3a: Overview

3b: The Best Quotes about Life

3c: Lessons Learned from the Description of Life in the Quran

In the previous articles, I talked about the categories of people in understanding the concept of life. First, short-visioned, are those who consider life as only the time from birth to death. However, the second, visionary, are those who consider life as a temporary short phase of the real life after death. In this article, I will support the visionary type of people and spotlight several lessons learned from the description of life in the Quran. Allah (SWT) described life in the Quran in several locations and chapters. Yet, they all send the same message or concept as described in the following verses:
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَالْأَنْعَامُ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَخَذَتِ الْأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَازَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَا أَنَّهُمْ قَادِرُونَ عَلَيْهَا أَتَاهَا أَمْرُنَا لَيْلًا أَوْ نَهَارًا فَجَعَلْنَاهَا حَصِيدًا كَأَن لَّمْ تَغْنَ بِالْأَمْسِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (24)سورة يونس
Chapter Yunus (24) The example of [this] worldly life is but like rain which We have sent down from the sky that the plants of the earth absorb - [those] from which men and livestock eat - until, when the earth has taken on its adornment and is beautified and its people suppose that they have capability over it, there comes to it Our command by night or by day, and We make it as a harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do We explain in detail the signs for people who give thought.
                                                                                 وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا (45) سورة الكهف
Chapter Al-Kahf (45) And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.
اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا ۖ وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ ۚ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ (20) سورة الحديد
Chapter Alhadeed (20) Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

In the above verses, Allah (SWT) is sending us the same message, i.e., life is but nothing. He (SWT) gives the example of life, in its characteristics and nature, as similar to water and plant life cycle. The characteristics of life include: it is a short period of time, it is running fast, it is decorated and beatified to mislead people, its decoration is finite, it is a diversion and amusement, it distracts from the right path, it helps to increase negligence, it is unstable, etc.

Life characteristics and nature are similar to water as follows:
- Water is unstable and life is also unstable because it is fluctuated between good and bad where no one can live eternally.
- Water has no fixed state, i.e., always changeable, and also life is not fixed but always has ups and downs.
- Water does not stay and has finite life cycle. Life is exactly similar to water in this character.
- You cannot touch the water without getting wet. Similarly, you cannot live your life without being distracted and misled with its decoration and distraction.
- If you use water wisely, it will be good and sustainable for plants, humans, and animals. However, too much water always destruct and destroy the life of plants, humans, and animals. Similarly, if you get involved much in life, it will distract, mislead, and get you away from the right path. This is what the Prophet (SAS) recommended a companion when he said:
                                                                                        - وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما ، أن رسول الله ﷺ قال ‏:‏ ‏ "‏ قد أفلح من أسلم ، وكان رزقه كفافا ، وقنعه الله بما آتاه ‏"‏ ‏(‏‏‏رواه مسلم ‏)‏‏.‏
'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Successful is the one who enters the fold of Islam and is provided with sustenance which is sufficient for his day's needs, and Allah makes him content with what He has bestowed upon him." [Muslim].

Life is also similar to a plant in its life cycle phases as follows:
- Water reaches the seed in the ground to start the generation of the plant.
- Too many types of plants will grow up fast where flowers and fruits are created.
- People will feel comfortable, happy and amused with the nature of plants, their colors, and tasty fruits.
- These blessings do not last long. Soon, they become weak and then dry as if nothing previously exists.

Life is rather similar in nature, you start weak as a child where you need the help of your parents and society, then, you get strong in your youth time, hence, you get old and weak again where your life will end. All the good and bad times during life will finally end. This is supported by the narration:
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ‏ "‏ يُؤْتَى بِأَنْعَمِ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُصْبَغُ فِي النَّارِ صَبْغَةً ثُمَّ يُقَالُ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ خَيْرًا قَطُّ هَلْ مَرَّ بِكَ نَعِيمٌ قَطُّ فَيَقُولُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَبِّ ‏.‏ وَيُؤْتَى بِأَشَدِّ النَّاسِ بُؤْسًا فِي الدُّنْيَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَيُصْبَغُ صَبْغَةً فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ بُؤْسًا قَطُّ هَلْ مَرَّ بِكَ شِدَّةٌ قَطُّ فَيَقُولُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَبِّ مَا مَرَّ بِي بُؤُسٌ قَطُّ وَلاَ رَأَيْتُ شِدَّةً قَطُّ ‏"‏ ‏. ‏(‏‏‏رواه مسلم ‏)‏‏.‏
Anas b. Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said that one amongst the denizens of Hell who had led a life of ease and plenty amongst the people of the world would be made to dip in Fire only once on the Day of Resurrection and then it would be said to him: O, son of Adam, did you find any comfort, did you happen to get any material blessing? He would say: By Allah, no, my Lord. And then that person from amongst the persons of the world be brought who had led the most miserable life (in the world) from amongst the inmates of Paradise. And he would be made to dip once in Paradise and it would be said to him. 0, son of Adam, did you face, any hardship? Or had any distress fallen to your lot? And he would say: By Allah, no, O my Lord, never did I face any hardship or experience any distress. Sahih Muslim 2807.

This is the true nature of life. It runs away from whoever looks for it and rapidly approaches whoever neglects and does not value it. Therefore, how can we rely on life while we know all these characteristics and nature? This is why Allah (SWT) ended the verse in chapter Yunus (24): Thus, do We explain in detail the signs for people who give thought. I hope that we are all from such type of people who are thoughtful and put life in its correct place in our hearts. It is obvious that life is rather diversion, amusement, and delusion and the Hereafter is the true life where Allah (SWT) will punish the disbelievers and will forgive and approve the believers. The status of life is also described well in the following narration:
                                                                                                                                            عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ ﷺ ـ ‏ "‏ مَوْضِعُ سَوْطٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ البخارى
It was narrated from Sahl bin Sa’d that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “A place the size of a whip in Paradise is better than this world and everything in it.” Bukhari

Based upon the above analogy, I will spotlight the lessons learned from the above verses as described by Al-Shemry (2020):
1- The expression of life in Arabic language always comes in the words “lower life or life is the lowest”. This reflects its meaning as life is always lower than the Hereafter whether it is a first step before the Hereafter, it is finite and the Hereafter is infinite, or it is truly the lowest compared to the Hereafter.
2- Life is finite as it has a beginning and an end similar to everything in life, i.e., water, plants, rain, etc.
3- Life decoration and beautiful scenes are finite similar to the earth when it is decorated with good flowers and fruits and then everything is ended by the Will of Allah (SWT).
4- The fluctuated status of life from good to bad and vice versa be evident based on human practices and the truth from Quran. Therefore, we should not have false hope in this life as this will mislead and might get us astray.
5- Life is rather short and the good times during such life are shorter. Therefore, we should not rely on such short times compared to the eternal true life in the Hereafter.
6- Life is full of tiring activities where nothing is easily gained. You should exert much effort to be in good status in this life.
7- If we know the nature and characteristics of life, then, we should be thoughtful when we deal with life activities. We should not have extreme happiness when we achieve something valuable and vice versa. The rule: “Do not be happy for life gains nor sad for life pains.”
8- Understanding the true meaning of life makes us come closer to and love Allah (SWT). This is because the love of life will get us astray and the love of Allah (SWT) will us to the highest place in Paradise. We should lower life in our eyes as it is already lowered in the sight of Allah (SWT).
9- We should be careful when we deal with life as it is rapidly fluctuating. One day, it will give you much and the other will take from you more.
10- Life does not qualify to disobey Allah (SWT) for its sake. The taste of disobedience to Allah (SWT) is very limited during life. This makes it unwise to sacrifice the Hereafter for few moments of apparent false pleasure in life.
11- Allah (SWT) makes life as a period to plant what you like to gain or harvest in the Hereafter. This is how believers deeply and wisely understand life. Consequently, they compete during life to gain the acceptance and approval of Allah (SWT) in both life and the Hereafter.
12- Quran raises the believers to make a delicate balance between life and the Hereafter. Believers should not get busy with life activities away from their purpose of creation, which is pleasing and worshipping Allah (SWT). We should work hard during life to gain sustenance and empower us to continuously worship Allah (SWT). If we are able to achieve such objective, we will be the winners in both life and the Hereafter. This delicate balance is clear in the following verse:                                                                                                                                                                         وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ (201) سورة البقرة
Chapter Al-Baqarah (201) But among them is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."

Recommendations:
When I search for what is better than life in the authentic narrations of the Prophet (SAS), I find 91 narrations that mention the items worth more than life. Here are few of them to benefit from:
                                                                                                                                وعنها عن النبي ﷺ قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏ركعتا الفجر خير من الدنيا وما فيها‏"‏ ‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏.‏ وفي رواية لهما لأحب إلي من الدنيا جميعًا‏.
1- 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains." [Muslim]. Another narration goes: "The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are dearer to me than the whole world or life."
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ‏:‏ قِيلَ لَهُ‏:‏ إِنَّ إِخْوَانَكَ أَتَوْكَ مِنَ الْبَصْرَةِ، وَهُوَ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِالزَّاوِيَةِ، لِتَدْعُوَ اللَّهَ لَهُمْ، قَالَ‏:‏ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا، وَارْحَمْنَا، وَآتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ، فَاسْتَزَادُوهُ، فَقَالَ مِثْلَهَا، فَقَالَ‏:‏ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَذَا، فَقَدْ أُوتِيتُمْ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ‏.‏ صـحـيـح (الألباني)
2- Anas ibn Malik was told, "Your brothers have come to you from Basra (and that day he was at the zawiyya) wanting for you to make supplication to Allah for them." He said, "O Allah, forgive them and show mercy to them. Give them good in this world and good in the Next World and protect them from the punishment of the Fire." They asked him to say more and he said repeated the same thing. He said, "If you are given this, you have been given the good of this world and the Next." Sahih (Al-Albani)
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ‏"‏ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَعْدَدْتُ لِعِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحِينَ مَا لاَ عَيْنٌ رَأَتْ وَلاَ أُذُنٌ سَمِعَتْ وَلاَ خَطَرَ عَلَى قَلْبِ بَشَرٍ وَاقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ‏:‏ ‏(‏ وما تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ‏)‏ وَفِي الْجَنَّةِ شَجَرَةٌ يَسِيرُ الرَّاكِبُ فِي ظِلِّهَا مِائَةَ عَامٍ لاَ يَقْطَعُهَا وَاقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ‏:‏ ‏(‏ وظِلٍّ مَمْدُودٍ ‏)‏ وَمَوْضِعُ سَوْطٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا وَاقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ‏:‏ ‏(‏ فمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ ‏)‏ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ الترمذى
3- Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “Allah said: ‘I have prepared for My righteous worshippers, what no eye has seen, nor ear has hear, and no human heart has conceived.’ So recite if you wish: No person knows what is kept hidden for them of delights of the eyes as a reward for what they used to do. And in Paradise there is a tree under whose shade a rider can travel for one hundred years without stopping. Recite if you wish: And in shade extended. And the space occupied by a whip in Paradise is better than the world and whatever is in it. Recite if you wish: And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception.” Al-Termizi
وعن سهل بن سعد رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏رباط يوم في سبيل الله خير من الدنيا وما عليها، وموضع سوط أحدكم من الجنة خير من الدنيا وما عليها، والروحة يروحها العبد في سبيل الله تعالى، أو الغدوة خير من الدنيا وما عليها‏.‏ ‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏
4- Sahl bin Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Observing Ribat (e.g., guarding the Islamic frontier for the sake of Allah) for a single day is far better than the world and all that it contains. A place in Jannah as small as the whip of your horse is far better than the world and all that it contains. An endeavor (fighting) in the Cause of Allah in the evening or in the morning is far better than the world and all that it contains." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 

3d: Life Enjoyment Is Little and the Hereafter Is Better for He Who Fears Allah

Life enjoyment usually leads the human being to get busy with activities to enjoy their time in life before leaving for ever. Human beings therefore focus on attaining the pleasure of every single minute, of their life, without looking at the means of achieving such pleasure. This level of business in life activities leads to the distraction and inattention of human beings from the right path. Allah (SWT) sent therefore the Messengers and Books to organize the relationship between human beings and life activities. The position of life as a phase in the human’s journey to the Hereafter is clarified by all Allah’s Messengers and Books. Allah (SWT) described life as a phase of big test for human beings to see how they behave and act. This is supported by the following verse:
                                                                                                                                                                    الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ (2)سورة الملك
Chapter Al-Mulk (2) [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving -

Imam Al-Tabari, in his comment about the above verse, said “Allah (SWT) created human beings and grant them life to test them, to check who is obeying Allah the most, and to identify who is the fastest to please Him (SWT).” Imam Alsaadi added “Allah (SWT) created His servants, i.e., human beings, and get them settled on earth to live their life. He also informed them that they would move from this life to another one, i.e., the Hereafter, after a specific period of time. He (SWT) set roles for them to live with and set up lots of attractions to test their punctuality in following the roles. He also informed them that whoever followed the roles without violation would be generously rewarded in life and in the Hereafter and vice versa.” The above concept is the secret of life that should be understood by all human beings. He (SWT) also creates many attractions in this life accompanied with roles to wisely utilize them. Human beings will be tested in their submission or violation to the set roles by Allah (SWT). The above concepts are also supported by the following verses of the Quran:
                                                                                                                                وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ (131) سورة طه

Chapter Taha (131) And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.
                                                                                                                                                                                

 إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا (7) سورة الكهف

Chapter Al-Kahf (7) Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed.

Therefore, I will briefly describe the types of life pleasure that Allah (SWT) creates for human beings and explain why it is too little compared to that of the Hereafter based on the Quran and Narrations.

Types of Pleasure in Life
(i) Wealth and Children: Allah (SWT) creates wealth and children to please the human beings in life. This is supported by several verses of the Quran as follows:
                                                                                                                                                    الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا (46) سورة الكهف

Chapter Al-kahf (46) Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.

Wealth and children represent the most types of pleasure created to please human beings in this life, which should be dealt with wisely in order not to cause human inattention or being astray from the right path of Allah (SWT). They have been described as “a trial” or “a test” to check the human’s behavior towards them as shown in the following verse:
                                                                                                                                                                                                 إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ (15) سورة التغابن

Chapter Al-Taghabon (15) Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward.
In the above verses, Allah (SWT) mentions that He (SWT) has the best reward for those who obey Him (SWT). The essential transferred message is: “Do not get busy with these types of life pleasure or be away from Allah’s path because He (SWT) has the best for you.”

(ii) Women, House, Work, Land and Other Types of Wealth: Allah (SWT) also creates other types of pleasure to entertain human beings in life, such as women and men in a lawful marriage relationship accepted by Allah, houses, work, land, transportation means, and other types of wealth. These types are all mentioned in one verse as follows:
                                                زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ (14) سورة آل عمران

Chapter Al-Imran (14) Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.

The Prophet (SAS) also mentioned that the best pleasure for human beings, in this life, is the righteous woman who marries a righteous man as shown the following narration:
                                                                                                                                            عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا كُلَّهَا مَتَاعٌ وَخَيْرُ مَتَاعِ الدُّنْيَا الْمَرْأَةُ الصَّالِحَةُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As that the Messenger of Allah said: "This world is all temporary conveniences, and the best temporary convenience of this world is a righteous woman." Sunan an-Nasa'i 3232.

(iii) All Given Sustenance in this Life: All whatever Allah (SWT) has given to us, in this life, is considered a pleasure. This is supported by the following verse:
                                                                                                                                     فَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ (36) سورة الشورى

Chapter Al-Shurah (36) So whatever thing you have been given - it is but [for] enjoyment of the worldly life. But what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who have believed and upon their Lord rely

The above verse covers everything else that we enjoy in this life, such as status, health, position, etc. So, Allah (SWT) has given us everything in life to enjoy within the limits or boundaries that He (SWT) has drawn for us. The unified clear message in all verses describing the types of life pleasure is that the true pleasure in the Hereafter is way better and eternal than that of life. It is a message for wise human beings to select the path of Allah, to obey Him in this life, and to get rewarded the best in the Hereafter.

All Life Pleasure Is Too Little Compared to the Hereafter
Although the above types of pleasure are too many, they are considered too little compared to that of the Hereafter. If we are rewarded, by Allah (SWT), the pleasure in the Hereafter, we are the winners because such pleasure is huge and last forever. I will just select few verses and narrations that explain such a difference between the types of pleasure in both lives. Allah (SWT) described in the following verses how little the pleasure in this life, compared to the Hereafter, is:
                                                                                                                                                                                                  .فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ (38) سورة التوبه.....

Chapter Al-Tawbah (38)……But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little.
                                                                                                                                                                         .قُلْ مَتَاعُ الدُّنْيَا قَلِيلٌ وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا (77) سورة النساء......

Chapter Al-Nisaa (77) "……..Say, The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears Allah. And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]."
                                                                                                                                                                                     يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّمَا هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ هِيَ دَارُ الْقَرَارِ (39) سورة غافر

Chapter Ghafer (39) O my people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and indeed, the Hereafter - that is the home of [permanent] settlement.

The Prophet (SAS) also described the essential things that a human being might acquire in this life as shown in the following narration:
وعن أبي عمرو، ويقال‏:‏ أبو عبد الله‏:‏ ويقال‏:‏ أبو ليلى، عثمان ابن عفان، رضي الله عنه أن النبي ﷺ ، قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏ ليس لابن آدم حق في سوى هذه الخصال‏:‏ بيت يسكنه، وثوب يواري عورته، وجلف الخبز، والماء‏"‏ ‏(‏رواه الترمذي وقال‏:‏ حديث صحيح‏)‏.‏

Uthman bin 'Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "There is no right for the son of adam except in these (four) things: A house to live in, a cloth to cover therewith his private parts, bread and water." [At-Tirmidhi, Hadith Sahih].

So, are we still interested to run after other pleasures of this life beyond the essentials? It is quite obvious, we are losing if we go beyond the essentials in this life. We should save our time and effort, in this life, to the activities that make huge impact on the true life in the Hereafter. This is the clear message of the Quran and of all the Messengers and Books of Allah (SWT).

Why Life Pleasure Is Too Little?
It is obvious that life pleasure is too little compared to that of the Hereafter because it is simply definite; however, the pleasure in the Hereafter is indefinite without considering the difference in quantity and quality of such pleasures. Everything in life will vanish after a period of time. Every pleasure, even if it elapses for some time, will be ended one day. Nothing will last in this life. Let us walk through few verses that support the above concept as follows:
                                                                                                                                                مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ ۖ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ ۗ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ (96) سورة النحل

Chapter Al-Nahl (96) Whatever you have will end, but what Allah has is lasting. And We will surely give those who were patient their reward according to the best of what they used to do.
                                                                                                                                                                                كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ (26) وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ (27) سورة الرحمن

Chapter Al-Rahman (26) Everyone upon the earth will perish, (27) And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
                                                                                                                                                                                   .كُلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ ۚ لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ (88) سورة القصص.......

Chapter Al-Qasas (88)……. Everything will be destroyed except His Face. His is the judgement, and to Him you will be returned.

It is therefore clear to the wise person that life is nothing but short, its pleasure, even if it lasts long, should be cut, and the true pleasure will be in the Hereafter. Imam Al-Qurtubi said “Sahl Ibn Abdullah was asked: how could one neglect the life pleasures and their impact on our deeds? He answered: by getting ourselves busy with what Allah (SWT) has ordered us to do.”

Therefore, we can conclude a golden role from the above analogy and discussion: do not let the life pleasures, which are created for you, to get you away from accomplishing the purpose of your creation.

The Nature of All Creations in Life
All creations in life pass through different phases from birth to death or start to end. The universal law applies to all creations in our life, which usually start of being good and then gradually decay or deteriorate until they vanish. For example, if you plant a seed for a good tree, it starts young, then, becomes good and strong with flowers and good smell, then, gradually it gets older and dies. If you buy a new car, it looks nice and shiny at the beginning, then, it becomes older and then, sent to scrap yard at the end of its life. If you build a new house with high technology and building materials, it looks very bright and pretty at the beginning and gradually gets older, deteriorates, becomes risky to live in, and then, be demolished. If you marry a pretty girl or she marries a handsome man, gradually health and bodies get worse, all get older, and then, die. This universal law applies to all creations in this life. This law is supported by the following verse:
                                                                                                       اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفًا وَشَيْبَةً ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ (54) سورة الروم

Chapter Al-Room (54) Allah is the one who created you from weakness, then made after weakness strength, then made after strength weakness and white hair. He creates what He wills, and He is the Knowing, the Competent.

The Catastrophic Pandemic and the Cure
Based upon the above resemblance, it is evident that the love of life is a deadly virus that attacks the human being’s heart. Once it controls the heart, human cannot see, taste, or smell the truth. Thus, the human is misled and got astray away from the right path of Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) therefore warns, in many verses, the human beings from being deceived by life matters as shown in the following verse:
                                                                                                                                                             يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ (5) سورة فاطر

Chapter Fater (5) O mankind, indeed the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver.

The Prophet (SAS) guided us to the cure of such virus as shown in the following narration:
عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ! دُلَّنِي عَلَى عَمَلٍ إذَا عَمِلْتُهُ أَحَبَّنِي اللهُ وَأَحَبَّنِي النَّاسُ؛ فَقَالَ: "ازْهَدْ فِي الدُّنْيَا يُحِبَّك اللهُ، وَازْهَدْ فِيمَا عِنْدَ النَّاسِ يُحِبَّك النَّاسُ" .حديث حسن، رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ [رقم:4102]، وَغَيْرُهُ بِأَسَانِيدَ حَسَنَةٍ.

On the authority of Abu al-’Abbas Sahl bin Sa’ad as-Sa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, direct me to an act which, if I do it, [will cause] Allah to love me and the people to love me.” So he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Renounce the world and Allah will love you, and renounce what the people possess and the people will love you.” A hasan hadeeth related by Ibn Majah and others with good chains of authorities.

The cure lies in renouncing all life matters. This does not mean you do not live a normal life but it means put life matters in your hands where you can control them not otherwise. Keep these life matters away from your heart because if they control your heart, you will be the looser in both lives. One of the scholars said: renouncing life matters does not mean you leave all of them but to just attain what you like wisely while you are in the right path. You should renounce all matters that get you busy away from the path of Allah (SWT). One of the great examples of people who have renounced life is the story of Prophets David and Suleiman. Both of them attain all life means and matters but never get them away from the path of Allah (SWT). Prophet Muhammad (SAS) and his companions represent another great example of such type of people who really understand the true meaning of this life and position it in the right place away from their hearts. Imam Hassan Albasri said: “I saw and lived with people who renounced all life matters. They did not feel happy when they gained any life matters and vice versa. Life matters were belittled in their eyes like dirt in value.”

Recommendations:
It is recommended to supplicate with the following for their great benefits:
وعن سعد بن أبي وقاص رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ كان يتعوذ دبر الصلوات بهؤلاء الكلمات‏:‏ ‏"‏اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الجبن والبخل، وأعوذ بك من أن أرد إلى أرذل العمر وأعوذ بك من فتنة الدنيا، وأعوذ بك من فتنة القبر” ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.1- Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to seek (Allah's) protection after prayers in these words: "Alla-humma inni a'udhu bika minal-jubni wal- bukhl, wa a'udhu bika min an uradda ila ardhalil-'umur, wa a'udhu bika min fitnatid-dunya, wa a'udhu bika min fitnatil-qabr (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from cowardice, miserliness and from being sent back to a feeble age; and, seek refuge with You from the trials of this life and those of the grave)." [Al- Bukhari].

عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَبِيتُ عَلَى ذِكْرٍ طَاهِرًا فَيَتَعَارُّ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ خَيْرًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثَابِتٌ الْبُنَانِيُّ قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا أَبُو ظَبْيَةَ فَحَدَّثَنَا بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ثَابِتٌ قَالَ فُلاَنٌ لَقَدْ جَهَدْتُ أَنْ أَقُولَهَا حِينَ أَنْبَعِثُ فَمَا قَدَرْتُ عَلَيْهَا ‏.‏ صـحـيـح (الألباني)2- Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If a Muslim sleeps while remembering Allah, in the state of purification, is alarmed while asleep at night, and asks Allah for good in this world and in the Hereafter. He surely gives it to him. Thabit al-Bunani said: AbuZabyah came to visit us and he transmitted this tradition to us from Mu'adh ibn Jabal from the Prophet (ﷺ). Thabit said: So and so said: I tried my best to utter these (prayers) when I got up, but I could not do. Sahih (Al-Albani).

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ‏:‏ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَدْعُو‏:‏ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ فِي دِينِي وَأَهْلِي، وَاسْتُرْ عَوْرَتِي، وَآمِنْ رَوْعَتِي، وَاحْفَظْنِي مِنْ بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ، وَمِنْ خَلْفِي، وَعَنْ يَمِينِي، وَعَنْ يَسَارِي، وَمِنْ فَوْقِي، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِي‏.‏‏‏ صـحـيـح (الألباني)3- Ibn 'Abbas said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to make this supplication: 'O Allah, I ask You for pardon and good health in this world and the Next. O Allah, I ask You for good health in my deen and my family. Veil my faults and assuage my terror. Guard me before me, behind me, on my right and my left and above me. I seek refuge with You from unexpected destruction from beneath me.” Sahih (Al-Albani).

3e: Life is the Place of Diversion, Amusement, Adornment and Boasting

The behavior of human beings towards life, particularly those who believe in Allah (SWT), is uninterpreted, unexpected, and shocking. All of us know, for real, that life is short, we are leaving this life soon, it is full of obstacles and problems, it is a phase of planting for a better phase of harvesting, and many other features that surely show life’s illusion. Despite the above, we fall in love with this life, we act as if it lasts forever, and we exert all efforts to collect all what we can from life sustenance, i.e., money, food, status, positions, etc. On the contrary, our behavior towards the Hereafter, which will for sure last forever, is always contradicting with our beliefs. Unfortunately, we always prefer the deluded life over the true one, i.e., the Hereafter. It is shocking when we see cases and hear daily stories of people who already passed away and left this life at various ages with little or no contemplation about us being in the same situation soon. Allah (SWT) gives us daily examples to learn lessons for our true life but in vain. Such lessons are clear in our life in the personal, community, and country perspectives. In the personal level, we see every day people who are leaving this life without prior notice. They leave all what they collect in this life behind. Usually the children will inherit the wealth and usually such wealth will be lost, particularly if it is unlawfully collected. We know for fact that nothing comes with us to the grave or to the Hereafter except our good deeds and even though we tend to forget. Similarly, in the community and country levels, we see in our life time communities and countries that vanishes after great existence. We also see countries that are generated based on oppression to others without looking at history where such action will fire back in the near future. We see and hear about communities and countries that are gone and others started. The question that arise here is: do we learn from previous examples? Do we know that life does not continue as is for anyone, any community, or any country? We have many examples from history that support my argument, such as Othman empire that lasted for six centuries, Great Britain that lasted for at least three centuries, etc. We know about many others in the past. The great achievements of these civilizations and empires disappear today. We learn from the above discussion that life is a place of illusion where we shouldn’t rely on for any matter.

Allah (SWT), who created us and made life for us to enjoy, described life as illusion. He (SWT) advised us not to take life for granted because it always deceive whoever likes it. Illusion can be defined as (Oxford dictionary): a wrong or misinterpreted perception of an experience, a deceptive appearance / impression, or a false idea / belief. Scholars also defined illusion as the activity that apparently looks good but bad or unknown in reality. Describing life as illusion in the Quran is repeated several times in many verses as shown in the following examples:
                                                                          كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ (185) سورة آل عمرانChapter Al-Imran (185) Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.………. وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ (20) سورة الحديد..........Chapter Alhadeed (20) …….. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.……….فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ (33) سورة لقمان..........Chapter Lukman (33) …….. so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver.يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ (5) سورة فاطرChapter Fatir (5) O mankind, indeed the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver.
In the above verses, Allah (SWT) is sending us the same message, i.e., life is but illusion. The scholars have agreed on the interpretation of life as the place of illusion and deceiving. Imam Ibn Kathir said: “Life is just the enjoyment of illusion for those who like it and those who disbelieve of any other lives after this life. He also reported the following narration, then, he referred to the above verse (20) in chapter Al-Hadeed:
عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ‏ "‏ مَوْضِعُ سَوْطٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا ‏"‏‏.‏ رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ.Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d Al-Saidi: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "A place in Paradise equal to the size of a lash is better than the whole world and whatever is in it." Sahih al-Bukhari.
Similarly, Imam Al-Saadi said: “Do not be deluded by life and its decoration. He also mentioned not to be deceived by the deceiver, i.e., Shaytan, because he will continue to deceive people until the Day of Judgement. You should know that Allah (SWT) created us and obliged us to do well in this life. He (SWT) also promised us to be held accounted before Him to be rewarded for our actions in life. He continued describing that the obstacles in the journey to Allah (SWT) include life decoration and the deceiver. This is why Allah (SWT) advised us not to be deceived by the deluded life and the deceiver.”

When we look at our situation today, we will be shocked for several reasons. We are very tied to and submerged with life activities. We are really defrauded by life decoration and enjoyment. We are competing very hard to collect as much as we can from life. We like life too much to the extent it distracts us from our purpose of existence. It distracts us in all our activities, particularly, worship activities. How many times do we focus in our prayer without thinking of life matters? How many times do we remember Allah (SWT) and the Hereafter during our busy daily life activities? We have been deceived and misled. We think that we are doing well but in reality we are far away and distracted from preparing for our true life in the Hereafter. We always think of life when we wake up, sleep, walk, eat or drink, travel, work, drive, etc. We are in very much need for a wake-up call to our hearts and minds to realize our situation today and our understanding of life. Life, in reality, is a temporary place of passing by or drive through compared to the Hereafter. When Abd-El-Aziz Ibn Marwan was about to die, he asked for his coffin to look at. When he saw the coffin, he said: “Is that what I get from this life? Then, he cried of the bad deluded life.”

Ibn Al-Qiym said: “The most defrauded person is the one who is deluded by life and its decoration where he/she prefers life over the Hereafter. You will find some people giving the example of life like a purchaser who is paying in cash; however, the Hereafter as a customer who promises to pay in the future. They consider cash as better than future payment because cash is a fact that occur right now and the future credit is something promised that might not occur. They also say that life enjoyment is a fact but enjoyment in the Hereafter is doubtful. Ibn Al-Qiym valued such type of people as less than animals because animals when they fear from something, they do not come closer to it even if they are under pressure. This is contrary to what these people are doing.”

Allah (SWT) will punish whoever prefers life over the Hereafter by being settled in the Hellfire and vice versa. This is clear in the following verses:
فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ (37) وَآثَرَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا (38) فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ (39) وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ (40) فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ (41) سورة النازعاتChapter Al-Nathiaat (37) So as for he who transgressed (38) And preferred the life of the world, (39) Then indeed, Hellfire will be [his] refuge. (40) But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, (41) Then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا وَرَضُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاطْمَأَنُّوا بِهَا وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا غَافِلُونَ (7) أُولَٰئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ (8) سورة يونسChapter Yunus (7) Indeed, those who do not expect the meeting with Us and are satisfied with the life of this world and feel secure therein and those who are heedless of Our signs (8) For those their refuge will be the Fire because of what they used to earn.
A wise person once said: “I was astonished from the one who has been depressed because he lost money and has never been unhappy when he lost part of his time in this life, i.e., age. I was also astonished from the person who has been busy with life that is passing away from him/her; however, he/she neglected the Hereafter that is approaching him/her.” Yusuf Ibn Obaid also said: “life for every one of us is like a dream. A person, while sleeping, sees things that are good and others that are bad, then, he/she wakes up.” So, life in its nature and being short is for us like such a dream that ends by waking up. We will wake up when we die and find ourselves in the grave without good preparation. Ibn Al-Jawzi said: “O man, life is behind you and the Hereafter is in front of you. The person who is admiring life is mindless. Life is created to pass through not to own and settle in. Do not be happy if you accomplish some gains in life because you will regret when you leave these gains and go to the grave with empty hands.” Ali Ibn Abi Taleb, May Allah be pleased with him, said: “Life is passing very fast and the Hereafter is coming very fast. There are followers of both. So, be from the followers of the Hereafter because today, in life, there are actions without rewards and tomorrow, in the Hereafter, there are rewards without actions.”

In conclusion, life is nothing but an illusion. We should not be deluded or defrauded by life’s beatification, decoration and issues because this leads to nothing when you stand before Allah (SWT) in the Day of Judgement.

Recommendations:
To complete the recommendation of last article regarding the renewal of intention in all life matters, I suggest we make a plan to train ourselves on how to do such activity. This plan includes selecting a daily activity and plan to renew our intention at this activity daily for four consecutive weeks. For example, when eating your breakfast, you renew your intention to eat this breakfast for one or all of the following reasons: strengthen yourself and be able to better worship Allah (SWT), to be able to work hard for sustenance and feeding your family, to be able to have a good standard of living for your family, to benefit humanity and achieve your purpose of life, etc. Make such activity daily for four weeks, then, add one more activity to the list, such as work, for four more weeks. You renew your intention for both activities, breakfast and work, for the four weeks until you get used to do such renewal of intention. Hence, you add one more activity for another month. You continue adding more activities until you cover all your daily activities whether they are life or worship ones. At this time, all your life will be totally for the sake of Allah (SWT) with full of benefits in this life and in the Hereafter. By this, you are turning all your actions to be for the sake of Allah (SWT), which is the essence of our existence. This is an essential plan that impacts our behavior towards and all our actions in this life. I pray to Allah (SWT) to guide and facilitate for us such an achievement in this life. We would like to implement the essence of the following narration in our life:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَة رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُول اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم إنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى قَالَ: "مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقْد آذَنْتهُ بِالْحَرْبِ، وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ، فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْت سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا، وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا، وَلَئِنْ سَأَلَنِي لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ، وَلَئِنْ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لَأُعِيذَنَّهُ". رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ.On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Verily Allah ta’ala has said: “Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him. And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved to Me than the religious duties I have obligated upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to me with nafil (supererogatory) deeds until I Love him. When I Love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge.” [Al-Bukhari]
Don’t we need to be from such people whom Allah (SWT) likes? This is the way to Allah (SWT). Try to plan yourself to accomplish the above activity that might completely change your life to the best in both lives.

3f: Life is the Place of Delusion

Overview

Allah (SWT) has created the universe and has made human beings to live on earth. The purpose of creating human beings is to worship Him (SWT) and to implement His rules on earth. He (SWT) has made the life of human beings as a comprehensive test in a short period, i.e., around 1000 years at the most. Currently, a human being’s age is around 60-70 years with a maximum of 120 years. This short life is used to distinguish the good from bad through a comprehensive test with questions that are answered in the human being’s daily practices. The divine rule is to reward the good people and to punish the bad ones who behave incorrectly during life test questions. This concept is clear in the following verse:

الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ (2)الملك

Chapter Al-Mulk (2) [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving - https://quran.com/67/2

Consequently, the test during life has been destined to human beings no matter whether they are believers or not. It is a test for all creatures. If you succeed and answer correctly following the rules set by Allah (SWT), you will be the winner at the time of Judgement and vice versa. The test might be harder to few people and easier for others. One might think the test will be easier to those who are close to Allah (SWT); however, life nature is contrary to such concept. Allah (SWT) will make the test harder to those whom He loves the most. Therefore, Prophets and Messengers of Allah (SWT), the most beloved to Him, have encountered the hardest tests in life matters. Life test usually involves matters related to life, such as, less money, death, late marriage, illness, etc, and others related to the Hereafter, such as, religion: disbelieve, neglect religious pillars like prayer, commit severe sins, etc. The test’s location is on earth; starts at birth; ends at death; results will be announced in the Day of Judgement; the winners will enter Paradise for eternal time; and the losers will be put in Hellfire for eternal time as well.

In the coming few sections, we will walk through facts about life test, its types, the difference between a believer and disbeliever in such test, and how can we behave towards this test.

Fact: Life Is Nothing but a Test

Allah (SWT) has described life as a test in several verses of the Quran, including the above verse from chapter Al-Mulk, as well as the following ones:

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا (7)الكهف

Chapter Al-Kahf (7) Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed. https://quran.com/18/7

وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۗ…….. (7) هود

Chapter Hud (7) And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. …..." https://quran.com/11/7

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَعْلَمَ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَ أَخْبَارَكُمْ (31)محمد

Chapter Mohammad (31) And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you [for the cause of Allah] and the patient, and We will test your affairs. https://quran.com/47/31

It is quite clear from the above verses that Allah (SWT) has created the entire life of a human being to test his/her compliance to Allah’s orders and instructions in all life matters. The behavior of human beings towards these orders and instructions shows, with no doubt, the servant relationship of humans towards Allah (SWT). This practical test, i.e., during life, confirms or negates such relationship. If the human being succeeds in this test, he/she will be the winner otherwise; he/she will be the loser in this life and in the Hereafter. Therefore, it is a wakeup call to mind or be aware of life questions and continuous test. We will be asked about every single second of our life and what we do in such moment. This is evident in the following narration:

وعن أبي برزة -براء ثم زاى- نضلة بن عبيد الأسلمى، رضي الله عنه، قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله ﷺ‏:‏ ‏ "‏لا تزول قدما عبد يوم القيامة حتى يسأل عن عمره فيما أفناه ، وعن علمه فيما فعل فيه، وعن ماله من أين اكتسبه، وفيما أنفقه، وعن جسمه فيم أبلاه‏"‏ ‏(‏رواه الترمذي وقال‏:‏ حديث حسن صحيح‏)‏‏.‏

Abu Barzah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Man's feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection before he is asked about his life, how did he consume it, his knowledge, what did he do with it, his wealth, how did he earn it and how did he dispose of it, and about his body, how did he wear it out." [At-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan Sahih]. https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:407

All of the above confirm the fact that life is a great and a comprehensive test for all creatures in the universe. Not recognizing this fact leads to a great loss. We should also behave according to such fact and be mindful of all our actions and activities in life. Everything is recorded in our book of deeds, during life, to be accounted for in the Day of Judgment. Hence, life is nothing but a huge practical test.

Types of Tests in Life

Some people think that only calamities or difficulties during life are considered tests. However, this concept is untrue in terms of life test. Allah (SWT) is testing us using both calamities and bounties. He (SWT) is testing whether we are patient and return to Him during calamities and upon receiving bounties. This is clear in the following verse:

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ (35)الأنبياء

Chapter Al-Anbyaa (35) Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned. https://quran.com/21/35

Therefore, our behavior and response to calamities and bounties are part of the great life test. Both are considered bewitch to the human being. We are bewitched by sickness and healthy times where our careful response, following the orders and instructions of Allah (SWT), is mandatory. For example, when you are sick, do you practice patience and ask Allah (SWT) for the cure? When you are healthy, do you thank Allah for this bounty and appropriately use it in the right way? Unfortunately, we take health for granted. We will also bewitched by being rich, i.e., you have more than enough sustenance, or poor, i.e., you have less than enough sustenance. If you have more than your need, how do you spend this sustenance? Do you spend it for a good cause or irrelevant / irrational matters? If you do not have enough sustenance, how do you behave? Do you work hard with patience or start to complain to human beings against Allah’s justice? Sustenance does not only include money but also health, time, family, marriage, friendship, work, status, living place, children, etc. Lawful, such as marriage and unlawful, such as adultery, actions are also considered bewitch to the human being. The notion of how to act upon and express your gratitude to Allah for being guided to the lawful actions and for avoiding the unlawful ones is the core of our existence. There are many other examples of test questions (bewitch) using the opposite phenomena, such as obedience and disobedience to Allah (SWT), guidance and misguidance, etc.

Some people think that negative test questions, i.e., calamities, reflect the anger of Allah (SWT) towards the impacted people. They also consider that positive test questions, i.e., bounties, reflect the love of Allah (SWT) to those who are given these bounties. In fact, this is clearly a misconception, which should change. Allah (SWT), in most times, likes to hear the voice of his good servant when he/she makes supplication and asks to remove the calamity. Therefore, believers are much tested with calamities to achieve two objectives: (1) listens to their supplication and (2) forgives their sins so that they are clean in the Day of Judgement. This is evident in the following narration:

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله ﷺ‏:‏ ‏ "‏ ما يزال البلاء بالمؤمن والمؤمنة في نفسه وولده وماله حتى يلقى الله تعالى وما عليه خطيئة‏"‏ ‏‏‏(‏رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح‏‏‏)‏ ‏.‏

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A Muslim, male or female, continues to remain under trial in respect of his life, property and offspring until he faces Allah, the Exalted, with no sin record". [At- Tirmidhi, who categorized it as Hadith Hasan Sahih]. https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:49

Contrary to the above, giving many bounties to some people does not reflect the love of Allah (SWT) as described in the following verse:

وَلَوْلَا أَن يَكُونَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً لَّجَعَلْنَا لِمَن يَكْفُرُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ لِبُيُوتِهِمْ سُقُفًا مِّن فِضَّةٍ وَمَعَارِجَ عَلَيْهَا يَظْهَرُونَ (33)الزخرف

Chapter Al-Zukhruf (33) And if it were not that the people would become one community [of disbelievers], We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful - for their houses - ceilings and stairways of silver upon which to mount. https://quran.com/43/33

It is clear from the verse that Allah (SWT) will bewitch the disbelievers with many bounties in order to hold them accountable before Him in the Day of Judgement. Therefore, not always bounties are symptoms of the love of Allah (SWT) otherwise; He (SWT) will not give disbelievers any bounties or sustenance.

Considering the above analogy, Allah (SWT) utilizes too many things in life to bewitch people and test their behavior. All what exist on earth is a material for the test including the listed items in the following verse:

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ (14)آل عمران

Chapter Al-Imran (14) Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return. https://quran.com/3/14

The most important question is how reasonable is the human being when dealing with life attractions and decorations. Does he/she utilize them wisely within the allowed level or exceed the lawful level? Does he/she commit unlawful staff and disobey Allah (SWT) in all life matters? People tend to forget the above facts and be submerged by life matters. They start to compete in life gains using all means, i.e., lawful and unlawful. In order to achieve life status or positions, people tend to misconduct in the individual and community levels, betray trust, violate agreements and common sense, deny rights of others, and forget their duties and responsibilities towards families and the society. Strong people start to prey the weak, big tycoons eat the small ones, and the only respected law is the forest law. For the sake of life matters, merchants cheat and quench in their business, the rich try to get richer on the expense of others, and those with prestige and status become arrogant. They forget that all these adornments, for which they are fighting for, soon will vanish and become perishable, decaying and evanescent. Therefore, we have to pay attention to our actions as they might severely impact others.

Tests for Believers

Believers are tested with tragedies and blessings as explained above. Sometimes, the test is hard and unbearable. Consequently, the Prophet (SAS) has described life a prison for the believer as shown in the following narration:

وعنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله ﷺ‏ "‏الدنيا سجن المؤمن وجنة الكافر‏"‏ ‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏‏‏.‏

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The world is the believer's prison and the infidel's Jannah". [Muslim]. https://sunnah.com/muslim:2956

Despite the hardness of the calamities on the believer, he/she has always thanked Allah (SWT) for whatever is given to or taken from him/her. Therefore, Allah (SWT) has promised and rewarded the believer with great life full of satisfaction and submission to Him and outstanding life in the Hereafter with full of blessings and great rewards. Therefore, the Prophet (SAS) has admired the believer as shown in the following narration:

وعن أبي يحيى صهيب بن سنان رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله ﷺ‏ "‏عجبا لأمر المؤمن إن أمره كله له خير، وليس ذلك لأحد إلا للمؤمن ‏:‏ إن أصابته سراء شكر فكان خيراً له، وإن أصابته ضراء صبر فكان خيراً له‏"‏ ‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏.‏ 

Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him". [Muslim]. https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:27

Calamities for the believer accomplish two folds: (1) show the love of Allah (SWT) that leads to forgive sins and/or (2) raise the flag for incorrect situations or mistakes. Calamities swipe sins as shown in the following narration:

وَعَن أبي هُرَيْرَة وَأبي سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: «مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ وَلَا وَصَبٍ وَلَا هَمٍّ وَلَا حُزْنٍ وَلَا أَذًى وَلَا غَمٍّ حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةُ يُشَاكُهَا إِلَّا كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بهَا من خطاياه»  مُتَّفق عَلَيْهِ   (الألباني)

He and Abu Sa'id reported the Prophet as saying, “No Muslim is afflicted by difficulty, continuous pain, anxiety, grief, injury, or care, or even by a thorn with which he is pierced, without God thereby making an atonement for his sins.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) https://sunnah.com/mishkat:1537

Hard calamities show the love of Allah (SWT) and lead to forgive the sins of the believer as shown in the following narration:

وَعَنْ سَعْدٍ قَالَ: سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ: «الْأَنْبِيَاء ثمَّ الْمثل فَالْأَمْثَلُ يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ صلبا فِي دينه اشْتَدَّ بَلَاؤُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ هُوِّنَ عَلَيْهِ فَمَا زَالَ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى يَمْشِيَ على الأَرْض مَال ذَنْبٌ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حسن صَحِيح-   حسن   (الألباني)

Sa'd said that when the Prophet was asked which people suffered the greatest affliction he replied, “The prophets, then those who come next to them, then those who come next to them. A man is afflicted in keeping with his religion; if he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him, and it continues like that till he walks on the earth having no sin.” Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition. Hasan Al-Albani as well. https://sunnah.com/mishkat:1562

Calamity also comes as a warning and a wakeup call to human beings in order to correct any mistakes or malfunctions in the social system. It raises a flag to alarm human beings of their violation of Allah’s law and universal system. This is clear in several verses of the Quran as follows:

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ (42) فَلَوْلَا إِذْ جَاءَهُم بَأْسُنَا تَضَرَّعُوا وَلَٰكِن قَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ (43)الأنعام

Chapter Al-Anaam (42) And We have already sent [messengers] to nations before you, [O Muhammad]; then We seized them with poverty and hardship that perhaps they might humble themselves [to Us]. (43) Then why, when Our punishment came to them, did they not humble themselves? But their hearts became hardened, and Satan made attractive to them that which they were doing. https://quran.com/6/42-43

If human beings return to Allah (SWT) and correct their mistakes or malfunctions, they will be saved in life and in the Hereafter otherwise they will lose both. The clarity of this concept appears well with the people of Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) when they correct their mistake and believe in Allah (SWT), they have been saved as shown in the following verse:

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ (98) يونس

Chapter Yunus (98) Then has there not been a [single] city that believed so its faith benefited it except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in worldly life and gave them enjoyment for a time. https://quran.com/10/98

The above reflects what the believers are suffering from several calamities worldwide nowadays. Whether the reason for these calamities is to forgive sins or to raise a flag to correct mistakes, the believers’ response to both is one: being patient and work hard to correct the mistakes. This is something that we have to contemplate among ourselves so that we save our souls in this life and in the Hereafter. It is a mandatory exercise for those who are keen about their children, families, communities, and countries. We should learn from history that the closer the community or society to Allah (SWT), the better life they will have and the winner they will be in the Hereafter as promised by Allah (SWT).

Tests for Disbelievers

Disbelievers are tested with calamities and bounties as everyone else. The main reason for this test is to let human beings return to Allah (SWT) and worship Him. This is clear in the following verse:

وَبَلَوْنَاهُم بِالْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ (168)الأعراف

Chapter Al-Araf (168) ….. And We tested them with good [times] and bad that perhaps they would return [to obedience]. https://quran.com/7/168

However, humans usually do not seriously and deeply think of the warning from Allah (SWT) until they reach a level of inattention that deserves the punishment from Allah (SWT) as shown in the following verses:

وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ (21)السجده

Chapter Al-Sajdah (21) And we will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent. https://quran.com/32/21

…….وَلَا يَزَالُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا تُصِيبُهُم بِمَا صَنَعُوا قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِّن دَارِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ وَعْدُ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ (31) الرعد

Chapter Al-Raad (31) ……. And those who disbelieve do not cease to be struck, for what they have done, by calamity - or it will descend near their home - until there comes the promise of Allah. Indeed, Allah does not fail in [His] promise. https://quran.com/13/31

The ingratitude of Allah’s bounties by disobedience leads to the above punishment for disbelievers and hypocrites. This hard test comes after a long period of bounties, which are not appreciated. Disbelievers take bounties for granted and that they deserve them. However, Allah (SWT) gives these bounties for people to think and return to Him. If not, hence, they would be punished. Usually, people who are under punishment might not understand their situation until it becomes too late. Therefore, I am sending a wake up call to think deeply in the global warming and COVID-19 disasters that the world is and will continue suffering from their impact for a long period. These are warning signs that people worldwide are not following Allah’s path as He (SWT) anticipates. We should review our actions and reform whatever is needed to return to the right path. Otherwise, things will not be better in the near future to all of us. I supplicate to Allah to protect us from all evil in this world and grant us Paradise in the Hereafter.

How to Behave Towards Life Tests

Allah (SWT) teaches us to be patient towards any life tests as shown in the following verse:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ (155)البقرة

Chapter Al-Baqarah (155) And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, https://quran.com/2/155

Life is too short and whatever happens to the human being during life is nothing compared to that of the Hereafter. Therefore, Allah (SWT) will test us with fear, hunger, loss of wealth, loss of close people/friends, etc, to test our behavior during these calamities. If we practice endurance and patience, hence, return to Him always with sincere appreciation from the heart, we will successfully pass the test and vice versa. Quran and Narrations of the Prophet (SAS) are full of instructions and teachings towards calamities and bounties of Allah (SWT). One of the great stories in life tests is the story of Prophet Ayyoub, peace be upon him. He has been tested hard in life as the case of most of the Prophets. He lost his health, wealth, children, status, etc. Nothing left for him except his great wife. They have been tested for years during which he has been extremely patient until Allah (SWT) permit the cure for him. Allah (SWT) has described him as patient, excellent servant, and constantly turning back to Him as shown in the following verse:

…… إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا ۚ نِّعْمَ الْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ (44)ص

Chapter Saad (44) [We said], "…… Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah]. https://quran.com/38/44

Due to his patience, acceptance, and appreciation, Prophet Ayyoub has been cured by Allah’s will. In addition, he has regained his wealth, status, and has been sustained with new children. This happens to him in life and more is reserved for him in the Hereafter. It is the reward of being patience and grateful to Allah (SWT) when we are tested in this life. Even if we have been tested very hard, this will not qualify to one dip in Paradise for one moment as shown in the following narration:

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ‏ "‏ يُؤْتَى بِأَنْعَمِ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُصْبَغُ فِي النَّارِ صَبْغَةً ثُمَّ يُقَالُ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ خَيْرًا قَطُّ هَلْ مَرَّ بِكَ نَعِيمٌ قَطُّ فَيَقُولُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَبِّ ‏.‏ وَيُؤْتَى بِأَشَدِّ النَّاسِ بُؤْسًا فِي الدُّنْيَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَيُصْبَغُ صَبْغَةً فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ بُؤْسًا قَطُّ هَلْ مَرَّ بِكَ شِدَّةٌ قَطُّ فَيَقُولُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَبِّ مَا مَرَّ بِي بُؤُسٌ قَطُّ وَلاَ رَأَيْتُ شِدَّةً قَطُّ ‏"‏‏.‏ مسلم

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said that one amongst the denizens of Hell who had led a life of ease and plenty amongst the people of the world would be made to dip in Fire only once on the Day of Resurrection and then it would be said to him: O, son of Adam, did you find any comfort, did you happen to get any material blessing? He would say: By Allah, no, my Lord. And then that person from amongst the persons of the world be brought who had led the most miserable life (in the world) from amongst the inmates of Paradise. and he would be made to dip once in Paradise and it would be said to him. 0, son of Adam, did you face, any hardship? Or had any distress fallen to your lot? And he would say: By Allah, no,0 my Lord, never did I face any hardship or experience any distress. Sahih Muslim 2807. https://sunnah.com/muslim:2807

Consequently, patience is one of the most effective responses to life tests no matter how hard it is. Things that will help us practice patience is how we look at others and the bounties that Allah (SWT) has given to others. Sometimes, we look at others to see only the bounties of Allah (SWT) with no knowledge of what Allah (SWT) has tested them with in order to give them these bounties. Therefore, what appears to us is just the apparent bounties. This sometimes leads to envy of one another and lose patience. The Prophet (SAS) has taught us to look at people who are inferior to us in property and appearance as shown in the following narrations:

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- ﷺ‏ -{ انْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ, وَلَا تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكُمْ, فَهُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ لَا تَزْدَرُوا نِعْمَةَ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ.‏ صحيح.‏ وهذا اللفظ رواية لمسلم (2963)‏ (9)‏، وأما اللفظ المتفق عليه، فهو قوله ‏- ﷺ‏ ‏-:" إذا نظر أحدكم إلى من فضل عليه في المال والخلق، فلينظر إلى من هو أسفل منه ممن فضل عليه".‏ رواه البخاري (6490)‏، ومسلم (2963)‏ (8)‏ ولشرح الحديث انظر كتابي" ذم الدنيا" ص (17‏- 18)‏.‏

Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Look at those who are lower than you (financially) but do not look at those who are higher than you, lest you belittle the favors Allah conferred upon you.” Agreed upon. https://sunnah.com/urn/2117470

وعنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله ﷺ انظروا إلى من هو أسفل منكم ولا تنظروا إلى من هو فوقكم فهو أجدر أن لا تزدروا نعمة الله عليكم‏"‏ ‏(‏متفق عليه وهذا لفظ مسلم‏)‏‏.‏ وفي رواية البخاري‏:‏ ‏"‏إذا نظر أحدكم إلى من فضل عليه في المال والخلق، فلينظر إلى من هو أسفل منه‏"‏‏.‏ وفي رواية البخاري‏:‏ ‏"‏إذا نظر أحدكم إلى من فضل عليه في المال والخلق، فلينظر إلى من هو أسفل منه‏"‏‏.‏

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Look at those who are inferior to you and do not look at those who are superior to you, for this will keep you from belittling Allah's favor to you." This is the wording in Sahih Muslim. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:466

The narration in Al-Bukhari is: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When one of you looks at someone who is superior to him in property and appearance, he should look at someone who is inferior to him".

Whenever you have been tested hard in this life, be patient and do not lose hope or get upset, as this will not help by any means. On the contrary, it will make matters worse as you will fail the test and whatever is decreed for you will happen. Therefore, Allah (SWT), as shown in the following verses, prohibits losing patience or getting disappointed:

قَالَ وَمَن يَقْنَطُ مِن رَّحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلَّا الضَّالُّونَ (56)الحجر

Chapter Al-Hijr (56) He said, "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?" https://quran.com/15/56

…… وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ (87)يوسف

Chapter Yusuf (87) ….. and despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people." https://quran.com/12/87

Impatience and disappointment lead to failure in life test, loss of the help of Allah (SWT) in life, and loss of the reward in the Hereafter. The acceptance or satisfaction of Allah’s decree is the key success factor in life because Allah (SWT) usually gives many bounties when He takes few others. Therefore, we should rest assure that Allah (SWT) is merciful and His decree will always be beneficial and in our favor whether it is a calamity or a bounty.

Concluded Remarks

We should understand the nature of life as a comprehensive test. We are in a large examination room, called life, which is located on earth. Everything in this life is part of the daily tests that we pass through. Test questions include wealth, family, wife and children, being rich or poor, being healthy or not, being strong or weak, etc. We have been tested with whatever we own and do in this life until the Day of Judgement. How we respond to calamities is a test of patience, acceptance/satisfaction of decree, and appreciation to Allah (SWT). How we respond to bounties is a test of appreciation and gratitude to Allah (SWT) for His kindness, generosity, and benevolence. If we really understand this nature of life, we will be comfortable, lenient, calm, tranquil, relaxed, etc. We will also be able to face all life tests with patience, persistence, and diligence.

Recommendations

Looking at life and its short period helps us to comprehend the fact that there is nothing worthy to feel sad or even concerned about. Therefore, it is essential to do the following activities:

1-  Contemplate the Quran verses about life and its facts, i.e. chapters Al-Imran (14, 185), Al-Anaam (32), Yunus (7, 24), Al-Kahf (45), Al-Qasas (60), Al-Shura (36), Al-Hadeed (20), etc. Also, let us read the interpretation of such verses and the explanation of our scholars to them.

2-  Contemplate the stories of the Quran and how they reflect the response of believers and disbelievers to life tests, i.e. calamities and bounties.

         i.    Life tests with calamities:

a.    Story of pharaohs who has failed in the calamity tests; however, the magicians have succeeded in maintaining their faith despite the torture.

b.    Success stories of Prophets Mohammed, Mousa, Ayoub, Yusuf, and Zakaria.

       ii.    Life tests with bounties:

a.   Story of pharaohs and Qaroun who have failed in the bounty test when they disbelieve despite all the bounties given to them.

b.   Success of Prophets Daoud and Soliman as well as Zu-Alqarnien who have succeeded in the bounty test of position and status that are given to them.

3g: Life Is But a Comprehensive Test

Overview

As previously discussed, life is but a comprehensive test for human beings. It is the place of planting seeds to harvest in the Hereafter. No matter how long we live, one day, we should leave this life. Allah (SWT) has made death as a destiny to all creations as depicted in the following verse:

كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ (26) الرحمن

Chapter Al-Rahman (26) Everyone upon the earth will perish, https://quran.com/55/26/

Allah (SWT) has described the temporary nature of life in the story of the believer at the time of pharaoh as shown in the following verse:

يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّمَا هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ هِيَ دَارُ الْقَرَارِ (39) غافر

Chapter Ghafir (39) O my people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and indeed, the Hereafter - that is the home of [permanent] settlement. https://quran.com/40/39/

If this is the nature of life, i.e. temporary and short, hence, why are we much concerned about it? If the nature of the Hereafter is permanent and eternal, then, why do not we pay all our attention to it? These two questions are the secret of our existence. We should not be concerned much about life, i.e., we should have Asceticism (Zuhd) in life. Therefore, the Prophet (SAS) has recommended Abdullah Ibn Omar to live as a stranger (see the following narration):

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِمَنْكِبِي فَقَالَ: «كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ» . وَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ: إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلَا تَنْتَظِرِ الصَّبَاحَ وَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلَا تَنْتَظِرِ الْمَسَاءَ وَخُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ لِمَرَضِكَ وَمِنْ حياتك لموتك. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told of God’s messenger taking him by the shoulders and saying, ‘‘Be in the world as though you were a stranger or one who is passing through.” Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “In the evening do not expect to see the morning and in the morning do not expect to see the evening, but take something when in health to serve you in time of illness and something in your life to serve you in your death.” Bukhari transmitted it. https://sunnah.com/mishkat:1604

Asceticism (Zuhd) in life is mandatory on human beings if they would like to achieve success in both life and the Hereafter. Therefore, in the following sections we will walk through the definition of Asceticism (Zuhd); its common misconceptions and impact; how can we accomplish such level? and what are the symptoms of an Ascetic?

Definition of Asceticism (Zuhd)

There are several definitions of Asceticism (Zuhd) as depicted by many scholars. I will list few of them in order to benefit and clarify its concept. Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal said: Asceticism (Zuhd) has three levels: (1) avoid unlawful actions, (2) take your basic needs in life and neglect any extras, and (3) avoid the useless actions that get you busy away from Allah (SWT). People, who have good knowledge of and close relationship with Allah (SWT), practice the third level, i.e., the highest. However, the special religious people are those who practice the second level. In addition, regular religious people practice the first level, which is the lowest. To augment on the definition of Imam Ibn Hanbal, Ibrahim Ibn Adham said: Asceticism (Zuhd) has three types: (1) Obligatory (avoid unlawful actions), (2) Preferred (avoid lawful staff that surpasses our needs), and (3) Safer (avoid the doubtful staff). Based on the above analogy, Imam Ahmed was asked: Can a human being be simultaneously Ascetic and rich? He replied, yes, if he/she does not feel happy for getting more money and does not feel sad of losing it. Therefore, the richest can be an Ascetic because he/she is not concerned about life and wealth. A poor may be non-Ascetic because he/she does not renounce life and always complain of his/her poverty. 

Asceticism (Zuhd) is also defined as the emotionless feeling towards the sustenance in this life. In other words, happiness does not touch the heart if sustenance is given to the human being and vice versa. Asceticism (Zuhd) is also defined as the renouncement of life attractions and the enjoyment of the Hereafter and Paradise. Other scholars have different definitions of Asceticism (Zuhd). For example, Yunus Ibn Maysarah said “Asceticism (Zuhd) is not in inhibiting lawful staff or losing wealth, but it is (1) being confident of what in the hands of Allah (SWT) more than what in your hands, (2) when your emotional status is equal at the time of calamity or bounty, and (3) when the complement and the insult are equal in your heart.”

There is a difference between Asceticism (Zuhd) and Devoutness (Wara’). Asceticism (Zuhd) is avoiding what is useless in the Hereafter. However, Devoutness (Wara’) is avoiding what might be harmful in the Hereafter.

Misconceptions of Asceticism (Zuhd)

Asceticism (Zuhd) is the process of lowering the ceiling of your expectations in life, which is too short. It is not just to eat less food or wear old clothes. It has a different deep meaning than the above. For example, if you lose, on purpose, a lawful wealth that can help you support good causes, then, you are not Ascetic. Such good causes include feeding the poor, sheltering the homeless, supporting youth in marriage, educating people, and solving social problems. Similarly, if you lose a status or a position that you can use to support good causes, such as being just among people and achieving what others cannot, hence, you are not Ascetic. Accordingly, wealth, knowledge, and status/positions are essential powers that support the establishment of good causes on earth. Losing any of them to be Ascetic is a big mistake and misunderstanding of Asceticism (Zuhd). Allah (SWT) provides us with the above essential powers to benefit humanity in life and to be eligible for Paradise in the Hereafter. The misconception of considering these powers as life decorations in which we should neglect and run away from is NOT the purpose of our creation.

Allah (SWT) has described Asceticism (Zuhd) in the Quran as “do not get depressed on losses and do not be happy on gains” as shown in the following verse:

كَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوا بِمَا آتَاكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ (23)الحديد

Chapter Al-Hadeed (23) In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful - https://quran.com/57/23

Therefore, you are considered Ascetic when the following are equal in your heart: gaining a good wealth or not, achieving a good status / position or not, etc. These are hard to achieve but doable where we can control our desires in these bounties of Allah (SWT).

Achieving Asceticism (Zuhd) in Life

Ibn Al-Qayem said: “You cannot achieve good position in the Hereafter unless you are an Ascetic in life. You also cannot achieve Asceticism in life unless you assure two things: understand the truth about life and act upon the secret of the Hereafter. First, understand the facts of life: it is short, vanishes very fast, and you always have pain in gaining any of its decoration. Therefore, you will have pain in acquiring, maintaining, and losing any status/position/bounties in life. Second, understand the secret of the Hereafter where it is eternal, stays for unlimited period, and its bounties are endless. The Hereafter is, as described by Allah (SWT), very much better than life and eternal as shown in the following verse:   

وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ (17)الأعلى

Chapter Al-A’laa (17) While the Hereafter is better and more enduring. https://quran.com/87/17”

Let us look at the response of the Prophet (SAS) and his understanding of life in the following narration:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ اضْطَجَعَ النَّبِيُّ ـ ﷺ ـ عَلَى حَصِيرٍ فَأَثَّرَ فِي جِلْدِهِ فَقُلْتُ بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ كُنْتَ آذَنْتَنَا فَفَرَشْنَا لَكَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا يَقِيكَ مِنْهُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ ﷺ ـ ‏ "‏ مَا أَنَا وَالدُّنْيَا إِنَّمَا أَنَا وَالدُّنْيَا كَرَاكِبٍ اسْتَظَلَّ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ ثُمَّ رَاحَ وَتَرَكَهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ابن ماجه

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah said: “The Prophet (ﷺ) lay down on a reed mat, and it left marks on his skin. I said: ‘May my father and mother be ransomed for you, O Messenger of Allah! If you had told us we would have provided you with something that would save you this trouble.’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘What is there between myself and the world? This world and I are just like a rider who stops to rest beneath the shade of a tree then goes and leaves it.’” Hasan, Sunan Ibn Majah 4109, https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:4109

This is how the Prophet has reacted to life and its decoration. He has been the best Ascetic and the greatest example of practically achieving Asceticism in this life. He (SAS) has described the example of life to the human being as the traveler who has stopped in a rest area or under a tree in the dessert to get some rest and then continue in his/her way. This example has described the short period of life where we should pay less attention to it. It is just like a point in the long way to the Hereafter. If we have this understanding in our hearts, we will not see people competing, fighting, and killing each other; oppression and unfairness everywhere; and tragedies wherever you put your finger in the world’s map.

As the great example of an Ascetic in life, the Prophet (SAS) has died with no wealth to sustain his children after his death as shown in the following narrations:

وَعَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ اَلْحَارِثِ‏- أَخِي جُوَيْرِيَةَ أُمِّ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏- قَالَ: { مَا تَرَكَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- ﷺ ‏-عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ دِرْهَمًا, وَلَا دِينَارًا, وَلَا عَبْدًا, وَلَا أَمَةً, وَلَا شَيْئًا, إِلَّا بَغْلَتَهُ اَلْبَيْضَاءَ, وَسِلَاحَهُ, وَأَرْضًا جَعَلَهَا صَدَقَةً } رَوَاهُ اَلْبُخَارِيّ ُ (2739){‏

’Amro bin al-Harith, the brother of Juwairiyah the mother of Believers (the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ)) narrated, ‘When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) died, he did not leave a Dinar or a Dirham, a slave or a slave-woman, or anything but his white she-mule, his weapons and a piece of land which he appointed as Sadaqah.’ Related by Al-Bukhari. https://sunnah.com/bulugh/15/17

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَدِرْعُهُ مَرْهُونَةٌ عِنْدَ يَهُودِيٍّ بِثَلَاثِينَ صَاعا من شعير. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

She said that when God’s Messenger died his coat of mail was in pledge with a Jew for thirty sa's of barley. Bukhari transmitted it. https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2885

A golden recommendation of the Prophet (SAS) includes “if you have no desire of life, Allah (SWT) will love you because you will always look at the Hereafter and its great blessings. In addition, if you have no desire of what people own, they will like you because you do not represent any danger to their gains” as shown in the following narrations:

وعن أبي العباس سهل بن سعد الساعدى، رضي الله عنه، قال‏:‏ جاء رجل إلى النبي ﷺ فقال‏:‏ يا رسول الله دلني على عمل إذا عملته أحبني الله، واحبني الناس، فقال‏:‏ “ازهد في الدنيا يحبك الله، وازهد فيما عند الناس يحبك الناس” ‏(‏‏(‏حديث حسن رواه ابن ماجه وغيره بأسانيد حسنة‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Sahl bin Sa'd As-Sa'idi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, guide me to such an action which, if I do Allah will love me and the people will also love me." He (ﷺ) said, "Have no desire for this world, Allah will love you; and have no desire for what people possess, and the people will love you." [Ibn Majah, Hadith Hasan]. https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:471

قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ أَبَانَ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ خَرَجَ زَيْدُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ مِنْ عِنْدِ مَرْوَانَ بِنِصْفِ النَّهَارِ فَقُلْتُ مَا بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ إِلاَّ لِشَىْءٍ سَأَلَ عَنْهُ ‏.‏ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ سَأَلَنَا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ سَمِعْنَاهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ ﷺ ـ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ ﷺ ـ يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ مَنْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا هَمَّهُ فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ فَقْرَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَأْتِهِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَتِ الآخِرَةُ نِيَّتَهُ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ غِنَاهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَأَتَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَهِيَ رَاغِمَةٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ابن ماجه

‘Abdur-Rahman bin Aban bin ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan narrated that his father said: “Zaid bin Thabit departed from Marwan at mid-day. I said: ‘He has not sent him out at this time of the day except for something he asked.’ So I asked him, and he said: ‘He asked me about some things we heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Whoever is focused only on this world, Allah will confound his affairs and make him fear poverty constantly, and he will not get anything of this world except that which has been decreed for him. Whoever is focused on the Hereafter, Allah will settle his affairs for him and make him feel content with his lot, and his provision and worldly gains will undoubtedly come to him.” Sahih, Sunan Ibn Majah 4105, https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:4105

Allah (SWT) has advised those people, who are only satisfied with life; who have thought that it is good and enough for them; and who pay no attention to the Hereafter; they will lose all gains in the Hereafter as follows:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا وَرَضُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاطْمَأَنُّوا بِهَا وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا غَافِلُونَ (7) أُولَٰئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ (8)يونس

Chapter Yunus (7) Indeed, those who do not expect the meeting with Us and are satisfied with the life of this world and feel secure therein and those who are heedless of Our signs (8) For those their refuge will be the Fire because of what they used to earn. https://quran.com/10/7-8

How the Prophet’s companions understand life and its value is shown in the following narration:

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: " لَأَنْ أَقُولَ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْس ". رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "To say: Glory be to Allah; Praise be to Allah; there is no god but Allah; and Allah is most great, is dearer to me than everything on which the sun rises." Muslim transmitted it. https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2295

Evidences of Asceticism (Zuhd)

Asceticism (Zuhd) can be self-assessed by individuals. Several symptoms in yourself show whether you are Ascetic or not. One of the most essential symptoms is avoiding lawful staff that do not increase your deeds in the Hereafter. This means you fill your time with the items that get you closer to Allah (SWT). Therefore, if you have free time, you might spend it in watching a useful TV program or surfing useful sites on the Internet and social media. These activities are permissible; however, there are useful activities, which make your scale of deeds heavier in the Day of Judgement. For example, such useful activities include, visiting a sick person, helping a needy, Quran recitation / memorization, etc. Therefore, when you avoid the permitted staff, which have no reward of doing or not, and fill your time with other beneficial activities to the Hereafter, you are Ascetic. Ibn Al-Qayem said, “Asceticism (Zuhd) is avoiding whatever is useless in the Hereafter. For example, wealth is beneficial when you spend in lawful activities and harmful if you spend in forbidden staff. Therefore, Asceticism (Zuhd) is not to avoid wealth and other life decorations but not to be greedy and busy with life staff away from what is beneficial in the Hereafter. Examples of Ascetic people: Prophet Daoud and Suliman who have been Ascetic although they have been given the power and kingdom. Prophet Mohammad (SAS) has been the greatest Ascetic despite enjoying his life with marriage and other staff. Abdelrahman Ibn Aowf has been Ascetic despite being a rich person as well. A rich man can be Ascetic because the wealth has no weight in his/her heart.

Impact of Asceticism in our Life

Ascetic has always-calm heart and mind because he/she knows that life is nothing but a bridge to the Hereafter. Therefore, he/she always exert his/her utmost effort to worship Allah (SWT) with the best means in order to accomplish the maximum benefits in the Hereafter. Ascetic always loves Allah (SWT) and likes meeting Him in the Hereafter. This status, which is hard to achieve, is the highest level of slavery to Allah (SWT). Asceticism (Zuhd) in this life leads to such great relationship with Allah (SWT). I pray to Him (SWT) to assist us reaching such level.

Conclusions

Asceticism (Zuhd) is the emotionless feeling towards any gains or losses in this life. You are an Ascetic when it becomes equal in your heart having a good wealth or not, achieving a good status / position or not, etc. Asceticism (Zuhd) in life is mandatory for those who aim at high position/status in the Hereafter. Therefore, you will be dearest to Allah (SWT) if you have no desire in life decorations and you will be the closest to people, if you have no desire in what they own. It is evident that avoiding lawful staff that do not increase your deeds in the Hereafter is mandatory for Ascetics who always optimize their precious time in life activities that get them closer to Allah (SWT). Ascetics are living a very interesting life, which is full of calm heart and mind, augmented by a unique relationship with Allah (SWT). I supplicate to Allah (SWT) to make us Ascetic in this life and grant us the best position in the Hereafter.

Recommendations

It is recommended to perform the following activities that assist in achieving Asceticism (Zuhd):

1-    Contemplate life facts, i.e., its short period, etc, through few verses of the Quran that describe life and its value compared to the Hereafter.

2-    Contemplate the Hereafter and its facts, i.e., eternal, its blessings, Paradise, Hellfire, status of believers and disbelievers, etc, through few verses of the Quran.

3-    Contemplate death that is very close to us.

4-    Keep your tongue active in remembering Allah (SWT) and Quran recitation.

5-    Make an undisclosed monthly plan for charity.

6-    Make a weekly read about Ascetics, particularly the Prophet (SAS), and his understanding of Asceticism (Zuhd) in life.

3h: Asceticism (Zuhd) in Life

References:

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2- Alfereh, A. (2015). "Facts about the Definite Life, the Place of Delusion," https://www.alukah.net/sharia/0/85250/#ixzz6bzFVcswk.

3- Alnawawi "The Gardens of the Righteous: Riyad Al-Saliheen," Reprinted in 1992, Islamic Office Publisher.
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5- Al-Shemry, A. (2020). “Thirty lessons learned from life description in the Quran,” http://www.saaid.net/Doat/ageel/14.htm.

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7- Al-Zahrani, N. (2020). "Place of Delusion," https://khutabaa.com/khutabaa-section/corncr-speeches/174787.

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10- El-Shemri, A. (2020). "Thirty Lessons of Life in Quran," https://www.saaid.net/Doat/ageel/14.htm

11- Elmasry, R. (2020). "Life is but Diversion and Amusement," https://islamonline.net/33366.

12- https://quran.com/

13- https://sunnah.com/
14- https://www.with-allah.com/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%87%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7.

15- Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi “Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin,” Translated by Wail Shihah, Revised by Said Faris, Dar Al-Manarah for Translation, Publishing & Distribution, 2002.
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17- Islamweb (2019). "Youth and the Place of Delusion," https://www.islamweb.net/ar/article/228316/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1.

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19- Islamweb (2004). "Life Is the Place of Test," https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/51946/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A1.

20- Omar Abd-Elkafy (2010). “The Hereafter: from Start to the End (الدار الأخرة و ماذا بعد الموت من البدايه الى النهايه),” Al Noor Publisher, Egypt, ISBN: 978-977-6340-20-6.

21- Omar Abd-Elkafy (2011). “TV Series: The True Promise,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IHVc4KMUkQ&list=PLA36CD40AF4FC4A7A.

22- Qasem, M. (2021). "Asceticism in Life," http://www.saaid.net/rasael/818.htm.

23- Tafseer Al-Quraan: Ibn Kathir, Al-Tabari, Al-Saadi, Al-Baghawi, Al-Qurtunbi.

Notes: SWT = glorified and exalted be He (سبحانه وتعالى SWT)                                   SAS = prayers and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَمَّ SAS)

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