Priority between the Worldly and AfterLife

• Last Updated on February 20, 2017 @ 9:57 am by Islaminlife Admin

We should inquire to ourselves critically, “Between the worldly and the afterlife, which is my objective and priority?”

If the afterlife is objective, our worldly tasks should even encompass the commandments of Allah Taala. If the worldly-life is sole objective, even our Ibadat would have no real worth – it would become just a routine practice. Indeed, our worldly dos and donts easily prove whether we had targeted this worldly or the after life(?). If my dos and donts cross the boundaries which has been forbidden by the Holy Qur’an and AHadith, definitely there is question regarding my life-objective as a Muslim.

It is true that being in this world, no one can escape its activities and no one can flee from his duties and responsibilities. The world is full of activities and our lives are not free from duties and responsibilities. However, a Muslim prioritizes all his doings bearing in his mind the matter of returning to Allah Taala. A sincere believer would demonstrate and prove his orientation and inclination toward afterlife through each and every act; both – his Ibadat and worldly tasks (indirectly Ibadat) would be the means of remembrance of Allah Taala.

The contrast between a believer and non-believer is clear in the Holy Qur’an’s Verses:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انْفِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الأرْضِ أَرَضِيتُمْ بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الآخِرَةِ فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الآخِرَةِ إِلا قَلِيلٌ (٣٨)

Meaning: O those who believe, what is wrong with you that when it is said to you, “Come out in the way of Allah,” you turn heavy (and cling) to the ground. Have you become happy with the worldly life instead of the Hereafter? So, the enjoyment of the worldly life is but little as compared with the Hereafter. Sura Tawba – 38

فَأَمَّا مَنْ طَغَى (٣٧)وَآثَرَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا (٣٨)فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَى (٣٩)وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَى (٤٠) فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَى (٤١)

Meaning: Then for the one who had rebelled, [37] and preferred the worldly life (to the Hereafter), [38] the Hell will be the abode, [39] whereas for the one who feared to stand before his Lord, and restrained his self from the (evil) desire, [40] the Paradise will be the abode. [41] Sura Naziyat: 37-41