THE HEREAFTER

behind, unconsidered. Only those actions which were carried out with the Hereafter in mind will benefit us in the life to come. Two men once brought a case before the Prophet for judgement. One had misappropriated the other’s land, but because of certain legal quirks, it was difficult to pass a verdict against him. After due consideration, the Prophet warned him: If the court gives a verdict in your favour, think of it as being fire and brimstone which you have been awarded’. The piece of land might be a prized possession, but in the Hereafter it would assume the terrible properties of fire and brimstone. By analogy, the present world and the Hereafter are two sides of the same event. The worldly side is trivial and temporary, while the Hereafter is substantive and permanent. It is the latter side we will face after death. Here we have complete freedom to live our worldly existence as we will; in the life-to-come, we will have no choice about the future course of our life. One will either be raised to eternal glory, or cast down into the pit of everlasting Hell. o Be Mindful Of God If one is unmindful of God, one will react in whatever manner one's desires and interests demand. If however one's faith in God is strong, every event throughout one's life will remind one of God; the entire range of one's emotions is then not concentrated on oneself, but on God. Freedom exists only so that God may distinguish between the good and the evil, and determine who deserves a place of honour and dignity in the Hereafter.