Friday 6 May 2011

Is it permissible to plan to do something in the future even though when death comes it cannot be put off?

 

Is it permissible to plan to do something in the future even though when death comes it cannot be put off?
I wanted to ask whether it is wrong to plan something I mean that we have to do this tommorrow or next month or next year? Though I strongly believe that death may come any moment.

 

Praise be to Allaah. 

There is nothing to prevent a person from
making plans and estimating what he will need in the future, and thinking
of what he hopes to achieve, or saying, ‘I will do such-and-such tomorrow,’
or next week, or next year.’ But when he does that he has to say ‘in
sha Allaah (if Allaah wills).’ Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And never say
of anything, ‘I shall do such and such thing tomorrow,’ except (with
the saying): ‘If Allaah will.’…”

[al-Kahf 18:23]

 Everything that a person intends to
do in the future, or resolves to do, or hopes to achieve, is based on
hope, and hope is what motivates people to do things.  But the
believer strives in this world for the sake of that which will benefit
him in both his religion and his worldly affairs. So he takes the means
and puts his trust in Allaah, and seeks His help, as the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Strive to do that which will benefit
you, and seek the help of Allaah.”

And Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“… So worship
Him and put your trust in Him…”

[Hood  11:123]

 The kaafir and the
negligent person, on the other hand, depend on the means and forget
their Lord in Whose Hand is Sovereignty and nothing happens except what
He wills. If a man looks at the obstacles which stand between him and
what he hopes for, and he thinks too much about death and other obstacles,
he will stop making efforts and neglect his own interests. Thus it is
apparent that man cannot live this life without some hope which will
make him strive to pursue the things that he wants to achieve. But the
believer should not hope for too much or feel too content with this
world, or prefer its pleasures; rather he should strive to make the
Hereafter his goal, and work to do righteous deeds which will bring
him closer to his Lord, and seek the help of His blessings to obey Him,
so that he may attain happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.

 

 Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Barraak

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