IN SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH

• What are the first questions of a human being?
• Is life the purpose, end and goal?
• What is the way to salvation?

When man is born, he starts the journey of his life that would last for many years during which he shall face an unknown, hazardous destiny that is filled with hopes and pains. Nonetheless, man is still wondering in an ocean of questions searching for answers that cries out loud: I need the truth; I cannot put up with ignorance … I shall not feel safe and secure unless I know the answers to these questions: Who am I? Who had brought me here? Why do I exist?

As man asks these questions, he finds out that he does not like to live in the dark; he does not like ignorance; he does not like being sick. Should he not find the correct, satisfactory answers, he would lead a life of anxiousness through which he would not enjoy a grace or shelter to anywhere.

Man, therefore, does not match with unknown because if he stays in unknown, he shall stay in darkness and ignorance. And he does not like both.

Almighty says, ﴾Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a light whereby he can walk amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out? Thus to those without faith their own deeds seem pleasing.﴿¹

Is life the purpose, end and goal?

Throughout his life, man goes from childhood into adolescence then youth, manhood, middle-age, elderliness, etc… Each of these stages has its own feature through which man tends to a certain conduct or inclination. When young, he is fond of playing. As he grows older, he is attached to pastime activities, amusement and distraction. Later, he is haunted with gaining possessions, such as clothing, vehicles (such as cars) and houses and is also attracted and fascinated with beauty. Upon reaching middle-age, he starts bragging among his peers about his family tree, his education, position, money, etc… As soon as he goes deep into elderliness, he is after more riches and children. About the same, Allah Almighty says, ﴾Know ye (all), that the life of this world is but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying, (in rivalry) among yourselves, riches and children…﴿ then Allah clarifies, ﴾Here is a similitude: How rain and the growth which it brings forth, delight (the hearts of) the tillers; soon it withers; thou wilt see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away…﴿ this would happen in life, “But in the Hereafter is a Penalty severe (for the devotees of wrong). And Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the devotees of Allah). And what is the life of this world, but goods and chattels of deception?”²

The life of this world, with all its cheerfulness is mortal as well as all other things in it.

If you do not believe, look around you: to your mother, father, and grandfather. All of them were young children, adolescents, youth, etc… Here they are before you today: all old and elderly. Their heads have become as white as snow, and their faces are marked with the traces of time. They are vulnerable and sick today. Where are youth, beauty, power, vigor and health?

Has life in this world left them anything? Have their riches, family or power kept them from getting old? Not at all.

Now, would you like to become the same as those who wasted their lives in this life and the latter has wasted them, or would you like to learn from what happened to others?

This is life, so is it worth to waste our ages and powers to gain whatever it has to give without taking care of real life?

Imam Khomeini (the great expert in life) says, “All attacks and retreats, ups and downs in life are gone in no time. We are all shattered under the wheels of time… I have come to this conclusion due to my observations to many various classes: those who are filthy rich have the most inner and psychological pains among others; they have many hopes and expectations which they have not made true and achieved and such pains are more throbbing and even burn the hearts”³

Imam Al Sadek (peace be upon him) also tells us, “Life is like the sea water: the more you drink, the thirstier you get until you pass away.”⁴

Allah describes those who are completely taken by life, who are scooping from it and who have made it their ultimate goal, ﴾…as if they were to stretch forth their hands for water to reach their mouths but it reaches them not…﴿⁵

Life never satisfies hunger and does not deserve to become a goal and we shall inevitably leave it at the end.


What is the way to salvation?

Bottom line: real life is the life of the souls and not the life of bodies and flesh.

In order to reach such life, Almighty says, ﴾O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life...﴿⁶

The life that we are called to by Allah and His Messenger is the real life which is full of joys that we shall live eternally in. A life where we shall get to really know our creator who is the absolute truth. Knowing Allah is the purpose and the goal.

Imam Al Sadek (peace be upon him) says, “If people knew what favor knowing Allah has, they would not reach out with their eyes into what Allah had given to their enemies of life’s blessings and their life would be equal to nothing more than what they would step on. They would enjoy their knowledge of Allah Almighty and they would take pleasure in it as if they were still in paradise with Allah’s closest and most loyal servants…”

“Why our Imam,” some say. “Knowing Allah is an affability from desolateness,” the Imam continues. We shall never be lonely or alienated.

“It is the Companion in every estrangement,” because Allah is with us, we feel His presence and we know Him.

“The light in every darkness,” so that we shall never fear the dark.

“And the power of every weak and the cure of all sicknesses.”⁷ We shall never suffer any disease.

Who, on earth, would replace and prefer a life that slips away and becomes destroyed to the Everlasting? Who would prefer life to Allah, except he who is a fool?

Imam Al Sadek (peace be upon him) says, “He whoever falls for life, his heart shall cling to three traits: eternal grief, unachieved hopes and wishes that are never reached.”⁸


Conclusion

You, dear, should stop and contemplate for a moment: would you choose real life and perpetual pleasure and security and come to Allah pleading for His Mercy or waste your life in temporary pleasures that never quench your thirst? Are you to find your way to Allah or stay wandering astray in the dusks of life hopping from one lust into another until Allah gives the order and your life is taken away? Decide. You own your own decision.

* "Beginning of the Path". By: Islamic Cultural Knowledge Organization. Knowledge Center for Islamic Studies and Researches.

^{1- Al Anaam (Chapter 6; Verse 122).
2- (Al-Hadid [The Iron] 057.020).
3- Gnostic Commandments.
4- Al Kafi, Part II, Page 136.
5- (Ar-Rad [The Thunder] 013.014).
6- (Al-Anfal [Spoils of War, Booty] 008.024).
7- Al Kafi, Part IIX, Page 247.
8- Al Kafi, Part II, Page 320}.