Ramadan 2022 – Juz 21

وَمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَیَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡیَاۤ إِلَّا لَهۡوࣱ وَلَعِبࣱۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةَ لَهِیَ ٱلۡحَیَوَانُۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ

“This worldly life is no more than play and amusement. But the Hereafter is indeed the real life, if only they knew.” — Qur’an 29:64

How long do we have on earth. In the grand scheme of history it’s small. Most of us will live less than a hundred years.

It may seem like a lot in the moment, but just like a stressful exam or an evening of fun, it runs its course and is done. How much do we remember of the past trials and the nights gone by? Things seem so small and simple when looking back.

What about the things that are harder to forget? An exceptionally kind deed; A caring word in a time of hardship; a helping hand in a time of need.

We remember the good times and the good company. We remember the emotions and how we felt at various junctures. We remember how happy we felt and we relive that joy over and over again in our memory.

It’s those strong feelings that we remember over the course of our lives. What will be left with at the end of our lives?

If our hearts are aligned with goodness and God then we will be drawn towards, and comfortable, doing good and righteous deeds. We will look back with a full heart thinking of the good times we had.

إِنَّ ٱلْأَبْرَارَ لَفِى نَعِيمٍ ٢٢

عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ يَنظُرُونَ ٢٣

تَعْرِفُ فِى وُجُوهِهِمْ نَضْرَةَ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ٢٤

“Surely the virtuous will be in bliss,

˹seated˺ on ˹canopied˺ couches, gazing around.

You will recognize on their faces the glow of delight.”

— Quran 83:22-24

It’s not just in paradise that righteous people will find bliss, but also in this life. Goodness encourages goodness and leads people to live happier, more wholesome and fulfilled lives. Achieving a state of bliss in this life and the next, insha’Allah.

مَن كَاوَمَن جَـٰهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَـٰهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٦

“And whoever strives ˹in Allah’s cause˺, only does so for their own good. Surely Allah is not in need of ˹any of˺ His creation.” — Quran 29:6

All people are born in a state of goodness, fitrah; inclined towards goodness and seeking something bigger than themselves. Seeking to draw closer to God.

If our hearts are crusted over and blocked from the light, we may struggle to align our actions with what we know intrinsically is good.

We can work on ourselves, by continuously trying to do good, continuously improving. We do this while repenting for any mistakes and aiming to draw closer to Allah — healing our hearts in the process.

نَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ أَجَلَ ٱللَّهِ لَـَٔاتٍۢ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٥

“Whoever hopes for the meeting with Allah, ˹let them know that˺ Allah’s appointed time is sure to come. He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”  — Quran 29:5

Ultimately our time is written for all of us, we can’t know if it will be in three decades or three hours. But what’s important is what happens after that, everyday in between is a steeping stone to that day.

How will people remember us and feel our passing? Will people be relieved that an oppressive force has been removed from their lives. Or will they miss the goodness and the light we brought to our families and communities.

What will our scales show?

ثُمَّ لَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

“Then, on that Day, you will definitely be questioned about ˹your worldly˺ pleasures.” — Quran 102:8