Weighty Actions

In this world people’s likes and dislikes prevail. Things are valued according to people’s preferences. But the world of the Hereafter is God’s world. There those things will be given importance which are important in the eyes of God alone; all else will become valueless. Actions in this world derive their value from appearances. In the Hereafter the value of all actions will be determined in respect of their reality. The more sincere people’s actions are, the more these will be judged important. Actions devoid of sincerity will lose all importance in the world of the Hereafter, however much these may have appeared important to the people in this world, who judge values by appearances. In the present world such actions are adjudged important as make concessions to worldly considerations, remain in conformity with current trends and assume importance in the context of the social tradition of the time. Those who can bow to all these considerations acquire great position and honour in this world. The state of affairs in the Hereafter will be totally different. There, it is the principled life which will be given weightage. There, those actions which have been in accordance with the highest of standards will have value set upon them. There, all importance will be given to those actions which have lasting merit, and not to those actions which were performed keeping temporary considerations in view. In this world falsehood too may appear to carry weight, but in the Hereafter nothing will carry weight except the Truth. □ PRIDE PRECEDES A FALL The Prophet had a she-camel named Adhba. No one would let their camel walk ahead of it. One day a desert-dweller, riding on a small she-camel, came along and rode in front of the Prophet. When the Prophet realized that this was not to the liking of his companions, he said: “God has taken upon Himself to bring low anything which raises itself up in the world.” (Bukhari)