What is the reality of life? Normally people do not
like to think of such things. For them, there is one
life—that of the world—and they try to live it in as
prestigious and comfortable a way as possible, for
afterwards, neither man, nor anything that concerns
him, will remain. Some do think about this matter,
but only on a philosophical level. They seek a
theoretical explanation of the world. Such
explanations are interesting from a philosophical
point of view, but they are of no basic value to man.
Theoretical discussions about whether a cosmic
spirit keeps the whole universe revolving for its
own fulfillment, or whether everything is part of
some sublime being, do not raise any personal
issues for man. Some have a religious answer to the
question, but their solution is also of no import to
man. Some religions hold that the son of God was
crucified in atonement for man’s sins; others see life
as a mysterious, recurring cycle, with man
repeatedly being born and dying; some claim that
man will be rewarded and punished in this world.
These are the creeds of which most religions are
made.
All such solutions to the problems of life differ from
one another considerably but in so much as none of
them raises any serious personal issue for man, they
are all the same. They are either explanations of
events or a means of providing us with some sort of
spiritual satisfaction. They do not issue us with any
warning or stir us into any action.
But the answer provided by the Prophet
Muhammad is of an entirely different nature.
Whereas the other answers do not raise any critical
issue for man, the answer provided by the Prophet
places every individual in a precarious position
from which the next step leads either to an
awesome abyss of destruction or to a world of
eternal bliss. It requires every man to take a serious
view of his situation—even more so than a traveller
in the night whose torch reveals a black snake
slithering menacingly in front of him.
The message taught by Muhammad, may God’s
peace and blessings be upon him, contains a greater
warning for all mankind. He taught that after this
world a vaster world is awaiting us, where every
person will be judged and then punished or
rewarded according to his deeds. The props which
man relies on in this world will not support him
there, for there will be no trading, no friendship and
no acceptable intercession.
The warning which the Prophet delivered to
mankind makes his existence a matter of personal
importance to everyone. Everyone’s fate, according
to his teachings, hangs in the balance. Either one
can believe in his message and follow his guidance,
thus preparing oneself for everlasting paradise, or
one can ignore his teachings, thus resigning oneself
to eternal hellfire.
There are two things which make this matter even
more worthy of our attention. Firstly, the
arguments of those who have expounded other
theories on this matter have been very dubious.
Those who consider material aggrandisement to be
all that is worthwhile in life have no proof for their
theory; their ideas are based on superficial
attractions. Those who speak in philosophical terms
have only analogies to offer as evidence. They
themselves do not have full faith in what they say,
so how can others be expected to accept their
theories?
Then there are those who speak with reference to
the prophets and scriptures. Basically their platform
is solid, but the prophets and books to which they
refer belong to an age-long past. We have no
reliable historical information regarding them at
our disposal. Even though the original source of
these religions is sound, we still cannot rely on their
teachings as they are at present. The criterion with
which to judge the past is history, and history does
not verify the authenticity of their dogmas.
With the Prophet Muhammad, however, the case is
quite different. On the one hand, his prophetic
credentials stand up to any scrutiny. He was the
epitome of everything a prophet should be. There is
no doubt about his prophethood; it is an established
historical fact which no one can deny.
The facts of the Holy Prophet’s life and teachings
have also been carefully preserved; their historical
credibility cannot be contested. The Qur’an exists in
its revealed form. The Holy Prophet’s words and
actions are recorded in book-form, so one has no
difficulty in establishing exactly what he said and
did in his life.
The Prophet warned us that we are confronted with
a reality which we can never change; we have no
choice but to face it. Death and suicide only transfer
us to another world; they do not obliterate us
altogether. The Creator has established an eternal
scheme for success and failure which no one can
alter or opt out of. We have to choose between
heaven and hell; we have no other choice.
If the meteorological department forecasts a
hurricane, it is telling us about an impending
disaster in which those affected will have no say in
the matter; another power will control events. One
can either escape or expose oneself to destruction.
So, when the earthquake of the Last day occurs
there will be no path to safety save that which the
Prophet of Islam has laid down. We ignore that
path at our own peril.
Ref - The Way to Find God
- by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
