...And to Him shall we return

Billions of people have lived on this earth since the time of the Prophets Adam, Moses, Abraham, Lot, Jonah, Joseph and the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon them all). They were both of deep faith and sincere devotion to Allah who obeyed their prophets with sincerity as well as proud and rebellious types, who followed their lower selves and refused to abide by the paths of the prophets.
They founded magnificent civilizations, built spectacular homes, walked in delightful gardens and rested on the impressive seats and thrones in the finest palaces. However, everyone will die without doubt at some time; they also died at the time appointed for them in destiny and departed this world, never to return.
Allah has always sent prophets to people who worshipped idols, rebelled in pride and became ever more arrogant, and called them to the true path with sacred books and thousands of verses. However, these peoples were so arrogant and proud that very few of them believed. Thereupon, our Lord destroyed them and brought them to their knees.
“...But found in it only one house of Muslims.” (Qur’an, 51:36)
“How many generations We have destroyed before them! Do you see a trace of any one of them or hear even a whisper of them?” (Qur’an, 19:98)
There have always been people who have regarded themselves as indispensable, given themselves airs of being worker of wonders, who became ever prouder the more they listened to satan, and who regarded themselves as superior indeed. They have included scientists, artists, statesmen, world rulers and commanders of armies of tens of thousands.
There have been people whose beauty, majesty and splendor impressed everyone; and there have been highly intelligent inventors whose discoveries have changed the course of human life entirely but the result has always been the same. The cemeteries are now full of such people — a grim reminder that no one can escape death. None were able to postpone their appointed time of death by a moment. None managed to extend his allotted time on this earth by a single day. They all left behind the bodies, possessions and assets they valued so much, their peoples, families, careers, lands and promises, and entered the presence of Allah entirely alone: “You have come to Us all alone just as We created you at first, leaving behind you everything We bestowed on you. We do not see your intercessors accompanying you, those you claimed were your partners with Allah. The link between you is cut. Those you made such claims for have forsaken you.” (Qur’an, 6:94)
Compassion, affection, reason, honesty, modesty and faith will always be victorious in this world; wickedness, cruelty, ruthlessness, arrogance and pride are all created such as to be defeated. As in the past, there are self-important people in all countries today.
The world is full of people who forget Allah and worship the temporal or power but these people share one very important thing with those people of the past: Just like them, they never imagine that power and might in fact belong to Allah. They are quite unaware that they are only a reflection of the infinite wisdom and beauty, the infinite might of Allah; they put on airs and show off with the fragments of wisdom, wealth and beauty given to them by Allah but they never realize what a fragile position they are really in. They forget that our Lord, the flawless Creator of the universe, is eternal, but that they will one day have to bid the world farewell and enter beneath the ground. They fail to see that the bodies they were arrogant and put on airs with will rot in the dry soil.
This will never change. Just like those who went before, they will depart this world as if they had never lived. Like billions of other people, they will appear helpless and very ordinary in the presence of our Lord and other people will make use of the palaces, roads and bridges they built. Nobody will even remember their names or realize that they have come and gone. They will join the billions of people who have come and left this world already, and the lids of their coffins will be closed down over them.
The end of this world is a source of terrible suffering for the people who are proud yet hell itself is awaiting those who were insanely arrogant and rebellious against Allah.
People are most reckless, when they are so helpless and all might and power belong to Allah; they are deceived by satan and become seized with pride. Everyone will realize the swamp they have fallen into after they die, but there can never be any return.
“Allah, there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining. He is not subject to drowsiness or sleep. Everything in the heavens and the Earth belongs to Him. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them but they cannot grasp any of His knowledge save what He wills. His Footstool encompasses the heavens and the Earth and their preservation does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent.” (Qur’an, 2:255)
“Say, ‘O Allah! Master of the Kingdom! You give sovereignty to whoever You will You take sovereignty from whoever You will. You exalt whoever You will You abase whoever You will. All good is in Your hands. You have power over all things’.” (Qur’an, 3:26)
Don’t forget that just like there are millions of haughty, arrogant and conceited people who waste their lives in idleness, there are righteous people who are humble and in full submission to their Lord with great sincerity. Such pious people are very much aware of the fact that this is but a fleeting life, one that is passing very quickly.
With a continuous effort, they work sincerely to earn Allah’s pleasure and strive to enter the Paradise. It doesn’t matter where you live in the world; make sure to be one of these righteous believers as those people are the ones that will go to Heaven. While they work to deserve Allah’s pleasure in this world, the most beautiful mansions in Heaven are being prepared for them.
Just like these righteous believers, understand the fleeting nature of the life of this world and work to deserve Heaven in the hereafter. Always remember that our Lord is the most-forgiving and that He is very compassionate towards His servants and that you can always repent. Don’t forget that our Lord is ever forgiving and infinitely compassionate and He always rewards gratitude and every good and sincere deed performed for His pleasure.
—
The writer has authored more than 300 books translated in 73 languages on politics, religion and science.