What’s your new year’s resolution? Materially successful and spiritually happy or Spiritually successful and materially happy. Sounds similar, right? But there are big differences. Winning the matter and keeping the spiritual happy on the same side. Demand is across the globe but chances are extremely slim. It didn’t work even for Alexander the Great who conquered both sides of the globe. But couldn’t hand on a drop of Abe Hayaath to be materially immortal.

Abu Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The sweetness of the world is bitterness in the Hereafter, and the bitterness of the world is sweetness in the Hereafter.” Musnad Aḥmad 22392.

The reality is the other way round. As Islam teaches; bag the Akhira and let the matter Duniya follow you. Hard, but it is the way forward! Let me explain.

Sometimes, even many well educated of us, say things in Islam without actually knowing the meaning or impact of it. For instance, often we can hear people praying for a marhum, O Allah give him or her the highest place in Jannatul Firdawoos. SubhanAllah! Are we aware of what that is? The pinnacle in the sweet spot of the universe, Jannatul Firdawoos. That’s Maqamam Mahmooda, we pray for our beloved prophet (PBUH).

Similarly praying specifically for material success with spiritual peace. We may not be looking at it in detail. Not to mention I received such a prayer for the new year 2022. The notion it puts through is winning the matter or duniya keeping the spirituals happy within. Again it’s a whopping extraordinary demand. However, generally we want it, more than others. Like we want the sweet spot in lavishing heaven. But the reality is for a marhum, what is it?

It’s mercy and magfira of Allah SWT. Death is the most difficult time. At the time what we need most, are Allah SWT’s mercy and magfira. The rest will follow.

Similarly the reality is the matter is too small for the spirit. Alexander the Great and many other emperors went on to the extra miles in search of Abe Hayath or the elixir of life to save the body from death. No one got it. Body dies, the spirit remains uncharted. Success in spirituality first. As Islam insists bag the Akhira and duniya will walk with you.

Hang on, what’s the Akhira though? The most attractive things on earth will be in the Akhira in their best and deathless forms. So there are Huris, feminine beauties, delicious food, saraban tahura pure alcoholic drinks, music topped with things that people have yet to imagine. The best of all bounties of paradise is the Didar, seeing Allah SWT.

Besides, Duniya is a gleaning image of the hereafter. Looking mindfully and sincerely we can see a glimpse of the Akhira in the grand scheme of the material things. And it’s better for us to find these to better prepare for the Akhira. Like learning, gaining knowledge, earning halal means, doing good and being just and honest, these pay off well in Duniya and will do much more in the Akhira. So the best prayer is success in here and the hereafter as Allah SWT taught us in the Qur’an:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbanaaa aatina fid dunyaa hasanatanw wa fil aakhirati hasanatanw wa qinaa azaaban Naar

“Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

There is a story of a very rich man when he died a colleague asked at his funeral: “I wonder how much he left?” Someone replied, “I believe he left it all.” We need to be wiser in our pursuits. Wanting financial security for you and your family’s well-being is an honourable mission. One deviates only when that’s motivated by money alone. Seeking enjoyment is fine, Allah SWT does not say we are forbidden from seeking halal pleasures. In Surah Rahman, Allah SWT repeatedly says, fabi aye ala rabbikuma tukazziban, meaning, “So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny?” Allah SWT says it referring to the plethora of bounties that He kept for us on Earth. The problems arise if Duniya is given priority over the Akhira. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala made that much, much better.