Reality & Purpose of Life

Reality of Life Two Deaths and Two Lives “How can you disbelieve in Allah? Seeing that you were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life and then unto Him you will return.” (Al-Baqarah: 28) The Creation of Souls The Origin The souls were put to sleep 1st Death Life in this World 1st Life Transference to an Arbitrary World 2nd Death Infinite Life in Hereafter 2nd Life “And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed and made them testify as to themselves (saying): “Am I not your Lord?” They said: “Yes! We testify”.” (Al-A’raaf: 172) “You were dead and He gave you life” (Al-Baqarah: 28) Human body gets created in the womb, transmission of the soul into body and arrival into this world: “Verily, We created man in the best stature. Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low.” (At’ teen: 4-5) “Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: “My Lord! Send me back, so that I may do good in that which I have left behind!”. “No! It is but a word that he speaks” and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.” (Al-Mominun:99-100) The resurrection on the Day of Judgment Gathering into a huge plain of ‘Hashr’ The process of accountability Final transfer to Heaven or Hell for an eternal life. “(And remember) the Day when He will gather you on the Day of Gathering, - the Day of loss and gain. And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will expiate from him his sins, and will admit him to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) therein forever; that will be the great success. But those who disbelieved and denied Our Ayat, they will be dwellers of the Fire, to dwell therein forever. And worst indeed is that destination.” (At’taghabun: 9-10)

Usefulness of vast concept of life His reactions to the accidents will also be according to his concept of life. A person decides his aim and way of life according to the concept of life, he has in his mind: “A rational person will overpower his mutinous self and will strive for the eternal life.” (Tirmizi)

Significance of Wordly Life Worldly life is a limited but important segment of eternal life. The final destination, heaven or hell, of a person in infinite hereafter life will set according to his acts in worldly life. “World is a harvesting field for Hereafter” (Where, ‘as you sow so shall you reap’ in the Hereafter).

The worldly life is for Trial and tribulation Creation of the cycle of life and death: “He has created death and life for testing that which of you is best in deed.” (Al-Mulk: 2) The Worldly life has been given to mankind for trial and tribulation. The various aspects of this trial and tribulation are as under:

Purpose of Human Creation Zariyat 51: 56 Command of Allah for all Mankind Baqarah 2: 21 Summary of call of all the Prophets A’raaf 7: 59,65,73,85, Hood 11: 50,61,84 وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ (الذاریات 51 : 56 ) Purpose of worldly life: Ibaadat “I have not created Jin and humans but for My submissive obedience.” يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمُ (البقرۃ 2 : 21 ) “O people! Obey your Lord submissively.” يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـهٍ غَيْرُهُ (الاعراف 7 : 59، 65، 73، 85 ، ھود 11 : 50، 61، 84 ) “O my people! Obey Allah (submissively)! You have no other ilah (god) but Him.”

True Concept of Ibaadat The difference between a slave & employee!  An employee is hired for specific job and specific time.  A slave has to obey every command of his master at any time. To submit as a slave in adoration Connotative Meaning To become enslave or submissively obedient Literal Meaning The difference between slavery and Ibaadat! Slavery is obedience without a will, where as Ibaadat is voluntary obedience of Allah with feelings of love. Ibaadat = Submissive obedience + Heartily love (Body) (Soul)

Components of Ibaadat Love (Spirit)  Submissive Obedience (Body)  وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ (التغابن 64 : 12 ) “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger [Muhammad (saw)].” مَّنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللّهَ (النساء 4 : 80 ) “Whoever obeys the Messenger, in fact, obeys Allah.” وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلّهِ (البقرۃ 2 : 165 ) “Those who believe love Allah most ardently.”

Narrow Concept of Ibaadat Only modes of worship (Ibadat), rituals, commemorative days and customs of happy and sad events are regarded as Ibadat. And it is forgotten that the twenty four hour life can be made Ibadat if one keeps in view the Commandment of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (saw).

Difference between Ibadat & Ibadaat (modes of worship) Ibaadat of Satan has been prohibited Establishing modes of worship are being narrated seperately after Ibaadat وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاء وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَذَلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ (البینۃ 5 : 98 ) “And they were commanded not, but to obey Allah submissively, keeping their obedience alone for Allah devotedly, and establish As-Salat and give Zakat, and this is the exact Deen.” أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ (یٰس 36 : 60 ) “O Children of Adam! Did I not take a firm commitment from you that you will not worship the Satan. He is clearly your enemy.”

Means (Direct outcome) 1.Prayer (Salat) 1.Prayer (Salat) 3. Sawm (Fasting) 3. Sawm (Fasting) 4. Hajj (Pilgrimage) 2. Zakat (Charity) 2. Zakat (Charity) Remembrance of Allah Purifies heart & eliminates love of money Creates Taqwa (fear of Allah for His obedience) Combination of all other pillars and solitary of Ummah Type of Worship Ends (Objectives) Spiritual strength to live individual Life according to Divine Guidance Collective strength To establish collective system of Life according to Divine Guidance Relationship between modes of worship & Ibadat

Loss of Partial Ibaadat Loss in this world as well as in Hereafter Partial Ibaadat is following of Satan يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ادْخُلُواْ فِي السِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ (البقرۃ 2 : 208 ) أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ فَمَا جَزَاء مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلاَّ خِزْيٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَى أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ (البقرۃ 2 : 85 ) وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ (الحج 22 : 11 ) “Oh people of belief! Enter into Islam completely, and do not follow the path of Satan.” “Do you believe in a part of the Book and reject the rest? Then what is reward of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment.” “And among mankind is he who obey Allah as it were upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him he turns (back) on his face. He loses both this world and the Hereafter; this is the manifest (sheer) loss.”

Scope of Islam Comprehensive concept of Ibaadat These are commandments of Allah Modes of Worship Their performance is the demand of Allah Human Rights It has been ordered by Allah Halal Earning Can be a sadaqa e Jaria as the Prophet was sent as a Teacher Teaching It has been emphasized by Allah Social Welfare Again these acts are forbidden by Allah Abstaining from sins If eating etc. is as per Sunnah then these are means of Ibadat Daily Life

The Hindrance in total Ibaadat: Unjust / Un-Islamic System The main hindrance in total Ibadat is Unjust System. If in a society, Islamic orders are not enforced than the total obedience of Allah in collective life is impossible.

Ibaadat of Allah Demands Obeying Allah where we can Struggling to establish a Just System