful is to be saved from the torment of hellfire and enter the gardens of Paradise. There is an emphasis towards the end of the verse about the impermanence and delusional nature of this world because, ultimately, the ornaments of this life take most human beings off course. The question now is: How do we avoid Hell and enter Paradise? To make it into Para-dise, there are two conditions: Eman and righteous conduct.
And whoever does good, whether male or female and is a believer, they will enter Paradise, where they will be provided for without limit. (Qur’an 40:40]
But what about this life? Do we have to suffer? In the chapter of the Bee, a symbol for discipline and hard work, in Verse 97 Allah says:
Whoever does good, whether male or female and is a believer. We will surely bless them with a good life. and We will certainly reward them according to the best of their deeds. [Qur’an 16:97]
So the conditions for success or admittance to Para-dise and a good life here are:
- True eman
- Righteous conduct.
But are we not all believers? Don’t we all have eman? Are we not Muslim, after all?
Allah makes a clear distinction in the Qur’an between Islam and eman. When some of the nomads around Prophet Muhammad first embraced Islam, they quickly made the claim that they had become believers, to which Allah responded:
Some of the nomadic Arabs say, “We believe.” Say, O Prophet, “You have not believed. But say, “We have submitted, for faith has not yet entered your hearts. [Qur’an 49:14]
Eman is something that takes time, effort, and sacrifice. After we submit, there’s still work to do to go from a state of submission to a state of belief. The distance from the tongue to the heart may seem insignificant, but the effort to get there is no walk in the park It takes effort.
Those who believed, migrated and struggled in the cause of Allah and those who gave the migrating believers shelter and help are the true believers They will have forgiveness and an honourable provision. [Qur’an 8:74]
This verse speaks to the effort required to fall into the category of a true believer. It is a lot of hard work: Migration, struggle, and sacrifice. To attain the highest level of success comes at a cost.
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) re-ported. I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him saying. “He who is afraid of the pillage of the enemy, sets out in the early part of the night; and he who sets out early, reaches his destination. Be on your guard that the commodity of Allah is pre-cious. Verily, the commodity of Allah is Paradise Source: Al Tirmithi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan
In another verse in the Qur’an, Allah makes it clear that there is a level of eman that we have, and a certain level that is required by Allah
O believers! Have faith in Allah, His Messenger, the Book He has revealed to His Messenger, and the Scriptures He revealed before. Indeed, whoever denies Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, and the Last Day has gone far astray. [Qur’an 4:136]