Page 99 - Some Secrets of the Qur'an

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THE LIFE OF THE WORLD IS IN FACT VERY BRIEF

Above are the dialogues among those gathered together
to be reckoned. As these dialogues also suggest, after death
people realise that they, in fact, stayed in the world only for a
short while. That is, the period, which seems to be six to
seven decades in the life of the world, is in fact as short as a
single day or even much shorter. This is similar to the case of
a man who assumes that he had spent days, months or even
years in his dream, but who, after awakening, realises that he
dreamt only for a few seconds.
Some contemplation would enable man to grasp the
brevity and temporary nature of the life of this world. For
example, everyone makes certain plans and sets some goals

for his life. These plans and goals never end. They follow one
another. Typically, a person graduates from high school,
enrolls in university, and then takes a job with a company. All
these are, however, fleeting experiences. In youth, one hardly
imagines reaching thirty years old. Yet before too long they
reach forty.
The shortness of the life of the world is a certain fact God
reveals in the Qur'an that can be understood by anyone
before dying. For those who grasp this it would be unwise to
neglect the endless and real life of the hereafter for such a
brief and temporary life. Some of the verses in which God
warns mankind of the briefness of the life of this world are as
follows:
'My people! The life of the world is only fleeting
enjoyment. It is the hereafter, which is the abode of
permanence.' (Surah Ghafir: 39)
These people love this fleeting world and have put
the thought of a Momentous Day behind their
backs. (Surat al-Insan: 27)