بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah, The Most High, stated:

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا

وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا

Verily! We have made that which is on earth as an adornment for it, in order that We may test them (mankind) as to which of them are best in deeds. And verily! We shall make all that is on it (the earth) a bare dry soil.

Imam As-Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Allah, The Most High, informed (us) that He has made everything on the face of the earth- such as the delicious foods and drinks, the beautiful houses, the trees, the rivers, the vegetations, the fruits, the beautiful scenes (or beautiful things that captures the attention of the eyes), the pretty gardens, the beautiful images, gold, silver, horses, camels and other than them- as an adornment for it, a trial and test.

لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا

That We may test them (mankind) as to which of them are best in deeds.

Meaning: The most sincere (i.e. in actions) and most correct (i.e. deeds done in accordance with the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet).

And besides this, Allah will (finally) make all these things disappear and the earth will return to been a bare dry soil- its enjoyment will disappear and come to an end. This is the reality of this worldly life!

Indeed, Allah has made this worldly life clearly visible to us and warned us not to be deceived by it. He urged us towards the home of the (afterlife) – whose enjoyment is ever lasting- out of mercy for us. However, the one who merely looks at the outward appearance of this worldly life and not its true reality is deceived by its adornment and beauty, thus, he goes along with it like animals do and enjoy himself like cattle that graze around freely. He neither gives concern to the rights of his Lord nor gives importance to knowing his Lord; rather his concern is only to follow his desires in every way he can and in every situation. When death arrives to the likes of these people, they are restless because of the disappearance of the enjoyment (of the worldly pleasures) and what they have sent forth of evil deeds.

As for the one who looks at the true reality of this worldly life and knows the true purpose behind it and from it, he utilises from it that which will aid him to fulfil the reason it was created for him (i.e. he utilises the worldly blessings in obedience to Allah). He utilises his noble lifespan as an opportunity (to obey Allah). He makes this worldly life a place of transition and not a place of permanent (joy); a place of travel and not a place of permanent residence. Therefore, he strives to know his lord, fulfil the commands of his Lord and (strives to) perfect his deeds. This person has the highest station in the presence of his Lord and he is deserving- (by the kindness and mercy of his Lord) – of every good treatment, bliss, nobility and happiness (in the hereafter). [1]

Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said:

Rarely would Allāh’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stand from a sitting until he supplicated with these words for his Companions:

اللَّهُمَّ اقْسِمْ لَنَا مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ مَا يَحُولُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ مَعَاصِيكَ وَمِنْ طَاعَتِكَ مَا تُبَلِّغُنَا بِهِ جَنَّتَكَ وَمِنَ الْيَقِينِ مَا تُهَوِّنُ بِهِ عَلَيْنَا مُصِيبَاتِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتِّعْنَا بِأَسْمَاعِنَا وَأَبْصَارِنَا وَقُوَّتِنَا مَا أَحْيَيْتَنَا وَاجْعَلْهُ الْوَارِثَ مِنَّا وَاجْعَلْ ثَأْرَنَا عَلَى مَنْ ظَلَمَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى مَنْ عَادَانَا وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ مُصِيبَتَنَا فِي دِينِنَا وَلاَ تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا وَلاَ مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا وَلاَ تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُنَ

وَلاَ تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا وَلاَ مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا ولَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنا مَنْ لَا يرْحَمُنا

O Allah! Apportion for us (from the act of) fearing You that which would be a barrier (deterrent) between us and disobedience, and obedience to You that will take us to Your Jannah, and certainty that will make it easy for us to bear the calamities of this world. O Allah! (Enable) us enjoy our hearing, our sight and our power as long as You keep us alive and make our heirs from our own offspring; and make our vengeance be towards those who oppress us, support us against those who show us enmity and do not make our affliction in our religion. Do not make the worldly life our greatest concern, nor the limit of our knowledge, and let not us be overcome by those who will not show us mercy. (Sahih Tirmidhi 3502)

Regarding the statement:

“Do not make the worldly life our greatest concern”, Al-Allamah Al-Mubarakfuri may Allah have mercy upon him, stated in his explanation of this supplication that it means:

“Do not make wealth and status our greatest goal or the reason behind our grief, rather direct our greatest goal or the reason behind our grief towards the deeds of the afterlife”. [2]

[1] An Excerpt from “Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan”. slightly paraphrased.

[2] An Excerpt from “Tuhfah Al-Ahwadhee 9/475-477