Balancing the Act.

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Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but Allah has the excellent return (
Paradise with flowing rivers, etc.) with Him.

Man is a creature of impulses, desires, and covetousness. He was sent into this dunya and was bombarded with fitan and tests and paths that appealed to his innate impulsiveness.

As Allah azza wa jall has clearly elucidated in the abovementioned ayah 14 of surah aal-imraan that man loves women, man loves his progeny, man loves money, man loves what he owns. It is to the extent that man dies hoarding wealth and dies in such a state.

أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ

The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you,

حَتَّى زُرْتُمُ الْمَقَابِرَ

Until you visit the graves (in death).

Man dies fighting for this dunya, he dies wanting it, he dies pilling it and in process pillaging it. However, all along many fundamental questions are left unanswered.
First and foremost it is established that man is desirous of this life and that comes to him naturally but is following his desires necessarily the right choice? Is loving and clinging to this life what he should be doing? Are his desires akin to his goals?
In order to answer these questions we firstly need to conceptualize the basis of us being here and what we are here for.  

Secondly, once we realize that we need to prioritize what then is our goal and aim?

If pleasures of this life and world were our ultimate aims then why have an orderly society, why have a family, why have such intricate life style. One should ask why live in such a cosmos and construction of reality based on higher goals and achievements? Why have moral standards? Why live in the first place?

Nay, Allah has created us in best of forms and indeed there is wisdom behind us being here.
These desires and impulses that man was created along with were to act as forces within him and without him to test him and push him and to determine his resolve. If he gives in he has indeed failed if he overcomes he has indeed succeeded.
In light of this it becomes clear that it is perfectly natural and normal to love all the entities mentioned in ayah 14 of surah aal-imraan, such as women. However the crucial point we need to realize is that this love and covetousness is not our ultimate purpose. Yes this is what we need to realize and this is what we need to develop on.

What is the ultimate purpose of this life? It is worship of Allah as has been mentioned ;

And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).
Now to remain steadfast upon this purpose man needs to learn to restrain and control and shape his life such that he is upon fitrah in such a manner which is in line with what Allah demands of him.

And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).

Several steps can be taken to develop this mindset. Realization of our purpose and that is worship of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

Man knows and understands his desires so he needs to put them into check. For that the best advice is given by our beloved Prophet Muhammed sall Allahu alayhi wassalam, “ Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer.”

SubhanAllah, we need to contemplate upon these words. This world is only a “fleeting enjoyment.” So, whatever use we make of this dunya and what it holds should only be limited to what suffices us.

Man should be determined as to what our end goal is; salvation in aakhirah. We need to balance the act for aakhirah.

After these steps of realizations he is then equipped with necessary mindset and direction of purpose is achieved.  The diversions of this dunya are mere distractions. Some being halaal and some haraam.  Man should make use of Allah’s bounties but not indulge in excessive love for his families and wealth as that could lead to replacement of his love for Allah.

Say: “Shall I inform you of things far better than those?
For the pious, there are Gardens with their Lord,
underneath which rivers flow.
Therein (is their) eternal (home)
and pure spouses.
And Allah will be pleased with them.
And Allah is All-Seer of the slaves.

If ultimate purpose of life is given priority and Allah’s pleasure is sought then indeed the act has been surely balanced.

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