Notis: Det följande är en reproduktion av artiklen "This Life and the Hereafter" i Mars-upplagan 2003 av Submitters Perspective, den månatliga bulletinen av United Submitters International.

This life is short and full of material things that can get in the way of our submission to God. It’s not wrong to have these material possessions as long as we remember our obligations to God and thank Him for those things. We shouldn’t get preoccupied with this worldly life.

This Life is Short

[17:52] The day He summons you, you will respond by praising Him, and you will then realize that you had lasted in this life but a short while.

[23:112] He said, “How long have you lasted on earth? How many years?”

[23:113] They said, “We lasted a day or part of a day. Ask those who counted.”

[23:114] He said, “In fact, you stayed but a brief interim, if you only knew.

[79:46] The day they see it, they will feel as if they lasted one evening or half a day.

This Life is Material, and the Hereafter is Far Better

[93:4] The Hereafter is far better for you than this first (life).

[42:20] Whoever seeks the rewards of the Hereafter, we multiply the rewards for him. And whoever seeks the materials of this world, we give him therefrom, then he receives no share in the Hereafter.

[43:34] Their mansions would have impressive gates, and luxurious furnishings.

[43:35] Also many ornaments. All these are the temporary materials of this lowly life. The Hereafter - at your Lord - is far better for the righteous.

[28:61] Is one whom we promised a good promise that will surely come to pass, equal to one whom we provide with the temporary materials of this life, then suffers eternal doom on the Day of Resurrection?

[42:36] Whatever you are given is no more than temporary material of this life. What GOD possesses is far better and everlasting, for those who believe and trust in their Lord.

[4:134] Anyone who seeks the materials of this world should know that GOD possesses both the materials of this world and the Hereafter. GOD is Hearer, Seer.

[9:38] O you who believe, when you are told, “Mobilize in the cause of GOD,” why do you become heavily attached to the ground? Have you chosen this worldly life in place of the Hereafter? The materials of this world, compared to the Hereafter, are nil.

[9:69] Some of those before you were stronger than you, and possessed more money and children. They became preoccupied with their material possessions. Similarly, you have become preoccupied with your material possessions, just like those before you have become preoccupied. You have become totally heedless, just as they were heedless. Such are the people who nullify their works, both in this world and in the Hereafter; they are the losers.

[11:15] Those who pursue this worldly life and its material vanities, we will pay them for their works in this life, without the least reduction.

An Example

God teaches us lessons in the Quran through stories of past generations. For example, the following:

[38:30] To David we granted Solomon; a good and obedient servant.

[38:31] One day he became preoccupied with beautiful horses, until the night fell.

[38:32] He then said, “I enjoyed the material things more than I enjoyed worshiping my Lord, until the sun was gone.

[38:33] “Bring them back.” (To bid farewell,) he rubbed their legs and necks.

[38:34] We thus put Solomon to the test; we blessed him with vast material wealth, but he steadfastly submitted.

In Conclusion

[28:60] Everything that is given to you is only the material of this life, and its vanity. What is with GOD is far better, and everlasting. Do you not understand?

The Orange County youth group