The Quran’s Warning: Don’t Let Worldly Desires Overshadow the Hereafter
ADMONISHING GIVING PREFERENCE TO THE WORLDLY LIFE OVER THE HEREAFTER
ALLĀH says,
أَرَضِيتُم بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الاخِرَةِ
Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter?
That is, your reaction is but that of one who is content with this world and focuses mainly on it, and does not care about the hereafter, so it is as if he does not believe in it.
فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا
“But the enjoyment of the life of this world” that has hindered you and to which you have given precedence over the hereafter
فِي الاخِرَةِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ
“as compared with that of the hereafter, is but little”. Has ALLĀH not given you reason with which to weigh up matters and determine which is more deserving of being given precedence?
Is it not the case that this world – from beginning to end – is as nothing in comparison to the hereafter?
Man’s life in this world is very short, so why should he make it his only goal and focus all his efforts, striving, aspirations and concern only on this short worldly life that is filled with troubles, problems and calamities?
On what basis did you decide to give it precedence over the hereafter that is filled with all kinds of delights, everything that people long for and that delights the eyes, and you will abide therein forever? By ALLĀH, no one could give precedence to this world over the hereafter who has faith established in his heart, or is of sound mind, or could be regarded as a person of mature thinking.
{Tafsir As-Sa’di}
Al-Mustawrid (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ) said: “The life of this world, compared to the Hereafter, is just like when one of you dips his finger in the sea, let him contemplate how much of it his finger would carry?” {Muslim #2858}