Let us say that you make the aim of your life something that is worldly; however, the question of belief is an intellectual and logical mater. If someone makes money his aim, he earns money and becomes a millionaire, but money is materialistic. Materialistic things are not permanent; they are temporary. If you make money your purpose then you will be happy when you have money, but if it is lost you will be sad. There is no use for it in the Hereafter; as a matter of fact, it will have the opposite result. Moreover, in the world power, government, ministry and embassy give no everlasting tranquillity or contentment. In which things will permanent peace and happiness found? You should make your purpose such a thing which will never betray (deceive) you. In supplications it says that Allah is the Most Faithful. If man does work for other servants (of Allah), then it is possible that some will compensate him, while others will not. However, if you work for Allah the reward will never be wasted. Man can find permanent peace and happiness when his purpose, whether to become a doctor or scholar, is for Allah’s pleasure. His whole life will be peaceful if his purpose is Allah’s pleasure and not wealth, authority, or fame. It should be to attain Allah’s pleasure; then you will receive Allah’s pleasure. Even if the entire world gets together, they cannot remove Allah’s pleasure from you. Even if they kill you, you will not be defeated. If you are killed, then that will result in more of Allah’s pleasure, since Allah declares in the Koran,
“And do not speak of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead” (Al-Baqarah: 154).
Only he dies who becomes distanced from his purpose, and he who is close to his purpose is alive. So when the people whose aim is this world[1], wealth, or fame die, they are a corpse. If money, wealth, authority, or doctorate is the purpose, then after death we are distanced from these things. The purpose is man’s Ka’abah that he circumambulates around. His circumambulat- ion obeys the purpose. One person’s purpose is the world, so when he dies he is distressed upon leaving his purpose. However, when a believer dies he is not pained because he is going closer to his purpose. He is being martyred; he is nearing the Progeny of Muhammad (peace be upon them) and is nearing his purpose. When Imam Ali (peace be upon him) was attacked (by Ibn Muljim), Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said, “By the Lord of the Ka’bah I have succeeded.” Thus, you should determine a purpose to your life; unless you assign a purpose to your life, it is dead.
[1]The Commander of the Faithful Imam' Ali (A) said:
"What a bad trade it is that one exchanges his self for this world instead of trading it with whatever is available with God-Almighty (in the Next- World).” Nahjul-Balagha.
source : seeker of solace/ syed jan ali kazmi
