Understanding Salat — Page 211
Qa‘dah 211 in a manner that serves the Faith. For example, when a person travels from one place to another, they will take a mount and pack their provisions. They do this because their actual purpose is to reach their final destination, not because they seek the mount itself or the provisions for the journey. In the same manner, one ought to strive in the world, but only so that this may serve the Faith. Allah the Exalted has taught us the following prayer: “Our Lord, grant us good in this world as well as good in the world to come, and protect us from the torment of the Fire. ” In this prayer, the world has been given prece- dence, but what ‘world’ exactly? It is the good of this world ( hasanatud-dunya ) which becomes a means by which to reap good in the hereafter. The fact that we have been taught this prayer clearly demonstrates that in attaining the world, a believer ought to have in view the good of the hereafter. The words hasan- atud-dunya as mentioned here encompass all the best means by which a Muslim believer ought to pursue the world. Pursue the world in every such way that leads to benefit and goodness, not in a manner that causes pain to another human being, nor in a man- ner that is disgraceful or ignoble amongst the peo- ple. Engaging in the world in such a manner would