Life is short, so follow Allah's guidance
“Who is appointed to take your soul does not ask you if you want to go.”
Earthly life is extremely short and was created by Allah with a definite purpose, a test whose results we will account for after death, so we must live purposefully according to His guidance rather than our own whims.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Life is far shorter than people assume; on Judgment Day it will feel like a day or part of a day
- Quranic challenge: did you think you were created 'abath' (without purpose)?
- Anecdote of an atheist who never thought about why he exists
- People live as if asleep and only wake at death; Malik al-Mawt takes the soul without asking
- We return to Allah to account for our short time on earth
- Following personal caprices leads to loss ('inna al-insana lafee khusr'); the intellect has limits
- Life in the dunya is a test for the akhira; Allah gave hearing and sight to discern the path
- Conclusion: life has purpose and we must turn to the Creator's instructions, closing with duas
In the khateeb's words
“Do you think, do you think that we created you abath?”
“I think you're either pulling my leg or I think something wrong with you. Stupid.”
“people live as though they are asleep. They live as though they are asleep.”
“who is appointed to take your soul does not ask you if you want to go.”
For the dinner table
Today the imam reminded us that our time on earth is very short, on the Day of Judgment people will feel like they only lived a day or part of a day. He asked us Allah's own question: did we think we were created for no purpose, just as a pastime? He told a story about a man who said there is no God, yet admitted he had never even thought about why he himself exists or where he is going. The imam said many people live as if they are asleep, only paying attention when death comes, and death gives us no choice and no delay. Life is a test: Allah gave us hearing, sight, and guidance, and we can either accept it gratefully or reject it. The way to a meaningful life is to follow Allah's guidance rather than our own whims and desires, and to return to Him ready to account for how we spent our short time here.
- If your whole life is like a short trip, what's one thing you'd want to make sure you do before it's over?
- The imam said some people live like they're asleep, what's one thing that helps you 'wake up' and remember Allah?
- What's the difference between doing what you feel like doing and doing what Allah asks, can you think of an example from your own week?
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