Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 61
Social Peace 61 Know that the life of this world is only a sport and a pastime, and an adornment, and source of boasting among yourselves, and of rivalry in multiplying riches and children. It is like the rain, the vegetation produced whereby rejoices the tillers. Then it dries up and thou sees it turn yellow; then it becomes worthless stubble. And in the Hereafter there is severe punishment for the wicked and also forgiveness from Allah, and His pleasure for the righteous. And the life of this world is nothing but temporary enjoyment of delusive things. 3 Again, referring to the vanity of material life, the Holy Quran has this to say: As to those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water until, when he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing. And he finds Allah near him, Who fully pays him his account; and Allah is swift in reckoning. 4 The Holy Quran depicts this as a mirage which tantalises the thirsty person by ever-running away from him until he becomes so exhausted that he can pursue it no more. That is when he is punished. He is made to realise that this is the goal of emptiness and void, which he had been following all along. Suddenly, the mirage stops running away