It’s the best of goals
It isordained that proximity to Allah (SwT) is the best of goals, while worldlypleasures may not last:
”Fair inthe eyes of men is the love of things they covert: women and sons; heaped uphoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence) and(wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of thisworld’s life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (to returnto)” (3:14)
Worldlypossessions are attractive, such as love of women for physical comfort, sonsfor strength in worldly dealings, thepedigree of horses in blood and excellence were in the past and continue to bebadges of honour that men wear with pride. In farming communities of yore,cattle—their number, and their breed were taken to a measure of societalstanding, it holds in farming communities of modern times, while well-tilledland adds to laurels. However in modern times with industrial revolution,measure of well-being may also be the number of factories owned, possession ofbest internal combustion engines, spacious houses, the number of motor cars inthe garage, the possession of private aircraft, and a lot more.
Possessionof heaped-up hoards of gold and silver, particularly of gold continues to bemeasure of well-being, as gold continues to be standard by which wealth ismeasured. However, whatever the measure of these worldly possessions, theircombined value comes to naught as soon as the worldly life ends. Hence, here inthe world full of material possessions and hereafter what ultimately holds isnearness to Allah (SwT). Unto Him, shall we return, big or small, wealthy orpoor, and unto Him is entrusted our salvation–the salvation we may earn byproximity to Allah (SwT) and not in the love of material possessions.