ISLAM AND THE AIM OF LIFE

What is your purpose in life? What is the rationale behind our life? Why do we live in this life? These questions frequently intrigue people who try to find accurate answers.

People provide different answers to these questions. Some people believe the purpose of life is to accumulate wealth. But one may wonder: What is the purpose of life after one has collected colossal amounts of money? What then? What will the purpose be once money is gathered? If the purpose of life is to gain money, there will be no purpose after becoming wealthy. And in fact, here lies the problem of some disbelievers or misbelievers at some stage of their life, when collecting money is the target of their life. When they have collected the money they dreamt of, their life loses its purpose. They suffer from the panic of nothingness and they live in tension and restlessness.

Can Wealth Be an Aim?

We often hear of a millionaire committing suicide, sometimes, not the millionaire himself but his wife, son, or daughter. The question that poses itself is: Can wealth bring happiness to one’s life? In most cases the answer is NO. Is the purpose of collecting wealth a standing purpose? As we know, the five-year old child does not look for wealth: a toy for him is equal to a million dollars. The eighteen-year old adolescent does not dream of wealth because he is busy with more important things. The ninety-year old man does not care about money; he is worried more about his health. This proves that wealth cannot be a standing purpose in all the stages of the individual's life.

Wealth can do little to bring happiness to a disbeliever, because he/she is not sure about his fate. A disbeliever does not know the purpose of life. And if he has a purpose, this purpose is doomed to be temporary or self destructive.

What is the use of wealth to a disbeliever if he feels scared of the end and skeptical of everything. A disbeliever may gain a lot of money, but will surely lose himself.

Worshipping Allah as an Aim

On the contrary, faith in Allah gives the believer the purpose of life that he needs. In Islam, the purpose of life is to worship Allah. The term "Worship" covers all acts of obedience to Allah.

The Islamic purpose of life is a standing purpose. The true Muslim sticks to this purpose throughout all the stages of his life, whether he is a child, adolescent, adult, or an old man.

Worshipping Allah makes life purposeful and meaningful, especially within the framework of Islam. According to Islam this worldly life is just a short stage of our life. Then there is the other life. The boundary between the first and second life is the death stage, which is a transitory stage to the second life. The type of life in the second stage a person deserves depends on his deeds in the first life. At the end of the death stage comes the day of judgment. On this day, Allah rewards or punishes people according to their deeds in the first life.

The First Life as an Examination

So, Islam looks at the first life as an examination of man. The death stage is similar to a rest period after the test, i. e. after the first life. The Day of Judgment is similar to the day of announcing the results of the examinees. The second life is the time when each examinee enjoys or suffers from the outcome of his behavior during the test period.

In Islam, the line of life is clear, simple, and logical: the first life, death, the Day of Judgment, and then the second life. With this clear line of life, the Muslim has a clear purpose in life. The Muslim knows he is created by Allah. Muslims know they are going to spend some years in this first life, during which they have to obey God, because God will question them and hold them responsible for their public or private deeds, because Allah knows about all the deeds of all people. The Muslim knows that his deeds in the first life will determine the type of second life they will live in. The Muslim knows that this first life is a very short one, one hundred years, more or less, whereas the second life is an eternal one.

The Eternity of the Second Life

The concept of the eternity of the second life has a tremendous effect on a Muslims during their first life, because Muslims believe that their first life determines the shape of their second life. In addition, this determines the shape of their second life and this determination will be through the Judgment of Allah, the All just and Almighty.

With this belief in the second life and the Day of Judgment, the Muslim's life becomes purposeful and meaningful. Moreover, the Muslim's standing purpose is to go to Paradise in the second life.

In other words, the Muslim's permanent purpose is to obey Allah, to submit to Allah, to carry out His orders, and to keep in continues contact with Him through prayers (five times a day), through fasting (one month a year), through charity (as often as possible), and through pilgrimage (once in one's life).

The Need for a Permanent Purpose

Disbelievers have purposes in their lives such as collecting money and property, indulging in sex, eating, and dancing. But all these purposes are transient and passing ones. All these purposes come and go, go up and down. Money comes and goes. Health comes and goes. Sexual activities cannot continue forever. All these lusts for money, food and sex cannot answer the individual's questions: so what? Then What?

However, Islam saves Muslims from the trouble of asking the question, because Islam makes it clear, from the very beginning, that the permanent purpose of the Muslim in this life is to obey Allah in order to go to Paradise in the second life.

We should know that the only way for our salvation in this life and in the hereafter is to know our Lord who created us, believe in Him, and worship Him alone.

We should also know our Prophet whom Allah had sent to all mankind, believe in Him and follow Him. We should, know the religion of truth which our Lord has commanded us to believe in, and practice it …

NEVER JUDGE ANYONE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH

HEART TOUCHING STORY OF A SON

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call asap, changed his clothes & went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy’s father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor. On seeing him, the dad yelled:

“Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility?”

The doctor smiled & said:

“I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital & I came as fast as I could after receiving the call…… And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work”

“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would U calm down? If your own son dies now what will U do??” said the father angrily

The doctor smiled again & replied: “I will say what Job said in the Holy Book “From dust we came & to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go & intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace”.

“Giving advises when we’re not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father.

The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy,

“Thank God !, your son is saved!” And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running. “If U have any question, ask the nurse!!”

“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state” Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.

The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.”

Moral-Never judge anyone….. because U never know how their life is & what they’re going through”

HOW TO OFFER SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES

From among the rights of a Muslim on other Muslims, is whenever a Muslim suffers some calamity or whenever a Muslim is involved into some catastrophy, he should be consoled and he should be advised patience.The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) has said . Whosoever condoled a calamity-striken person, Allah grants Thawab as much to the condoler as the stricken.The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) also said : The woman whose child dies, and some-body consoles that woman and advises her patience, Allah will bless the condoler with a covering in Paradise.Ibn Majah and Baihaqi quoted that a Muslim who condoles another Muslim in his sorrow, Allah grants that condoler the best dress in Paradise.Ibn al-Saniy quotes from Hazrat Umran Bin Husain(R.A.) that the Nabi Moosa(A.S.) submitted to the Allah Ta'ala : "O Allah, A person who condoles a woman whose child is dead, what sort of reward he gets. Allah Ta'ala said : I will accommodate him under the shade other than with Me.

 

In regard to condolence, interpreters say that it can be done for three days. After three days, one should refrain from condolences. But, of course, condoIences should be done even after three days if the condoled was on journey.

The following words for condolences are proven in the Ahaadeeth:

 

 

'A'zama-Ilahu Ajraka wa Ahsana 'Azaa-ka wa Ghafara Li-Mayyitika wa Alhamaka Sabran wa Ajzala Lana ZaaLika Bis-Sabri Ajran'

"May Allah enhance your recompense and be generous in your calamity and forgive the deceased and induce you with patience and multiply for us and for you recompense through patience."

 

In this connection are those words ascribed to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) which he conveyed to his daughter and a letter which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) addressed to Mu'az Bin Jabal(R.A.) by way of condolence at the death of his son and also those words which somebody uttered after the death of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) ;it is thought that these words belong to Hazrat Khidar(A.S.). Quoted below are the expressions from Hisn Haseen:-

 

Expressing sympathy to the bereaved family:

 

One of the sons or daughters of Hazrat Zainab(R.A.)  fell seriously ill. She sent a man so that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) may wish to come. At that time the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) was engaged in some religious work. So he conveyed through his messenger that tell his daughter that : Ultimately everything belongs to Allah. If the child is in the lap of the mother, even then he is His property. And in case He takes him away from the parents, even then also he is His property. And in Allah's estimation everything is for a time limit. No variation occurs in this principle. So, better  exercise patience and hope for the reward. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam)'s words are so unique and so much dominating over the principle of religion that even secretariates are insufficient to explain them or interpret them. Therefore;expressing sympathy to the bereaved family by greeting with Salaam and saying the following is Sunnah.The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) conveyed in reply to Hazrat Zainab(R.A.) the below mentioned:-

 

 

 

Inna Lillaahi Ma Akhaza Wala-hu Ma A'ta wa Kulla Shai-in 'Inda-hu Be-Ajalim Musamman FaMurha FaI. tasbir wal-Tahtasib.

" To Allah belongs what He takes and to Him belongs what He gives.And there is a set time by Him for everything. Do exercise patience and expect reward(from Allah)."

 

 

Letter of condolence to the bereaved:

 

The following is a letter of condolence sent by Rasulullah(Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) to Hazrat Mu?aaz bin Jabal(R.A.) when his son passed away. The same idea should be adopted when expressing sympathy by letter.

 

 

 

"I begin in the name of Allah,Most Kind,Most Merciful. From Muhammad, Allah's Messenger to Mu'az- Ibn-Jabal. May the peace of Allah be on you.l  praise Allah before you,the One besides whom there is none worthy of worship.

After praising and glorifying Allah, (I say the following.) May Allah give you great reward and may He guide you to exercise patient endurance and may He (also) guide us and you to be grateful to Him

Surely, our souls, wealth and families are wonderful gifts from Allah Azza Wajalla which He has loaned to us so that we may take benefit from them for a set period; and he takes them away after the termination of that period Thus, gratitude becomes binding on us when He gives, and patience becomes obligatory when He takes away.

Your son was also from among the wonderful gifts (of Allah) and a loan (from Him) AIlah enabled you to enjoy him in away that was both enviable (to others) and pleasing (to you); and now, in return for great reward, mercy and forgiveness  providing you exercise patience- he has taken him away from you. So do exercise patience and do not let your bewailing and complaining destroy your reward, for you will be sorry (if this happens) Know that bewailing and complaining does not help bring back anything nor does it repel grief and sorrow. And whatever is to happen is set to happen. May you be in peace."

Condolence of Hazrat Khidr(A.S.):

 

According to the Hadeeth, the day Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu- alayhi-wasallam) passed away, a powerful-looking, beautiful and handsome man with a white beard came leaping across the necks of people till he reached where the sacred body of Rasoolullah (Sallatlaahu-alayhi-wasallam) lay. He wept bitterly and turned towards the Sahabah (RA) and said the undermentioned words. Abu Bakr (RA) and Ali (RA) said that he was Khidr (AS). The words are as follows:

 

 

"Surely, Allah alone grants patience in every misfortune and compensation for anything lost and substitute for anything destroyed. Return to Allah alone and flee towards Him only in times of difficulty His gaze is set on you (and He does not forsake you). Understand this because a genuinely unfortunate and miserable person is one who is not given any compensation for his misfortune."

Condolence of the Angels:

 

When Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) passed away, (then according to the Hadeeth), the angels expressed their sympathy to the Ahle Bait and Sahabah (RA) in the following words:

 

 

 

"Peace be on you all and the mercy of Allah and his blessings. Surely, Allah grants sabr and patience in all misfortunes and He alone grants a substitute for anything lost. Hence, rely on Allah alone and have hope in Him alone; For, only that person is a true loser who loses (his) reward and Thawaab. And the peace of Allah be upon you and His rnercy and blessings."

Generally, two sentences are ascribed to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) at the time of condolence, have patience and have hope for Thawab. The aim is that one should say such words to a calamity striken person through which he may feel consoled and his perturbance and impatience is soothed.