‘Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should
heed this: God will find
a way out for those who are mindful of Him, and will provide for them from an
unexpected source; God will be enough for those who put their trust in Him. God
achieves His purpose; God has set a due measure for everything.’ (65: 3-4)
‘You who believe! If you help God, He will help you and make you stand firm’ (47:8)
‘God is sure to help those who help His cause– God is strong and mighty– those who, when We establish them in the land, keep up the prayer, pay the prescribed alms, command what is right, and forbid what is wrong: God controls the outcome of all events.’ (22:41-42)
Hence, nothing can be achieved without the will and help of Allah. Instead of seeking to pursue the fleeting world, believers should focus on the Hereafter adopting righteousness and God consciousness in all affairs.
The Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian [1835-1908] has profoundly commented upon the need for striking a fine balance over our worldly preoccupations and engagements so as not to neglect our religious obligations. Like the prophets of God who uphold faith and its obligations above worldly concerns, a true believer ‘advances towards God with a sincere heart and pays no attention to the world in the way of God.’ According to the Promised Messiah (as), ‘the one who comes to God is never wasted. He attains faith and the world is also brought before him. One who adores this world may have his way for a few days but, in the end, he will lose this world, and his life in the Hereafter will be ruined as well.’
Reproduced Below is an extract from the Malfuzat (Volume 10) of the Promised Messiah (as) providing clear-headed advice for seekers of spiritual wisdom:
“Look, the world
similarly cannot be obtained for free. Those who promise the world also expect
you to put forth strenuous efforts and they also test you, and you get something
only after being successful in the test and by exhibiting good performance in
your work. Likewise, if the same effort—albeit in the context of faith—is made
in the way of God, its reward is assured.
You lose neither the
faith nor the world. It is like killing two birds with one stone. Double the
reward. Nevertheless, there are but few who benefit from this advice. Man
should continue to make supplications and try to effect some change in himself.
It may be that Allah the Exalted will grant him the ability.
I am not advocating
that a farmer should stop farming, a businessman should stop his business, and
a craftsman should stop his craft and sit idle like a cripple. On the contrary,
I am advising you to exemplify the case of:
‘neither
trading nor commerce distracts them from God’s remembrance’(24:38)
Cultivating
a state where the hand is engaged in work while the heart is engaged in [the
remembrance of] the Beloved. In short, no matter what work you are involved in
- a trader in his trade, a farmer in his farming, or a king ruling from his
throne of governance - everyone should keep God as his objective in all his
engagements, and may do whatever he desires while keeping His grandeur and awe
in his mind, and respecting His commandments and His permissions and
prohibitions.
Do
everything while being fearful of Allah. Where does Islam teach that you should
give up work and sit idle like the handicapped and, instead of being of service
to others, become a burden upon them? Nay! Laziness is a sin. How then could
such an individual serve God or His religion? How would he feed the family of
his which God has trusted to his care?
So, remember that Allah does not wish for you to entirely give up this world. His wish is that:
‘He indeed truly prospers who purifies it’ (91:10)
Do business, do farming, be employed, be a craftsman, do whatever you want, but restrain your egos from disobeying God, and purify your selves to such an extent that these worldly occupations fail to make you forgetful of God. Then your mundane worldly works will also become as though the fulfillment of your religious duties.
Man
has not been created for the world. If the heart is cleansed and one is
constantly keen and anxious to somehow please God, then the world also becomes
lawful for him. [Verily, deeds are (judged) by intentions].”