It has disappointed so many, while also pleased many others. People have died chasing it and people who didn't chase also died. Its joys and hardships are but temporary delusions. How many times does it deceive us with its illusions? It can captivate the heart, blind the one besotted by it, and also burden us with worries. It is none other than the Dunya! “Know that the life of the world is merely a game and a diversion and ostentation, and a cause of boasting among you and trying to outdo one another in wealth and children, like the plant-growth after rain, which delights the cultivators. Then it withers, you see it turning yellow, and then it becomes broken stubble. In the hereafter, there is terrible punishment, but also forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure. The life of the world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.” (Qur'an, 57:20) If we stop to think about those who are titled “successful” in this world, they are primarily those who have amassed a money. But if you look at the best of worldly pleasures, you know that what is of benefit one day, is harmful the next day. Joys are tainted with grief and our wishes never cease. Death will certainly overtake us though we have many more aspirations remaining. Allah says: “Yet still you prefer the life of the world, when the hereafter is better and longer lasting.” (Qur'an, 87: 16 -17) So, why do so many choose to run frantically after this life? Because rewards are seen and experienced on earth. If we perform our duties well, we are promoted or given a pay rise. Imagine if we were told that SR10,000 await us every time we do an Umrah, we may try to go everyday, regardless of the hardship. The reward in the everlasting life cannot be experienced here. For instance, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said if we knew how great the reward for praying in the first row of the Masjid was, we would compete with each other to do that. But let the first row aside, do we even attend the prayer in the Masjid? Charity is one of the big deeds that will help us in the hereafter. The best charity is the one when we give so discreetly that our left hand doesn't know what our right hand gives. But when the time for charity comes, our bills suddenly become very important. We get reminded of our rents and other expenditure. As Muslims, our goal should be the pleasure of Allah. Our destination should be Insha Allah Paradise. This does not mean we must sit in the Masjid all day. No. Instead, we should make everything we do in this life a means to make us successful in the hereafter. The world looks up to celebrities as role models. But what happens when they lose their luster? What happens when they become old and weak? They're all reduced to a bunch of memories. Of what use one may wonder?! If you ponder and seek guidance from the Qur'an, you will realize that the only thing that truly matters at the end of the day is the way we have lived our lives – how many good deeds we have done and how less sins we have committed. This is the test for which the world has been created. Hasan Al-Basri, who was a famous Tabi'ee (student of the Sahabah), described the world as being only three days. The day that has passed by and so there is no hope in it. The day you are living in and so it is proper that you should make the most of it. The day that is to come, about which you don't know if you will be a part of it.
