Fatwa ID: 08525

 

 

Answered by Maulana Mohammed Aabu Saeed Miah

 

Question:

 

Islamically, we try to live day by day and not have the mindset that we will live for forty, fifty years. This helps us to stay focused on the present. But nowadays, it is seen as a good thing to be organised and plan significantly in advance.

 

What was the approach of the Prophet SAW when planning for battles/big projects? Would he live day by day, and just plan for the current day? Or would he SAW plan something far in advance, but know in his heart that he might not live to see it through to completion?

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

The way to live as a believer is a balance between both mindsets, valuing each moment while being prepared for what’s to come. Preparing and planning is not contrary to abstinence and trust in Allah (Zuhd & Tawakkul). As evident in many Ahadeeth the prophet (pbuh) would prepare for journeys, battles, and other projects. He would fundraise, plan and take precautionary measures when he (pbuh) saw fit to do so.

 

 

To avoid confusion, just keep in mind that the process of living life is to make dua, take action and rely on Allah. As believers our Faith is that we don’t only live once, rather we will be raised to stand before Allah. Therefore, we plan for the Dunya and the Akhirah, not one or the other. We prepare our deeds to present to Allah at any time, we should be always spiritually prepared to meet Allah. Making long term plans in the Dunya is good as it will allow one to be prepared as much as possible, as long as one is mindful of meeting Allah at anytime.

 

 

Keeping in mind the two Hadeeth below, the believer should plan ahead, long-term or short-term while ready to meet their creator at any time. This is the correct mindset.

 

 

Abdullah bin `Umar said, “Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) took hold of my shoulder and said, ‘Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.” The sub-narrator added: Ibn `Umar used to say, “If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6416)

 

 

Anas bin Malik narrated that a man said: “O Messenger of Allah! Shall I tie it and rely (upon Allah), or leave it loose and rely (upon Allah)?” He said: “Tie it and rely(upon Allah).” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2517)

 

 

 

 

References:

 

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَفْصٍ، عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ أَبِي قُرَّةَ السَّدُوسِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَعْقِلُهَا وَأَتَوَكَّلُ أَوْ أُطْلِقُهَا وَأَتَوَكَّلُ قَالَ ‏ “‏ اعْقِلْهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ ‏”‏

(Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2517)

 

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو الْمُنْذِرِ الطُّفَاوِيُّ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَعْمَشِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُجَاهِدٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَنْكِبِي فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ، أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ ‏”‏‏.‏ وَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلاَ تَنْتَظِرِ الصَّبَاحَ، وَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلاَ تَنْتَظِرِ الْمَسَاءَ، وَخُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ لِمَرَضِكَ، وَمِنْ حَيَاتِكَ لِمَوْتِكَ‏.‏

(Sahih al-Bukhari 6416)

 

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Mohammed Aabu Saeed Miah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham