People and the worldly life
People in this worldly life are categorized into two;...
- Categories: General -
Indeed, whoever looks at this worldly life by an eye of wisdom will be sure that its bliss is an affliction, living it is a matter of trouble, existing in it is toil and sadness. In addition, the people of this worldly life are overwhelmed by fear. In life, they have a perishing bliss, an affliction of calamity or inevitable death. Whoever feels self-sufficient in life will be seduced and whoever is in need therein, will be dissatisfied and grieved. Moreover, whoever loves it will be humiliated and whoever looks at it will be blinded by it. People in this worldly life are categorized into two;
The first one is a wise category who knew that it is a transient shade, a vanishing bliss and a mixture of false dreams. They have realized that it is full of bounties inside which there are calamities. They knew that this perishing life is just a way to the eternal life. Thus, they became satisfied with few things, so; their hearts and bodies were relieved, and their religion was saved from it. In addition, they become among the praised in the sight of Allah. Their worldly life did not distract them from obeying their Lord. They have put the last breath and what follows it before their eyes, and they meditated on their destiny. They thought how they can depart this worldly life with a sound faith, what will remain with them in their graves, and what they will pass to their inheritors in this life. They realized all this, so; they got themselves ready for death, prepared the answer for their call to account, and they took provision for the Promised Day (the best provision is fear of Allah). A good state (in paradise) is theirs. They feared [in life], so; they became secured [in the Hereafter] and they practiced righteous deeds, so; they won.
Another category is that of the ignorant whose sights were blinded. However, they did not think upon the matters of this worldly life nor did they find out its bad status and its final destiny. Life appeared for them by its false adornment and they were seduced by it. They adhered to it, became satisfied with it and became assured by it until it diverted them away from Allah Almighty and distracted them from His remembrance and obedience. Allah says, {And be not like those who forgot Allâh (i.e. became disobedient to Allâh), and He caused them to forget their ownselves, (let them to forget to do righteous deeds). Those are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).} [Surat Al-Hashr 59:19]
{وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّـهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ} الحشر: 19
Transliteration: Wala takoonoo kaallatheena nasoo Allaha faansahum anfusahum olaika humu alfasiqoona
They forgot Allah through neglecting His rights. They did not appraise Him with His due appraisal. In addition, they did not pay attention to His commands or His forbidden matters because of their indulgence in life. {and He caused them to forget their ownselves,} means that due to forgetting Him, he made them forgetful of themselves. Thus, they do not listen to what benefit them and they do not do what saves them. Moreover, they will see on the Day of Resurrection terrors that will make them forget themselves and will made them confused. Allah says, {The Day you shall see it, every nursing mother will forget her nursling, and every pregnant one will drop her load, and you shall see mankind as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but severe will be the Torment of Allâh.} [Surat Al-Hajj 22:2]
{يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَىٰ وَمَا هُم بِسُكَارَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّـهِ شَدِيدٌ} الحج: 2
Transliteration: Yawma tarawnaha tathhalu kullu murdiAAatin AAamma ardaAAat watadaAAu kullu thati hamlin hamlahawatara alnnasa sukara wama hum bisukara walakinna AAathaba Allahi shadeedun
Some of the ancestors said, “Striving for what is assured for you with your negligence of what is obliged for you is a proof of obliterating your sight.” They set life up but it destroyed them, they were proud of it without Allah, so, it humiliated them. They had many extended hopes, loved to live long and they forgot death and the horrors that come after it. Therefore, they became disappointed, went astray, lost life and did not have the [reward of] the Hereafter.
They inclined towards this low life,
And they had the highest positions;
Until they were deluded by them,
And then they were suddenly taken by death.
My brother for the sake of Allah! Whoever is heedless of himself will waste his times, then he will have severe regret. There is no regret, which is greater than having his life as a proof against himself and having his days leading him to more destruction and wretchedness. Time and its changes is the best adviser and age with its calamities is the most eloquent addresser. Therefore, pay attention to its wakening up and get lessons from its words.
It was said in traditional sayings, “there are four things that are included in wretchedness. They are a tearless eye, a hard heart, an extended hope, and being keen in observing this worldly life.”
Therefore, call yourselves to account before you are called to account.
Ibn Khuzaymah House