By Ishola Balogun

Those who believe they are created only to seek the vanities of this world, work or otherwise steal to build houses, monuments, amass wealth for the children unborn;  or those who profits in causing mischiefs on earth, bestriding like gods and trampling on the rights of others are just unconcious of the ephmeral nature of this world. Yes! if you seek the world, you’ll get it but Allah has said they are only deciets that will keep you far away from the bliss of eternity.

For those who keep chasing the vanities of this world, we read in the scriptures,  they will be faced with four things before death; namely: Unhappiness without limit; Restlessness unlimited; Discontentment and Poverty. No matter the wealth stored, it will end in poverty. We have seen many whose lives and times were dotted with wealth but were consigned to the trash can of history.

What then is the end result of amassing wealth when it would not stop the desire to continually seek more wealth?  If the purpose of life is to become wealthy, there would be no purpose afterall. Acquisition of wealth cannot in any way guarantee happiness, instead, it is only a mousetrap for destruction especially for the unbelievers. Wealth can do little or nothing to bring happiness to an unbeliever, because regardless of what he or she gains in this life, he would immersed in fear of what will happen to him at the end.

Wealth and power are only a temporary success and a conduit for eternal ruination  if one refuses to tow the path of God. Real happiness and contentment are for those who follow the path of God, albeit, not materially rich but spiritually endowed to challange all the vagaries of life.

The question now is that what is the purpose of life?

Certainly, our Creator did not create us just for the sake of the vanities of this world. Allah did not create the jinn and mankind except that the worship Him neither does He want from them any provision, nor does He want them to care for Him.

He did not create us for the fun of creation or to fill a specific number. He has created us in order that we worship Him and glorify His name every day in our lives. See Quran 51:56.

Worship of the One True Almighty God of the Universe (Allah) as a primary goal or aim in life provides a believer with everything he needs to succeed in the world and the hereafter.

The Creator expects us to obey, submit and surrender   totally to His ordinances.  This is what Islam is all about.  To a true Muslim, the whole purpose of life is “ibadah” or worship to the only one true  God, Allah  the way He specified to be worshipped.

Every person will be

rewarded or punished according to his deeds.  None will be asked about the actions and beliefs of others, nor will anyone be asked regarding that which he was unaware of or incapable of doing.

Reward and punishment will be in direct proportion to whatever we do and Allah alone will be the final Judge.

The ‘Permanent’ or ‘Hereafter’ will either be spent in luxurious splendour or miserable punishment .

To every believer,  the purpose of life is a standing one; Worship Allah by accepting Allah’s Will. His life here on earth although short, but totally meaningful within the complete framework of total submission. This is Islam.

In the same vein, in the hereafter, his faith, intentions, attitudes and good deeds will place him in high esteem before Allah and earn him paradise where he will dwell permanently.

He has no doubt in his mind that: he is only created by Allah; he is going to spend a period of time in this material world called “Ad-Duniyah”; he knows he will die and spend some time in the grave, whether pleasant or difficult depending on his deeds and actions; he knows he will be resurrected for giving account of his deeds, ‘Day of Judgment’; he knows he will be judged fairly by Allah; therefore, he has to surrender, submit, obey  Allah the Almighty, carrying out His orders and shunning all what He ordered to be shunned.

Believing and declaring that “There is no god worthy of worship except ALLAH, all worship is due only to HIM, alone and He has no partners or helpers nor does He share His Lordship with any of His creations; and Muhammad, (s.a.w) is the last messenger and servant of Almighty Allah; (the seal of prophet hood in man’s history, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus Christ, may Almighty Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon them all.”)

Establishing the regular five times ritualised prayer (salat) at the stated times.

Paying Zakat; about 2.5% of one’s wealth annually after all indebtedness have been settled.

Fasting for 29 or 30 days in the month of Ramadan just like we concluded some weeks back.

Pilgrimage to the Makkah,  at least once in a lifetime, provided one has the ability and when there is no hindrance on the way.