Seeing Through the Dream
InFocus News
By: Yasmin M.
Seeing Through the Dream
I watched as the raging wind annihilated everything in its path. Now the storm was headed for our house. As it reached the front, the tornado ripped off the roof and began destroying everything beneath it. It seemed to last forever. By the time it had gone, there was nothing left. I tossed in my bed until suddenly…I woke up.
It was then that I realized that the complete destruction of my home was only a dream. I was now awake and the true Reality put everything into perspective. What I had once thought real, was only a fleeting dream. And yet, while I was asleep it seemed to never end. It was only after I awoke that I realized it had only lasted seconds.
What many people do not recognize is that one day every one of us will also wake up. Not from a dream of devastating storms, flying, or escaping a charging tiger—but from the dream of this life. At death, every soul will wake up from the dream of the dunya, and enter the Reality of the hereafter. Allah describes this awakening in the Quran:
“And the stupor of death will bring Truth (before his eyes): ‘This was the thing which thou wast trying to escape!’ And the Trumpet shall be blown: that will be the Day whereof Warning (had been given). And there will come forth every soul: with each will be an (angel) to drive, and an (angel) to bear witness. (It will be said:) ‘Thou wast heedless of this; now have We removed thy veil, and sharp is thy sight this Day!’" (50:19-22)
Our sight will be keen on that day, and upon that awakening, we will look back and feel as if the entire dunya had lasted no more than an hour. Allah says in His book: “On the day that the hour (of reckoning) will be established, the transgressors will swear that they tarried not but an hour: thus were they used to being deluded!” (30:55)
But the delusions of this worldly life are so strong and the mirage is so convincing; how can we ever escape it? How can we escape living in this life as if it were our lasting home? How can we keep from chasing after that mirage of the dunya, as so many have before us?
The Prophet (pbuh) taught us exactly how to see this life for what it really is. When offered a soft bedding, he (pbuh) said: “What have I to do with this dunya. I am like a rider who has sat under a tree for its shade, then went away and left it.'' [At-Tirmidhi]
It was for this reason that the Prophet (pbuh) advised us in his wisdom to “be in this life like a stranger or traveler.” A stranger forever longs for his true home, and a traveler is never attached to his stops along the way.
He (pbuh) taught us how to walk through the dream of this life with our eyes open, remembering always the words of Allah when He says: “And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion, but the home of Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah. Will you not then reason?” (6:32)
By: Yasmin M.
Seeing Through the Dream
I watched as the raging wind annihilated everything in its path. Now the storm was headed for our house. As it reached the front, the tornado ripped off the roof and began destroying everything beneath it. It seemed to last forever. By the time it had gone, there was nothing left. I tossed in my bed until suddenly…I woke up.
It was then that I realized that the complete destruction of my home was only a dream. I was now awake and the true Reality put everything into perspective. What I had once thought real, was only a fleeting dream. And yet, while I was asleep it seemed to never end. It was only after I awoke that I realized it had only lasted seconds.
What many people do not recognize is that one day every one of us will also wake up. Not from a dream of devastating storms, flying, or escaping a charging tiger—but from the dream of this life. At death, every soul will wake up from the dream of the dunya, and enter the Reality of the hereafter. Allah describes this awakening in the Quran:
“And the stupor of death will bring Truth (before his eyes): ‘This was the thing which thou wast trying to escape!’ And the Trumpet shall be blown: that will be the Day whereof Warning (had been given). And there will come forth every soul: with each will be an (angel) to drive, and an (angel) to bear witness. (It will be said:) ‘Thou wast heedless of this; now have We removed thy veil, and sharp is thy sight this Day!’" (50:19-22)
Our sight will be keen on that day, and upon that awakening, we will look back and feel as if the entire dunya had lasted no more than an hour. Allah says in His book: “On the day that the hour (of reckoning) will be established, the transgressors will swear that they tarried not but an hour: thus were they used to being deluded!” (30:55)
But the delusions of this worldly life are so strong and the mirage is so convincing; how can we ever escape it? How can we escape living in this life as if it were our lasting home? How can we keep from chasing after that mirage of the dunya, as so many have before us?
The Prophet (pbuh) taught us exactly how to see this life for what it really is. When offered a soft bedding, he (pbuh) said: “What have I to do with this dunya. I am like a rider who has sat under a tree for its shade, then went away and left it.'' [At-Tirmidhi]
It was for this reason that the Prophet (pbuh) advised us in his wisdom to “be in this life like a stranger or traveler.” A stranger forever longs for his true home, and a traveler is never attached to his stops along the way.
He (pbuh) taught us how to walk through the dream of this life with our eyes open, remembering always the words of Allah when He says: “And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion, but the home of Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah. Will you not then reason?” (6:32)
posted by sonarani at 4:15 PM
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