Allaah تعالى compared the life if this world to vegetation, wh | Ilm4all

Allaah تعالى compared the life if this world to vegetation, which is pleasing in the beginning but at the end it dries up and turns into straw. Similarly, Allaah تعالى explained the cycle of a human being, from a weakling he turns to be strong, only to become weak and feeble in his old age.

اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفًا وَشَيْبَةً يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ

{Allaah is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness and grey hair. He creates what He wills. And it is He Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful (i.e., Able to do all things).}
[Surah al-Room (30): 54]

The one who understood the reality of this life will know that there is no escape from these hardships, distress, and sorrows. So, he accepts Allaah’s Decree and waits patiently for the relief. Look at the biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he was tried severely, he suffered hunger and thirst, he did not live a luxurious life, he did not live in palaces and mansions, all his children died in his lifetime except for Faatimah رضي الله عنها who passed away 6 months after his ﷺ death, he was expelled from his city, his Companions were punished in front of him, his uncle Hamzah was killed in Uhud, he himself was injured on the battle of Uhud and his tooth got broken, and he and his Companions had to migrate. Yet with all this, he ﷺ lived a life free from worries, because he knew how worthless this world is, and he knew about the promise of Allaah which never fails, and he had complete Trust in Allaah. Allaah تعالى did not make this world a place of recompense for his Auliyaa. Their true reward is waiting for them in the Hereafter. This is why when the Prophet ﷺ was given a choice to live a longer life in this world or to choose the Hereafter, and he ﷺ chose to meet his Lord سبحانه وتعالى.

Narrated Aaishah رضي الله عنها: When the Prophet ﷺ fell ill in his fatal illness, he started saying: ❝With the highest companions (in Paradise).❞
[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]

Narrated Aaishah رضي الله عنها: When the Prophet ﷺ was healthy, he ﷺ used to say: ❝No soul of a Prophet is captured till he is shown his place in Paradise and then he is given the option.❞ When death approached him ﷺ while his head was on my thigh, he became unconscious and then recovered his consciousness. He then looked at the ceiling of the house and said: ❝O Allaah! (with) the highest companions.❞ I said (to myself): "Hence, he is not going to choose us." And I realized that what he had said was the application of the narration which he used to mention to us when he was healthy. The last word he ﷺ spoke was: ❝O Allaah! (with) the highest companion.❞
[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

How many people became old, weak, and feeble bodied, down with illnesses and diseases - because of their attachment to this worldly life. Sorrow, anxiety, distress, etc., are a result of this attachment. People are either worried of what will happen tomorrow, or they are sad because of what they lost yesterday. They complain saying: “I am in debts”, “my kids are disobedient”, “I am afflicted with illness”, etc. This is what has been decreed in the life of this world. We will all be tested with fear, will suffer pain, will be afflicted with illnesses, lose wealth and properties. There is no comfort, relaxation, or rest except in the Hereafter.

A person from Khurasaan came to Imaam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal رحمه الله and said: “O Abu Abdullaah! I came all the way from Khurasaan to ask you about a matter.” Imaam Ahmad said: “Ask!” The man said: “When will a person taste (true) relaxation?” He replied: ❝When he will take the first step into the Jannah.❞
[Tabaqqat al-Hanaabilah (1/293)]

A person was asked: “When will we get to rest?” He replied: “When the Siraat (bride over the Hell-fire) is behind us!” (i.e., after we have crossed it!)