Page 23 - Faith: The Way to Happiness

The Unhappiness of the Society of the Ignorant

The truth is that the life people live in this world is the only
chance they have of earning the approval of Allah. This opportunity
they have been given may at any unexpected moment be taken from
them. There is no making up for the life we live, no further chance of
gaining the approval of Allah after we die. People who ignore these
t ruths will be plunged into great sorrow on the Day of Judgment
and will want to be sent back to the world again to act rightly for the
purpose of winning Allah's approval. That on the Day of Judgment
people want this opportunity over again is a very clear indication of
the insignificance of everything in the life of this world. However,
their wish will not be granted. In the Qur'an, Allah tells us of the re-
gret and sorrow which those who see this truth only on the Day of
Judgment will experience:
If only you could see the evildoers hanging their heads in
shame before their Lord: "Our Lord, we have seen and we
have heard, so send us back again and we will act rightly.
Truly we now have certainty."(Surat as-Sajda: 12)
In these terms, life is a very valuable asset which Allah has
granted to people. Such heedless people waste this valuable time on
empty and meaningless occupations which will bring them no ben-
efit on the Day of Judgment because they are passionately attached
to the worldly advantages which have been given to them as a test.
Without even noticing, they waste this life which will never be given
back to them. Since their efforts, their desires and their deeds are not
d i rected towards Allah's approval and the Here a f t e r, they simply
waste their time on earth with useless distractions. Allah describes
their situation in a verse of the Qur'an:
Leave them to eat and enjoy themselves. Let false hope di -
vert them. They will soon know. (Surat al-Hijr: 3)

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