True Success: A Reflection on Life, Death, and the Hereafter

This verse is one we often hear: Nothing in creation is eternal, and everything will inevitably experience the phase that all humans fear—death. If you were asked now whether you want to die, surely no one would dare say yes. But one day, we will all die. Allah wants to remind us that we already know this truth, so knowing that we will die, we should truly prepare ourselves with righteous deeds. It's like knowing the date of an exam; we will meticulously prepare, ensuring we've studied all the topics and practiced well. We don't want to fail because failure would be embarrassing. However, failing an exam might allow you to retake it, but failing in the Hereafter offers no chance to return. In Surah As-Sajdah (32:12), Allah mentions the dialogue of those who will plead to return to the world to do righteous deeds because, at that moment, they will finally realize that the Day of Judgment is real and not a joke.

In this verse, Allah tells us that once life is taken, you will die, and we will arrive at a place where all the deeds we worked on in this world will be accounted for. After the reckoning, the reward will be given. But Allah uses the phrase "the reward will be completed." Why? This is something to reflect on—it means that some rewards have already been given before (in this world), but those rewards are not yet complete; the rest will be given in the Hereafter to be completed. The rewards in this world might come in the form of blessings, sustenance, wealth, children, emotions, health, and so on. There are also rewards in the form of life's hardships, calamities, diseases, restlessness, emptiness, anxiety, stress, and so forth. These are just partial, incomplete rewards.

This world is a place for deeds and work. What do people work for in this world? To earn a salary, get promoted, achieve family and financial stability, own a comfortable home and vehicle, have sufficient savings for old age—this is the success we understand, right? We are willing to wake up early every morning to chase after these things. Then Allah Himself explains what true success is.

Having a great business and career but neglecting responsibilities to Allah is not success. Being busy with work but neglecting and forgetting to pray is not success, even if your salary is high and you hold the number one position in the company. All of that is not success in the sight of Allah. Even the comfort you think you have, Allah says that's not real comfort. Yet, today many people believe that's a form of ease, right? Yes, when you have wealth and money, you can do many things. But all of that—time and wealth—not only will be left behind, but will also be accounted for in how you used it, whether to draw closer to Allah or otherwise.

Allah further reminds us that all of it will be left behind; not a single cent will be taken to the Hereafter, even though today we might be pleased to see our EPF (Employees Provident Fund) account. Success in the sight of Allah (and this is what we should seek) is when, after your deeds are accounted for, the scale of your good deeds is heavy, and you are granted entry into Paradise and saved from Hellfire. This is true success. Why? Because we will enter Paradise forever. Allah uses the phrase "has succeeded" even though it hasn't happened yet. This is Allah's promise to place those who truly obey Him in Paradise. This is actually good news. For those who are destined not to be granted ease in this world, they should not feel sad or distressed because that is not the measure of success. Look at the companions of the Prophet, like Mus'ab bin Umair, who was wealthy, yet at the end of his life, even the shroud was not enough to cover his body. Be patient. And if we are tested with wealth and ease, we should express gratitude to Allah and use the advantages He has given us for our future well-being. Not succeeding in this world doesn't mean we can't succeed in the Hereafter. Allah warns us not to be deceived by the world, chasing wealth, rank, and position day and night, only to leave it all behind and face Allah with nothing. Wallahualam, may this be beneficial!