By Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
By
Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
Given the choice, however, between the life in this world and the life in the Hereafter, Islâm teaches us to choose the eternal life in the Hereafter. Islâm inspires the righteous believers with ultimate success in paradise and gives clear admonitions to the unbelievers of their severe and eternal punishments in the hell-fire. It guides mankind to know and understand that life in this world is nothing compared to the life in the Hereafter. Allâh, the Almighty, tells us:
“Nothing is the life of this world but play and amusement. But for better is the Home in the Hereafter for those who are pious. Will you not then understand?” (6:32)
“O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that, when you are asked to go forth in the Cause of Allâh, you cling heavily to the earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter.” (9:38)
“Allâh does enlarge, or grant by (strict) measure, the Sustenance (which He gives) to whom He pleases. They rejoice in the life of this world: but the life of this world is nothing but little comfort compared to the Hereafter.” (13:26)
“Know (all), that the life of this world is nothing but play and a pastime, adornment and mutual boasting and multiplying, (in rivalry) among yourselves, riches and children. Here is a similitude; how rain and the growth, which it brings forth, delight (the hearts of) the tillers; soon it withers; you will see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away. But in the Hereafter is a Penalty severe (for the devotees of wrong) and forgiveness from Allâh and (His) Good Pleasure (for the devotees of Allâh). And what is the life of this world, but goods and chattels of deception?” (57:20)
Allâh the Exalted makes it clear to us that the life of this world is deceiving (6:130). Many people love this fleeting life and neglect the Hereafter (75:20-21). Those who desire the life of the present and its glitter will suffer in the Fire in the Hereafter (11:15-16). Those who wish for the transitory things (of this life), Allâh will grant them such things as He wills, to such persons as He wills. In the end, however, He has provided for them punishment in Hell. They will burn therein, disgraced and rejected (17:18). Our Creator makes it clear that supreme success is the eternal life in Paradise and that the dwellers of Paradise are the ones who are indeed successful:
“Who is averted from such a torment on that Day, (Allâh) has surely been merciful to him. And that would be the obvious success.” (6:16)
“For them Allâh has got ready Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever. That is the supreme success.” (9:89)
“They will never taste death therein except the first death (of this world). And He will save them from the Torment of the Blazing Fire as a bounty from your Rabb! That will be the supreme success!” (44:56, 57)
“Not equal are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of the Paradise. It is the dwellers of Paradise that will be successful.” (59:20)
For our success, we must seek authentic knowledge of Islâm. We must give importance to it just as we must put due value to the eternal life in the Hereafter. We must take admonition from the following Ahâdîth:
Abdullâh ibn Mas’ud t said that if the people of knowledge were to preserve it and impart it to those who were worthy of it they will most certainly be the leaders of their age by virtue of it. But they passed it on to the people of the world to attain thereby some portion of their world, so they fell in their estimation. I heard Allâh’s Messenger saying: “Whoever centers all his thoughts upon one object, viz. the thought of the Hereafter, Allâh will provide him with the worldly needs, and he whose whole distraction is worldly ends, Allâh does not care in what wilderness of the world he perishes.” (Tirmidhi 263 and Ibn Majah)
Anas bin Malik and Zayd bin Thabit t narrated that the Prophet r said “If anyone’s intention is to seek the hereafter, Allâh will place his sufficiency in his heart and order his affairs, and the world will come to him submissively; but if anyone’s intention is to seek worldly good Allâh will place poverty before him and disorder his affairs, and only so much of it as has been ordained for him will come to him.” (Tirmidhi 5320; Ahmad and Darimi)
One of the basic teachings in Islâm is the firm belief in the life hereafter. Those who follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah will surely receive Allâh’s Mercy. His eternal mercy to those who believe and do righteous deeds is Paradise. He I rewards the righteous the Garden of Paradise as their final abode (25:15-16). They shall have joy in all that they do and shall have whatever they call for (36:55-57). The greatest bliss, however, is the Good Pleasure of Allâh I: that is the supreme success (9:72). Allâh the Exalted promises them the eternal Garden where they will enjoy comfort and peace. He I says:
“But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness ¾ We shall soon admit them to Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, ¾ to dwell therein forever. Allâh’s promise is the truth, and whose word can be truer than Allâh’s?” (4:122)
“This is the Way of your Rabb, leading straight: We have detailed the Signs for those who receive admonition. For them will be a Home of Peace in the presence of their Rabb. He will be their Friend, because they practiced (righteousness).” (6:126-127)
“But Allâh does call to the Home of Peace: He does guide whom He pleases to a Way that is straight. To those who do right is a goodly (reward) ¾ Yea, more (than in measure)! No darkness nor shame shall cover their faces! They are Companions of the Garden; they will abide therein (for aye)!” (10:25-26)
“Allâh has promised the believers men and women gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allâh: that is the supreme success.” (9:72)
“The righteous will be amid Gardens and fountains of clear-flowing water. (Their greeting will be): ‘Enter you here in Peace and Security.’ And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury: (they will be) brothers (joyfully) facing each other on raised couches.” (15:45-47)
Except those who repent and believe, and work righteousness: for these will enter the Garden and will not be wronged in the least ¾ Gardens of Eternity, those which (Allâh) Most Gracious has promised to His servants in the Unseen: for His promise must (necessarily) come to pass. They will not there hear any vain discourse, but only salutations of Peace: And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening. Such is the Garden, which We give as an inheritance to those of Our Servants who guard against evil. (19:60-63)
“Verily the Companions of the Garden shall that Day have joy in all that they do; they and their associates will be in pleasant shade, reclining on raised couches; (every) fruit will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for; ‘Peace!’ ¾ a Word (of salutation) from a Rabb Most Merciful. (36:55-58)
"And the Garden will be brought nigh to the Righteous ¾ no more a thing distant. (A voice will say:) ‘This is what was promised for you for every penitent heedful one, who feared the Most Gracious unseen, and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him): Enter you therein in Peace and Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!’ There will be for them therein all that they wish and there is more with us." (50:31-35)
And those Foremost (in Faith) will be foremost (in the Hereafter). These will be those Nearest to Allâh: in the Gardens of Bliss: a number of people from those of old, and a few from those of later times. (They will be) on couches encrusted (with gold and precious stones), reclining on them facing each other. Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness), with goblets, (shining) beakers, and cups (filled) out of clear-flowing fountains. No after-ache will they receive there from, nor will they suffer intoxication: and with fruits, any that they may select; and the flesh of fowls, any that they may desire. And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes ¾ like unto Pearls well-guarded, a Reward for the Deeds of their past (Life). No frivolity will they Hear therein, nor any mischief ¾ only the saying ‘Peace! Peace.’ (56:10-26)
The Qur’ân informs us that while Allâh I is merciful to the Righteous Believers, Our Creator wants us to know also that He is strict in His punishment to the Unbelievers. Allâh the Almighty clearly says:
“And fear tumult or oppression which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong and know that Allâh is strict in punishment.” (8:25)
Allâh I warns the Unbelievers about the Hell-fire. He tells us about Hell as His terrible punishment that awaits them in the eternal world to come. Allâh the Almighty warns the Unbelievers of the Hell as their final and eternal abode for denying the Truth. He I says:
“Those who reject Our Signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire; as often as their skins are roasted through. We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the Chastisement: for Allâh is Exalted in Power, Wise.” (4:56)
“In front of such a one is Hell, and he is given for drink, boiling fetid water. In gulps will he sip it, but never will he be near swallowing it down his throat: Death will come to him from every quarter, yet will he not die: and in front of him will be a chastisement unrelenting.” (14:16-17)
". . . But those who deny (their God) ¾ for them will be cut out a garment of Fire: over their heads will be poured out boiling water. With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as (their) skins. In addition there will be maces of iron (to punish) them. Every time they wish to get away there from, from anguish, they will be forced back therein, and (it will be said), ‘Taste you the Penalty of Burning!’" (22:19-22)
“As to those who are rebellious and wicked, their abode will be the Fire: every time they wish to get away there from, they will be forced thereunto, and it will be said to them: ‘Taste you the Penalty of the Fire, the which you were wont to reject as false.’” (32:20)
". . . But for the wrongdoers will be an evil place of (final) Return! Hell! They will burn therein an evil bed (indeed to lie on)! Yea, such! ¾ Then shall they taste it a boiling fluid, and a fluid dark, murky, intensely cold and other Penalties of a similar kind, to match them!" (38:55-58)
“This is the Hell of which you were promised! Embrace you the (Fire) this Day, for that you (persistently) rejected (the Truth).” (36:63-64)
Who, then, does more wrong than one who utters a lie concerning Allâh and rejects the Truth when it comes to him! Is there not in Hell an abode for the unbelievers? (39:32)
The Unbelievers will be led to Hell in groups: until, when they arrive there, its gates will be opened. And its Keepers will say, ‘Did not messengers come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing to you the Signs of your Rabb, and warning you of Meeting of this Day of yours?’ The answer will be: ‘True: but the Decree of Chastisement has been proved true against the Unbelievers!’ (To them) will be said ‘Enter you the gates of Hell, to dwell therein: and evil is (this) abode of the arrogant!’ (39:71-72)
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