The Almighty has made thisworld a place for trials and tests. Hereeach person has been given the chanceto prove his mettle and become worthyof an eternal reward in the Hereafter.If he is unable to do so, he shallhave to face the ignominy of Hell. The Qur’an we read every day andtheprayer we offer five times a day actually serve to remind us of thisreality,which we tend to forget so very easily.
   However, this does not mean that one should notget involvedin worldly affairs. In fact, a person should use whatever talents he hasbeen blessed with for the betterment of the society he lives in. He shouldtry to correctly assess himself and choose a life which best suitshis talentsand abilities. A person who contributes towards building a society is actuallyfulfilling his duty not only towards His Creator, but also towards his fellowhuman beings. The only thing he must remain mindful of in his struggles inthe affairs of this world is that whenever, he has to make a decision in life and there exists a clash between interests of this world and those of the Hereafter, then he should always give priority to the Hereafter. Islam is not a religion of hermits and recluses, nor does it condone leading alife that is cut off from the rest of the world. It wants a person to livein the mainstream of events and face the harsh realities of life. It wantspeople to become tough and get going when the going gets tough. Escapismand Indulgence are two extremes which a person must avoid.
   In other words, the key word is poise and giving each thingits proper due. Neither should a person get so involved in life that he forgetsthe Hereafter, nor should he forsake the life of this world, lest he losethe chance to achieve high honours in the Hereafter.
The poise we are required to maintain in life is our real test. The circumstances each one of us is put through may vary, but the trial each of one us is put through is the same. Once a person realizes this fact, he must try to adjust his life and his attitude towards life according to this barometer. This of course requires a lot of inner conviction and discipline from him. A tall order it may be, but once a person sets out in this direction, he is sure to experience that his solitary soul is not solitary after all. He would then live close to His Creator and experience the joys of the world to come in this very world.