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In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

This terminating life; and the next everlasting life

Written by: Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

14 Thel-Hejja 1437.

16 September 2016.

Dearly beloved,

All thanks to be Allah; and to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. And all thanks be to Him in the next life, He is the most Wise, the most Expert. I testify that there is no other God but Him, the one and only, who has no partners. Everything belongs to Him. All thanks be to Him, He gives life and death. He is capable over everything. And I testify that Muhamad is His slave and messenger, who brought the good tidings; and warnings. He is the bright beacon, ppbu and upon His companions.

O people; fear Allah. And let it be known to you; that Allah created this life and the next. And He created mankind and Has him tested between those two lives. So, if mankind works for this first worldly life instead of the next life then he earns Allah’s anger and wrath and punishment. And he loses this life and the next. While, if man goes for the next life in preference of this first life then he would be a winner in both this first life and the next. The messenger ppbu said: {this life and the next are like two wives. If you tilt towards one; then you annoy the other}. So, every Muslim must work out a balance between his worldly life; and the next life. He should take from this worldly life what would help him; to obey Allah, and what would help him; to be a winner in the next life. This is the well balanced Muslim; who would benefit from his worldly life and the next life. About those who gave advice to Qaroon when Allah gave him tremendous treasures, Allah says: {his people said to him: do not be so proudly happy exultant, Allah does not like those who are exultant} 28:76. Meaning; do not become so big-headed, arrogant and proudly happy with what Allah has bestowed upon you of treasures. Allah says: {But seek the abode of the next life through what Allah gave to you...} 28:76. Meaning; you are to use what Allah gave you in order to do good deed for the benefit of; and for seeking the next life. That is through donating to the needy and those with difficulties, and spending for the sake of Allah. This is what shall remain; or shall be saved for you with Allah.

Do not deny yourself pleasures and joy within the limits of Allah, all good food, drink, clothes and living. Don’t forget your share of this life. Do not deny yourself the pleasures of this life. Doing so is much criticised or rebuked. Allah says: {say: who has forbidden the adornment and pleasures which Allah Has brought for His slaves? and all the good things he sent them? Say: All will be for those who have faith during this worldly life; and shall be pure in the next life. Such way We detail our revelations for those who have knowledge}7:32.

A Muslim takes from what Allah gives him, to donate, spend and put forward towards his next life. This is what’s demanded of the Muslim in his first and next lives. Someone once said: “Work for your worldly life as if you live for ever, and work for your next life as if you shall die tomorrow”. A Muslim should have a balance between this life and the next life. Not to be completely taken by one of them; while completely forgetting about the other.

The unblessed and the wretched in this life, is that who indulged into what this dunia (worldly life) had to offer in halal and haram (allowable and forbidden), and he who opened to himself the doors of desires and distraction, in unawareness and negligence, this who enjoyed his share of this worldly life and forgot about the next life, then that is the looser. Allah says: {losing the worldly life and the next. That is the great clear loss} 22:11. On the other hand, he who knows the value or importance of this worldly life and value of the next life and gave each one of them its proper value, this is the winner who wins his worldly life and his next life. Allah says: {Then, as for him who rebelled (37) And chose the life of the world, (38) hell will be his home. (39) But as for him who feared to stand before his Lord and restrained his soul from lust, (40) Then the Garden of paradise will be his home. (41)} 79:37-41. Let a Muslim look into his worldly life and next life, and let him know that he was created for the next life. And let him know that this worldly life will soon finish and terminate for him; no matter how beautiful, garnished, decorated or attractive it may appear to be. It is soon going to end for certain, while the next life is the lasting one. Anyone who opts for something which is sure and soon to terminate; for a something which for ever lasting; then this is an insane or a senseless person. The real sane or sensible person is the one who would opt for the permanently lasting life instead of the short temporary ending one. Ali Ebn Abi Talib may Allah be pleased with him said: “The worldly life is soon to depart, and the next life is soon to arrive. And each of those lives has its children. Be one of the children of the next life and do not be among the children of this wordly life”.

You have not been created in this life to last in it for ever. Nor to build it and win as much of it as you can, while forgetting about your next life. You have been created to work for you next life, and take from your worldly life in order to benefit for your next. You take from your worldly life what would help your in seeking the next life. Remember this worldly life is a home of demise, and the next life is an everlasting home. Every sane person knows this, especially the one who has faith. How could a person opt for the life of demise? The one he will soon leave; or it will soon leave him. How could he forget about the next life which is going to be his permanent residence. Allah says: {O my people, this life of the world is but a passing joy, and for certain; the Hereafter; that is the enduring home.} 40:39.

In this worldly life; you are just a passer-by or someone in transit. You are a traveller carried away by the nights and days; to the next life. So, be ready for your next life, be ready to meet Allah; all praise be to Him. Work for the everlasting life. Do not be absolutely immersed into this worldly life so it takes you completely and cuts you off. Allah says: {…on that day man will remember, but what good remembrance is going to benefit him? (23) He will say: Ah, I wish I had sent before me (some provision) for my life! (24) On that day Allah will punish no one as the punishment he will be punished (25) No other will be chained or bounded as he will (26) But you; peaceful soul (27) Return unto you Lord, contented in His good pleasure! (28) Do enter among My slaves (29) do enter My Garden of paradise (30)} 89:23-30.

Slaves of Allah, remember your worldly life and your next life. Do not be like animals that live in this life and forget about death. And because they are animals; we do not blame, because they were created for the purpose of benefiting mankind. When that purpose is done they die. There is no hellfire and paradise for animals. Yet; animals are resurrected as well on the day of resurrection. Allah says: {And when the wild beasts are herded together} 81:5. They are collected so some retribution can be taken against others. The lamb without horns will be revenged against the lamb with horns then Allah says: {turn into dust or Be dust}. It is then when Allah says: {and then the person who does not believe will cry: I wish I were dust} 78:40.

Slaves of Allah, be God fearing. Recognise your worldly life and next life. This worldly life is flourishing with culture, civilisation, advancement and beauty. It has enticed and tempted plenty of people. They were fooled by it, and they became busy seeking it. They forgot about their next life. Do not be like them. And remember that what counts in your actions and deeds are the final ones and what a person does nearer to their death. Indeed, one may do a lot of good deeds, then he ends his deeds with evil, and dies with disbelief, and becomes with the people of hellfire. Yet, a person may do a lot of bad deeds, and is made to have good final deeds, and becomes with the people of Paradise. Allah says: {You who have faith, be God fearing His deserved fear. And do not die except as Muslims} 3:102.

May Allah bless you and I with the great Quran, and may He benefit us through what it contains of clarifications and wise messages and revelations. I say this and I ask Allah’s forgiveness for you and I and for all Muslims from all sins. Do ask His forgiveness, He is the most Forgiving, the most Merciful.

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).

Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.

Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)

Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.

Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

Fiqh - Religious law.

Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.

Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.

Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.

Iman: belief or faith

Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.

Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.

Siam or Soam- Fasting

Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

Surah - A chapter of the Koran.

Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Zaboor - The Psalms

Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com