The Good of this World & the Hereafter
Every true believer in Allah and His Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh), should aim for this state of inner peace, because it is in this state that one can spiritually connect with Allah. Life on Earth is full of hardships and difficulties, yet, amidst this chaos, Allah grants some people the ability to disconnect from worldly distractions and truly connect with Him. Through Salat (prayer) and Zikr (meditation and remembrance of Allah), a person can reach a level of spirituality where, even though problems may rain down upon them, those troubles feel insignificant – like water dripping off a leaf. They feel deeply at peace, submerged in a connection with Allah, which He Himself has permitted. There is a sense of harmony between the servant and their Creator [be it for a male believer or a female believer], a deep synchronization between Allah and the one He created. This is the real meaning of Khair’ud-Dunya, where the good is not just material, but also spiritual.
When someone receives
such a divine gift from Allah, they feel well from within. Despite life’s
struggles – personal, family, work-related, or otherwise – they find it easier
to handle challenges because they trust their Creator completely. They also
know that if a difficulty comes their way, then Allah, Who loves them, has also
granted them the ability to solve it. They remember an important verse from
Allah that changes their perspective on life:
“Laa
tukallafu ‘illaa nafsaka”
You will not be
burdened beyond what you can bear.
(An-Nisa, 4: 85)
This verse was first
revealed to Allah’s beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), but true believers take it
to heart, applying it to themselves. They firmly believe that if Allah promised
His Prophet something, then the teachings of the Quran apply to them too and
will guide them on the right path. Such a believer moves forward without fear,
knowing that whatever trials Allah sends their way, He has already given them
the strength to overcome them. They keep in mind that life on Earth is
temporary – it will end. Even their physical body, created from the earth, will
eventually decay and return to the ground.
Allah says in the
Quran: “Everything you are given is only for
enjoyment in this worldly life and as a way to beautify it. But what is with
Allah is far better and everlasting.” (Al-Qasas, 28: 61)
What we receive in this
life meets both our physical needs – such as food, drink, and shelter for our
families – and our spiritual needs. We must remember that we are not just
physical bodies; we are souls living within these bodies of clay. Allah has
granted us the ability to experience both aspects – material and spiritual.
However, while we chase our worldly desires, we must never forget our
connection with Allah. We must not forget that our physical body is only
temporary, but our true selves – our consciousness, our identity – will take on
another form in the eternal life Allah has promised us, provided we establish
good on Earth and worship Him alone.
Here, we must become
aware of the sacred bond between us – human beings –and our Creator. This bond
was made even before we were born. When Allah created souls from His own
essence, He also determined our destiny – not only for this world but also for
the spiritual world, where there is no tiredness, fear, boredom, or hardship.
We must realize that the world Allah has promised us depends on our own
spiritual state. It depends on how we keep our souls pure, perhaps even purer
than when Allah created us. Let me tell you that this is absolutely possible!
As human beings with a soul and a physical body combined, if we control our
desires and ensure our actions please Allah, we will find ourselves in true
peace. The greatest Khair (good) we can do is to worship Him alone and
establish harmony and peace – within ourselves, our homes, our communities, our
nations, and the entire world. That is the true Khair that Allah expects
from us on Earth. Through Salat (Prayer), Duah (supplication), and Zikr’ullah
(remembrance of Allah), we can reach the spiritual realm within ourselves.
When a believer prays,
meditates, and sincerely seeks Allah, He opens the door to the spiritual world
within their soul. Their physical body has limits, but the soul does not. A
sincere believer – whether a prophet or a devoted follower – who longs to know
their Creator and understand the unseen (Ghayb) will face struggles at
first. But over time, as their connection with Allah strengthens, His mercy
will rain down upon them in abundance. They undergo an inner transformation
where trials no longer matter, and their trust in Allah solidifies so much that
difficulties resolve themselves. They recognize Allah’s mercy upon them and
thank Him.
One of the most
important qualities a true believer must have when connecting with Allah is
gratitude. A servant who is grateful to Allah has already made great progress
spiritually. Gratitude is one of the biggest Khair a believer can offer
themselves – being truly thankful to Allah.
Allah says in the
Quran: “To those who seek the rewards of this
life, We grant them what they seek. To those who seek the rewards of the next
life, We grant them that as well. And We reward those who show gratitude.”
(Ali-Imran, 3: 146)
Allah also says: “Why would Allah punish you if you are grateful and have
faith? Allah appreciates your gratitude and knows everything.”
(An-Nisa, 4: 148)
Clearly, gratitude
holds great weight in Allah’s sight. Bear in mind that Allah does not deprive
anyone of some of the benefits of this world. But He advises His true servants
not to be blinded by temporary pleasures and instead to seek what He has saved for
them in the eternal life to come. When believers pray sincerely, asking Allah
for both worldly needs and spiritual blessings, He listens and grants them
their requests. Allah loves those who make this supplication:
Rabbana
atina fid-Dunya Hasanatan wa fil-Aakhirati Hasanatan wa qinaa ‘adhaaban-naar.
Our Lord! Grant us the
good of this world and the good of the hereafter, and protect us from the
punishment of the Fire.
(Al-Baqara, 2: 202)
This supplication is
deep and reflects what a true believer asks from Allah. It expresses a sincere
plea:
“O Allah, You have
created me and placed me in this temporary body, which You made from the earth.
You have also said that one day this body will decay and return to the ground,
and I will return to You. So, my Lord, my Creator, the One Who holds my destiny
in His hands, the One Who knows everything about me – grant me every good thing
that You have chosen for me, which You have carefully selected for me as best
and from which You have removed all harm, so – give me only what You see as
good for me in this world. Not just for my physical body made of earth, but
also for my soul. Allow me to receive blessings that benefit both my earthly
body and my soul. And do not forget me when this body decays and my true self –
my soul – returns to You.
Grant me the good of
this world (Khair’ud-Dunya) and the good of the hereafter (Khair’ul-Aakhirah),
completing me in Your mercy. Keep all harm away from me, because You alone are
my protector. Do not let the fires of this world or the fires of the hereafter
touch me, O Allah. Help me recognize all Your messengers and revelations that
will guide me through this journey You have planned for me. Accept me into Your
mercy, for I am weak, but You are the Almighty Who can keep me safe from making
mistakes that may anger You. Do not allow Hell to consume me, but grant me a
path – both in this world and the next – through which I may reach You, O
Allah. Give me only what You know is good for me, keep away all that is bad,
and make me a grateful servant rather than an ungrateful one.” [Ameen].
When a believer reaches
a state of sincere purity towards Allah, their life begins to change. In some
cases, their struggles do not immediately disappear – it may be a long journey.
But in other cases, Allah removes their hardships and grants them an easier
path to reach Him. These are different levels of spirituality that a person can
attain. The highest level is that of a prophet (a man), whom Allah officially
sends to Earth. His spiritual connection is so strong that he becomes worthy of
becoming a teacher, guiding his people – or even the whole world - with the
knowledge Allah gives him.
The greatest prophet
whom Allah granted the highest state of spiritual perfection was Hazrat
Muhammad (pbuh). And Allah has given us, his followers, a special blessing: if
we follow him, we too can develop this special connection with our Creator.
Remember, Allah can
raise any of His sincere servants to the status of a prophet, even if they are
not officially appointed to guide others. While the level of spirituality
granted to a prophet is unique, Allah may bless any person He chooses with
exceptional spiritual blessings or favours. In the Quran, in Surah An-Nisa (4: 70),
Allah says: “Those who obey Allah and the
Messenger will be among those whom Allah has blessed – the prophets...”
The Ummah (Community)
of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has received a special gift: his prophethood
continues to shine upon them, upon us. Allah allows certain men among his
followers to also become guides for the Ummah (community), leading them towards
the right path and victory. Some prophets are officially recognized, while
others are not widely known. Only Allah knows who has reached that level
spiritually, even if the world does not recognize them as prophets.
This is the highest
honour Allah can give to a human being – the greatest Khair (good) – the
gift of Allah Himself as the ultimate reward. When a person reaches Allah, He
opens the doors to eternal blessings for them. But as I mentioned earlier,
everything begins when the soul reaches the state of Mutmaina – inner
peace. This is very important. Without this deep inner peace, which nourishes
the soul, a person cannot access the spiritual world that Allah has placed
within them.
And the key to this is
Allah Himself. To find Him, we must seek His help. How? By praying (Salat),
supplicating (Duah), remembering Allah (Zikr’ullah), reading the Quran
(Tilawat-i-Quran), giving charity (Sadqua), and spreading goodness. Seek Allah’s
help to reach Allah Himself, because if you only knew – Allah alone is enough
for you in all of creation.
May Allah allow each of
us to find our way to Him in submission and peace. The true believer – the true
Muslim – is a person in peace. They even turn their personal struggles into
invitations towards Islam, calling others (humans and jinns alike) to Allah.
They do not let obstacles stop them; instead, they turn every challenge into a
bridge leading to Allah.
This is the real description
of a believer, clearly laid out in the Quran, and it is Allah’s invitation to
each one of us. Insha-Allah.
May Allah help you in
your journey towards Him. May He allow you to turn every hardship into
something that strengthens your bond with Him. Insha-Allah,
Ameen.
---02 May 2025~ 03 Dhul Qaddah 1446 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.