Assalamualikum Muhtaram Mufti sab,
I thank ALLAH (swt) for blessing us with the dedicated Ulema serving the needs of the Ummat. May ALLAH (swt) accept all your services.
What is the purpose of our life? / What should we achieve from our Life (our Target)?
I have heard various people giving different answers for this question. Answering this question is important as it gives interest for one to live and stay focused no matter the ups and downs in his life.
An Ameer who is involved in the work of Tabligh said that Nabi’s (saw) mission is our mission. Calling people towards ALLAH was His (saw) work, and His (saw) aim was: Every person should be saved from Jahannum and enter Jannat. – This part needs clarification first.
Further,
If what the Ameer told is the purpose of our life, then how should we handle our worldly matters. In worldly affairs people set specific targets, strive for it and try to achieve it. They toil hard for that.
To achieve any target it requires proper focus, dedicated effort etc. The hard fact is that we have only 24 hours per day no matter what we do, and travelling in two boats is difficult.
If a person aims to become a Wali of ALLAH (swt) like Abdul Khader Geelani (Rahmatullahi alaihi) it requires effort in specific set of areas, on the other hand the world with its competition is demanding effort in 24×7 format.
Here I am not talking about Salat, Fasting, Zakat etc. as they get fulfilled by performance in its specific time and as it is compulsory we have no discretion. Fulfilling these is not one’s target but as an obligation he fulfills them.
An obvious answer would be, ‘you have to balance both’. But the requirements are high at both the ends. If I strive more in the cause of ALLAH by allocating more time to achieve the target, my performance is becoming dull in my professional life. On the other hand, if I keep the work of Deen aside (or allocate less time for it) I fear 2 consequences:
- Will I be able to achieve my target in Deen?
- What will happen to my everlasting Aakhirath?
Please help me resolve this multidimensional question which has been confusing me for the past several years.
Jazak ALLAH khairan.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Dear Brother,
The answer to your query is simple.
You make distinction between worldly engagements and Deeni engagements. You then enquire about how to deal with both as engagement in one will harm the other. You also refer to maintaining a balance between the two.
If one conducts his worldly engagements according to the dictates of Shariah, that is regarded as a Deeni issue. Accordingly, one will be engaged all the time in Deen as he will be practicing on Deen in his worldly pursuits.
To earn an income is an act of ibadah. When going out to work, make intention of fulfilling the injunctions of Shariah and following Shariah in all aspects of your worldly pursuits to the best of your ability. In this case, your worldly pursuit will be a Deeni one, inshallah.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Tareque Ahmed
Student Darul Iftaa
New York, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.