الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينة ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

This talk is a continuation of last week talk.  In last week talk, I raised 4 questions that can be considered pre-requisites for our ability to claim that we are intelligent beings and not merely beasts who roam the earth for a while and then die.  These four questions are:

1. What is the purpose of our lives on earth?
2. What is the nature of this life on earth?
3. What are the requirements to fulfill this purpose?
4. What are the traits and qualities that we must possess to fulfill these requirements?

I answered the first question which is:  What is the purpose of our lives on earth? 

The answer was: the purpose of our life on Earth is to prepare for eternity when we return to Allah who will assess whether we are worthily of being in His company in Paradise forever or He will send us to another place as punishment for our failure.

I ended the talk by starting the discussion on the second question: “What is the nature of this life on earth?  I said that our life on earth can be presented by three metaphors that should be the foundation based on which we should shape our life.  These three metaphors are:

1. Life is a temporary assignment
2. Life is a test
3. Life is a trust

Life is a Temporary Assignment

The Quran teaches us that our life on Earth is very brief, temporary, and transient and when we look at it after we depart it, it will seem as if we have only been on Earth for a fraction of an hour.  Allah informs us of this reality as He says:

وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ كَأَنْ لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِنَ النَّهَارِ

“The day He will gather them together (on the Day of Judgement): They will feel as if they had not stayed (on earth) any longer than an hour of a day:” (Yunus 10:45)

وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يُقْسِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ مَا لَبِثُوا غَيْرَ سَاعَةٍ

“On the Day when the Hour (The Day of Judgement) will take place, the transgressors will swear that they did not remain (in the grave) more than one hour.” (Al-Rom 30:55)

وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا أَمْرُ السَّاعَةِ إِلَّا كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

“To Allah belongs the Unseen of the heavens and the earth. And the Decision of the Hour (of Judgment) is no more than twinkling of the eye, or even quicker: for Allah has power over all things.” (Al-Nahl 16:77)

يَسۡـٴَـلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرۡسَٮٰهَا (٤٢) فِيمَ أَنتَ مِن ذِكۡرَٮٰهَآ (٤٣) إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ مُنتَہَٮٰهَآ (٤٤) إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرُ مَن يَخۡشَٮٰهَا (٤٥) كَأَنَّہُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَہَا لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوۡ ضُحَٮٰهَا (٤٦(

“They ask you about the Hour (Day of Judgement), when will it take place. (42)  Who are you to tell them, (43) With Your Lord is the final word about it. (44)  You are only a Warner for anyone who fears it.  (45) The day they will see it, it will seem to them as if they did not live (in this world) but only for an evening, or a fraction of midday.” (Al-Naziat 79:42-46)

We must never forget the reality that this life compared to eternity is an extremely small fraction of a second because one day with Allah is equivalent to 1000 years from what we have here on earth, as Allah says:

وَإِنَّ يَوْمًا عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ كَأَلْفِ سَنَةٍ مِمَّا تَعُدُّونَ

“Verily a day with your Lord is like a thousand years from what you count (on Earth).” (Al-Hajj 22:47)

So, even if you live on Earth for 100 years, they will merely be equivalent to about 2 hrs of one of the days in eternity.

We must also realize that this earth is only a temporary residence and our presence in it is just as a traveler who is passing through a town on way to his destination.  True believers are aware that they are citizens of Heaven and are here on Earth for only a short visit to demonstrate that they deserve to return back to Heaven where they were first created.  

It is from Allah’s mercy that He allows us to feel some discomfort and dissatisfaction, to keep us from becoming too attached to the earth.  You may have happy moments, but you will never feel completely happy and satisfied on Earth.

Life is a Test

The metaphor that life is a test is clearly emphasized by many verses in the Quran and was demonstrated through the difficult tests that Allah gave to His most beloved people, His Prophets and Messengers.  Allah tested all the Prophets.  Allah subjected Prophets Ibrahim, Jacob, Lot, Yousef, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad to very challenging tests.

Allah continually tests the people’s character, faith, obedience, integrity, and love.  Words such as testing, trials, temptations, and refining occur many times in the Quran. Only through tests, people’s character is both developed and revealed.  Allah constantly watches your response to both blessings and difficulties.  He watches your response when you have been granted the blessings of power, happiness, health, and wealth as well as your response when you are challenged with problems, conflicts, illness, and disappointments. 

The concept of life as a test has been made abundantly clear in many verses in the Quran. Allah says:

أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتۡرَكُوٓاْ أَن يَقُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفۡتَنُونَ (٢) وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ‌ۖ فَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ (٣)

“Do people think that they will be left alone on saying, “We believe,” and that they will not be tested? (2) Indeed, We have tested those before them, so Allah can affirm who the truthful are and who the liars are.” (Al-Ankabout 29:2-3)

Allah also says:

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَنَبْلُوكُمْ بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ

 “Everyone has to taste death: and We test you with misfortune and with blessing by way of trial. To Allah you must return.” (Al-Anbiaa 21:35)

While we may not know when or how we are going to be tested, we can predict the nature of some of the tests from the Quran and we can also learn how we should respond to these tests, as Allah says in Surah Al-Baqara:

وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىۡءٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَٲلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ‌ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ (١٥٥) ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتۡهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ۬ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٲجِعُونَ (١٥٦) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ صَلَوَٲتٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡ وَرَحۡمَةٌ۬‌ۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدُونَ (١٥٧)

“We will surely test you with some fear and hunger, and some loss in wealth, lives and the fruits of your labor. But give glad tidings to those who are patient.  (155) Who say when misfortune strikes them: We belong to Allah and to Him is our return. (156) Those are the ones upon whom Allah grants blessing and mercy, and they are the rightly guided.” (Al-Baqara 2:155-157).

You will be tested by changes, delays, problems, undeserved criticism and even by what may appear to be senseless tragedies.  Allah will test your faith through problems, your hope by how you handle possessions and your love through people.  Some tests are overwhelming while others are not even noticeable, but all of them have eternal implications.

When you understand that this life is but a test, you realize that nothing in your life is insignificant. Every second is a growth opportunity to build your character, strengthen your faith and demonstrate your love and reliance on Allah.  Allah wants you to pass the tests of life. He will not test you beyond your abilities and endurance.  He never allows the tests you face to be greater than the grace He gives you to handle them.  This is what Allah confirms, as He said:

وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَابٌ يَنْطِقُ بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

“We do not place a burden on anyone except according to his ability and with Us there is a book which speaks with truth, and they (the people) will never be wronged.” (Al-Mu’minun 23:62)

Allah also revealed:

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ

“Allah does not place a burden on anyone beyond his capacity. For him is what he has earned, and on him what he has incurred.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

Every time you pass a test, you build up the chest of your treasure in eternity.  This is what the Prophet taught us; whether we are tested with misfortunes or with fortunes, our success in passing the test depends on our level of acceptance and the nature of our reaction to them.  The Prophet (PBUH) said:

صهيب قال: قال رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم:” عَجَبًا لأمرِ المؤمنِ إِنَّ أمْرَه كُلَّهُ لهُ خَيرٌ وليسَ ذلكَ لأحَدٍ إلا للمُؤْمنِ إِنْ أصَابتهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فكانتْ خَيرًا لهُ وإنْ أصَابتهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبرَ فكانتْ خَيرًا لهُ “. ) رواهُ مُسْلِمٌ(.

“I wonder about the state of the believer, all his matters are good, and this state is for none but the believer.  If he receives a blessing, he is grateful to Allah, and this is good for him and if misfortune inflicts him, he is patience and that is good for him,” (Muslim)

Allah also makes another point clear and that is when we look at things, we have to look at them with full trust that Allah is in control and He wants what is good for us, because what appears to be evil may prove later to be extremely good.  As Allah says in Surah Al-Nisaa:

فَعَسَى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَيَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا

 “It may be that you hate something in which Allah has placed a great deal of good” (Al-NIsaa4:19).

The Prophet (PBUH) recommended that we should read Surah al-Kahf (The Cave) every Friday.  In this surah, there is a story about the meeting between Prophet Musa (Moses) and the righteous man, Al-Khidr. Al Khidr did three things on which Prophet Musa objected.  Prophet Musa interpreted two of them as evil acts and one as a foolish act. The two that Prophet Musa interpreted as evil actions and quite destructive were damaging the ship of the poor fishermen and killing a child.  But when Al-Khidr explained the reason for his actions, it became clear that what appeared to be evil were in fact great blessings to those who were impacted with them.  In this case, Al Khidr was in a unique position because Allah had revealed to him the knowledge of the future that Prophet Musa did not know.

So, there should be no doubt in our mind that the presence of evil in the world does not negate the perfection of Allah’s actions.  The real question is how do we react to evil?  Apparent evil represents a test to those whom Allah granted the power to cause evil, to those who are inflicted with the evil, and to those are watching evil being done.  The question is not why Allah is allowing it; the issue is what you are doing about it.  Obviously if you see evil in the world and stand idle complaining about it, you have failed the test.   The Prophet (PBUH) taught us three ways to remove evil in his famous Hadeath:

عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال : سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول : ( من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيده ، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه ، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه ، وذلك أضعف الإيمان ) رواه مسلم(

“Whoever sees an evil must correct it with his hand, if he cannot then by his tongue, if he cannot, then by his heart and this is the weakest of faith”.  (Muslim) 

So, if you cannot do anything about evil, you should at least reject it with your heart and by not supporting those who are doing it.

For those on whom evil is inflicted, it is also a test regarding how to respond to it when they get the power to repel it.  Their response should not be for revenge and hatred but for justice and mercy.  Allah says:

وَلَا تَسۡتَوِى ٱلۡحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ‌ۚ ٱدۡفَعۡ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيۡنَكَ وَبَيۡنَهُ ۥ عَدَٲوَةٌ۬ كَأَنَّهُ ۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ۬ (٣٤)

“Good and evil are not equal. Repel (evil) with what is best, then he between whom and you there was enmity will become a close friend” (Fussilat 41:34)   

Life is a Trust

Allah offered us the responsibility of life on earth as a trust that we accepted as Allah said:

إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَنْ يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنْسَانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا

“We offered the trust to the Heavens and the Earth, and the mountains, but they refused to carry it and were afraid of it, but man accepted it.  He has been grossly unfair (to himself) and ignorant.” (Al-Ahzab 33:72).

It is the person’s ignorance and unfairness to himself that make him fails to recognize and take advantage of the powers that Allah has placed in him to fulfill this trust of being Allah’s vicegerent on earth. Allah informed us with this role when He said:

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً

“And when your Lord told the angels: I am placing a vicegerent (Khalifa) in the earth.  (Al-Baqara 2: 30)

To help us with this responsibility, Allah placed on earth all the resources that we need and granted us our energy, intelligence, opportunities, and relationships to fulfill the trust of taking care, management and stewardship over whatever Allah gives us according to His commands.  The concept of stewardship begins with the recognition that Allah is the Owner of everything and everyone in this universe.  Everything we have is a loan to us. They existed before we came to Earth, and Allah will loan it to someone else upon our death.

Our job on Earth is to manage and take care of what Allah created for us.  The air, the water, the land, the animals, the birds, and everything on Earth are subjugated for our use and are placed under our control as a temporary trust. Everything we enjoy should be treated as a trust that Allah placed in our hand.  Health, wealth, authority, and intellectual capacity, all are gifts from Allah Who placed them in our trust.

Only our injustice to our selves and our ignorance with our capacity and responsibilities that can lead us to squander all Allah’s gifts and become heedless, losing our way and stumbling everywhere. 

At the end of your life on earth, you will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well you handled the trust that Allah placed under your control. This means that everything you do, even the simple daily chores have eternal implication.  Allah makes this point clear by saying what we will be questioned about every blessing on the Day of Judgment:

 ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ

“Surely, you will be asked about the blessings (that you were given).”  (Al-Takathur 102-8)

Emphasizing this point, the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عَنْ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَا تَزُولُ قَدَمُ ابْنِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّهِ حَتَّى يُسْأَلَ عَنْ خَمْسٍ عَنْ عُمُرِهِ فِيمَ أَفْنَاهُ وَعَنْ شَبَابِهِ فِيمَ أَبْلَاهُ وَمَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَ أَنْفَقَهُ وَمَاذَا عَمِلَ فِيمَا عَلِمَ ) رواه الترمذي(

“On the Day of Resurrection, the son of Adam will not be dismissed from (the court of) his Lord until he is asked about five issues:  His life and how he lived it. His youth and how he used it. His wealth and how he earned it. His Wealth how he spent it. His knowledge and how he acted upon it.”  (Al-Tirmidhi)

I’ll stop here and continue next time, inshallah, with the answer to the third question: what is required to prepare for the eternal life? .The answer is to worship Allah because Allah says in Surah Al-Zariat: 

   وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“I haven’t created the Jinn and the humans except to worship me” (Al-Zariat 51:56).  

But how do we worship Allah?    This we will discuss Insha’Allah next time 

We pray to Allah to make among those who hear and follow the best.   DUA