He will inform you of what you used to do.”^[1]

Live in this world like a traveller

The Companion Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh b. ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا explained: One day, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم held me ˹by the shoulders˺ and said, “O ‘Abdullāh, son of ‘Umar! Live in this world as though you are a stranger or a traveller, and consider yourself amongst the dead.” Mujāhid رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه says how Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh b. ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا once advised:

O Mujāhid! When you wake up, do not think about the evening, and when it is evening, do not think about the morning. O slave of Allah! You do not know what you will be called tomorrow (i.e., if you will be amongst the living or the dead).^[2]

A beautiful lesson from the life of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Dear Islamic brothers! Thoughts about our future in this world keep us up at night, but thoughts of the Hereafter do not trouble us at all. Is it not foolishness to make long term plans, even though we have no guarantee of being alive tomorrow? In reality, we are unaware if our next breath is our last. The Companion Sayyiduna Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states:  One day, Sayyidunā Usāmah b. Zayd رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ purchased something with a one-month loan. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم addressed this by saying, “Are you not surprised that Usāmah is taking a one-month loan to buy something? He has steep aspirations. By He Who has power over my soul! My eyes have never opened except I think my soul will be taken before my eyes close again. I have never put a morsel of food in my mouth except I think death will come to me before I am able to swallow it. O children of Ādam! If you are intelligent, consider yourselves amongst the dead!”^[3]