How should I live according to the way of Allah?

My dear sister, may Allah bless you!

Allah created two lives for humans: A temporary life for work and an eternal life for retribution for actions. As for the life of work, it is the worldly life and the life of retribution is the Hereafter where retribution shall be according to actions. "So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. * And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it." [Surat Az-Zalzalah: 7 - 8].

Allah made for us two worlds in this worldly life: Unseen world above Heavens and unseen world underground. As for the unseen world that is above heavens, angels, Archangel, and souls go to their lord therein. "To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allâh unless and until they are followed by good deeds)." [Surat Fatir: 10].

As for the underground world, billions of dead people lie there since Adam and until Allah calls mankind to resurrection.

A Muslim ponders over the Heavens and the Earth "Those who remember Allâh (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): "Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted are You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire." [Surat Al `Imran: 191].

Heavens and its highness reminds us with the Hereafter, whereas the Earth reminds us with the end of this temporary life and reminds us that graves are nearer to us than the moon, and reaching the heavens starts from the ground and from the darkness of graves if we want to reach the lights of Paradise.

Here comes the question which you asked: How should I live as Allah wants? How should I live in the world of actions so that I could get the great reward of the Hereafter?

The answer to this question emerges from the knowledge of the cause for which Allah created us in this life, which is to worship Him (may He be Glorified and Exalted) as Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)." [Surat Az-Zariyat: 56].

Scholars exerted some efforts to define the meaning of worship. The Shaykh of Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) defined it as: "Worship is a collective name for everything that Allah loves, such as sayings, actions, internal and external actions."

Allah loves the pure and the purified people who purify themselves from sins by Wudu' (ablution) and Tayammum (Dry ablution) those who purify the faults of their hearts with forgiveness and pardon, purify the ignorance of their minds with knowledge, and their sheets of actions with praising Allah and asking forgiveness from Him.

Allah loves the pious and good people "Verily Allah has enjoined goodness to everything." [Reported by Muslim]. He destined it on human beings, trees, birds, stones, and everything, so good people do not deal except with the best image of benevolence, the highest way of transactions, and most perfect ways of virtue, the best charitable deeds, and the highest types of goodness.

Allah loves those who observe patience "so worship Him (Alone) and be constant and patient in His worship." [Surat Maryam: 65]. Observe patience for His Painful destiny and worldly afflictions such as: fear, hunger; shortage of money, souls, and fruits. Observe patience for worry, sadness, harm, and at the time of fighting (during the battles).

Allah loves those who frequently repent "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of a believing servant than of a person who set out on a journey with a provision of food and drink on the back of his camel. He went on until he came to a waterless desert and he felt like sleeping. So, he got down under the shade of a tree and was overcome by sleep and his camel ran away. As he got up he tried to see (the camel) standing upon a mound. but did not find it. He then got upon the other mound, but could not see anything. He then climbed upon the third mound but did not see anything until he came back to the place where he had been previously. And as he was sitting (in utter disappointment) there came to him the camel, till that (camel) placed its nose string in his hand. Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than the person who found (his lost camel) in this very state. Simak reported that Sha'bi was of the opinion that Nu'min traced it to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him). Simak, however, did not hear that himself."  [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim with the wordings of Imam Muslim].

Allah loves the pious people who always remember Allah. Therefore, they do not do good but know that Allah is Well-Acquainted with their actions. So, they do these actions perfectly for the sake of reward; and if they intend to do evil, they recall that Allah sees them, so they leave it for fear of punishment. `Umar asked Ka`b: What is piety? Ka`b answered: O Emir of the believers, did not you walk in a road that was filled with thorns? He said: Yes. He said: What did you do? `Umar said: I roll up my garment, check to see my steps, and advance a foot and delay the other for fear of thorns. Ka`b said: that is piety."

Allah loves those who rely on Him and who resort all their matters to Allah. "And sufficient is Allah as Accountant." [Surat An-Nisa': 6].

"And Allâh is Ever All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs." [Surat An-Nisa': 81].

They follow the causes and depend on the Causer (Allah) in bringing every benefit, warding off every harm, and do not believe in the power of creation because they believe in the power of the Creator (may He be Glorified and Exalted).

Allah (Glory be to Him) loves the just people those who accept the right if it was given to them, they admit it if they are asked to, and they judge for the people as they judge for themselves.

Those are the one who are just in judgments, weight scale, and transactions in general, not those who give less than due. "Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, demand full measure, * And when they have to give by measure or weight to (other) men, give less than due." [Surat Al Mutaffifin: 2- 3].

Allah loves the Mujahedeen and the frontiers guardians "Verily, Allâh loves those who fight in His Cause in rows (ranks) as if they were a solid structure." [Surat As-Saf: 4].

Those who fight against Satan, its plots and insinuations, and do not follow its steps because it could not stir rivalries among them or between them and their beloved ones, it makes them forget about their Lord, it grieves them, and it prevents them from the Straight Path or drive them out of their religion. Those who fight against themselves by forbidding themselves from following desires, lusts, and open and secret seditions.

However, some people do not worship Allah by doing righteous actions, but with the utterance of the testimony of faith "No god but Allah" sincerely from their hearts, so Allah admits them to Paradise. "There is none among the bondsmen who affirmed his faith in La illaha ill-Allah (there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah) and died in this state and did not enter Paradise." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

This makes us limit the meaning of worship to a simplest definition for Muslims and non-Muslims: Devoting religion to Allah.

As long as worship is to devote religion to Allah, let it be known that sincerity does not come but through love. So, whoever loves something, he will be devout to it. So, none shall be devout to the religion but those who love Allah and those who do not love Allah do not obey Him. So, how should they prove their love to Allah (Glory be to Him)?

Allah tries the love of the believers to Him by fate and destiny. "Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good. And to Us you will be returned." [Surat Al Anbiya': 35]. So, every good and bad in this life is a trial and affliction from Allah. A true believer is the one who meets goodness with gratitude and evil with patience as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it." [Reported by Muslim].

As for those who claim the love of Allah, they are the ones who show ingratitude to Allah and do not observe patience for evil. "One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: "I will bring it to you within the twinkling of an eye!" Then when he [Sulaimân (Solomon)] saw it placed before him, he said: "This is by the Grace of my Lord - to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for (the good of) his ownself; and whoever is ungrateful, (he is ungrateful only for the loss of his ownself). Certainly, my Lord is Rich (Free of all needs), Bountiful." [Surat An-Naml: 40].

As long as we are commanded to worship Allah until death comes, we shall be in trials and tests until death, and the heart of the believers are tested by trials and afflictions. "But that Allâh might test what is in your breasts; and to purify that which was in your hearts (sins), and Allâh is All-Knower of what is in (your) breasts." [Surat Al `Imran: 154]. So, a reasonable person should realize that these graces are not always good and afflictions are not always bad. "As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honor and bounties, then he says (in exultation): "My Lord has honored me." * But when He tries him by straitening his means of life, he says: "My Lord has humiliated me!"" [Surat Al Fajr: 15-16].

Allah wants us to live for the Hereafter, so do not be tempted by the worldly matters and its adornments, and do not be busy with boasting of lineages and abundance of money and children. Moreover, we should not let lusts and doubts prevent us from working for the Hereafter. "It will be said to the people of Paradise, 'O people of Paradise! Eternity (for you) and no death,' and to the people of the Fire, 'O people of the Fire, eternity (for you) and no death!" [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

Allah wants us to direct all our intentions, needs, ends, and intentions to Him alone, so we do not love anything but for the sake of Allah, do not hate but for the sake of Allah, do not work but for the sake of Allah, and do not leave work but for the sake of Allah; the most important things is seeking the reward from Allah alone. We do not need reward, thanks, fame, rank, or anything, but we shall observe patience for the harm of people and the pains of fate.

By this we shall achieve the meaning of servitude and when we achieve it, we shall lead this life with reasonable minds which realize that the worldly life is just a passing to the Hereafter.

At that time, a believer leads this life with contentment as he leaves it with contentment where Allah calls upon souls saying: "(It will be said to the pious - believers of Islamic Monotheism): O (you) the one in (complete) rest and satisfaction! * Come back to your Lord - well-pleased (yourself) and well-pleasing (to Him)! * Enter you then among My (honored) slaves, * And enter you My Paradise!" [Surat Al Fajr: 27 - 30]. O Allah, praise be to You. No one can constrain something You have spread and no one can spread something You have constrained. No one can guide those whom You have misled and no one can mislead those whom You have guided. No one can give what You have withdrawn and no one can withdraw what You have given.

No one can draws near something that You have kept away and no one can keep away something that You have drawn near.

O Allah give us from Your Bounties, Blessings, Mercy, and Provision. O Allah, we ask You the everlasting bliss which does not change or end. O Allah, we ask You provision on the day of poverty and security on the day of fear. O Allah, we seek Your Refuge against the evil of the things that You have granted to us and the evil of the things which You have prevented from us. O Allah, make faith dearer to us and adorn it in our hearts, make disbelief and disobedience hateful to us, and make us from the guided ones. O Allah, cause us to die as Muslims, make us live as Muslims, and attach us with the righteous people without being afflicted or tried. Amen!