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213

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

The first worldly life and the next life

Written by: Abdurrazzak Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.

23 Rajab 1440

29 March 2019

Dearly beloved in Allah,

The reality of this worldly life has escaped most of the people who live in this worldly life. They think this worldly life; is the end to all life. When that is not the case. In fact, we must think of where it will all end at; in order for an aggressor and a criminal to become fearful. In addition, in order that every sinner and every disobedient; repents and returns to Allah the Almighty. This worldly life is a life of transition and it is not a life of final settlement. When the Quran and Sunnah criticised or vilified this worldly life, the criticism did not relate to its time, which is the night and day. In fact, Allah Has made the night and day two signs to make us think and reflect upon. Allah says: { And He is the one Who has put the night and the day in succession, for such who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude} 25:62. The criticism or vilification of this worldly life does not refer to its place either, which is this Earth. Allah Has made this earth one of His many signs and miracles; and an evidence of His greatness. Allah says: {And a sign for them is the dead land. We gave it life, and We bring out from it grains, from which they eat} 36:33. The criticism or vilification of this worldly life is not aimed at what Allah Has placed into this worldly life of blessings, bounties, favours and gifts, but aimed at sins and acts of disobedience committed on the surface of this land against the Almighty Allah.

You must know that life on this earth is bounded by time, and is limited by a date when its end will come for definite. Allah says: {Verily, the likeness of (this) worldly life is as the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, so by it arises the intermingled produce of the earth of which men and cattle eat until when the earth is clad in its adornments and is beautified, and its people think that they have all the powers of disposal over it, Our Command comes to it by night or by day and We make it like a clean-mown harvest, as if it had not flourished the day before! Thus do We explain the signs in detail for people who reflect} 10:24.

Allah also says: {You should know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, splendour and spectacle and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children, (it is) as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the disbelievers; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment, and (there is) Forgiveness from Allah and (His) pleasure with the believers, And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.} 57:20.

You people, be God fearing. Remember that Allah created this worldly life and He created the life after. He created humankind and is testing them with those two lives. If man chooses this worldly life over the life after then he would be plagued with the anger and punishment of the Almighty Allah; and he would lose his worldly life and the life after. And if man choses the life after over this worldly life then he would be a winner in his worldly life and his life after. The messenger ppbu said: {the worldly life and life after are like two wives; if you lean towards one then you upset the other}. A Muslim should a balance between his worldly life and his next life. Therefore, he can take from this worldly life what would help him to obey Allah, and would help him to win in the life after. This balanced Muslim would benefit his next life from this worldly life. When Qaroon got the wealth and riches, he was advised: {Remember when his people said to him: Do not brag and boast (with riches, being ungrateful to Allah). Verily Allah does not like those who exult (with riches, being ungrateful to Allah)} 28:76. Meaning do not brag with arrogance and do not feel above others, with what Allah Has given you of wealth and riches. Allah says: {But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter} 28:77. Meaning use it to help you do good deeds seeking the next life. Use it to spend on those who need and who have not; and spend for the sake of Allah. Allah says: {But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and do not forget your portion of lawful enjoyment in this worldly life} 28:77 . meaning do not deny yourself the enjoyment of food, drink, clothes, homes and all that Allah makes permissible. Do not forget your share of this first worldly life and do not deny yourself its pleasures, this too is also criticised and vilified. Allah says: {Say: "Who has forbidden the adornment and beautification given by Allah, which He has produced for His slaves, and all kinds of good things?" Say: "It is all for those who believe in the worldly life shared, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection", This is how We detail and explain our verses or rules so comprehensively for people who have knowledge} 7:32 . A Muslim should use or spend from that that Allah provides for him, and should donate and spend for the sake of Allah, and should put away from his first life to the next. Some say: “work for your worldly life as if you live forever, And work for your next life as if you die tomorrow”. A Muslim should strike a balance between the first life and the last. He should not be taken by one; and forgets about the other. This who tires himself, and gives himself all it desired in Halal and in Haram (allowable and forbidden). This who opens for himself the doors or desires and temptations, fun and distractions; and enjoyed his share of this life and forgts about the life next, then he is a loser. Allah says: {He loses both this world and the Hereafter. That is the evident great loss} 22:11. On the other hand, he who knows the rank worth of the first life; and the rank or worth of the next life and gave each one of them its correct worth then he is the winner in his worldly life and in his next. Allah says: {But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires, and lusts. Then Paradise will be his abode.} 79:40.

A Muslim should have a good look at his worldly life and his next life. A Muslim should know that he was created ultimately for the next life. He must know that this worldly life is coming to an end, no matter how beautiful it appeared, and quite sooner than one thinks. Imam Ali Ebn Abi Talib said: Here is the worldly life turning away and departing, and the next life is approaching. Each one of those two lives has sons, so be the son of the next life and do not be the son of this worldly life.

You were not created in this life to build it and flourish it. Do not limit yourself and your life in gaining more of this life and forget about the next life. You were created to work for your next life, and take from your worldly life to build your next life. Take from this life what would help your and support you in the next life. This is what this worldly life means. The worldly life is a life of demise, and the next life is an everlasting life. This is known to every wise individual, and especially a faithful believer.

The question now is how can a person have a preference for an ending life? This life which he will soon leave or it will soon leave him. How does he have preference of this soon ending life and forget about the final and everlasting life. Allah says: {O my people! Truly, this life of the world is certain a passing enjoyment, and for certain, the Hereafter that is the permanent home} 40:39. You in this life are a traveller who is passing through. A passenger who is being carried by the nights and days to the next life. Be ready for the next life. Be ready to meet The Almighty Allah. Work for the next life. Do not boycott and forget about the next life, then it will boycott you and will forget about you. Allah says: {And Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day man will remember, but how could he remember? (23) He will say: "I wish I had done in advance good deeds for this life of mine" (24) So on that Day, none will be punished as He will be (25) And none will be bound and tied as He will be. (26) "O (you) the contented resting soul! (27) "Come back to your Lord, Well-pleased and well-pleasing! (28) "Enter among My (honoured) slaves, (29) "And enter My Paradise!" (30)} 89:23-30.

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