God says
He it is who has made you inherit the earth,* and has raised some of you by degree above others, so that He might try you by means of what He has bestowed upon you.* Verily, thy sustainer is swift in retribution: yet, behold, He is indeed much- forgiving, a dispenser of grace. Q.6: 165
*Lit., a “successor” or a “vice-gerent”.
**Lit., by way of character, strength, knowledge, social position, wealth etc.
To him who desires a harvest in the life to come, We shall grant an increase in his harvest; whereas to him who desires (but) a harvest in this world, We (may) give something thereof but he will have no share (in the blessing of) the life to come. -- Q.42: 20
Hast thou ever considered [the kind of man] who makes his own desires his deity, and whom God has [thereupon] let go astray, knowing [that his mind is closed to all guidance]…. Q.45:23
… And whenever you are told “Rise up [for a good deed]”, do rise up; [and] God will exalt by [many] degrees those of you who have attained to faith and, [above all,] such as have been vouchsafed [true] knowledge: … Q.58:11
[And,] verily, those who have attained to faith and do righteous deeds – it is they, they who are the best of all creatures. -- Q.98: 7
Consider the flight of time!* Verily, man is bound to lose himself unless he be of those who attained to faith, and do good works,and enjoin upon one another the keeping to truth, and enjoin upon one another patience in adversity.-- Q.103: 1-3
Flying time gone is gone forever. But how we spent it will be questioned. What we need is the right attitude towards life: life’s this phase of action and, its second phase of accountability called hereafter. “Satan holds out promises to them, and fills them with vain desires:”(4:120). Exessive involvement with social, pastime and acquisition environments, for instance, can completely imbalance our time-spending. Temptation within us justify what is really unjustifiable, and that leads us away from God. Which is very scary. Recall what Iblis had told God about us: “Now that Thou hast thrown me out of the Way, I shall indeed make [all that is evil] on earth seem goodly to them and shall most certainly divert them into grievous error – [all] except such of them as are truly Thy servants”(15:39,40). We are under attack. Let us turn to the above surah for safety.
Prophet said
1. “Surely one’s property is (his actions) that he sends before (death) and the property of his heir is what he will leave behind” – H: Bukhari. N: Abdullah-b- Masud.
2. “The wise man is he who lower his self and acts for life after death....” – H: Tirmizi and Ibn Majah. N: Shaddad b Aus.
3. “Wretched man is he who follows his low desires and (then) rests hope in God”-- H: Tirmizi and Ibn Majah. N: Shaddad-b-Aus.
4. “After death what reaches the believer out of his works and good deeds are: the learning he has acquired and (then) spreads it around, a pious child (he leaves behind), a book (of learning) he leaves as heritage, a mosque he has built, has built a resting-place for travelers, a canal (or well) he has arranged to be excavated, and an act of charity (of continuous benefit) he has out of his wealth while still alive and healthy – (the benefit of these) will reach him (even) after his death.” – H: Ibn Majah and Baihaqi. N: Abu Huraira.
