"And whatsoever you have been given is a comfort of the life of the world and an ornament thereof and that which Allah has is better and more lasting, have you then no sense." (28:60)

Allah (SWT) in His Infinite Mercy has given us the Quran and the Sunnat with all the correct answers to the test of life. Allah wants us to pass this test and to enter Jannat, where we shall dwell forever. Allah has given us a unique intelligence and a specific duty that is different from that of animals. After reading the above verse we should ask ourselves: "Do we have any sense?"

If we do have 'sense', then why do we try to keep up with the world and all its tangible and temporary comforts? Why do we toil so hard to acquire material possessions which will eventually be left for heirs to enjoy and Allah (SWT) has clearly informed us that He has something far better and more lasting for us?

In Surah Sajdah vs.17, it is stated, "So no soul knows what refreshment of the eyes is hidden for them: a reward for what they did."

It is only a stupid person who will be satisfied with something inferior when given the opportunity to receive something that is of the finest quality and comes with an eternity's warranty.

It is reported by Anas bin Malik [RA] that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is reported to have said: "The Paradise is surrounded by hardships and the Hellfire is surrounded by temptations." (Muslim)

This hadith has been explained as follows: "It is by facing the rigors of the pious life that one gets into Paradise and it is by falling a prey to the evil temptations of life that one becomes a denizen of Hellfire."

In today's busy times, we find ourselves becoming more and more chained to the world. Life has become a seemingly never-ending cycle of trying to keep up with the 'modern' accepted standard of living. Sad to say, many Muslims fall into this category. Instead of following the simple sunnat way, many are adopting the simple kafir way of life. This involves leaving home every-day in cars bought by interest bound loans from the bank, working from dawn till dusk in exhausting worldly affairs, then putting aside a few hours to watch the box-office hits in big screen television and then, further relaxing by listening to music or playing hours of Monopoly and the list goes on and on.

So many times Salaat is neglected, or when performed, it's a very hurried Farz Salaat, with no sunnat or nafl Salaat and no Zikr either. Reciting Quran becomes a rare event reserved for Ramadhan and only for the Juma' period do our men-folk decide to visit the Masjid.

Many Muslims have programmed themselves this way. Allah (SWT) has given us choice and we could have just as easily chosen to sit after every Salaat to do ibaadat [worship] instead of running back to the movie. Or we could accept that music is haraam and use that time instead to do Taleem [teachings] with our family etc. We cannot want to live like the kafirs while calling ourselves Muslims and think that Jannat is easy to get into because Allah (SWT) is Ar-Rahmaan. Yes, Allah (SWT) is Ar-Rahmaan, but we have to make effort to obtain this Jannat that 'is surrounded by hardships' by worshipping Allah (SWT) in the only way we should i.e. with all our hearts, bodies and souls before it is too late.

'Arfajah Thaqafi (RA) says that he asked Abdullah bin Masood (RA) to recite the Surah beginning: Glorify the name of thy lord the Most High (Al A'ala vs 1). Ibne Masood (RA) began to recite the Surah and when he reached the verse: "But you prefer the life of the world, although the Hereafter is better and more lasting (Al A'ala: 16-17), he stopped short and said, "No doubt, we prefer the life of the world, because we see its beauty and adornments, its women, its food and drinks, while all the bounties of the Akhirah are veiled from us. So, we give preference to this world and lose sight of the Hereafter." [Extract from Fazail Sadaqat]

Zaid bin Thaabit (RA) says, "Once we were sitting in company with Abu Bakr (RA) when he asked for water and was presented some water mixed with honey. He held it to his mouth and was about to drink it when he broke into tears and began to weep. He wept so bitterly that those who were sitting beside him were also moved to tears and everybody wept most bitterly. He again held the cup up to his lips, but put it back again and began to weep and cry. At long last, he wiped his tears and said, "I was once sitting in company with Rasulullah (SAW) when I saw that he was pushing something away from himself with both his hands, though I could not see anything. I asked, "O Rasulullah, what is it that you are driving away from yourself?" He replied, "The world presented itself to me, but I drove it away. It came to me once again and said, "You have guarded yourself against me, but there will follow people who will not be able to protect themselves against me."

Imam Shafi'ee (RA), advising one of his brothers in Islam, said: "This world is full of mud and slush where many persons slip. The world is an abode of humiliation. Its bustling life will give place, in the end, to desolation, its dwellers will have to travel alone to their graves, its gathering disperses, its affluence turns to poverty; its riches involve taking pains and lack of them means an easeful life. So, turn to Allah Ta'ala with single-minded concentration. Be content with whatever sustenance Allah Ta'ala has apportioned for you and do not borrow for this world out of your stock of virtues meant for the Akhirah (i.e. do not indulge in things which may have to be paid for in the Akhirah out of virtues which may run short on that Day of dire necessity (the Day of Judgment). The life of the world is like a shadow which vanishes in no time or like a leaning wall which is going to collapse very soon. Perform plenty of good deeds and entertain few worldly hopes about the distant future."

In conclusion, I would like to say that whatever was written is meant firstly as a lesson and reminder to myself, as well as for the Ummah, in hope that we can all take heed before its too late. We should be so grateful that Allah has chosen us to be Muslims and we should show our appreciation through continuous worship and encouraging others as well. I leave with the following words of wisdom from Luqman (AS) to his son, "Continue to struggle for redemption from the hellfire until you are sure you've attained it."