How to Balance Dunya and Deen (Part 2)
This is part two of the ‘How to Balance Dunya and Deen’ series.
If you haven’t read the first part, please do! There are loads of great tips/ facts that I’m sure will give you some clarity on how to balance dunya and deen.
The dunya and deen are deeply connected. What you do in the dunya will affect what will happen to you in the Akhirah. That’s why it is so important to know how to manage your deen in the dunya, and make sure you are working on your religion everyday.
We never know which day will be our last. So, let’s work hard to put ourselves in the best possible positions when that day comes, whilst enjoying the life we have now.
1. The Dunya is a Shadow to your Deen
“This dunya (world) is like a shadow, run after it and you will never be able to catch it, turn your back against it and it has no choice but to follow you” [Ibn Al-Qayyim] (1)
It is better to do something for your deen rather than do nothing. Add more to your day little by little and aim for consistency in your worship.
The better you do Islamically, the more blessings you will receive in the dunya.
Related:
How To Build A Connection With Allah SWT
How To Learn The 99 Names Of Allah
How To Repent A Sin (As a Muslim)
How To Repent Our Sins (Including a Step-by-Step Guide)
2. Give up individualistic beliefs
The dunya focusses a lot on me, me, me.
‘I achieved this.’
‘I worked hard on this, that’s why I got it.’
‘I will leave everyone behind and work on myself.’
First of all, you achieved nothing. Allah allowed it for you. This is a mindset you should cultivate as you learn how to balance deen and dunya.
Work hard on your dreams and goals but when you achieve success, you should be thanking Allah for it.
Of course, you can be proud of yourself too but more importantly, be proud that you depended on Allah throughout the entire process and that Allah SWT allowed you to have this success.
Nothing in this dunya is yours, it is all Allah’s.
Secondly, it is good to work on yourself. However, don’t isolate yourself from others and think this is the best way to be your best self.
Take time for yourself but also make sure to fulfil your obligations to your loved ones by being present for them too. There’s also many things you can learn from others.
3. Make Jannah the Focus
While you may have worldly goals and dreams, they should all fall under the umbrella of achieving the ultimate goal and dream of entering Jannah.
When you are working on your goals, think about how it will affect your Hereafter too.
For example, I enjoy writing which is why I started this blog. But, my ultimate goal is to enter Jannah so, I write about Islamic topics with the intention of helping others with their faith too.
This is one way of how I am trying to balance my dunya and deen.
4. Use your wealth for good
Seek a Halal earning, stay away from excess and materialism and give to charity regularly.
There is nothing wrong with wanting and striving to get a big house, get married, earn a good living and have a good job.
As stated before, Allah wants us to enjoy this life while being good Muslims.
Many of the sahabas were wealthy people such as Abu Bakr RA or Uthman Ibn Affan RA. However, what kept them tied to the deen was how they spent their money.
Uthman Ibn Affan RA & The well of Rumah (2)
When the Muslims went to Madinah, they struggled to have a reliable and consistent water source as they didn’t own any of the wells in Madinah.
The Prophet SAW said that if someone could attain ownership of a particular well (well of Rumah), they would be guaranteed Jannah.
The only problem was that it was already owned by a man from Banu Ghaffar who didn’t want to sell the well. He would charge extortionate prices for the water and was getting wealthy from the well.
Using his fantastic business skills, Uthman RA negotiated with the man and made a deal. This deal was that he bought half the well and they would alternate usage of the well each day.
So, on the day the man had the well he continued charging high amounts of money for the water. On the days it was Uthman’s turn to have the well, he gave the water away for free.
Eventually, people only used the well on Uthman’s days and the other man started losing money. Soon, he had no choice but to sell the well off entirely.
To this day, this well is an endowment to the Muslims and the money produced from it is used in charitable causes.
Till this very day.
As a result, Uthman Ibn Affan RA has been earning rewards for over 1400 years even after death.
You may not have the money to do something like this but this goes to show just how important charity is. You are helping others and helping yourself in the process. It’s a win-win situation.
If you don’t have the capability to give away hundreds of pounds to charity every month, that’s fine!
Give to charity even if it is only a couple of pounds per month – I guarantee you, you will benefit from this action in the Akhirah as well as the dunya.
5. Sit in Contemplation
Have moments of silence alone, away from technology and everyone else, and think about Islam.
Take a walk in nature and marvel at Allah SWT’s creation, or simply sit after Salah and just think.
Did you know that just by sitting in the same place after you have finished Salah the angels keep asking for forgiveness for you?
Just by sitting in the same place you get rewards?? Truly, Allah is the most Gracious and the Most Merciful!
6. Take advantage of 5 things before 5
Muhammad SAW said to his cousin Ibn Abbas to take advantage of 5 things before 5 other things take those away. They are: (3)
Youth before old age
Take advantage of the energy you have while you are young and plan for your future, most importantly for your afterlife.
Be proactive and set things in place now that will benefit you in the future and earn you good deeds.
One simple example could be working hard in your studies so that you have a good job in the future. This will then allow you to provide for yourself and your family, as well as to give to charity often.
Health before falling sick
Take advantage of your good health before your body falls weak.
Notice how as a healthy person, whenever you get the flu or a headache or some sort of minor illness, it inconveniences you so much.
Imagine when this is the case all the time.
While you’re healthy, be proactive, help your family and contribute to your community. Take good care of your physical health now to prevent physical ailments from coming sooner.
Free time before you become busy
Use your time wisely and don’t procrastinate on unproductive activities like scrolling on your phone endlessly because doing these things aren’t beneficial in this world or the next.
You might be in a limbo period in your life, like looking for a spouse or a new job and feeling depressed or frustrated that it isn’t happening for you. Look at the positives and use your time effectively.
While you’re single and don’t have your own children to take care of, attend Islamic classes, do extra nafl prayers, and do extra Ibadah. If you’re out of work, see if you can help your local community some way or volunteer at a charity.
These are things that will be harder to do when you’re busy.
Related:
Ideas For Self Care (THAT ACTUALLY WORK!!)
Tips for Self Care To Create the Perfect Evening
How To Stop Comparing Yourself To Other People
Why We Should Focus On One Task At A Time
Riches before becoming poor
Having money always is not guaranteed. It comes and goes. While you have a good amount of it, be smart with your money and look into things like investing.
This includes giving to charity and investing in life after death.
Your life before you die
You have one life so make the most of it before it goes, which can be at any time.
Try to earn as many good deeds now so that when you are standing before Allah and questioned about all that you did, you will have a list of good things to say.
7. Fulfil your duties to Allah, yourself and others
When it comes to dunya and deen, it is most important to prioritise deen. But, this doesn’t mean you should be shutting yourself away from others to engage in worship 24/7.
Allah SWT has rights over you but so do your wife, your guests, and even your own body (health) so fulfil your obligations to all. (4)
Islam should always be at the forefront of our minds whenever we do anything, but Allah doesn’t want us to hate being in this world and not enjoy it.
Create a balance and fulfil your duties to all, and enjoy your life in the process.
Salman Al Farsi RA & Abu Darda RA Story (Fulfilling obligations)
This is a really eye-opening story that helped me understand that we should be present and enjoy this world while the main focus should be to prepare for the Hereafter. (5)
One day Salman Al Farsi saw Abu Darda’s wife and noticed that she wasn’t taking care of herself (i.e. wearing rags for clothing etc.), so he asked her what the reason was. She said Abu Darda wasn’t interested in her anymore – he fasted all day and worshiped Allah all night and seemed to have no other interests.
Around midday, Abu Darda came home and brought food and told Salman to eat. Salman asked him to eat with him. But, Abu Darda said no as he was fasting. Salman said this was a nafl fast and to break the fast and eat with him otherwise he would not eat. As Salman was his brother/ guest, Abu Darda reluctantly ate with him.
Then, in the night as they prepared to sleep, Salman told Abu Darda to sleep as well. Abu Darda said he couldn’t as he had to pray. Salman told him that they’ve prayed Isha and now it was time to sleep. Abu Darda laid down and then sat up to pray a little while later. Salman was still awake and made him lie down again, this happened a few more times.
An hour or so before Fajr, Salman woke up Abu Darda and they prayed Tahajjud and went to the mosque for Fajr. By this point, Abu Darda was quite frustrated, so he told him he’s going to complain to Muhammad SAW.
Salman then told him that Allah had a right on him, his family had a right on him and his body too. Give to each their rights.
Abu Darda still went to Muhammad SAW and told him about what Salman was doing as he believed Salman was acting like a barrier in his worship of Allah.
Muhammad SAW asked him what Salman said to him and Abu Darda repeated Salman’s words (that Allah had a right on him, his family had a right on him and his body too. Give to each their rights).
Muhammad SAW said Salman was right and to follow this advice.
The insistence of Salman RA is almost funny but he made his point!
Most people would read this story and admire Abu Darda’s intense desire to worship Allah only as ideal and something to follow. But, Salman shows us how we need to achieve a balance (and is backed by Muhammad SAW in this).
8. Become attached to the Qu’ran
The Qu’ran has been sent down to us as a form of mercy and peace so recite it and read the translation often to connect your heart to it.
As well as this, the Qu’ran covers so many aspects of daily life. Here is a list I wrote down from Bilal Assad’s ‘Deen over Dunya’ video that lists some of these everyday aspects: (6)
Family, business, money management, property, investments, food, social interactions, health and wellbeing, sports, transportation, health management, organisation, dressing, sleeping, hygiene, cosmetics (looking nice), smelling nice, innovations (coming up with new ideas in life), inventions, pets (rights of pets and how to deal with them), entertainment, values, borrowing, lending, consumer rights, seller rights, employment rights, employers rights, visiting, hospitality, etiquettes, greeting, treatment of guests, hunting, fishing, recreation, rights of inheritance, war and conflict etc.
SubhanAllah, this is only just SOME of what is covered in the Qu’ran! Allah SWT doesn’t want us to detach from this world, He has given us direct guidance of how to live in it, enjoy it and do good as Muslims.
Therefore, refer often to the Qu’ran and build a connection with it. Enjoy the world, travel, learn and marvel at Allah’s strength and magnificence whilst being the best Muslim you can possibly be.
KEY POINTS – Dunya and Deen – How to Balance Both (Part 2) :
- The Dunya is a Shadow to your Deen – “This dunya (world) is like a shadow, run after it and you will never be able to catch it, turn your back against it and it has no choice but to follow you” [Ibn Al-Qayyim] (1)
- Give up individualistic beliefs – Work hard on your dreams and goals but when you achieve success, you should be thanking Allah for it. Of course, you can be proud of yourself too but more importantly, be proud that you depended on Allah throughout the entire process and that Allah SWT allowed you to have this success.
- Make Jannah the focus – While you may have worldly goals and dreams, they should all fall under the umbrella of achieving the ultimate goal and dream of entering Jannah.
- Use your wealth for good – Seek a Halal earning, stay away from excess and materialism and give to charity regularly.
- Sit in contemplation – Have moments of silence alone, away from technology and everyone else, and think about Islam.
- Take advantage of 5 before 5 – Youth before old age; Health before falling sick; Free time before you become busy; Riches before becoming poor; Life before death
- Fulfil your duties to Allah, yourself & others – Allah SWT has rights over you but so do your wife, your guests, and even your own body (health) so fulfil your obligations to all. (4)
- Become attached to the Qu’ran – The Qu’ran has been sent down to us as a form of mercy and peace so recite it and read the translation often to connect your heart to it.
SOURCES:
(1) https://productivemuslim.com/is-dunya-haram-for-us-heres-how-to-balance-deen-and-dunya/
(2) Uthman Ibn Affan (ra): The Possessor of Two Lights | Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research
(3) Take advantage of five… before five! – Yasir Qadhi | August 2009 (youtube.com)
(4) How can I balance between Deen & Dunya? – Assim al hakeem (youtube.com)
(5) an interesting story of Abu Dardaa and Salman AL farsi Sheikh Mizra Yawar #HUDATV
(6) Deen over Dunya
