One of the ways of escaping sins is to reflect upon the reality of this world, how quickly it will end and how it is a place of trial and source of delusion.
“know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children, as the likeness of vegetation after rain, therof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw” (Surah 57:20)
There are numerous verses in the Quran that clarify the reality of the life of this world. The same can be found in the narrations of the noble messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassalam). Allah says:
“and what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.” (Surah 57:20)
This means that the enjoyment is fleeting and temporary. He must think about how quickly this world ends, how quickly it will be over and how the real life is that of the hereafter, as Allah said,
“and indeed, the home of the hereafter – that is the [eternal] life” (Surah 29;64)
As for the life of this world, then it is quickly over and will quickly disappear. Reflect upon this and the day when the people will be made to stand before Allah on the Day of Judgement, when they await their reckoning. How long will they wait?
“A day the extent of which is fifty thousand years” (Surah 70:4)
What is the period the people spend in the life of this world compared to fifty thousand yeas? what is the lifespan of a person?
“the life span of people from my nation is between sixty and seventy” (Tirmidhi, Hassan)
If we suppose a person lives for sixty years. If fifteen years, or a bit less, was subtracted from this taking onto account the period prior to puberty. Or suppose an entire third was subtracted from this due to sleep, because whoever lives sixty years and sleeps eight hours a night during this time will sleep for approximately twenty years.
Therefore, the time that you really utilize in your life is relatively small. What is this small amount years compared to a day the extent of which is fifty thousand years? If the servant reflects upon how quickly this world passes by and how quickly it ends, then this will also be a great incentive for him to stay far away from sin . Consider this meaning in light of the statement of the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam),
“Be in this world as though you are a stranger or a wayfarer” (Bukhari)
[Source: How to Escape Sins. Based on words of Ibn Al-Qayyim. Hikamh Publications]
ISLAM NOTTINGHAM 