ISLAMIC INTERPRETATION OF LIFE

Herein Islam provides the silver lining for man. If nature could create a world that satisfies man’s physical needs, then logically it must be capable of creating a world that suits his intellectual needs. This world for the intellect exists but with only one difference. The world according to his physical nature was given to him for his pre-death period of life and the world according to his intellectual needs will be given to him for his post-death period of life. So according to Islam, man’s life is like an iceberg. This life is just the visible portion; the life beyond is like the vast hidden part of an iceberg. Thus, there is no need for man to fall prey to frustration. Adopt a two-fold plan for your life. One based on your needs of the present world and the other according to your needs of the future world. So, a successful life in this world is one based on the following concept: that the present life is where we can only sow and we shall harvest in the next world. If we were to plant a seed in the morning with the hope of enjoying the fruit by dinnertime, we are sure to be frustrated. Had we planned to reap the fruit a hundred years from now, however, then we would not meet any frustration; for frustration is but the name of misplaced hope. The problem for man thus lies not in the nature of life but in his concept of life. Is there any proof of the existence of a world, as envisaged by Islam, other than this world? Yes, there is a clear proof. The Quran says that the present world itself is sufficient proof of the future world. If God could create the present world in all its complexity, then there is no room left to doubt His capability of creating the next world. The Quranic call, in brief, is that man should take the present world as an opportunity to develop in himself such a divine personality that is deserving of permanent residency in the eternal world of Paradise. A world that the Quran praises as a house that lies neighbour to none other than God Almighty Himself!  A successful life in this world is one based on the concept: the present life is where we can only sow and we shall harvest in the next world. If we plant a seed in the morning with the hope of enjoying the fruit by dinnertime, we are sure to be frustrated.