Day 21
Akhirah vs Materialistic Mindset
TL;DR:
Day 21 of Be Quranic focuses on the fourth ayah of Surat Al-Baqarah, highlighting additional traits of the people of Taqwa: belief in the Quran, in previous scriptures, and certainty in the Akhirah.
It underscores the importance of respecting all divine scriptures and adopting an Akhirah-centric worldview.
This outlook encourages collaboration and long-term thinking, focusing on eternal success in the Akhirah while also striving for worldly achievements, but with the ultimate goal of investing in the hereafter.
Today's lesson urges us to consider how our actions contribute to our eternal life beyond this worldly existence.
This is an AI generated transcript. You can watch the video on Instagram or Tiktok, or listen to it on Spotify.
Welcome to Day 21 of Be Quranic, where we delve into short passages from the Quran daily, extracting practical lessons to integrate into our lives, becoming more Quranic.
InshaAllah, today we continue with Surat Al-Baqarah, focusing on the fourth ayah. This ayah continues detailing the characteristics of the people of Taqwa, adding three more: Iman in the Quran, Iman in previous scriptures, and certainty in the Akhirah.
We see a strong relationship between a person of Taqwa and the Quran; the Quran is guidance for the people of Taqwa. This ayah extends belief not just to the Quran, but also to previous scriptures - the Taurah to Prophet Musa, Zaboor to Prophet Dawud, and Injil to Prophet Isa. Despite alterations in these texts over time, we respect them as they contain elements of truth.
Islam teaches us to respect these scriptures, unlike Islamophobes who may desecrate the Quran. The prophets mentioned in these texts are also our prophets, and these scriptures hold revelations sent to them.
The ayah's last part emphasises certainty about the Akhirah. This isn't just belief, but a level of certainty devoid of doubt. This perspective aligns with Stephen Covey's principle of beginning with the end in mind. People of Taqwa are effective because they focus on the Akhirah rather than worldly matters.
An Akhirah-centric worldview fosters collaboration instead of competition. Unlike the material world, where gains often mean another's loss, the vastness of Jannah offered by Allah allows for collective success. This mindset shifts from "I win, you lose" to "we can both win and reach Jannah together".
Recognising the temporary nature of worldly life, people of Taqwa prepare for eternal life in the Akhirah. Preparing for the Akhirah doesn't mean neglecting worldly success. Islam encourages hard work for worldly benefits, but with the aim to invest these successes in the Akhirah.
Today's quest involves actively shifting our mindset: before acting, we should consider how our actions will be an investment for our Akhirah.