Author: Nasratullah Esmati
The World in the Mirror of Truth (Part Four)
The World and Its Truths from the Quranic Perspective
The Holy Quran was revealed to guide humanity, to pull them out of the pit of superstition and cruelty, and to lead them to a path filled with happiness and prosperity. Allah Almighty says: «كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ»; Translation: (This is a Book that We have sent down to you, that you may bring mankind out of darkness into light.)
This means that the Holy Quran was revealed so that humans could live a clear and completely Islamic life and stay away from superstitions. This heavenly book has provided remarkable teachings and guidelines in all aspects of life so that humans can act in accordance with it and determine their religious and worldly destiny.
Since the Glorious Quran is the last law and guideline for humanity, it has dealt with fundamental issues with great emphasis. One such issue is the worthlessness and transience of this world compared to the importance and eternity of the Hereafter. Every wise person who reads the Quran and reflects on it will realize that the possessions of this world are nothing but triviality and worthlessness. As Allamah Salih al-Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “A wise person who reads the Quran and thinks about it recognizes the value of this world and realizes that it is nothing more than a field for the Hereafter.”
1. The State of the World and Encouragement to Act for the Hereafter
Allah Almighty says: «اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ» Translation: (Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, and adornment and boasting to one another and coveting wealth and children; like the rain that makes the farmers wonder at its growth, then it dries up, and you see it yellow and withered, then it crumbles; and in the Hereafter, there is a severe punishment and also forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure; and the life of this world is nothing but deception.)
The main purpose of this verse is to belittle the world and highlight the importance of the Hereafter. Allah Almighty has described the world with five characteristics:
1. The world is play, meaning a futile occupation akin to the play of children.
2. The world is amusement, which often attracts young people but leads to regret.
3. The world is adornment, representing superficial beauty, like the makeup that women use to cover up their shortcomings.
4. The world is a place of boasting, where people take pride in their transient qualities, such as lineage, material power, or wealth and children.
5. All of these aspects are temporary and fleeting.
When the world is characterized as such, and the Hereafter is full of excellence and eternity, man must strive for the Hereafter. Allah (s.w.t) has commanded that they should compete with one another in righteous deeds that will bring forgiveness and the pleasure of Allah. For the believers who have faith in God and His messengers, there is a paradise whose expanse is greater than the heavens and the earth.
2. The World, a Tool of Deception
Allah Almighty says: «يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ» (O people! Indeed, the promise of Allah is true, so let not the life of this world deceive you and let not the deceiver Satan deceive you about Allah.)
“O people! Indeed, the promise of Allah is true.” This refers to the certainty of the Day of Judgment, the reckoning, the punishment, Paradise, and Hell. Allah warns that the life of this world, with its glitter, blessings, and deceptive pleasures, should not make you heedless of the Hereafter. Saeed ibn Jubayr says: “Being seduced by the world occurs when one is preoccupied with its blessings and pleasures, leading them to neglect their work for the Hereafter.”
Allah further warns: “Let not Satan deceive you about Allah.” This means do not be misled by temptations suggesting that Allah is only kind and forgiving. Such beliefs may lead one to sin and neglect the Hereafter.
3. Description of the World
«وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا [۴۵] الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا [۴۶]» Translation: (Explain to them the example of the life of this world: it is like water which We send down from the sky, whereby the plants of the earth grow in abundance, then wither, and the wind scatters them in every direction. And Allah is Able to do all things. Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world, but good deeds that are persistent are better in the sight of your Lord in reward and more hopeful.)
In this verse, Allah the Almighty asks His Prophet to explain the life of this world to people with a clear example. Human life and the beauties of this world are likened to rain that falls from the sky and causes the plants of the earth to grow and flourish. These colorful and diverse plants adorn the earth with beauty and freshness, but this splendor does not last long: «فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ» (After a short time, these plants and flowers dry up and are destroyed, and the wind scatters them around.)
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