Today I want to talk about something that I personally struggled with for a long time.

I would often think, should I ask for blessings in the next life? If I ask for things for this life, does that make me materialistic?

My question was answered when I came across this ayah in the Quran. Surprisingly this was a dua I was saying in my Namaz five times a day and never realized its depth.

But among them is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. Those will have a share of what they have earned, and Allah is swift in account.“ (Surah Baqarah, ayat 201-202)

Allah teaches us that the ones that will have a share in the next life are the ones who asked for “hasanah” in this life and the next.

But one may wonder, what is the hasanah of this life? Hasanah of this life is actually the hasanah of the next life.

How?

“Hasanah” means goodness. (بھلائی)

When Allah intends hasanah for you, He will guard you from fitnah. He will make ways for you to excel in good deeds. He will bring yo towards His deen. He will save you from haraam and take you towards halaal. And leading such a good life will ultimately pave the way for you to have goodness in the next life.

Allah says in the Quran, “When (Allah) intends goodness for someone, He gives him guidance.”

Guidance is the biggest hasanah Allah gives a servant. Guidance and “hikmah”(wisdom) in this life enables one to live a life that pleases Allah.

That is why elders often tell us to ask from Allah what He thinks good for us, rather than insisting on something we think is right for us.

It is okay to ask for wealth, provided you ask for the wisdom to spend it.

Ask for children, but complete your dua by asking for a righteous and obedient child.

Ask for knowledge, but ask for knowledge that benefits.

Ask for wisdom, but also ask for humility.

The life of this world and the next are like two sides of a coin. How you live your life here will determine what you get in the next.

The hasanah of the next world is Allah’s mercy, that He May accept all efforts you are putting today to please Him.

We are far too weak to save ourselves from evil and haram, and we are far too ignorant to know what is truly good for us.

So ask for the hasanah of this dunia, and for the hasanah of the next. Each time you say this dua in your daily Namaz, be mindful of the words you are saying and mean them from the heart.

May Allah bless you with the wisdom of making duas that please Him. May your heart open towards Him in Namaz. May Allah bless you with the hasanah of this life and the next.

Ameen, sum ameen.

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This post is a part of our Ramzan Series 2019, where we aim to talk about short lessons from the Quran throughout the blessed month of Ramzan.