Should we have Faith without believing in the Last Day, Paradise and Hellfire?

A friend of mine asked an honest question out of curiosity: 

“Is it wrong for me to practice my religion WITHOUT the aspect of Paradise and Hellfire? Not that I don’t believe in them, it’s just that I intend to practice purely out of faith of the religion, knowing that what it prescribed for me is good for me, and what it prohibited for me is bad for me – not necessarily out of seeking ‘pahala’ (rewards) from Allah? Is that wrong? Does that make my faith deficient in any way?”

Didn’t give him a good answer back then, but having time to think back, perhaps this would have been a better response :

Negating the aspect of “rewards”, Paradise and Hellfire will in fact remove a principal aspect of motivation: the drive for us to exert our utmost effort to excel. Without living our lives with the conscious knowledge of something great forward to, or something terrible to fend off from, it’s quite possible we will be complacent and quite content with being “mediocre” as a Muslim – and we have no guarantee of success either. What will drive us the extra mile to refine our character? To ditch that bad habit? To keep calm and patient while stuck in traffic? To make that extra bit of zikir? To give that extra dollar of charity? To advise our friends and family? If we had nothing to look forward to?

Allah Created us with the Knowledge of what motivates us – and in His Final Revelation the Qur’an, Paradise and Hellfire are repeated many times, in many different chapters, in varying descriptions and perspectives. Why, does so many times, when talking about what He Reserved for us in the Hereafter, Allah continuously Praise His rewards – Ajrun Azheem (great reward), Ajrun Kareem (generous reward), Ajrun Kabeer (BIG reward)?

Why would He repeat it, unless it was important to us? After all, He Revealed the Qur’an for our guidance – not for Him.

It’s important to remember that, as we pray a minimum of 5 times a day, in those prayers, lies one verse in Al-Fatihah which we recite at least 17 times daily : “maliki yawm id-deen” (King of the Day of Recompense) – a constant reminder to us that there will be a day of complete and absolute accountability of every single one of our deeds – good/bad, big/small, open/secret.

And wouldn’t I love to see the fruits of my labor? Wouldn’t I love that for every second of effort I did for His Sake, He will reward it with something much greater? Wouldn’t I love that when I walk out of the masjid after Fajr prayers, I have firm and optimistic hopes to a reward that is so great that “if we knew what it was, we would come even if we had to crawl”?
Likewise, on the remembrance absolute accountability, wouldn’t I be fearful of my bad actions, even if they are small or in secret? Wouldn’t I fear that every word of insult I utter in someone’s absence can be a cause for my ruin, or at the very least, ‘withdrawal’ from my account of good deeds and a serious threat to my investment?

It is when we have this constant reminder of Recompense, reward, paradise, and hellfire will life have a much deeper meaning beyond what meets the eyes, and from it will we have the enthusiasm and motivation to excel.

As Imam Bukhari stated, it is an established consensus amongst the scholars that the definition of “iman” is belief in the heart, utterance on the tongue, and action of the limbs – so if we had true iman in the Last Day (a pillar of faith), that belief would be manifest and reflected in our actions.

Live with the End in Mind - “Remembrance of Death puts Life into Perspective”

Why Bother Outperforming beyond Expectations? - Because Work is IBADAH

If we really considered our work and businesses as “ibadah” (i.e. an act of worship), then we would strive for excellence, to outperform beyond expectations and deliver the best, regardless if whether the boss, the company, the client acknowledges or rewards us or gives us raise/bonus.

All Human beings have limitations and shortcomings, and everyone has individual needs and motivations behind their deeds. Naturally, no human evaluation will ever be perfect.

Instead, we should strive to outperform because we want to please Allah, the Perfect One Who has enjoined us to perform with excellence (ihsan) in all things (16:90), Who will never allow a single atom’s weight of our deeds to be lost (18:30), Who is All-Just and will replace with the BEST of rewards (3:195), Who is All-Aware of all that we do (57:13), one Who his All-Rich and Free from All Needs (Al-Ghany), Most-Generous (Al-Akram), Most Merciful (Ar-Raheem). Allahu a’lam – Allah knows best.

We should be determined to deliver with the confidence that, if His creatures fail to acknowledge your excellence in this dunya, Alhamdulillah, have the conviction of the promise that He has reserved greater rewards for you in the Hereafter, that never fades away.

The Promise of Hereafter isn’t a fairy tale or an academic exercise – this is the Truth of Truths and should be the driving force behind our motivations.

Thus if we were to feel demotivated or burnout because people fail to acknowledge or recompense our performance, or if we lack the motivation for excellent performance, or give good customer service simply because “it makes no difference to my pay anyway”, then we need to question our ikhlas and tawakkul (sincerity and trust) in Allah: are we REALLY taking our “work”/”business” as ibadah, or are we concerned about the cash, the fame, the promotion?

Allahu A’lam, Allah Knows Best.

That being said, nevertheless bosses, managers and superiors should never be negligent in acknowledging or rewarding good performance – that in itself is a trait of ihsan and ‘adl (justice). 

 

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٩٠﴾

“Verily, Allah has enjoined (that you perform with) Justice and Ihsan (excellence),

and giving to kith and kin,

and forbids all evil and filthy deeds,

and all forms of oppression.

He admonishes you, that you may take heed”

(Surah An-Nahl 16:90)

هَلْ جَزَاءُ الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ

"Is there any reward for Ihsan (goodness, excellence) other than Ihsan?” (55:60)

Psychological Barriers vs. The Need for Change

Many a times we create psychological barriers against ourselves to give excuses that prevent us from changing towards good. Things like "I'm not ready", "Too busy to seek knowledge", "I'm too sinful and therefore I shouldn't advise others", "My knowledge is too shallow, I'm not ready to do da'wah", "too difficult", "If God has decreed i'm like this, then what's the point?"

Trouble is, excuses like this are only heard when it comes to matters of religion or anything good. But do we make these excuses when it comes to matters of the dunya - like finding a job, starting a business, promoting their sales products, etc?
We don't, because we recognize the NEED for it.

If we recognize the value and the need to do something, we will put in the effort for it and overcome any obstacles that come in between.
If we don't recognize the need, we'll continue fishing for excuses.

If we have true iman and yaqin in the Allah and the Last Day, we will see the need.

A word of advice for tarbiyah of ourselves, and our families.

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ 
“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they (first) change what is in themselves.” (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11)

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ ﴿١٨٥﴾
"Every soul will taste death,
and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection.
So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire].
And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion." (Surah Al-Imran 3:185)

The Disctinction Between "Knowing" and "Believing" - The Essence of Iman (faith)

The water supply disruption recently should have taught us a profound lesson in preparations and provisions. 

More importantly, the difference between “knowing” and “believing”

When we learnt about a water shortage that could last 7 days, we felt worried for ourselves and our family. It was "knowledge" that drove us into action - We dug up our old water containers, stocked up our backup supplies and purchased more. We warned our friends and family of the imminent difficulties that lay ahead, and we helped each other to prepare.

The consequences were very real, and it just knowing about the disruption drove us into action: the power of belief. 

If these were the kind of preparations we made for a 7-day disruption, what effect should it have on our lives from our belief in the Last Day?

The Day lasting 50,000 years (70:4), when we have no water to drink except from the Hawd (pond) of our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam), when the sun is so close above us that some will be sweating up to their ears, when every single one of our deeds - no matter how big or small - shall be presented to us (99:7-8)? When we will undergo the one final evaluation that will determine our destiny forevermore (3:185)? When people will be blaming each other, to the extent that they will be fleeing from their own families (80:34-36)? When the criminals would even offer to ransom off their own children to save themselves (70:11)?

How much provisions have we prepared ourselves for this heavy Day? Do we put the effort to the quality of our solah (prayers), knowing that it is the very first deed that will be judged? Do we realize the amazing rewards Allah has promised us for praying on time, in jamaah, in khusyoo - thus we put super extra effort to ensure we have sufficient “backup supply” to aid us?

Do we actively seek His Pleasure, knowing that we can only enter Paradise by His Mercy and Pleasure of us?

Do we put in the effort to be of the exclusive 7 groups of people who will receive Allah's shade from the burning sun? Do we put in the effort to follow the sunnah of the Prophet, so we can be identified as his followers, and be granted permission to drink from his pond? Do we improve our iman and taqwa, knowing that this is the only way we will have sufficient Light to cross a bridge that is thinner than hair and sharper than a razor?

Do we realize that, unlike water disruption, we don't know WHEN this time will come, and thus we find no excuse to delay our repentance (tawbah) and turn to Allah?

Do we constantly remind each other of the inevitability of this Destination, and help each other towards it, just as we do during water supply disruption?

Or do we have the attitude of a smoker: one who knows of the hazards of smoking cigarettes, but doesn’t drive one into action and just ignores the warnings? And only takes heed when the doctor detects something?

Like the one who, only after departing this world and seeing the Reality, cries out to Allah and begs to be returned for a second chance (32:12)?

News of water supply disruption was knowledge that drove us into believers – belief that was reflected in our hearts (fear), our words (to warn others), and our actions (to prepare) - and this is the essence of iman (belief/faith).

So where do we stand with respect to our iman in the Last Day?

Like the smoker, or the believer?

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ﴿٣٧﴾

“Indeed herein is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].” (Qaf 50:37)

May Allah make us amongst those who heed His warnings, amongst those who constantly prepare ourselves towards this Day, and to make us amongst those who assist each other towards it.

Let the short and concise surah al-‘Asr be a reminder to us:

وَالْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ ﴿٣﴾

“(I Swear) By the Time - 

Indeed, mankind is in a constant state of loss

Except those who have iman, work righteous deeds,

And eagerly advise each other towards the TRUTH,

And eagerly advise each other towards patience.”