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Imam Zijad’s Corner: TAKING CARE OF ONESELF & THIS WORLD

Let us think for a while of the verse (du’a – supplication) in which Muslims are asking from God for good in both worlds – Duniya and the Akhirah: “O our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the hereafter.” {Al Baqarah 201}
Let us ponder over the situation of‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aî (r.a) who reported that the Prophet (pbuh) knew about his exaggeration in worship, because he told him (‘Abdullah): “Have I not heard that you fast all day and stay up all night in  prayer?” He said, “That is true, O Messenger of God.” The Prophet (pbuh) told him: “Do not do that. Fast and break your fast, sleep and get up. For your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you, your wife has a right over you, and your visitors have a right over you.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Let us also think about the example of the companion named Hanzalah al Usaidi who narrated that Abu Bakr (r.a) met him and asked about life on what Hanzalah replied: “Hanzalah is a hypocrite.” Abu Bakr was surprised with such statement and said: “Subhanallah! What are you talking about? Hanzalah replied, ‘When we are with God’s Messenger (pbuh), he mentions the Fire and the Garden until it is as if we can see them. But when we leave the Messenger’s company and play with our families or busy ourselves with our properties, we forget much.’ Abu Bakr said, ‘By God, I have experienced the same thing.’ He and I (said Hanzalah) then went to visit the Messenger of God (pbuh), and I said, ‘O Messenger of God (pbuh), Hanzalah has become a hypocrite.’ He asked, ‘And how is that?’ I replied, ‘O Messenger of God, when we are with you, you talk about the Fire and the Garden until it is as if we can see them. Then we go out and play with our families (wives and children) and deal with our properties, and we forget much.’ The Messenger of God (pbuh) then said, ‘By Him in Whose hand is my soul, if you were to continue at the same level at which you were when with me and in remembering God, the angels would shake hands with you when you are resting and when you walk about, but, O Hanzalah, there is a time for this (worship) and a time for that (entertainment).’ He repeated this statement three times.” {Muslim}