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❖ Concertrating Solely on Matters Reated to the Life of
This World

As mentioned earlier, Confucius never referred to death, here-
after, hell and paradise or fate. His primary concern was social order.
He showed no interest when questioned over death or providence and
expressed the view that pondering such matters was unnecessary. He
refrained from commenting on death and directed people away from
the fear of Allah and belief in the hereafter towards working solely for
this life.
It is a grave mistake not to reflect on death and what awaits
mankind thereafter, because escaping death is not possible. Every liv-
ing being is born to die one day. Some die at an early age, some in their
youth and others leave the world in old age. Nothing that one possess-
es in terms of wealth, property, fame, power or beauty can prevent

death. Allah says:
“You have come to Us all alone just as We created you at first, leav-
ing behind you everything We bestowed on you…” (Surat al-
An‘am: 94)

Everybody so far has surrendered to death, and everybody will
continue to do so in the future. In Confucianism, people fall into the er-
ror of complacency with regards to death. People have developed a
false sense of security; if they don’t think about it, they won’t die. Allah
reveals this situation as follows:
Say: “Death, from which you are fleeing, will certainly catch up
with you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the Unseen
and the Visible and He will inform you about what you did.” (Surat
al-Jumu‘a: 8)
These people will meet a fiercer punishment the more they flee the
thought of death when they die. The greater their ignorance in this life,

Islam And Far Eastern Religions