If We Reflect On This Life's Journey

Loose translation of ‘Jika Kita Hayati Perjalanan Ini’ written by Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (http://drmaza.com)

A significant number of people have asked me to comment on the current political unrest in our country specifically in the state of Perak. I think that I have said enough about the principles of politics from the religion point of view. Those who are interested to find out can refer to my website where I put down a few questions concerning the current issue.

Unprincipled politics and political fanatism are two of the misfortunes that have befallen our country. Let me leave behind that political frenzy with a cynical smile on my face watching them playacting on the political stage where everyone beats his chest feeling proud of their politics. This is as stated in the al-Quran (translated as): “And verily! This is your religion (of Islâmic Monotheism) is one religion, and I am your Lord, so keep your duty to Me. But they (men) have broken their religion among them into sects, each group rejoicing in its belief. So leave them in their error for a time.” (Surah al-Mukminun: verse 52-54)

Sometimes, while soaking up in this world’s life affair, we have to consistently be reminded to revert to the human basics. It is with the hope that it can pacify our polluted souls in bracing through the whirlwind of life. The failure to remember the basics will cause us to lose our bearing in pursuing our life’s journey. Therefore, let us get out of the crisis, greediness and voracity of this world and slip back to ponder upon the facts of life.

Even though some people regard the discussion on the Afterlife as ‘sub-standard’ but they can never deny the fact that life is only momentary. They will die and their life in this world will end at a date which no one can tell when.

Whereas there is an everlasting life nearby that we always forget about. Thus, the Prophet s.a.w reminded us about this life by saying: “I, in this world, am like a rider who is resting under a tree and soon after will leave it behind.” (Reported by al-Tirmizi, ranked as sahih by al-Albani)

Similarly, the existence of all of us and this world is temporary. Unfortunately, we always fail to remember this reality. We forget that we are now in a journey heading towards a certain destination. The day and moment that goes by every second is actually a journey that takes us there whether we want it or not. In this world, no one holds up the sky. No creature is everlasting. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar r.a. said, “Allah’s Messenger s.a.w held my shoulder and said, “Be, in this world, like a stranger or a traveler”” (Reported by al-Bukhari)

Life becomes precarious when we forget or do not know the final destination we are heading to. Where do we want this life’s journey to end? Where is the compass of our life’s journey? When asked, many will know the answer to these questions but will always forget about it when they are pestered by life’s affair.

Even more unfortunate is the fact that many in the West do not know or do not have faith in the existence of life’s ultimate destination. Many of them choose to be atheistic and even many more are still having doubts on the religion. Consequently, they live this life as if there is no God in this world and as if the Afterlife does not exist in their life’s dictionary.

At the same time, we admit that we are Believers but we always forget about the fact of this journey. Allah reminds us about it in Surah al-Takathur which we constantly recite (translated as): “The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you, until you visit the graves (i.e. till you die). Nay! You shall come to know! Again, nay! You shall come to know! Nay! If you knew with a sure knowledge (the end result of piling up, you would not have occupied yourselves In worldly things). Verily, you shall see the blazing Fire (Hell)! And again, you shall see it with certainty of sight! Then, on that day, you shall be asked about the delight (you indulged in, in this world)!” (Verse 1-8)

Yes, we are consistently so occupied with politics, power, wealth, family, association, the community, friends, work and many more that we forget what is the purpose of doing all these. Is it to be used as our supply in completing the journey? Or is it a mere pursuit to accumulate wealth and strengthen our post without regarding the halal and haram that turns all those into unnecessary loads burdening our journey?

Thus, the competition in life makes us forget about the final destinations prepared for us specifically the Heaven or Hell. There is no third destination. Allah says (translated as): “Then as for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be heavy, he will live a pleasant life (in Paradise). But as for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be light, he will have his home In Hawiyah (pit, i.e. Hell). And what will make you know what it is? (It is) a hot blazing Fire!” (Surah al-Qari’ah: verse 6-11)

We have forgotten that our father Adam was from Heaven and rightfully, we shall return to Heaven. We did not originally come from Hell. Al-Quran repeatedly mentions the story of Adam and among the wisdoms behind it is so that we can continuously remember this fact. The place for us to come home to is the Heaven that is filled with pleasure. The Prophet s.a.w described the beauty of Paradise by saying: “Allah said, “I have prepared for my devoted servants what have not been seen by the eyes, not heard by the ears (the pleasantness of its sound) and (its beauty) have never crossed the human’s heart”. (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Yes, we are supposed to go back there. We shall not lose our way and in the end, head to Hell. We seek refuge with Allah from all those! We will feel the yearning and the longing deep in our souls when we read about the description of Heaven in al-Quran and al-Sunnah. The remedy to life’s crisis and rapacity is to educate the soul to have faith in Heaven and Hell. By remembering Heaven, it will make the wound and injury we have to suffer in this journey seems small and little. By remembering Hell, it will make the suffering and hardship we have to endure in complying with the principles that Allah and His Messenger imposed on us seems to feel light.

The Prophet s.a.w described to us the fury of Hell and the pleasure of Heaven by saying: “One amongst the denizens of Hell who had led a life of ease and plenty amongst the people of the world would be made to dip in Fire only once on the Day of Resurrection and then it would be said to him: O, son of Adam, did you find any comfort, did you happen to get any material blessing? He would say: By Allah, no, my Lord. And then that person from amongst the persons of the world be brought who had led the most miserable life (in the world) from amongst the inmates of Paradise. and he would be made to dip once in Paradise and it would be said to him. 0, son of Adam, did you face, any hardship? Or had any distress fallen to your lot? And he would say: By Allah, no, O my Lord, never did I face any hardship or experience any distress.” (Reported by Muslim)

Yes, Heaven makes us forget about the suffering in this world whereas Hell makes forget about all of life’s pleasure in this world.

If we have a compass in this life, surely we will not stray far into the region of faults or exploitation. Our soul and emotion will always be in control and we will be able to see the world with all its flaws and see the Afterlife as the real life. Consequently, the wave of sadness will subside and the soul’s voracity will diminish.

When debating a certain intellectual issue, I try asking myself and my friends whether the debate will lead us to Heaven or Hell. If I may ask the politicians; your fighting, your conduct, your language, your style, your deceitful speeches, will all those lead you to Heaven or Hell?

Yes, that question may be regarded as sub-standard by the political clusters in this modern era, including those who used to talk about Islam, but that is the reality of life.