Honorable Muslims!
One day, our Prophet (saw) said to his companions, "Verily, the example of this world and myself is that of a rider who seeks shade under a tree, then he moves on and leaves it behind."[1] This hadith reminds us that our life in this world is fleeting compared to the everlasting life of the Hereafter. This hadith warns us against becoming consumed by the fleeting pleasures of this world, lest we neglect preparing for the eternal Hereafter.
Dear Believers!
One of the principles of faith is to believe in the Hereafter. The Hereafter is the final destination on our path of servitude to Allah (swt). It is the name given to the state of eternal life that begins after our mortal life ends. The Hereafter is the harvest season when we will be held to account for what we have done in this world and reap what we have sown. A Muslim believes and knows that there is an eternal life after this world. Awaits the faithful a haven of peace and happiness called paradise, a reward for lives lived in faith, worship, and good morals. Those who reject faith and squander their lives in disobedience, sin, and evil face a dreadful fate in hell, a place of fear and torment.
Dear Muslims!
For Muslims, second only to faith in Allah (swt), is the profound importance of living with awareness of the Hereafter. By starting with the phrase "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day," our Prophet (saw) would emphasize the importance of certain matters he was about to convey. In this regard, the following hadith is a fine example of this: "Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should be good to his neighbors. Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should be generous to his guest. Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should say what is good or be silent."[2]
Dear Believers!
A Muslim grounded in the awareness of the Hereafter understands their life has a profound meaning, not a random existence. They recognize Allah's (swt) presence closer than their jugular vein, with every word spoken and every deed meticulously recorded. They live with a deep sense of accountability, for they know they will stand before Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgment to answer for every action.
Embracing the awareness of the Hereafter compels a Muslim to diligently fulfill their obligations to Allah (swt), to themselves, and to their environment. They strive to protect themselves and their families from the fire of Hell, fueled by both stones and people. They seek to be the subject of their parents' supplications and endeavor to attain their pleasure. They believe that earning their parents' approval is akin to earning the approval of Allah (swt). They diligently respect the rights of their relatives. They show kindness to their neighbors. They provide relief to the needy and the destitute. They care for the orphaned. They offer a warm embrace for them. They extend a helping hand to them. They never forget the following hadith of our beloved Prophet (saw), "The best house among the Muslims is a house in which there is an orphan who is treated well..."[3]
Dear Muslims!
The awareness of the Hereafter fosters a remarkable equilibrium within a Muslim. They excel in this world while their hearts remain firmly fixed on the eternal life to come. They lead a balanced life between these two. Muslims are trustworthy; they do not harm anyone with their hand or tongue. They do not take innocent life, harm the possessions of others, or violate anyone's chastity and dignity. Muslims are honest; they do not deviate from honesty in their business and commercial dealings. They conduct business fairly, avoiding selling goods at inflated prices. They respect the rights of both the people and the public and they abstain from anything deemed haram.
The awareness of the Hereafter compels a Muslim to actively oppose injustice whenever encountered. They never incline towards the oppressor. They extend their helping hand to the oppressed and the victimized, wherever they may be in the world. They stand against the oppressor and never take their side or their supporters.
I would like to conclude this Friday's khutbah with the following warning by Allah (swt), "O humanity! Be mindful of your Lord. Beware of a Day when no parent will be of any benefit to their child, nor will a child be of any benefit to their parent. Surely Allah's promise is true. So do not let the life of this world deceive you, nor let the Chief Deceiver deceive you about Allah."[4]
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[1] Tirmidhi, Zuhd, 44.
[2] Bukhari, Adab, 3.
[3] Ibn Majah, Adab, 3.
[4] Luqman, 31/33.
General Directorate of Religious Services