SHORT TAKES: For Us, There Really is Only ONE Choice…

By: M.Zulkifli

This is a conversation we see quite often on social media (and sometimes, in real life); when person A points out to person B all the haram stuff person B has been diligently doing, person B will fire back with something like, “Habis, kau ingat kau tu gerenti masuk syurga!?” (“So, you think you’re guaranteed paradise?!”)

I’m not going into the whole debate on how best to make dakwah in this day and age and the gross misreading of amar maaruf, nahi munkar by some (for one, insulting others in broad day light so they’ll gain hidayah is not it), and the chilling response by the other side when they’re publicly called out for doing “funky” things, but I just want to touch on the syurga bit.

I mean, is there REALLY a choice? The hereafter is not like this world, as we all know.

In this life, we could be rich, or we could be poor, or we could also be “sederhana”. But… THERE IS NO SEDERHANA IN THE HEREAFTER. A “happy medium”, does not exist. It’s either Jannah or Jahanam. And it’s very obvious what we should be working for.

There is no confusion about it at all. So, we certainly can’t be like that one tech billionaire who bravely declared on a social media platform that: “I’m ok with going to hell, if that is indeed my destination.”

Um, it is NOT okay. Nauzu billahi min zalik.

Now, we know it is not up to us to guarantee anything. Jannah is given only through Allah’s mercy. But we should strive for it and do whatever we can during our time here in this life. If we can be single-minded in our pursuit of worldly goals, the same should be applied when it comes to our final destination.

And no matter how much we struggle with our sins and imperfections, we should not lose sight of this ultimate goal. So, be kind, work hard on pleasing Allah and let’s pray that we will all make it together, Insya Allah. It’s the only choice we have.

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.

Surah Al-Asr

August 20, 2022