:Question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How does Islam view the relation\nbetween this world and the hereafter (Akhirah)? Does Islam consider them as two\ncompletely separate and different matters? How does Islam describe people who\nonly strive for this world in comparison to the people who strive for the\nhereafter?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
:Answer<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Islamic thoughts, this\nworld and the hereafter are not two distinct and separable realities; in fact,\nthey form an inseparable single unit in which one leads to the other. According\nto the Islamic teachings, extracted from the Holy Quran and the traditions,\nstatements, and behaviors of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) and those of the\nInfallible Imams (PBUT), striving for the hereafter has always been considered\nwith honor; whereas striving for this world, depending upon the context it is\nused in, has not always been regarded with honor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In general, the view Islam has towards\nthis world can be divided into two separate entities. The first view is when\nthis world becomes the main goal and purpose in life. People who hold this view\nthus, spend their entire life striving solely for this world. They get so\ninvolved with their surroundings that they begin to dedicate all their efforts\nto achieve and accumulate their worldly materials. They however, fail to profit the least bit\nfrom their worldly materials in the way of reaching perfection and eternal\nprosperity for the hereafter. Obviously this view contrasts the view Islam\nholds of the hereafter because with the beginning of the hereafter, this world\ncomes to an end and one would lose all he had gained for this world in a single\nmoment. (1) Islam reproaches this view (2) and describes its followers as\ndeceived people who have lost their investment (their lives) and have not\ngained anything in exchange (3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other view that regards this world\nas merely a tool as opposed to the goal, can actually help in reaching our\nfinal destination. In this view, the world is viewed as a temporary place, not\na residence, in which people should prepare for the hereafter (4). The people,\nwho view the world as a merely a tool, consider this world as a farm in which\nthe products of it will be harvested in the hereafter. As long as they make use\nof this opportunity, eternal success in the hereafter can be obtained. Although\nsuch people may possess property, esteemed positions, and other worldly\naffairs, they however do not regard them as the goal of life. Rather, they use their opportunities in this\nworld as means that will help them in reaching their final destination: Allah’s\n(SWT) satisfaction. This view is never condemned but as a matter of fact highly\npraised by Islam. (5) Islam considers this view coherent with seeking the\nhereafter. Furthermore, the people who hold this view in regards to this world\ndo their best to prepare themselves for the hereafter. They are not considered\nstrivers for only this world, but they are considered as people who seek\nperfection and prepare themselves for the hereafter (6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Islam, “asceticism” is\nnot about depriving oneself from all the matters of this world, rather it is\nabout not considering this world as the ultimate goal. According to the Islamic teachings, a Muslim\nmust never stand still; in fact he\/she must strive and work hard in this life\nin order to prepare for the hereafter. In other words, the way to eternal\nsuccess passes through this world, and one cannot achieve success in the\nhereafter without benefiting correctly from this world. (7)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
:Question How does Islam view the relation between this world and the hereafter (Akhirah)? Does Islam consider them as two completely separate and different matters? How does Islam describe people who only strive for this world in comparison to the people who strive for the hereafter? :Answer According to Islamic thoughts, this world and the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28250],"tags":[18103,18101,18102,18017,17890,18104,18041,18100,18098],"class_list":["post-3871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-questions","tag-general","tag-hereafter","tag-imam","tag-islam","tag-life","tag-place","tag-questions","tag-resurrection","tag-seeking-this-world-vs-seeking-the-hereafter-akhirah"],"yoast_head":"\n