I’s the best of goals
It is ordained that proximity to Allah(SwT) is the best of goals, while worldly pleasures may not last:
”Fair in the eyes of men is the love ofthings they covert: women and sons; heaped up hoards of gold and silver; horsesbranded (for blood and excellence) and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land.Such are the possessions of this world’s life; but in nearness to Allah is thebest of the goals (to return to)” (3:14)
Worldly possessions are attractive, such aslove of women for physical comfort, sons for strength in worldly dealings, the pedigree of horses in blood andexcellence were in the past and continue to be badges of honour that men wearwith pride. In farming communities of yore, cattle—their number, and theirbreed were taken to a measure of societal standing, it holds in farmingcommunities of modern times, while well-tilled land adds to laurels. However inmodern times with industrial revolution, measure of well-being may also be thenumber of factories owned, possession of best internal combustion engines,spacious houses, the number of motor cars in the garage, the possession ofprivate aircraft, and a lot more.
Possession of heaped-up hoards of gold andsilver, particularly of gold continues to be measure of well-being, as goldcontinues to be standard by which wealth is measured. However, whatever themeasure of these worldly possessions, their combined value comes to naught assoon as the worldly life ends. Hence, here in the world full of materialpossessions and hereafter what ultimately holds is nearness to Allah (SwT).Unto Him, shall we return, big or small, wealthy or poor, and unto Him isentrusted our salvation–the salvation we may earn by proximity to Allah (SwT)and not in the love of material possessions.