Maryam Hashim and her words of wisdom

[Qur'anul Kareem 57:20] Know that this worldly life is no more than play and games, and boasting among you, and hoarding of money and children. It is like abundant rain that produces plants and pleases the disbelievers. But then the plants turn into useless hay, and are blown away by the wind. In the Hereafter there is either severe retribution, or forgiveness from GOD and approval. This worldly life is no more than a temporary illusion.

I was chatting with our beloved sister Maryam while she was sharing with me her profound insights of the verse above.

I am truly moved as it served as a great reminder to me.

She continued by telling me, "but generally, the quote is from surah al-hadeed where He explained the fact of life on this earth. See 57:20. It says that life is only but temporary play, musings, waste and boasting among ourselves with what we possessed and in search of increasing more money and children. Life on earth is only but a temporary illusion (esp when its easy life). In addition, as humans, we're created to... love these things (children, money, post, etc) see 3:14 but verily, the best abode is with Him in the Hereafter."

A graceful elaboration by her.

She then continued.

"I believe we should live our lives like how SAyyidina Ali (r.a.) has taught us : "Bekerjalah kamu seperti kamu akan hidup selamanya, dan beramallah kamu seperti kamu akan mati esoknya."

"and Rasulullah s.a.w said:" khairul umuri awshotuha"...

The moment i read the lines above, i was supercharged. It says: Work as if you will live forever, and do good deeds as if you will die the next day. (aw qama qol, something like that)

The true spirit is to strive for excellence and be the best, at the same time not to be binded with the love for the material world. I would have to agree that a great muslim is one with wealth, power, influence and all that you can list in your mind.

How i would see this verse is a revelation for us to work hard and struggle to achieve the best for the religion. On the contrary is to stagnate and avoid the world wholly.

If we are talking in terms of money, how can the poor help the religion? What more to defend it? Verily, poverty is close to kekufuran (=the state of not being grateful to the Sole Creator). If you are poor, you will be struggling to feed yourself and therefore you will look out for more material gains to sustain yourself. This would only bring you further away from deen.

Poor here has many definitions. I would define it in two lights. One, living below the poverty level. Two, having a poor mentality or paradigm. The latter is for those who live in the modern world or economy. How many of us are high income earners and yet are poor? I will allow you dear readers to discover the answers for yourself.

More importantly, i learn so much from that simple conversation with Maryam. It is indeed a blessing to know her.

O Allah, please give her Your utmost blessings, love her and reserve her a place in paradise with Your Great messenger, our beloved Rasulullah sallahu 'alahi wassalaam.

Wallahu 'alam. May i be corrected if i am not right.