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Why Does Allah Permit Long Life to Non-Worshipers?

15 October, 2020
Q Salam, i have question, asking this question for my friend since he doesn't have internet, My friend has cancer, final stage, and He doesn't have much time left Doctor says so, And he is doing good deeds, worshipping Allah, so question is Will he be married in heaven and be parent and grandparent? That is his wish, will his wish be accepted in jannah? and Why people die young? is it because Allah want us to go to heaven? And other question did Allah create us just to worship him? So why non-worshipers live so long like 100 years and never worshipped him, and Allah still keeping them alive ? Jazak allah khair

Answer

Short Answer:

  • So we believe that Allah, The Merciful, Wise Creator, the Owner of our souls, decrees what is best for His slaves; choosing when a person is born and when a person returns to Him. In other words, we belong to Almighty Allah, not this world. 
  • Please rest assured and be comforted in knowing that your friend will experience eternal fulfillment of his every wish and desire in Jannah. May Allah the Almighty admit him to the highest Paradise. 
  • It is from the gift of free will that a person chooses whether or not to love and connect with Allah the Almighty. He will not force anyone to worship Him because if He did, how would He judge them? It is from a free will that we become responsible and accountable for our own choices and actions. 

………….

Walaykum Asalam wa Rahmat Allah Dear Brother,

Thank you for your questions. May Allah the Almighty reward you for trying to help your friend, and reward your friend for enduring his test, and grant him eternal dwelling in the Highest Paradise.

Illness, Struggles, and Paradise

First of all, your question is a reminder of the hadith where Allah Almighty informs us of what happens once a righteous person experiences a single dip in Paradise. 

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“[…] the most miserable people in the world among the people of Paradise will come on the Day of Resurrection to be dipped in Paradise, then it will be said: O son of Adam, did you see any hardship? Did you have any distress? He will say: No, by Allah, my Lord! I did not once see hardship or distress.” [Muslim] 

So, one dip in Paradise will make your friend completely forget every hardship he has ever experienced in this world. In Paradise, there is no pain, sadness, or sorrow – only joy and pleasure. 

Paradise: Pleasures and Granting of Wishes

Regarding your first question, I want you to remind your friend of the pleasures that Allah the Almighty has prepared for His righteous slaves in Paradise. Here is a beautiful hadith that provides a brief description:  

It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 

“Moses (ﷺ) asked his Lord: ‘Who amongst the inhabitants of Jannah will be the lowest in rank?’ He said: ‘It will be a person who will be admitted into Jannah last of all when all the dwellers of Jannah have entered Jannah. It will be said to him: Enter Jannah. But he will say: O my Lord! How should I enter while the people have settled in their apartments and taken their shares? It will be said to him: Will you be satisfied and pleased if you have a kingdom like that of a monarch of the world? He will say: I will be content, my Lord. Allah will say: For you is that, and like that and like that and like that and like that. He will say in the fifth time: I am well-pleased, my Lord. Allah will say: It is for you and ten times more like it. You will have whatever your soul desires and whatever your eyes could delight in. He will say: I am well-pleased, my Lord.’ Musa (ﷺ) said: ‘Who will be of the highest rank in Jannah.’ Allah said: ‘They are those whom I chose and I established their honor with My Own Hand. I attest with My Seal that they will be blessed with such bounties as no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human mind has perceived.”‘ [Muslim]

Glad Tidings of Jannah

So, brother, please rest assured and be comforted in knowing that your friend will experience eternal fulfillment of his every wish and desire in Jannah. May Allah the Almighty admit him to the highest Paradise. 

Why Do People Die Young?

When a person dies, it is not a matter of whether they are young or old according to our estimation. Death is according to the Wisdom and Mercy of Allah the Almighty Who knows what is best for His slaves according to His unlimited Knowledge.

We need to remember to elevate Allah the Almighty above any flawed perceptions. Allah Almighty is incomparably Merciful, the Source of Mercy. He is more merciful to His slaves than a mother to her child.

So we believe that Allah, The Merciful, Wise Creator, the Owner of our souls, decrees what is best for His slaves; choosing when a person is born and when a person returns to Him. In other words, we belong to Almighty Allah, not this world. 

In Surat Al Kahf, for example, Prophet Musa did not understand the death of a young boy, but was told: 

And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief. We wished that their Lord should give them another child – purer and more compassionate – in his place.” (Quran 18: 80-81) 

We might view something as hard or inexplicable with our short-sightedness. But Allah the Almighty can see and know the past, present, and future. And He decides based on His incomparable Knowledge, Wisdom, and Mercy.

Why Does Allah Permit Long Life to Non-Worshipers?

When Allah the Almighty grants long life, it is because He is giving them a choice. He will not force someone to love and worship Him. Instead, He will teach people and give them signs, allowing them to use their intellect, sight, hearing, and reasoning. Almighty gave them a universe to reflect on and gave them His unaltered Book (the Quran) and His Messengers.

It is from the gift of free will that a person chooses whether or not to love and connect with Allah the Almighty. He will not force anyone to worship Him because if He did, how would He judge them? It is from a free will that we become responsible and accountable for our own choices and actions. 

Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: So We gave him (the gifts), of Hearing and Sight.

We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will).” (Quran 76: 2-3)

Lastly, please give your friend the glad tidings of this hadith: 

“Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, anxiety, a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn but Allah will expiate his sins on account of his patience.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

May Allah omit all his sins, give him patience, insight, and wisdom, and grant him the Highest Paradise. Ameen. 

And Allah knows best.

I hope this helps. Please keep in touch.

Walaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.

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