Farsightedness in Seeking Paradise

Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet Muhammad said: “Whosoever fears, sets out at nightfall. And whoever sets out early at night, reaches the destination. Verily God’s merchandise is expensive! Verily God’s merchandise is Paradise!” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2388)

In ancient Arabia, travellers would begin their journey in the darkness of night so that before the heat of the day became extreme, they could arrive at their next halt or their destination. This was how people travelled in the desert in those days, because there was the danger that if one travelled in the hot sun, one might die, and so too might one’s camel.

The matter of the seeker of Paradise is just like this. The seeker of Paradise makes his travel plans with great farsightedness. He must set off on the journey to Paradise with such great preparations that no excuse should become a cause for him to stop his way. He should allow nothing to deviate him from the path.

For the sake of worldly benefits, a businessman makes many arrangements, often going out of his way for this purpose. The bargain of God—which is Paradise—is much more valuable than all other bargains. Therefore, for the journey of Paradise one should take very great care and make every necessary arrangement in planning for it, just as people make necessary arrangements for travelling in this world. One should not live in heedlessness.

Planned action is the means to success. Worldly success is possible only through well-planned action. In the same way, success in the Hereafter is possible only through the Hereafter-oriented planning of one’s life.