Life Passes Like a Moment: Guidance, Trial, and Patience

But how did this time pass? If you set aside the laws of physics and reflect, doesn’t it feel like just a fleeting moment? Or like a single night’s sleep?

Now, add one more moment to this timeline: The angels of death have arrived, and they are bringing you the news of either Paradise or Hellfire.

Is this all there was? Is there any way back?

The verses of the Qur’an make it clear—no, there is not.

"[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back! That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected."(Surat Al-Mu’minun, 23:99-100)

Will This Journey Be Easy?

If we have faith and trust in our Lord, He will protect us, inshaAllah. But there will be trials: with our loved ones, with poverty, with illness, and with many other challenges.

The Messenger of Allah (SWT) said:

"A Muslim is a brother to another Muslim. He does not oppress him, nor does he abandon him to the enemy. Whoever fulfills the need of his brother, Allah will fulfill his need. Whoever relieves a Muslim from a hardship, Allah will relieve him from one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection." (Bukhari, Mazalim 3; Muslim, Birr 58; Abu Dawud, Adab 38, 60; Tirmidhi, Hudud 3, Birr 19; Ibn Majah, Muqaddimah 17)

The Challenges of Faith

We see many people around us who mock us when we believe. While we worship, they follow their desires, which make worship seem difficult. Some deny faith entirely, while others get lost in false beliefs.

Now imagine 8 billion people trying to determine the truth with their own limited reasoning. Each one is judging based on their 30, 40, or 100 years of personal experience. The result? Confusion and chaos.

However, Allah (SWT) is the All-Knowing, the Most Wise. He possesses infinite knowledge, with no beginning and no end.

This is why we have the Qur’an. This is why we have the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) as our guide.

No one said this path would be easy. A lifetime of 70-90 years—a test—and then, not 1,000 years, not millions, but an eternity filled with either endless beauty or endless torment.

Have you noticed? Everyone’s test is related to the thing they are most sensitive about.

May Allah (SWT) guide us and help us always, inshaAllah.

What Is Our Duty?

Doesn’t the Qur’an make it clear in Surah Al-Asr?

"By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience." (Surat Al-Asr, 103:1-3)

And our Lord reminds us:

"Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said,"When is the help of Allah ?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near."(Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:214)

"You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination.”(Surat 'Āli `Imrān, 3:186)

"And We did not send before you, [O Muhammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you [people] as trial for others - will you have patience? And ever is your Lord, Seeing."(Surat Al-Furqān, 25:20)

May Allah (SWT) grant us unwavering faith, Guidance and patience. Ameen