The Tinker continued, "When one hundred and thirty years of Adam's life had passed—that is, five years after Cain had killed Abel— Hawwa' gave birth to Adam's son Seth and his sister Hazurah. Hawwa' gave birth to him, Gabriel said to her, "This is God's gift in place of Abel. Seth's name is Shith in Arabic, Shath in Syriac, and Shith in Hebrew. He was Adam's legatee. When Adam was about to die, he called his son Seth and appointed him his heir. He taught him the hours of night and day and indicated to him how the creatures should worship in each hour. He informed him that each hour had its special kind of creatures to worship in it. Then he said to him, "Son, the Flood will be on earth and last seven years." He wrote his last will addressed to him. Seth reportedly was the legatee of his father Adam, so after Adam's death, political leadership fell to him.
Allah revealed one hunder and four scrolls, and Allah revealed fifty scrolls to Seth. All the children of Adam today trace their pedigree back to Seth. That is because the offspring of all the other children of Adam except those of Seth have completely disappeared, and not one of them remains. Thus, the pedigrees of all people today go back to Seth.
After wrting his last will, Adam died. The Angels assembled in his place, because he was the chosen friend of the Merciful One. Allah sent him his shroud and embalming materials from Paradise. The angels then took charge of his grave and burial and hid him from sight. The angels washed him several times with sidr and water, and dressed him in separate layers of shrouds. Then they prepared a grave and buried him. They then said, "This shall be the custom of the children of Adam after him."
Seth and his brothers were in the regions east of Paradise at a village that was the first on earth.The sun and the moon were in eclipse for seven days and nights. When the angels assembled for Adam's burial, and Seth collected the last will, he placed it upon a ladder, like that used for the ascent and descent of angels and souls, in the company of the generation that our father Adam had brought out from Paradise, so that there would be no neglect with respect to mentioning Allah.
Adam's death took place on Friday. Eve lived one year after Adam's death. Then she died. She was buried together with her spouse. That place remained the grave of Adam and Eve until the Flood. Noah then took them out, placed them in a coffin, and carried them along in the ark. When the earth had soaked up the water, he returned them to the place where they had been before the Flood.
Seth reportedly stayed in Mecca performing the hajj and 'umrah until he died. He added the scrolls revealed by Allah to him to those of his father Adam and acted in accordance with their contents. He built the Kabah with stones and clay. When Seth fell ill, he reportedly appointed his son Enosh as his legatee. After the passing of his father Seth, Enosh took over the political administration of the realm and the guidance of the subjects under his control in place of his father Seth. Enosh begot Kenan and numerous other children. Kenan was his legatee. He begot Mahalalel and other children in addition. Mahalalel was his legatee. He begot Jared (Yarid-that is, al-Yarid) and other children in addition. Jared was his legatee. He begot Enoch-that is, the prophet Idris and other children in addition.
Enoch was born and raised in Babylon following the teachings and religion of Adam and his son Seth. Enoch was the 5th generation of Adam. He called the people back to his forefathers religion, but only a few listened to him, while the majority turned away. Enoch and his followers left Babylon for Egypt. There he carried on his mission, calling people to what is just and fair, teaching them certain prayers and instructing them to fast on certain days and to give a portion of their wealth to the poor. He was the first of the Children of Adam to be given prophethood after Adam and Seth. It is reported that he was the first to invent the basic form of writing.
Enoch taught the people about Allah, and called them to implement the rules of the Religion. He emphasized that the only One Who deserves worship is Allah. Almost all the people were Muslim during the life of Enoch, there are some people were disobedient in following certain rules of the Religion. Enoch stayed in Egypt with his people for a period of time, calling people to follow the rules of the Religion. It is said that he lived 82 years on Earth. Then Allah raised him to the fourth heavens, then he died there."
[Part 1]Then the Tinker said, "O young man, this life is just like a race track where the horses and their riders vie to reach the finish line before the others. This is the same case with the people of this life, but they are unaware that they are in a race, because they are engaged in heedlessness. They forget all about the Day of Reckoning and do not prepare for its imminent coming. Yet, their life terms are ever decreasing and drawing them closer to the end. Al-Hasan said, “You wish you could live as long as Noah lived, even though Allah’s Order, death, strikes at someone’s door every night!”
We often witness those, who own much in this life, depart it with a mere shroud, just as the case with those who own nothing in this life. All of them become equal when they are laid into the hole of the grave and disappear inside it. The grave then becomes either a garden in Paradise or a hole in the Fire."
The young wayfarer asked, "What part of life should the Muslim avoid and which was criticized in the Qur’an?" The Tinker said, "Abu Safwan Ar-Ra‘ini was asked this question and he replied, “Every aspect of life that you covet for the sake of this life, is criticized. Every aspect of this life that you love for the sake of the Hereafter, is not included in the chastised aspects of life.”
People rush to earn this life, fearing poverty and wishing to collect its wealth, as if their stay in it is eternal and everlasting. They fear poverty, but do not fear the Reckoning; they fear hunger, but do not fear the Torment and Punishment.Al-Fudail described the difference between days as “Yesterday passed, today there is in action and tomorrow is a hope.”
The stages of this life consist of days and nights during which one travels persistently to reach the ultimate destination. If you are able to collect enough righteous provisions for each of these stages, then do so, because the journey will surely end suddenly. And regarding the days of this life, Al-Hasan said, “O son of Adam! Life is only days, so if your day passes, your life becomes shorter.”
Therefore, rush to collect enough provisions for your journey in this life and be aware that it ends before you are adequately prepared. One of our Salaf wrote to one of his friends, “ My brother, you might think that you will reside, even though in reality you continue traveling, driven to death which is headed towards you. Meanwhile, life’s term is being shortened while you are traveling and what you have spent of your life will not be returned to you until the Day of At-Taghabun."
The young wayfarer asked, " What is the Day of At-Taghabun?" The Tinker said, "The Day of Judgment when some people will lose themselves and some others will win their eternal happiness.” Then the Tinker said, "Indeed, the delights of this life, if they were collected from lawful resources and spent modestly on lawful resources, add beauty to the life of the world. This is especially the case if one spends a part of his wealth on charity, helping the distressed and supporting the needy, the orphans and the widows. Sufyan said, “Beware of Allah’s anger with regards to three: beware that you fall into shortcomings concerning what He has commanded you. Beware that He sees you while you are feeling discontent concerning the provision He has granted you. Beware of feeling dismay at your Lord if you seek a procession of this life, but cannot acquire it.”
Surely, Allah divides provision in this life and one should only feel content with his provisions, whether they were substantial or minute, and regardless if one acquires the delights of life or not. One is required to feel content with his share and not to feel distressed about it. Also, one should avoid comparing himself to those who are wealthier than he is, but compare himself instead to the righteous believers and worshippers of Allah. A wise man once said, “ Everyone (a believer) who hears about Paradise and the Fire, would spend the next hours obeying Allah, remembering Him, praying to Him, reciting the Qur’an or giving charity.” A man asked him, “ I cry a lot.” The wise man said, “It is better for you to smile while admitting your error than cry while feeling pride in your good actions, for the latter’s deeds will not be ascended higher than his head.” The man asked him for advice and he said, “ Leave this life to its people, just as they left the Hereafter to its people. Be like a bee in this life, if she eats, she eats pure food and if she feeds, she feeds pure food, and if she falls on something, she does not break or fracture it.”
Those who remember death will see this life little in their eyes and will see clearly, because the seal that hindered their sight will be removed. The life of this world is short, no matter how substantial the treasures you collect in it. Surely, all this will end when death strikes and puts an end to enjoyment and delight. Al-Hasan said, “Death has exposed the reality of this life and did not leave chance for the wise person to delight in it.”
Imam Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi, recorded, Abu Kabshah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “ People are of four types in this life: A slave whom Allah has granted wealth and (religious) knowledge, so he fears his Lord with what he has, gives to his kith and kin and knows Allah’s rights on his wealth, and this is the best grade. And a slave whom Allah gave knowledge but not wealth, so his intention is sincere and he says, ‘If I had money, I would have done just like so-and-so (the first type),’ he will be judged according to his intention and their reward is the same. And a slave whom Allah gave wealth, but not knowledge, so he is confused and spends his wealth without knowledge; he does not fear his Lord regarding it, nor gives to kith and kin, nor knows Allah’s Rights on his wealth. This is the worst grade. And a slave whom Allah did not grant wealth or knowledge, yet he says, ‘If I had money, I would have done just like soand-so (the third and worst type of people). So he will be judged according to his intention and their evil burden will be the same.” [Hasan-Sahih]
Therefore, this life is like a farm that one plants and keeps for the Hereafter. It should be filled with acts of worship and obedience to Allah, collecting as much righteous sustenance and provisions for the Last Life.
The Tinker continued, "O young man, contemplating this life should alert you that it is but a journey that started from the intimacy between the father and the mother, passing through this life and ending in the grave. After the grave, there is the Gathering and then the permanent residence, hopefully in the Dwelling of Peace that is free from all shortcomings and is indeed the everlasting life. We were captured by our enemy (Satan) and were brought down to earth. Therefore, we should try our best to free ourselves and firmly march forth towards our old Dwelling.4 Know that traveling on the journey of life pertains to the breaths that one takes, which lead him or her through life just like a sailing ship. But in this case, the ship of life is sailing while one sits idle in it unaware that his life is passing rapidly.
Man needs sufficient provisions on his journey through life, but the only sufficient provision to the Hereafter is Taqwa (fear from Allah). Therefore, one should strive hard and be patient while observing Taqwa. Otherwise, he will cry, when it is time to leave, “My Lord, send me back,” but it will be said to him, “ No.” The heedless should therefore wake up from his lazy trek through the stages of life. This especially should be the case, since as he travels, Allah shows him His signs, Allah brings fear to His slaves by these signs, to keep them from deviating from the Straight Path and correct religion. He whose means of journeying deviate him from the Straight Path, even though he witnesses the Signs of Allah that make him afraid, should rush to return to Allah by abandoning what made him deviate from the Path, all the while feeling remorse for his errors.
In contrast, he who prepares for the Meeting with Allah and spends his time doing what will benefit him in the Hereafter, will surely feel happy on a Day when neither wealth nor offspring will avail one. A Day when the various records of deeds will fly over, the hearts will shake in horror and the inner selves will feel confused. You will see people and think that they are drunk; they will not be drunk, but Allah’s torment is severe. Surely, he who uses this life as a path to direct him to the Hereafter and Paradise, as vast as the heavens and earth, then his path is the Path. He will be directed to the Dwelling of Peace by the Mercy and good Pleasure of Allah. As for those who want this life, it will fade away the moment they breathe their last breath. During these terrible moments, life will abandon them and run away. The difference between them and the former type is that the righteous people like this life, but prefer the Hereafter to it. This is why Allah made their path to the Hereafter easy for them and helped them surmount all hurdles and difficulties. And Allah know best."
"Do you not see that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people? But upon many the punishment has been justified. And he whom Allah humiliates - for him there is no bestower of honor. Indeed, Allah does what He wills." - [QS.22:18]
Reference :
- Abdul-Malik bin Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman Al-Qasim, Life is a Fading Shadow, Darussalam - Sayyid Qutb, In The Shade of Quran, Volume XVIII, The Islamic Foundation
- Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophet, Darussalam
- The History of Al-Tabari Volume I : General Introduction and From the Creation of the Flood, translated by Franz Rosenthal, SUNY Press
- The History of Al-Tabari Volume II : Prophets and Patriarchs, translated and annotated by William M. Brinner, SUNY Press
