REALITY OF LIFE

REALITY OF LIFE Accountability in the Hereafter F OR most people, there is only one life—that of the world—and they try to live it in a prestigious and comfortable way 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 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 some of the creeds presented by people. 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 any warning or stir us into any action. The Islamic perspective provided by the Prophet Muhammad is of an entirely different nature. The Prophet in his solution to problems places every individual in a precarious position from which the next step leads either to an awful abyss of destruction or to a world of eternal bliss. It requires every man to take a serious view of his situation. The message taught by Prophet Muhammad, contains a great warning for all humankind. He taught that after this world a vast 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 humankind makes each person's existence a matter of personal importance. Everyone’s fate, according to his teachings, hangs in the balance. Everyone has freedom to either believe in his message and follow his guidance, in preparation