The earth is not our final destination

Once a man visited Abu Dharr (radi Allahu anhu) and began looking at the contents of his house but found it quite bare. He asked Abu Dharr (radi Allahu anhu), “Where are your possessions?” Abu Dharr (radi Allahu anhu) replied, “We have a house yonder (meaning the Hereafter) to which we send the best of our possessions.” The man understood what he meant and said, “But you must have some possessions so long as you are in this abode.” “The owner of this abode will not leave us in it” replied Abu Dharr (radi Allahu anhu).

The earth is not our final destination. We are to use it to make preparations for the next life. Concerning the life of this world Eesa (Jesus) (alaihis salaam) said, “This world is like a bridge, cross it and do not build on it.” This life is a bridge from our previous existence as soul to our next existence in the Hereafter. Houses are built on land. The most appropriate place to build, the focus of our attention, should be the land that we will set foot on once we cross the bridge that is our earthly existence. People like Abu Dharr (radi Allahu anhu) set the example for us.