السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، وبعد:
وَٱبۡتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَٮٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَأَحۡسِن ڪَمَآ أَحۡسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَ وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ
(Quran 28:77)
“Seek the Hereafter by means of what Allah has Granted you, without forgetting your share of this world. And do good as Allah has been good to you. Do not seek to spread corruption in the land, for Allah certainly does not like the corruptors.”
Muslims who are rightly guided are intrinsically focused on both the affairs of the Dunya (worldly life) and those of the Akhirah (Hereafter). As the outstanding group who are “witnesses over humanity” (شهداء على الناس), they must exemplify in their attitude and conduct the Quranic and Prophetic imperative of a balanced perspective of this world and of the next.
The principle of moderation has to be foremost and pervasive when trying to comprehend our existence here and the objective of fulfilling our roles and responsibilities. Moreover, we must consistently be conscious of the temporal and transient nature of our worldly presence and the permanence of the afterlife.
For us Muslims, the world is thus a means to an end, a cause to an effect. It is where we sow our seeds (act virtuously); the Hereafter is where we will reap the harvest! We should hence be cognizant of what we invest for the life that invariably awaits for all after death - that life which is true and eternal. The Holy Prophet (SAW) famously compared this world and the Hereafter to the moisture on one’s finger after dipping it in the sea and the amount of all the water in the entire ocean, as reported in Sahih Muslim:
مَا مَثَلُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَثَلُ مَا يَجْعَلُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِصْبَعَهُ فِي الْيَمِّ فَلْيَنْظُرْ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ
Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He, says:
وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىۡءٍ فَمَتَـٰعُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَزِينَتُهَا وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبۡقَىٰٓ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ
Whatever (pleasure) you have been given is no more than (a fleeting) enjoyment and adornment of this worldly life. But what is with Allah is far better and more lasting. Will you not then understand? (28:60)
Islam is a religion of balance and moderation, and of being fair and just to ourselves and in our responsibilities. So while our beautiful religion permits us to enjoy comfort and pleasure in the world, it has to be within the limits of the shari’ah (Islamic Law) and not at the expense of our destiny in the Hereafter.
To help us put life into perspective we must remember that we belong to Allah and that we are already on the return journey to Him (إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٲجِعُونَ). This life is therefore a temporary stop towards the final destination of infinite time and space. We will thereby complete the full circle of life and return to the place where we all, as the human race, began this journey.
Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (RAA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ
Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler along a path.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RAA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
إِنَّمَا مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ الدُّنْيَا كَرَاكِبٍ استظَلَّ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ ثُمَّ رَاحَ وَتَرَكَهَا
Verily, the example of this world and myself is that of a rider who seeks shade under a tree, then he moves on and leaves it.
May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our master and guide, Prophet Muhammad, his noble family and illustrious companions, and on those who follow their guidance. O Allah, grant us the goodness of this life and of the next one, and save us from the punishment of Hellfire. Grant us, O Almighty, wellbeing (عافية) in our deen, dunya and akhirah (religion, world and Hereafter). Our Lord, we ask You for guidance, righteousness, abstinence and self-sufficiency (اللهم إنا نسألك الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى). Ameen.
In conclusion, we say: All Praises are due to Allah, Lord of the Creation