Dunya

In Islam, dunyā (Arabic: دُنْيا‎) refers to the temporal world and its earthly concerns and possessions, as opposed to the hereafter (ʾākhirah). In the Qur'an, dunyā and ākhira are sometimes used dichotomously, other times complementarily. Islam does not a priori dismiss the world as "evil".

63173

God (Allah) . Dunya

I tend to lose sight of God in the moments when I focus on worldly matters. How do I train myself to be in the state of presence of God at all times?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answered 2 weeks ago

as salam alaikum

our relationship with Allah should be based on worship and servitude. Concentration may be a part of worship but it is not its finality because to focus on ideas and meanings, as lofty as they may be, can be in some cases a form of distraction from the One to Whom our worship is directed. There is a fundamental element in worship distinguished from different forms of exercises and concentration. Mere concentration may improve our capability of meditation on an object but may not be classified as real worship. That is why sometimes worship has been compared to a lover admiring his loved one without focusing on what he is saying to him.

If our intention is to satisfy Allah, we won't have any ambition to reach a particular state or stage and that is when the heart get ready to receive more favors and grace from his Lord. In other words, a pure intention, attitude and lifestyle in the light of the teachings of Islam are often more effective than alienating yourself trying to grasp something behind single moments through basic concentration.

With prayers for your success.

67527

Hereafter . Dunya

Is it true that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was critical of both those who abandon the Hereafter for this world and also those who abandon this world for the Hereafter? Does it mean we should be moderate and try to enjoy both the worlds?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes it is true that the Holy Prophet (SAWA) never encourages anyone to
abandon the Hereafter for this world nor this world for the Hereafter.
In the narrations one of the pious companions Usman ibn Madh’oon عثمان بن مظعون who was one of the earliest Muslims (13th or 14th) and who suffered a lot
from the enemies of the Muslims in Makkah and who had migrated to
Abyssinia twice, first with the Muslims of Madinah were who led by him
and the second time he migrated to Abyssinia with a group of Muslims
led by Ja’far ibn Abi Talib.

Usman ibn Madh’oon participated in the Muslim army in the battle of
Badr. He was spending his days in fasting and the nights in
worshipping. He sought permission from the Holy Prophet (SAWA) to
abandon this world and remain in worshipping Allah (SWT) only. The
Holy Prophet (SAWA) did not allow this and told him : “No, I was not
sent to abandon this world for the Hereafter nor to abandon the
Hereafter for sake of this world”. The Hadeeth says : “Do for your
worldly life as if you will remain in the world forever and do for
your Hereafter as if you are leaving this world tomorrow. (Mustadrak
al-Wasaa’il vol. 13 pg. 58 and Bihar al-Anwar vol. 44 pg. 139). Even
in the Holy Qu’ran in Surah al-Qasas verse 77, Allah (SWT) says :
“Seek with what Allah (SWT) has bestowed on you the Hereafter and
don’t forget your lawful portion from this world”.

Wassalam.

67359

Life . Punishment . Dunya

What is the Islamic response for those who wish they were not born into this existence, who wish they were not part of the world in this life or the next and want neither the punishment nor the reward?

Every human being who has basic intellectual faculty believes that his
existence in this life is the most valuable. That is why you find
that everyone including small children try to avoid any danger on
life and they do whatever they can to save this life. Those who have
mental or psychological problems feel sometimes that they wish they
were not born. This feeling goes against the basic instinctive
knowledge of all human beings and cannot be taken as normal feeling
but it needs to be dealt with as a mental and psychological problem.
Hence it needs to be treated through specialist health experts and
other ways of treatment. No doubt the best treatment for mental and
psychological conditions is remembering Allah (SWT). Remembering Allah
(SWT) is the source of peace of mind and tranquility.

Even those whose claim that they wish that they were not born are not
sure about their feelings and that is why you find them if they face
any danger then they try to avoid it and save their lives. So their
feeling itself is not firm.

Islam teaches us to appreciate the bounties which we have been granted
and one of the greatest bounties is that Allah (SWT), the Most
Merciful, the Most Compassionate has granted us life after we were not
existing as Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur’an : Has there not been
one moment in time when he was not existing (Surah al-Insan : verse
1).

Such people need to be looked after with more sympathy and should be
morally and medically supported. They should be advised to remember
the source of peace of mind and keep on remembering Allah (SWT). That
will make them feel the taste of life and enjoy it and thank the
Creator Allah (SWT)

Wassalam.

Life . Punishment . Dunya

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 3 weeks ago

It sounds like this person is going through a tough time.

Life has easy and difficult times, sometimes very difficult times. It is good to have faith that there is light at the end of the tunnel and to contemplate on the verses of the Qur'an about Allah's mercy. Nothing stays the same forever and things often change in ways we could never imagine. Until then, however, it is sometimes necessary to walk in the darkness until reaching the light. The good thing about darkness, however, is sometimes it makes the light clearer.

Existence is not a choice, since a person who dies continues to exist. However, it is good to have faith that Allah has a plan and does not create anything in vain; just because we do not understand why we, individually, were created does not mean that we do not have our own specific reason for being.

Some might argue that Qur'an 7:172 which speaks of human beings testifying to the existence and lordship of Allah (in the realm of pre-existence, or in some other way) implies that we gave a sort of agreement to existing, even if we do not remember it now. Some might also argue that Qur'an 33:72 implies a sort of willingness to exist and accept the risks/consequences of free will, even if we currently do not want it - God knows best.

If this person is also dealing with depression or a psychological condition (either as a condition by itself or as a response to challenging circumstances), they could also look into psychological/psychiatric interventions and see if they are useful and appropriate at the moment to help get more zest for life.

If it is more of a spiritual or existential crisis (and all of the above can go hand in hand), more study and reflection of the Qur'an and theology and the big questions of life may help. In the end, while Muslims, like others, offer answers to questions such as "why do we exist?", it is one of those big questions that people have pondered for millenia, and although religions can provide answers, I think it is also something people often need to find answers for inside themselves.

Life . Punishment . Dunya

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 3 weeks ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It is God who decides who exists and that is not the choice of an individual. What is in their choice is what they do with the life they are given, and not wanting life, reward or punishment is not something that absolves them from that responsibility.

May you always be successful

65291

God (Allah) . Dunya . Predestination

If Allah has sent us to the world to live without asking our permission, isn't He forcing us to live our lives in roles that we might not want to?

Our existence itself is a great bounty from Allah who created us, out of His Mercy and Grace on us. He created us after we were nothing ( Has here not been over man a time, when he was not a thing worth mentioning?) (Sura 76, Verse 1).

He provided us not only with life but also with all what require to live a decent life e.g. He gifted us with the intellect and reason and ability to listen, see, and distinguish good from bad. He gifted us will all sense which make us enjoy our life and be away from danger. He showed us the best way to live our life with harmony and peace between ourselves and our desires and wishes, and between ourselves and our Creator, and between ourselves and the Universe.

What ever bounty we have is from Him, and what ever suffering we may have is from ourselves.(Whatever good reaches you is from Allah, and whatever bad comes to ou is from yourself). (Sura 4, Verse 79).

He guided us to live in the best way away from evil and sinful desires. Those who follow the way of Allah (SWT) enjoy life in the best way as that achieve the Peace of Mind and Tranquility which is lost in he life of millions who are away from Allah.

We are unable to thank Him enough but when we try to thank Allah for His countless bounties, we feel the taste of life and feel more peace in our hearts.

Wassalam.

63855

Evil . God (Allah) . Divine Mercy . Dunya

If Allah (swt) is so Merciful then why is there evil in the world? Why do some people, even including past Prophets, undergo severely punishing experiences in this life?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Key to the problem of evil is the definition of evil. If there is any greater purpose, compensation or wisdom behind suffering it cannot be defined as unnecessary evil. For example, making your kids do their homework is not evil, as while your kids may think they are unnecessarily suffering, that suffering has a purpose. It also has compensation in that learning is good for the children and it is wise on behalf of the parents to put their children through the suffering of studying. So too other issues of evil can be framed such that they are not evil. For example, the trials and tribulations of the prophets (as) were for a purpose, were part of Divine Wisdom and will be rewarded in the next life. One of the main wisdom behind human evil, is that there is no meaningful free will if humans are prevented from carrying out that free will even if it results in evil.

May you always be successful

62629

Dunya . God (Allah) . Salah (Prayers)

In this world of cause and effect, is our success, victory and respect granted by God only or are they a product of our sincere and sustained efforts combined with prayers?

Any success is granted to us by Allah (SWT) but it is linked with our hard work and sincere efforts with out which no success can be acheived. Worldly success can be a reward and bounty for the believers , and it can be a test and examination as well.

It is very wrong to think that worldly success is just because of our efforts with out the help of Allah (SWT). This is the wrong logic of Qaroon ( Korah) who said: (Whatever I have is because of my knowledge (قال إنما أوتيته تلى علم عندي)( Sura Al-Qasas: 78).

Allah (SWT) says in Quran(16:14): Whatever bounties you have is from Allah).

Hard work is a condition to get the success by the help of Allah (SWT).

Wassalam.

58570

Dunya . Islamic Philosophy

Is it true that everything in this world, such as motion, rest, space, speed, direction, light, force, energy, matter, love, hate, care, sympathy, lying, truth, are relative and nothing is absolute, and that only God alone is Absolute?

Yes, every thing in this life is relative and Allah The Glorious is the Only Absolute Fact.

Every thing created in this universe is possible in its existence ممكن الوجود , but only Allah , The Creator is Must in His Existence واجب الوجود.

Wassalam.

Dunya . Islamic Philosophy

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. There are two types of realities you are asking about in your question; those related to matter and those that are not.

As for those relating to matter, matter is not everlasting. It is constantly in a state of change as that is one of the characteristics of what makes something material. Therefore, anything related to matter cannot be absolute as it is linked to something finite. So movement for example is linked to an object, an object is limited by time and space and therefore movement cannot be absolute. The same is the case for direction as any direction is in opposition to another direction and so cannot be absolute.

As for those things which do not always have to relate to matter such as love or truth, if they are related to the Absolute, they can be absolute and objective, but when they relate to a person or a thing they will be limited by the limitation of their locus. So a human cannot absolutely love another human as that is a limitation of human beings, however God can absolutely love. Humans cannot understand the absolute truth, but God is the Truth. Humans can come closer to the absolute reality and be a manifestation of the absolute reality and indeed it is reported from the Prophet (saw) that Ali (as) is with the truth and the truth is with Ali (as).

This is generally in line with what the scriptural sources say and you can look into it further by studying reports in books such as the Tawhid of Shaykh Suduq or in Nahj al-Balagha.

May you always be successful.

58566

Injustice . Dunya . Imam al-Mahdi

It is said that Imam Mahdi (AS) will appear when the world is full of injustice and tyranny. It is also said that we must work hard to support and increase the level of justice in this world. How can one reconcile this apparent dichotomy?

Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) will remove injustice and tyranny from the whole world. His time of re appearance will be filled with injustice and tyranny. That does not means by any mean that we have to add on injustice and wrong to hasten his re appearance, but on the contrary, we remain as sincere followers of Ahlul Bayt (AS) responsible to do and spread good deeds which is the aim of our Infallible Imams and all the prophets (AS).

The bad deeds are from bad people as Allah (SWT) says in Quran: Evil deeds has appeared on land and sea because of what people have committed. Al-Room: Verse 41.

We should always prevent and counter evil deeds by doing and spreading good deeds but our efforts will never be enough, and the injustice and tyranny will go on till the re appearance of The Divine Leader from Allah who will remove away the evil and establish the pan state of Good and Justice.

There is no dichotomy at all.

Wassalam.

57967

Islam . Dunya

Is there truth to the claim that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and that this trend will accelerate with progressions in the sciences on the one hand and people's hunger for knowing their Creator?

It is a fact admitted by international organizations and NGOs that Islam is the fastest growing religion.

Wikipedia :

(A study in 2017 revealed that Islam is the fastest-growing religion. Studies in the 21st century suggest that, in terms of percentage and worldwide spread, Islam is the fastest-growing major religion in the world.)

This fact is supported by documented figures from all over the world. Many of those who admit this fact do not like to say t but it is the fact which can not be denied.

No doubt, Real Islam (of the Prophet (SAWA) and his Holy Progeny Ahlul Bayt, not the corrupt way of extremist groups) will continue progressing and spreading among truth seekers all over the world because it is based on real evidence, while enemies of Real Islam are trying to defame us through false allegations. With the present situation of information revolution where people can access books and information through internet, false allegations are been defeated gradually and the Real Islam of the Prophet (SAWA) and his Ahlul Bayt (AS) are winning the hears and minds of millions of truth seekers.

Wassalam.