Value of Dunya

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is adapted from a swuhbah by Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) on the 24^th March 2010. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Sends knowledge and guidance to His servants so that they do not remain heedless.  All of dunya that we have earned, will only be for this short life.  It does not follow us into the hereafter.  They belong to us for a moment here before being transferred to others.  But Shaythan is always whispering to man to seek more of dunya without boredom and to leave the hereafter. 

Look at those who trade on the stock market.  They sit all day and night, staring at the figures on the stock exchange board.  They are so full of concentration to ensure that the stocks they are trading in, makes profits; they never want to make losses.  Even the loss of a dollar makes them upset.  They only want to profit.  Allah (s.w.t.) Gives them what they strive for although what they seek is of no real value.  If only we were as committed to make 'profits' for the hereafter, to be focused on doing good and denying evil; ensuring that every action of ours brought rewards and striving that no actions of ours brought punishments, losses.  If only we sought the eternal benefits of the hereafter with such gusto and passion, we would be so Blessed.  We would have acquired eternal goodness in our Lord's Presence.  We would be Bestowed gifts that would never be taken away from us.  So many, today, are heedless.  We must not live like the heedless, ones whose minds are occupied only with this worldly life, and who take the hereafter as a plaything.  Look for the real treasure, the real jewels. 

Our egos, in collaboration with Shaythan, are asking for more and more of dunya.  The Prophet (s.a.w.), the beacon of guidance for this ummah said, “The value of this dunya to Allah, is less than a wing of a mosquito.”  A mosquito has four wings.  In other words, dunya has no value in the Sight of Allah (s.w.t.).  If dunya did indeed have any value attached to it, Allah (s.w.t.) would not have Given an unbeliever; not even one cup of water to drink.  But Allah (s.w.t.) Gives them all of dunya because it is worthless; dunya is just a plaything, a playground for the unbelievers.  The Divine Message is the same: we should not be cheated by dunya; it is worthless. 

We were Created to be His servants.  We have been Bestowed so much honour by Allah (s.w.t.).  The honour Bestowed on one human being exceeds the value of this entire dunya and its contents, so why are humans throwing away that honour, and seeking something of no value, despite having been given the mind to think with and to understand?  We must not follow Shaythan.  He encourages us to abandon the hereafter, to abandon our honour and to cover ourselves with the filth of this dunya.  Shaythan’s mission is to cheat us into giving value to this dunya, to do evil things to acquire it.  That is abandoning our angelic attributes, and dressing ourselves in satanic characteristics and animal-like behavior.  It is to waste our lives in search of evil, cruelty and oppression. 

When a doctor examines a patient, he is able to diagnose his disease, and the various ways to cure it.  The saints are spiritual doctors.  They see that almost all people today are diseased; they are in search of dunya, committing evil, and dressed in the worst of morals and characteristics.  Today, people will kill to attain their desires.  They have become obedient followers to Shaythan.  There is little hope of Salvation for such people.  It is difficult to spread Islam because of two reasons.  Firstly, many institutions of learning are today strictly secular.  They forbid any sort of religious teaching under the guise of preserving harmony, and preventing discord.  But without Scripture, how are people supposed to acquire real education, teaching them their purpose?  Secondly, many believers, especially scholars, who have the means to propagate the teachings, are not doing so.  This, despite it being a Commandment of Allah (s.w.t.) in the Holy Qur’an.  It is our duty to spread these teachings.  We never know.  The one who receives it may be filled with regret and realisation, repent and turn his life around, and in doing so, acquire a high station in the hereafter.