“…do not forget to pursue your share of this world” (Surah Al-Qasas Qur’an, S28 V77)
In all my years, I can never remember any of the Ulema telling us not to forget our share of the world – it’s always the hereafter that we should worry about.
Yes I know, this lifetime is a but a blink in comparison to eternity in the akhira, but why do we focus on the afterlife, and not give any credence to the here and now, is it asking too much to have both?
For me, this is borne out of one of the principles of life and that is the doctrine of determinism which modern day Muslims have interpreted in a way which runs counter to the Quranic spirit.
We have been taught to depart from the correct Quranic understanding, with the advocates of this specious doctrine extolling the virtues of surrender and stagnation. For centuries it has been preached that each man’s life is not the result of striving and planning but is predetermined so that man cannot affect its outcome.
The Muslim mindset generally falls into one of the following camps:
I will make the effort and the results are in my hands
OR
I will make no efforts and the results are in Allah’s hands
These are both diseased attitudes.
The legacy of the Blessed Prophets was that they applied themselves to the Nth degree and THEN relied on Allah Az’Wajjal.
Make your intentions and muster your best efforts, to the very best of your abilities whilst knowing the results are in Allah’s hands: that’s the balanced attitude.
Work towards your goals within this life and for the Akhira, as The Quran calls for the reasonable satisfaction of all wants. It does not tolerate self-deprivation any more than it tolerates indulgence and license.
The true Quranic spirit as taught to us by Allah’s Messenger SAW is that of Siratul Mustaqeem, follow the middle path in life.
hotterthanapileofcurry.wordpress.com 
thanks a lot. it changed my perceiverence to life….
Siratul Mustaqeem literally means the straight path. The straight path refers to the path of obedience to Allah as shown to us in Shariah .It is the path that we ask Allah to show us. It does NOT mean the Middle Path or path of moderation. If you look at the life of the Sahaabas, many of them turned their backs on the Dunyah in search of the Arkhira. If we compare our lives today to that of the Sahabaas, what we do in the path of ALLAH is but a a grain of sand compared to the sacrifice of the SAHABAAS. Don’t go and try to justify longing for worldly possessions and status by quoting the Quran. What we strive for in this world in terms of financial gain is a falsehood that only draws us away from the worship of ALLAH. “Your share of the world”, is not defined as what money can buy you. “Your share of the world”, is what ALLAH has created for you.
Salaam Anon,
Please read the OP again.
On your point of the Sahaba’s, Abu Bakr & Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with them) came from wealthy backgrounds and spent their money fi’sabeel’allah.
What you earn is a trust, a trust that you will be held accountable for.
Do not wish for poverty, it won’t benefit you or the Ummah.
The Akh
Salaams
The context of the verse is related to the story of Qaroon. It is a lesson on SHOWING OFF. This is known as the minor SHIRK. ALLAH gave Qaroon alot of wealth yet he did not share it with the poor and he flaunted his wealth for all to see. He became so arrogant that he attributed his wealth to his knowledge and not to the mercy of ALLAH. ALLAH says that we should not forget our share of this world, meaning we should use whatever we are given in this world to secure our place in the AKHIRA. We must NOT use it to make others envy what we have. ALLAH has created man solely for the WORSHIP of ALLAH. Our GOAL in this world must be to attain a higher place in the AKHIRA and not to pursue anything that will lead us away from the worship of ALLAH. ALLAH will give us what he decrees, we have to determine how we will use it. My point is that many of us are pursuing worldly pleasures like money, fancy cars, big house, fast women and we are NOT pursuing a better abode in the Akhira. We are pursuing the wrong GOAL. Quote the entire verse of the Quran and not just part of it. “Rather seek, by means of what ALLAH has given you, to attain the abode of the hereafter, while not neglecting your share in this world”. I firmly believe in making an effort towards a goal in this world, but we as Muslims need to come to terms with what our GOAL is.
Siratul mustaqeem and the middle path are one and the same. Allah (swt) describes the Muslims as being “Ummatan wasatan” which literally means “the middle nation” or “the middle people.”
1)The verse and comments r nice as quoted in the title.
Ali radhiallhnuhu ne farmaya dunya aur akhirat 2 biwi jaise hain ek ko manaya toh dusry rooth jaaty hain.
hamey dunya me rehna hain toh dunya sey mohabbat nahy karny hain
kyunki dunya aur Allah ki mohabbat ek dil mein nahy bass sakty.
read the translation of last two verses of sureh bakra.it shall clear our vision…
۞ إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لَا تَفْرَحْ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ (76) Qarun was doubtless, of the people of Moses; but he acted insolently towards them: such were the treasures We had bestowed on him that their very keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men, behold, his people said to him: “Exult not, for Allah loveth not those who exult (in riches).
(His people adviced him)
وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ (77) “But seek, with the (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on thee, the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this world: but do thou good, as Allah has been good to thee, and seek not (occasions for) mischief in the land: for Allah loves not those who do mischief.”
قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِندِي ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِن قَبْلِهِ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعًا ۚ وَلَا يُسْأَلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ (78) He said: “This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge which I have.” Did he not know that Allah had destroyed, before him, (whole) generations,- which were superior to him in strength and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected? but the wicked are not called (immediately) to account for their sins.
فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فِي زِينَتِهِ ۖ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا يَا لَيْتَ لَنَا مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ قَارُونُ إِنَّهُ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ (79) So he went forth among his people in the (pride of his wordly) glitter. Said those whose aim is the Life of this World: “Oh! that we had the like of what Qarun has got! for he is truly a lord of mighty good fortune!”
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الصَّابِرُونَ (80) But those who had been granted (true) knowledge said: “Alas for you! The reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is best for those who believe and work righteousness: but this none shall attain, save those who steadfastly persevere (in good).”
فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِ وَبِدَارِهِ الْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُنتَصِرِينَ (81) Then We caused the earth to swallow up him and his house; and he had not (the least little) party to help him against Allah, nor could he defend himself.