Question: I
have a question which is really disturbing me nowadays. I wish I could
ask this in person but the burden of studies does not let this be done.
Actually, I heard a preacher. quoting a Hadith of the Holy Prophet
(sws) saying: ‘You should strive in the world according to the proportion
you have to live here, and strive for the Hereafter according to the proportion
you have to live there’. While knowing well the amount of time there, when
one day would be equal to thousands of days on this earth one can easily
infer that the infinite life over there would be greater than millions
of years on the earth. This implies that we should completely forget/ignore
this world as it would have infinitesimal value as compared to the Hereafter
and pass our whole life only in worrying about the life after death. I
personally believe that there should be a balance. I remember an author
quoting the daily schedule of the Holy Prophet (sws) that he had divided
his day into three portions: one for worship, one for the people/trade
and one for his family. But I’m not sure how far are these Ahadith quoted
properly. I need your guidance in this regard.
Answer: The
statement you have quoted in your question is correct, but the meanings
sometimes construed from it are misleading. Indeed we should devote time
for the worldly affairs proportionate to its significance and likewise
for the Hereafter. However, that doesn’t imply that we should say goodbye
to the worldly obligations completely. Had that been Islam’s ideal, we
would have found the Prophet (sws) not participating in any worldly activity
at all. The fact that he fully participated in the worldly affairs is enough
reason for us to reject this understanding.
The truth of the matter is that we
are expected to earn our rewards for the Hereafter from this very life.
That would require us to get involved not only in worship but also in the
‘mundane worldly affairs’. However, in the case of the latter activities,
we are expected to abide by the rules laid down by Islam. Thus if we carry
out our worldly obligations in accordance with the injunctions and the
spirit of Islamic Shari‘ah, we will be leading a fully Hereafter-oriented
life. The Prophet (sws) is reported to have said: ‘This world is a cultivating
ground for the Hereafter’.
As for the question of how an individual
should allocate his time for various possible engagements that would enable
him to get the best results (from the point of view of the Hereafter),
there can be no one answer for everyone. It depends on many factors: one’s
circumstances, abilities, and natural inclinations. However, whatever one
does, one should be obsessed with the concerns of the life Hereafter. Allah
Almighty, it is hoped, will be kind in forgiving our minor blemishes.
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