Allah provides us with a complete picture of our existence in the Quran. The pleasures of this worldly life, such as wealth, children and wives, are a trial. If you were so attached to them, they would be your enemies. It is the same with many inmates when they say that they had sold drugs in order to support their families. Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and God has with Him a great reward. In Islam, man’s entire individual and social life is an exercise in developing and strengthening his relationship with Allah. Allah says:
وَمَا هَذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَهْوٌۭ وَلَعِبٌۭ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ لَهِىَ ٱلْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
“This worldly life is no more than play and amusement. But the Hereafter is indeed the real life, if only they knew.” (Surah Al-Ankabut, 29:64)
Islam does not separate worldly life from the Hereafter. Actually, Islam challenges us to maintain balance in life. All material things in this life are meant as tools for people to work hard towards the pleasure of God. Recognise that Allah is lord and master, not only of this world, but of all possible worlds, and that He provides for the world and saves it. God will weigh everyone’s good and bad deeds according to His Mercy and His Justice, forgiving many sins and multiplying many good deeds. Allah says:
الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
“The wealth and children (are) adornment (of) the life (of) the world. But the enduring good deeds (are) better near your Lord (for) reward and better (for) hope.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46)
The Quran is the book that Muslims believe to be the direct and literal words of God and it is God’s greatest gift to humanity. Quran seems to understand a person’s innermost thoughts and can even answer questions only half formulated by the reader. Recognise that Allah does not depend on the world— rather the world depends on Him. The worldly life is your only opportunity to establish obedience to your Creator. When we understand that this whole world is equal to less than a fly’s wing in the sight of God.
We all love the worldly life, the truth of the life of this world:
- The worldly life on the earth has been made alluring, a trap and a test
- The worldly life does not establish peace and justice in society
- The worldly life does not have the dignity of all human beings
- The worldly life does not encourage people to be generous
- The worldly life does not command love, mercy, and peace
- The worldly life does not mean knowing where you stand
- The worldly life is misunderstood among some Muslims
- The worldly life does not enjoin its believers in purifying
- The worldly life does not have infinite value for all
- The worldly life to make a positive difference
- The worldly life does not provide for one’s family
- The worldly life does not have patience & humility
- The worldly life does not seem to be a healing agent
- The worldly life means to think you will return to God
- The worldly life does not consider all life forms sacred
- The worldly life does not provoke kindness to neighbours
- The worldly life does not focus on what is in your control
- The worldly life spread rumours and does not listen to them
- The worldly life does not establish peace and justice in society
- The worldly life loses heart by a lack of any other material thing
Worldly life is just a journey to that place, and living with that knowledge will bring us deeply, contented peace. The materialistic world has dragged mankind into the race to unlimited desire, to achieve more and more which results in a disgraceful life. While fixing your eyes on the eternal prize, be sure to inform yourself regarding what Allah expects from you in this life. Allah says:
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا نُوَفِّ إِلَيْهِمْ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فِيهَا وَهُمْ فِيهَا لَا يُبْخَسُونَ
“Whoever [is] desires the life (of) the world and its adornments, We will repay in full to them (for) their deeds therein, and they in it will not be lessened.” (Surah Hud 11:15)
The pleasures of this worldly life, such as wealth, children and wives, are a trial. Eye Opening Words in the Quran Describing the Life of this World: It is interesting to note that God does not mention that human beings desire just gold and silver alone but that we desire heaped up or hoarded amounts of wealth, indicating our desire to accumulate more and more wealth. This desire is deep within us and we must take care to control it rather than let it control us.
All these facts are described in the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says:
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- “Indeed successful are the believers.” (Quran 23:1)
- “Let not then this present life deceive you.” (Surah Fatir: 5)
- “And had preferred the life of this world.” (Surah An-Naziat, 38)
- “But the Hereafter is better and more enduring.” (Surah Al-Ala, 17)
- “…We all belong to Allah and Him, we shall return.” ( Al-Baqarah: 2:156)
- “The life of this world is merely the enjoyment of delusion.” (Quran 3:185)
- “And take provision, verily the best of provisions is at-taqwa.” (Quran 2:197)
- “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Quran 51:56)
The Quran warned us of being deluded or deceived by the enjoyments of worldly life. Yes, enjoy life but do not let it delude or deceive you. If you are so attached to worldly life, even without enjoying any quality of life or human rights, you would accept oppression from others, and you would not try to defend yourself or fight for your rights. A man has always been greedy by nature and has wished for more than he should own. So there is a limit to enjoying the pleasures of our worldly life. Allah says:
يَـٰقَوْمِ إِنَّمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا مَتَـٰعٌۭ وَإِنَّ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ هِىَ دَارُ ٱلْقَرَارِ
“O my people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and indeed, the Hereafter – that is the home of [permanent] settlement.” (Surah Ghafir 40:39)
The world is a veil and plaything; no human being should lose himself in it. Human intelligence and dignity are above the transient moments of the world. Do not let your innate love of beautiful things distance you from God. There is a place for the good things in this world, Prophet Muhammad also reminded us of this when he compared the life of this world to a place in Paradise. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْأَلْكُمْ أَمْوَالَكُمْ
“[This] worldly life is only amusement and diversion. And if you believe and fear Allah, He will give you your rewards and not ask you for your properties.” (Surah Muhammad 47:36)
Worldly life is like a farm in which a Muslim sows the seeds of good deeds in all aspects of life to reap the rewards of his hard work both in this life and the hereafter. Islam is a religion that balances worldly life and the life to come. However, God asks us to remember that this life is fleeting and tells us that the return or Paradise is better. Allah cautions us not to get carried away by the charms of this life because, in comparison with the hereafter, this life has quite a limited span. We are thankful to Allah for His blessings.
