Understanding Life's Purpose and Preparing for the Hereafter

Khutbah: Life's Purpose, This World as a Test, and Preparing for the Hereafter

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. We praise Him, and we pray, and we salute His noble Messenger. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and from the evil of our deeds.

Whom Allah guides, none can misguide him, and whom He misguides, none can guide him. And we bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. And we bear witness that our Master, our Beloved, our Prophet Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

Allah has said in the Glorious Qur'an, after we seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan:

O you who have believed, fear Allah and let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow. Allah has spoken the truth, and His noble Messenger has spoken the truth. And we are of those who bear witness and are grateful. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Beloved brothers and sisters, honorable and esteemed guests of the house of Allah. As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

The Existential Questions

There comes a time in every individual's life — sometimes it's a bit earlier, sometimes a bit later — when a person begins to ask himself these type of existential questions. He begins to wonder: What am I doing with my life? Sometimes it hits when a person finishes high school. Sometimes before that. Sometimes when you begin the 8-to-5 job. What am I doing every day with my life? What is the purpose? Where did I come from? What am I doing here? Where am I going?

And we are so blessed as Muslims, alhamdulillah, that we understand these answers. And Allah throughout time, since the very beginning of man, since mankind was created, Allah has been sending these individuals which we know as prophets — supported with divine revelation — with the answers to these questions.

Where Did We Come From?

Allah mentions in Surah Al-Hujurat:

O Mankind! We are the ones who created you — from a male and a female.

What Is Our Purpose?

With regards to what is our purpose here, Allah addresses us in Surah Adh-Dhariyat. At the very end of the Surah, Allah says:

The sole purpose for which I have created you — mankind and jinn — the sole purpose for your creation is so that you recognize Me as your Creator. So that you understand that I am your Creator, and that you worship Me and you live a life showing it. You live such a life wherein your actions are speaking louder than your words.

Where Are We Going?

And then where are we headed? Where are we going? Allah also mentions in Surah Al-An'am:

That you are definitely returning to Us. You will definitely come back one by one, just as We created you the first time.

Allah mentions towards the end of Surah Al-Baqarah:

Keep in mind that day wherein you will all be returned to Allah. Then every single person will be recompensed for every action that they did — and they will not be oppressed in the least bit.

This World: Dār al-Imtiḥān — The Abode of Tests

This day, which we know as the Day of Judgment — it has to come. It is inevitable. It is required. When you have a Creator, when we understand this world is a test, then there has to be a judgment day. That judgment day will be there so that all of creation understands again those questions, so that the Creator and His oneness is established beyond a doubt, and also so that justice can take place.

This world — we've heard it many times — life is not fair. That is the truth. For the most part, this is a test. Things will not go in accordance to how we want them all the time.

In fact, even with this promise of Allah:

Allah mentions that the person who lives a righteous life and does good deeds — Allah is promising: We guarantee that person, we will most definitely ensure that this particular individual is granted a pleasant life.

The question arises: what about those individuals who are always in the masjid, who are doing good after good after good, who have the most sincere of hearts, yet at the same time are faced with difficulties? Just because a person is living a righteous life, it doesn't mean that every single thing is going to go as he wants. It doesn't mean that he's just going to be granted a very peaceful life. Because if that was the case, then there would be no test. Which person on the face of this earth would not accept that faith wherein everything magically just happens as we want it to happen? It's a test.

Allah mentions the whole purpose behind this life and death is so that We can test you to see which one of you is best in actions.

So the ulema, they discuss this: why is it such that Allah has mentioned this promise, yet we see different individuals going through difficulties in their lives? The ulema mention: Allah has promised this individual a pleasant life. And as a Muslim, as a mu'min, you will still have a pleasant life despite dealing with those difficulties. You have that framework, you have those rules, you have those guidelines, those advices from Rasulullah ﷺ wherein you can deal with whatever situation comes your way. A believer will never break down. A mu'min will have the ability to get through whatever difficulty he is being faced with. But it is not certain that such a person will be exempt from tests.

A believer will look at a test if it comes his way, and you will see one of two things — either this is some sin on my account for which I am now being dealt with in this manner. Allah says:

Whatever goodness comes to you is because of the mercy of Allah. Whatever difficulty comes your way, think about your life — what did you do to maybe cause this to happen to you? That's one possibility. But on the other hand, Allah also mentions that it could just be a test. Allah mentions:

Do you think for one moment that you're just going to be left alone to say we believe in Allah and then you're not going to be tested? We most definitely tested those before. Allah distinguished very clearly those who truly believed in Him — those who truly, from the bottom of their hearts and every other part as well, believed in Allah — and those who were lying.

So a believer is always between hope and fear — الخوف والرجاء. We must have immense hope. Allah is رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ — extremely kind to His servants. Allah is رَحْمَٰن, He is رَحِيم — ever compassionate. And we have hopes that whatever du'a we are taught, whatever du'a we make, that Allah will accept it. But at the same time we ought to think about our lives: is it something maybe I did? So a believer is always between الخوف والرجاء. But this framework is such a wonderful ni'mah — a blessing — only for a Muslim. Because no one else has that framework. No one else is blessed with that.

So we understand that this world is not a fair world. This is دار الامتحان — the world of tests. Tests upon tests upon tests upon tests. And the tests aren't something that we should look down on. It's very difficult at the time when experiencing difficulty, experiencing these tests. Each test is fashioned for each person — their own test.

A test that you can deal with, you can bear. And it is through successfully passing these tests that Allah raises the status of such an individual.

Allah mentions:

Remember when Allah tested Ibrahim عليه السلام with various different tests that we are aware of and that we review many a times when Eid al-Adha comes. He passed them with flying colors. Then only Allah said: You have passed all of these tests. I am now going to make you a leader for all of mankind.

So these tests are things that can build us. But this is something that we will understand as believers — that this world is not fair. This is دار الامتحان. The tyrant will get away with his tyranny. The oppressor will get away with his oppression. And the good-doer will not always be rewarded. The one who sacrifices and toils for hours and hours on end without recognition is not guaranteed recognition in this world. This is a world of tests.

The Hereafter: Dār al-Jazā' — The Abode of Recompense

But the hereafter — that is دار الجزاء. The hereafter, the Day of Judgment — that is the day when ultimate justice will take place. That is the day when the oppressor will not be able to escape from his oppression. Rather, retribution will be exacted. That is the day when every smile in this world that went overlooked, every effort that was overlooked — on that day Allah mentions:

You will only be truly granted your reward for your deeds in the hereafter. That is the world wherein true, ultimate justice will take place — such that we even understand from the hadith of Rasulullah ﷺ. Even those creations which are outwardly, which do not have the proper faculties for which they can make the right decisions — they are not mukallaf in the court of Allah, they will not be held accountable — even animals that have oppressed one another will be resurrected so that justice is maintained and so that justice is meted out.

This is دار الامتحان and the hereafter is دار الجزاء.

The Messengers: Sent to Guide Us

And it is with regards to the seriousness of this day that Allah has sent messengers time and again to mankind. Allah mentions:

Allah has also informed us how to live our lives in such a manner that we will fare well on that day. Allah talks about these same messengers and why they were sent:

These are the people whom Allah has guided — so take lesson from their guidance. This is a very severe day. Fear this day.

Keep in mind what you are sending forth for yourself tomorrow. Read the Qur'an, read the ahadith, read the stories of the Prophet. We sent you messengers bearing glad tidings and at the same time warnings as well — so there is no excuse. Not a single human being will have an excuse on the Day of Judgment to say: O Allah, You never sent me a message. That is why the messengers have been sent time and again.

And we are so blessed that we have Sayyid al-Anbiya' wal-Mursaleen — as Muslims, the greatest of the Prophets عليهم السلام. Allah says:

That we have the best of examples. Rasulullah ﷺ in one hadith mentions:

(Musnad al-Bazzar; also narrated in al-Bayhaqi's Shu'ab al-Iman — "I have been sent to perfect the most noble of character.")

The best way of life has been shown to us by Rasulullah ﷺ.

Seeking Knowledge and Making the Most of Our Time

Now let us all ask ourselves. As Muslims, we understand this. MashaAllah, many of us are aware of these things. The answers to this discussion we know, alhamdulillah, as Muslims. Allah says:

A reminder is always beneficial. But let us ask ourselves: when we understand that the prophets have been sent to teach us how to live our lives so that we can fare well in the hereafter, how many of their messages — how much of that advice — have we truly sought out? And how much have we implemented in our lives?

Allah says:

Worry about what we are all going to be sending forth tomorrow. How are we going to be standing in front of Allah? On that day when we are all presented in His court.

And alhamdulillah, we are so fortunate. By living in this time period, knowledge — subhanAllah — is at our fingertips. It's no longer really about seeking it out, but rather it's not even really about making time. SubhanAllah, if you think about it, we marvel at how our pious predecessors were capable of accomplishing such great feats. They were reciting one whole Qur'an every single day. They were doing so many rakahs of salah. But then you think about our lives — we don't have the ability, we don't have the discipline.

But then look at their lives again. I usually mention to the students: imagine how long, what an ordeal it would be to make a cup of chai, a cup of tea. You have to go and pluck leaves from the tree, then you have to take it, you have to boil it with water. First you have to fetch the water from the well, draw the water up, then you have to start the fire, then you have to put it inside the fire, then you have to wait. Then subhanAllah — may Allah bless that individual who thought about mixing milk and tea together. Who would have ever thought to milk a cow and put it inside of this concoction of leaves with water? May Allah, if they were Muslim, elevate their status. If not, guide their progeny.

Alhamdulillah, now we can enjoy this cup of chai. It's such a blessing. But imagine what an ordeal, what a long time it would take to just take care of the mundane aspects of life. They had so many different things to do. And alhamdulillah for us — not saying it's the best type of chai — but you put it in the microwave one minute, two minutes, you have a cup of tea ready. SubhanAllah. We have so much. Imagine they didn't just get to go to the store to purchase bread — they had to make it themselves. They had so much less time, but they had so much barakah, they had so much discipline in their lives.

Allah has been so merciful to us. He has allowed us to live in this time period. Alhamdulillah, bifadlillah. Everything now is at our fingertips. We have more time than ever before. Yet somehow we don't necessarily have the discipline where we find the barakah in our time like they used to find.

But let us ask ourselves: what have we done to attain that knowledge? Alhamdulillah, that knowledge is available worldwide. You can now attain it in the comfort of your home. But who has made time to attain that knowledge?

Programs at Dār es Salaam

And alhamdulillah — that is for the vast general audience. But here, particularly as members of the Dār es Salaam community, every one of us has so many different programs available. But it is a question of how many of us are truly benefiting from those programs.

We have, subhanAllah, more than seven different programs. MashaAllah — either we ourselves can attend these programs, or we can guide our children towards them:

• The Tanweer Program — mashaAllah, a one-year intensive.
• The Takmil Program — the full 'ālim course.
• The Ta'leem Program — online classes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., where you don't have to enroll in every single class but can take one class a semester, just like any college class. You can even take classes during your lunch break, or sign up and listen to the recordings later.
• The Tafheem Program — on weekends only, for those who find other commitments difficult.
• The Tadrees Program — for our high schoolers.
• The Tahfeedh Program — for the huffādh students.
• Community programs including a Seerah program every Thursday, a Tafseer program every Tuesday, and our Saturday Team Fajr.

This is such a vibrant community with so many different programs and so many different opportunities. And having access to a teacher is also a very important aspect. Allah teaches us in Surah Al-Fatihah — we make du'a:

We make du'a that Allah guides us to the path of those whom He has blessed. We don't make du'a for Sirāt al-Qur'ān wal-Sunnah directly — rather, we need individuals to guide us towards how we should truly understand the Qur'an and hadith. Just as Rasulullah ﷺ explained it to the Sahabah رضي الله عنهم, just as Allah sent the Anbiya' عليهم السلام — you require a teacher.

So let's all ask ourselves: how much have we genuinely sought out that knowledge, such that we can stand on the Day of Judgment and tell Allah that we tried?

A Deen of Dying Whilst Trying

I'll just end with this last incident. Our deen is a deen of trying. It's not a deen of milestones and achievements — it's a deen of dying whilst trying. This may serve as some encouragement for all of us, inshallah.

There was this one brother — long story short — in St. Louis. He came to me after I graduated. He was over 60 years old, and he said: I would really like if you taught me some Qur'an.

So I said, okay, sure — but there are so many other programs, why don't you enroll there? He said: I tried, but there's an age limit, it's kind of difficult, they're not really accepting me. I'm very old and I require separate time. So I said, no problem, let's make a time.

Then he said: You know, Farhan, I have one difficulty. I said, what's the difficulty? He said: I have Parkinson's, and it's reached a very severe stage. I don't know when I'm going to be physically capable of taking the class. So if it's possible, give me a block of two to three hours, and I'll call you within that time when I am physically capable, and then we can have a half-hour class. So I said, okay, no problem.

At that time I was much more free. So then I had a question — I asked him: Uncle, why now? Why now? He's over 60 — why now? What happened?

So he said: Farhan, I know — on the Day of Judgment, I know I had so many opportunities to learn how to read the Qur'an properly. Allah is going to ask me: I sent you to this earth, I gave you so many years of life, you couldn't even take out a few minutes to learn how to read the Qur'an?

He said: Farhan, I know I'm not going to be able to answer satisfactorily on the Day of Judgment. I have no answer. I do not think I am going to be capable of memorizing the Qur'an — or reciting it properly with the rules of tajweed, forget memorizing. But at the bare minimum, when Allah asks me, I can say: Allah, You're right. But at least I died trying. At least I died trying.

So this is something that we can all think about. We can all start our journey. It's never too late.

May Allah grant us all حُسْنَ التَّوْفِيق.

Announcements

All brothers, kindly stand and please fill up all of the spaces that you see in front of you before performing your sunnah. Please do not start your sunnah until all of the gaps in front of you have been filled. Jazakumullah khairan.

Please pass the donation boxes from left to right and donate generously. Sadaqah wards off calamities and draws the mercy of Allah.

Alhamdulillah, we have one week remaining before our annual benefit dinner at Shalimar Banquets. This will take place on Saturday, October 5th, with our very dear guest speaker, Sheikh Hussain Sattar حفظه الله. Please kindly purchase tickets by scanning the QR codes on the flyers displayed outside.

Also, save the date for our 7th Annual Winter Intensive, which will be taking place Saturday, December 21st through Tuesday, December 24th. Inshallah, more details will be coming soon.

Also, join us for our weekly programs: Team Fajr tomorrow — Fajr Salah is at 6 a.m. We also have our Tuesday Tafseer, and our weekly Urdu Seerah program every Thursday after Isha Salah.

Let us all, inshallah, also make du'a for all of our brothers and sisters that are suffering throughout the world. Let us make du'a especially for our brothers and sisters in Palestine. May Allah grant peace and comfort to all of them. May Allah reward them for all of their difficulties. And may Allah rid them of their oppressors.

We also heard about our beloved Marsalis رحمه الله, who passed away recently unjustly. Again, let's remind ourselves that this is a world of imtihan — tests. And the hereafter is a world where true justice will be meted out. May Allah grant us all the ability to remain steadfast.