Seeking The Good Of This Life

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

A believer is a person of purpose. We seek good of this life and good of the next life.

The good of this life is that which facilitates for us the eternal good of the next life. It means either it is a means of seeking the good of the next life in itself or it is from the gifts of Allah that we are thankful for, that we celebrate, and that which give us that gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation that causes us to raise our determination to seek Allah further.

If you want to be a person who is seeking the good of this life, leave that which does not concern you, whether in speech, actions, or thoughts.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace), said:

From the excellence of a man's Islam is to leave that which does not concern him.

[A sound (hasan) hadith, transmitted by Tirmidhi and others]

Some early Muslims said,

Whoever busies themselves with that which does not concern them misses out on much of that which does concern them.

The reality of that which does not concern him is that which is not needed for a worldly or next-worldly necessity, and does not aid in attaining Allah's good pleasure, such that it is possible to live without it.

Flipping channels for 2 hours a day is of no purpose; watching the news for hours is of no benefit; watching your favorite sports team playing and cheering for them or listening to music is an utter waste of time; spending hours/days in theme parks or riding the roller coaster has no benefit. These are just entertainment and have no purpose in it. You definitely can live without them.

Allah Almighty swears by time in Surah 'Asr,

وَالْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ ﴿٣

By time, (1) Indeed, mankind is in loss, (2) Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. (3) [Qur'an Al-'Asr 103]

Do not make this worldly life the greatest of our concerns. Worldliness is foolishness. This world has no lasting beneficial consequences. Even things that may make you feel good, unless it has a next-worldly purpose behind it, don't waste your time with it, it is not worth it--for it will come to nothing and when you go to the next life, you have nothing to show.

Allah Almighty says,

وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٣٢

And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion; but the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah, so will you not reason?

[Qur'an Al-An'am 6:32]

This is Allah's address to true human being. True human being is the one who realizes this reality. Reason is the capacity of discerning and distinguishing between benefit and harm, good and harm, advantage and disadvantage.

So don't play around and don't engage in things that will disadvantage you in the next life. Pursue this life to pursue the pleasure of Allah only.

May Allah guide us and grant us tawfiq and the good of this life and the next. Ameen,

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam