LIFE: where are we ?

A 5-minute perspective on

Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets.

.. In this planet, all 6 billion human beings live together

Our Earth

Our Earth

The Earth – currently the only known planet to have the perfect conditions to support life – is the largest terrestrial planet in the

solar system

Our Earth

… but if you compare it with all other planets in our solar system – especially the massive Jupiter - the size of the Earth is almost insignificant!

Jupiter..

But Jupiter is nothing compared to..

..The SunThe Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It has a diameter of about 1,392,000 kilometers (865,000 mi), about 109 times that of Earth, and its mass (about 2 × 1030 kilograms, 330,000 times that of Earth) accounts for about 99.86% of the total mass of the Solar System.

The major source of energy for EarthThis is our Earth. The same Earth that

houses

• all our wars

• all our hatred & enmity

• all our jealousy

• all our sadness, grief, and anguish

..all those “great” “big” things we’re fighting for

This little fella is that huge planet

“Jupiter”

Is it really worth it?

Just how massive is this sun?

… at this scale – if the sun were the size of a tennis ball, in comparison, the Earth is a mere grain of sand

At this scale: the mighty Jupiter is 1 pixel; our sun barely visible.. Our beloved Earth with its 6 billion human inhabitants virtually invisible by the naked eye

Compare the sun and the EarthCompare the sun and the star “Arcturus”

… at this scale, you can no longer see our sunAntares : radius of approximately 800 times of the sunThe 15th brightest sun in the sky – 1000 light years away`

Or better yet, Compare the sun and the star “ANTARES”

But why stop there? There are many other stars out there!

Let’s look beyond our solar system

“were they created by nothing? Or were they themselves the creators” (At-Tur 52:35)

So ask yourself this question..

.. Or is there a Creator behind all these stars?

… but that’s not the amazing part…

… this galaxy contains 200

billion (200,000,000,000+) stars, many of

the likes of Antares

All stars rotating in their

respective orbits with their numerous

planets – in perfect harmony

Each little dot is a star.. Each dot is

a “sun”, an “arcturus” or an

“antares”

Where is the sun?Where is Antares?Not so big anymore!

This is our galaxy – The Milky Way

“The creation of the heavens and the Earth is indeed greater than the creation of mankind, yet most of

mankind know not” (Ghafir 40:57)

This small line represents a scale of 100 million light years – meaning, if you were to travel at the speed of light (299,972 kilometres per second) for

a duration of 100 million years, you will go THIS FAR

At this point, you’re probably confused.. Let’s recap

One of these dots is our galaxy – the Milky WayOne of the billions of stars in the galaxy called the Milky way, is the gigantic star Antares

One of the billions of stars in the Milky way, is the tiny little star we call the “Sun” – the centre of our solar system, orbited by 9 planets

Of all the 9 planets (in total being a measly 0.14 % mass of the solar system), one of these little planets revolving around the Sun

is the planet we call home – Earth

The biggest picture of the universe we have so far: Each supercluster contains hundreds to thousands of galaxies: each galaxy having billions

(***,000,000,000) of stars

“were they created by nothing? Or were they themselves the creators” (At-

Tur 52:35)

Let’s pause for a second to reflect…

.. Or is there a Creator behind this amazing universe?

فاق Kآياتنا في اآل Kسنريهمن ى يتبي وفي أنفسهمK حتKف Kحق أولمK يك ه ال لهمK أنه على كل شيKء ك أن برب

شهيدWe will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in

their ownselves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur’an) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all

things? (Fussilat 41:53)

Imagine, if just this – the billions of galaxies we have discovered today - is what is defined as “heavens and

the Earth”

.. Ask yourself, ‘How big is this UNIVERSE?’.. How insignificant am I ?

.. How great and majestic is the Lord & Creator of all of these!

This Lord.. The nourisher, sustainer, provider, King..

Lord & Creator of the Earth, the sun, Antares, Milky Way, the Galactic Filament, the UNIVERSE – and everything – living and dead - in between

This Lord, by the name of

Allahاهللا

… isn’t this Majestic Lord deserving of our worship?!

Our Lord didn’t neglect us. He sent guidance to us – in the form of Revelation: the Qur’an

“And I did not create the Jinn and Man except to Worship Me (Alone)” (Adz-

Dzariyat 51:56)Q: What is worship?A: Worship is a term used to describe everything which is done – whether in action of the limbs, words, or feelings – to seek the pleasure of Allah – whether hidden, or apparent (ibn Taymiyyah)Prayers, being kind to your neighbours, saying good things, refraining from evil deeds, good character, modesty these are all examples of acts which are pleasing to Allah.. WORSHIP: the purpose of life

.. And He informs us – the purpose of Life

“Does man think that he will be left neglected?” (Al-Qiyamah 75:36)

“.. So, what’s in it for me?”

Of course,being the selfish beings we are, we might ask…

“What do I get if I worship Allah?”

You will be paid back in full!

“..Then, every person shall be paid in full what he has earned – and they shall not be dealt

with unjustly” (Al-’imran 3:161)

The Prophet said, “Whomsoever intends to do a good deed, and does it, he will be rewarded with 10 times to 700 times the

reward, to even more..!” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

“Whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it; and whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it” (Al-Zalzalah 99:7-8)

No! Ibadah (worship) – is not sacrifice: you’re getting paid for it!

Ibadah is your investment.An investment that yields its dividends, not in

percentage.. But in multitudes… of 10 (1000%) to 700 (70,000%)

… and the reward?Reminder: Your reward will be given to you by

none other than:

الكريم“Al-Kareem” – The Most Generous

One of the Names & Attributes of Allah

Let’s imagine – for all hard work & investment in worship – if the reward you receive for all this will be the entire EarthAnd everything within it – all of its• Money & riches – all the gold, diamonds, pearls..• waterfalls, beaches, islands, land..• Food, Drinks : of all types, you name it..• Clothes, handbags, watches, cars, aeroplanes• Technology, gadgets.. All completely YOURS..

… that would be nice, wouldn’t it?

So, what sort of “generosity” are we talking about here..?

.. But! Put into perspective : in reality..

.. All of that “big reward”

This small reward of the ENTIRE EARTH and everything in it – is not befitting of a reward from

“Al-Kareem”!

.. All of that “big reward” is just a little dot in our solar system

“Beautified for men is the love of things they covet: women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses,

cattle and well-cultivated land.

This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but with Allah is the (more) excellent

(superior) return” (Al-’Imran 3:14)

.. What reward is He calling to?

“And march forth in the way (to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise, as wide as

are the heavens and the Earth – prepared for the people who have taqwa”

(Al-’Imran 3:133)In a hadith qudsy, the Messenger of Allah says that Allah says: “I have prepared for My righteous slaves, that which the eye has never seen – the ear has never heard – and the hearts

cannot imagine” (Al-Bukhari, Book 54 #467)The greatest pleasures way beyond your expectations and imagination, as wide as the universe - A moment in Paradise

will make one forget all of the difficulties in this world!“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of

joys & delights – as a reward for their (good) actions” (As-Sajdah 32:17)

A great reward! Do we actually think it’s FREE ?!

“Or (did you) think that you will enter Jannah (Paradise) without going through

trials, such as those who passed away before you..?” (Al-Baqarah 2:214)

Do you think that – just because you say “I am a MUSLIM” – Paradise (Jannah)

will just fall into your lap?NO WAY! You have to work for it!

“It is the nature of the extraordinary goal

to inspire extraordinary effort”

A great reward! Do we actually think it’s FREE ?!

“Or did you think that you would enter Paradise, before Allah tests those who have struggled (in is path) and

(before He) tests those of you who are patient?" (Al-Imran 3:142)

"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe", and they will not be tested?

And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make known those of you who are true, and those of you who are liars" (Al-Ankabut 29:2-3)

NO WAY! You have to work for it!

.. And if you don’t want to work for it…. What is the

other option?Paradise – Jannah – is only one of two

destinations.The other option, of course, is..

An-Naar / jahannam - The Hellfire

“O you who believe! Guard yourselves and your family from the Fire – whose fuel is men and

stones..” (At-Tahrim 66:6)

If Allah can create the sun, 500 times larger than the earth, at surface temperature exceeding 5,000 deg C, and Antares 800 times larger than the sun.. And the Prophet says the “fire of Jahannam is

70 times greater than the fire of this world”… … imagine how SEVERE the Hellfire will be! You don’t want to find

out!

this life is just a proving ground..

“(Allah) Who has created death and life, so that He may test you which of you is best in deed. He is the All-Mighty, Oft-

Forgiving” (Al-Mulk 67:2)You only live once..

So make the best out of it!

They say..We say..

.. The answer is the same: but the perspective is different!

Don’t take your chances! This life is your one and only shot!

.. The one and only shot you have at proving you don’t deserve to be thrown into An-Naar or

Jahannam

..a result that you will only know after your death.

Make your choice..

“Has not the time come, for the hearts of those who believe – to be affected by

Allah’s reminder and that which has been revealed in truth?!

Or should they become as those who received the Scripture before, and the term was prolonged for them, and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them are Fasiqun

(rebellious)” (Al-Hadid 57:16)

Think with the end in mind – when your loved ones have left

you, and you alone are held accountable for your deeds in front

of AllahIt’s one of two destinations: either Paradise, Jannah or the Hellfire,

JahannamRoad to Jannah: to worship Allah

alone – without associating partners in your worship..

There is a time to change, and that time is NOW

Tune your perspective: look beyond the insignificance of the

life of this world…

To seek the pleasure of Allah – in accordance to His Book (the Qur’an) and

the Ways of His Messenger (pbuh)