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(may Allah bless him and grant him peace) instead of scheming for a
long life. If he does not prepare for his eternal life, if he misses this one

opportunity to enter paradise, he will have met a truly sad end. For this
reason, every wasted second is a great loss and a step towards a sor-
rowful end.
Man should prepare beforehand for all eventualities and death is
a certainty. When he encounters death, he will be alone and subse-
quently face judgment alone: “You have come to Us all alone just as
We created you at first, leaving behind you everything We bestowed

on you” (Surat al-An‘am, 94) Those who seek eternal salvation are ad-
vised by Allah as follows:
You who believe! Have fear of Allah and let each self look to what
it has sent forward for Tomorrow. Have fear of Allah. Allah is
aware of what you do. Do not be like those who forgot Allah so He
made them forget themselves. Such people are the deviators. (Surat
al-Hashr: 18-19)
Confucians on the other hand are quite content with this life on
earth as if they are never to die. Allah reveals such people’s condition
as follows:
Say: “Shall I inform you of the greatest losers in their actions?
People whose efforts in the life of the world are misguided while
they suppose that they are doing good.” (Surat al-Kahf: 103-104)

Allah expands provision to anyone He wills and restricts it. They
rejoice in the life of the world. Yet the life of the world, compared
to the hereafter, is only fleeting enjoyment. (Surat ar-Ra‘d: 26)
Those who are blind in the world will be blind in the hereafter and
even further off the Path. (Surat al-Isra’: 72)

Islam And Far Eastern Religions