Answer
Short Answer: A believer will have to travel through the stages of life with precaution. Setting up boundaries within his nafs instead of elsewhere. A believer uses the means of this world to be able to receive the best in the next world. A believer relishes in the blessings his lord has bestowed upon him in this world and also looks forward to the greatest achievement he will get later on, i.e. paradise. Allah has not made your life difficult for you. Allah has not asked you to choose this world over the next. In fact, Allah is pleased with those who seek good in both worlds!
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Walaikumassalam warahmatullah wabarakatahu.
Thank you for approaching us with your concern.
As a believing person, many thoughts can cross your mind. For instance, you may ask yourself, am I indulging too much in the dunya? Am I fulfilling my duties towards my Lord? So on and so forth. It is great to be concerned about your actions and hold yourself accountable. As Umar may Allah be pleased with him said,
“hold yourself accountable before you are held accountable and weigh your deeds before they are weighed for you.”
Benefit of The Dunya
Allah has created this dunya for your welfare. He has blessed you with the night and the day, water, and all sorts of provision. From time to time dunya reminds us to be grateful towards Allah. Whether it be in the form of a test or in the form of a blessing, each and every day you witness, is a gift from Allah.
“It is Allah Who has made for you the earth as a resting place, and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape – and made your shapes beautiful -, and has provided for you Sustenance…” (Quran 40:64)
If you were to reject or turn away from the bounties of Allah, this will indeed be a grave sin. You should make use of everything that Allah has provided you with, and enjoy it in the best and halal manner.
Even the Prophets of Allah had reveled in the blessings they were given. Such as Prophet Dawud, and after him Prophet Sulayman. Allah says in the Quran (38:19)
“And We made his kingdom strong, and We gave him wisdom and sound judgement.”
Even though they were Kings who had unimaginable wealth and power. However, their possessions only increased them in their belief and obedience to Allah. They were pious and always held themselves accountable. That is how the believer is expected to behave. He should enjoy the blessings of Allah, the way Allah wants him to, without trespassing anyone’s rights, and if he committed an evil than he does good to eradicate it from his accounts.
The Attitude of a Believer
The attitude of a believer is described in this thorough hadith. It has been transmitted by Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“The prayer which Allah loves most is the prayer of Dawud. The fast which Allah loves most is that of Dawud. He used to sleep for half of the night, stand up in prayer for a third and sleep for a sixth. He would fast every other day. He wore wool and slept on hair. He ate barley bread with salt and ashes. He mixed his drink with tears. He was never seen to laugh after his error nor to look directly at the sky because of his shyness before his Lord and he continued to weep for the rest of his life. It is said that he wept until plants sprang up from his tears and until tears formed ridges in his cheeks. It is said that he went out in disguise to learn what people thought of him, and hearing himself praised only made him more humble.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Hanbal, Abu Da’wud, An-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah. From Ash-Shifa’ of Qadhi ‘Iyad 1:2:24)
The Best Dua
Believers are advised to stay in this dunya as a traveler according to the hadeeth, Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler along a path.”
The fact remains that one should not get too attached to the dunya as it will make one forget his purpose in life and also distract him from fulfilling his duties. Now, pause for a second and analyze that the Hadith mentions a traveler. Why a traveler? When someone is traveling, they do stop to enjoy the beauty around them isn’t it? They also take pictures for a keepsake, and may even take along a memento from the place they are in. However, they do not hinder from moving on as they know where their final destination lies. You have to draw your own line where it comes to indulgence. You have to decide it for yourself as only you can be honest with yourself.
Seeking the good in both worlds
A believer will have to travel through the stages of life with precaution. Setting up boundaries within his nafs instead of elsewhere. A believer uses the means of this world to be able to receive the best in the next world. A believer relishes in the blessings his lord has bestowed upon him in this world and also looks forward to the greatest achievement he will get later on, i.e. paradise.
Allah has not made your life difficult for you. Allah has not asked you to choose this world over the next. In fact, Allah is pleased with those who seek good in both worlds! As Allah says in the Quran speaking about the believers,
“Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (2:201)
Allah says such people who make this dua have their share in both worlds according to what they have earned.
And Allah knows best
Hope this helps.
Salam and please keep in touch.
(From Ask About Islam archive)
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