Have we ever thought that a hundred years from now, we will have no existence in this world? This world, which we have come to consider the entire reality of our lives, by then will have become a faint dream of the past for us. We and our loved ones will be buried deep in the earth. Our efforts, our properties, our dreams—all will be in the possession of someone else.
At that time, no one will remember us, and perhaps even our names will not be mentioned. How many among us today know anything about our great-grandfathers or great-great-grandfathers? We don’t even remember their names. This is our reality, and this is the reality of the world.
The Reality of the World in the Light of the Quran
The Quran repeatedly reminds us that this world is a deception and illusion, which we mistake for the real life instead of recognizing it as a test. Allah says in Surah al-Hadid:
-اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ
Know that the life of this world is but play and amusement, adornment, mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in wealth and children.” [Quran, 57:20]
When the Day of Judgment is established, then the reality of worldly life will become clear. People will be astonished at how short their stay in the world was. As stated in Surah al-Muminun:
قُلْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ عَدَدَ سِنِينَ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ فَاسْأَلِ الْعَادِّينَ
“He will say: ‘How many years did you remain on earth?’ They will say: ‘We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who keep count.’” [Quran, 23:112–113]
This is sufficient to understand the fleeting nature of the world. It is further clarified in Surah al-Rum:
-وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يُقْسِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ مَا لَبِثُوا غَيْرَ سَاعَةٍ
“And on the Day when the Hour will be established, the criminals will swear they had not stayed but an hour.” [Quran, 30:55]
The True Purpose of Life
What is the purpose of our life? Allah has clearly stated that this world is a place of trial:
–الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ
“He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed. And He is the Mighty, the Forgiving.” [Quran, 67:2]
This test is meant to teach us to dedicate our lives to goodness, justice, and the worship of Allah. But unfortunately, most people ignore this reality. They only wake up when death stands before them—but at that time, there is no way back. As mentioned in Surah al-Muminun:
-رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ
“My Lord, return me! Perhaps I may do righteous deeds in what I left behind.” [Quran, 23:99– 100]
The Path to Salvation
The Quran has made the path to salvation clear. We must strengthen our connection with Allah and shape our lives according to the Quran and Sunnah. Allah says in Surah al-Fajr:
-يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَرْضِيَّةً فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي.
“O tranquil soul, return to your Lord—well pleased and pleasing [to Him]. So enter among My servants and enter My Paradise.” [Quran, 89:27–30]
Concluding Supplication
In the end, we pray to Allah Almighty that He grants us the ability to understand the reality of this world, to prepare for the Hereafter, and to fill our lives with righteous deeds: