Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala wanted to make things easy for us, and His prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) commanded us not to make things difficult. The prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) said “Make things easy and do not make them difficult, cheer the people up by conveying glad tidings to them and do not repulse (them).” Allah never asked us to do evil. All His commands are based upon what is good for His slaves, even what He commanded us to abandon. He is closer to us than [our] jugular vein. He made this life pavemental to our living, He provided us with all the benefits of life and surrounded us with His Bounties. At some points, these aspects of life will come into confrontation with our tendency to please Allah. Souls will be split between doing things that give it happiness and what pleases Allah, and it not an easy test! For that reason Allah told us to create a balance between enjoying life’s benefits and holding tight on His religion in all times especially times of Fitna (tests). A solid understanding of our religion and the Commands of Allah will make obtaining this end easier for us. In this way, we can lead a successful and peaceful life on this earth until we meet Allah. By learning we understand that we have responsibilities towards Allah first, the One Who created us and provided us with whatever we need to live on this earth.

         Balancing between life’s interests and the hereafter’s interests is obtained when Muslims seek to get life advantages carefully and economically, with no excess or negligence. This journey requires sharp-witted mind, and strong belief, as it must be done without missing any compulsory actions, for example. It was narrated from Abu Humaid As-Sa’idi that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ”Be moderate in seeking worldly things, for everyone will be facilitated for which he was created.” This life is riddled with desires, and fancy fake appearances, it will not be the most accurate decision to abandon completely. Our bodies have rights over us. Getting enough nutrition, sleep, and exercise is very important, but we should not make our main goal revolve around getting the best shape without committing to Allah’s commands. Our families, friends, and loved ones have rights upon us too, we should visit and gather, but we must not spend all our times trying to please them. Also, we shall not let our gatherings and visits stand as stones in our Path of Allah.  For example, in some gatherings, backbiting, irony, and malicious gossip are most likely spread. But if Muslim makes his goal to do these gatherings and visits with intentions of pleasing Allah, he shall abandon committing what is done haram in these visits. The defects happen when Muslims choose Dunia (life) over the hereafter, making this life his goal, and he would lose his religion because of gaining some sort of pleasure. To live isolated is not a condition to the hereafter deeds, the clear way of prophets and pious people preferred contacting people, Ibn ’Umar (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “A believer who mixes with people and endures their annoyance is better than the one who does not mix with them and does not endure their annoyance.”

how can we maintain balance between life and religion?

      The basics of this balance are based on doing compulsory deeds. Allah said in Surah Al-Jumah, Ayah 10, ”Then when the (Jumu’ah) Salat (prayer) is finished, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah (by working, etc.), and remember Allah much, that you may be successful.” ( فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ). Firstly, Allah allowed us to capture what benefits us from this life, and He urged us to do so. Allah is ever Encompassing and Wise, and Allah’s Favors is great upon us, He said that with a sincere intention your worldly deed can be a deed for the Sake of Allah if you intend to do this action to please Allah. Thus, everything can be for the Sake of Allah with your intention and Allah with His Will accepts. Secondly, the good company that guides you towards worshiping Allah, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah. It will help you to enjoy your life and be a good Muslim. Thirdly, learning and studying are the most important factors in this equilibration, it is always said that you can not obtain something if you do not understand its reality. This journey of learning always starts with the Quran and Seerah of the prophet Muhammed. Then, getting deeper into learning Fiqh (Islamic law), and Hadith are also great supporters of your belief. Fourthly, Dua and remembrance of Allah. The prophet Muhammed said in Duas ”O Allah, let not worldly affairs be our principal concern, or the ultimate limit of our knowledge, and let not those rule over us who do not show mercy to us.” This is the core of the balance between life and religion. May Allah guide us to the best of deeds and make us good Muslims.