Sandcastles

On a trip to the beach or seaside, we carry small buckets and cups to build sandcastles. After shaping a simple castle, our children take pride in their finished creation. They boast about how beautiful it is, but it only takes one sweeping wave to destroy that castle. In seconds, its structure collapses and returns to its original, dusty form. It is made from sand, and soon becomes sand again. Similar is the case of adults who take pride in their elaborate, expensive homes. One boasts to another about his worldly possessions but just like sandcastles, they will only last for a few fleeting moments. They too, are made from the dust of this earth and one day, they too will return to dust. Just like us.

The Prophet صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم said, “The two [Sunnah Muakkadah] Rakats before the Fajr prayer, are better than this world and all it contains” (Muslim). Whilst teaching us the importance of the two Sunnah Rakats, this hadith subtly highlights the insignificance of this world. Those two Rakats encompass the worth of this world and more. It is greater than all we possess. Yet unfortunately, many of us omit this prayer and sleep instead. Our children follow suit. We deprive ourselves, we deprive them, and then we wonder why our worldly pleasures lack pleasure.

As children, we love our sandcastles. As adults, we love our homes. But as believers, the home of the hereafter is the only home that will last forever. Notice that and seek that more than seeking this transient world. May Allah grant us the ability to serve Him and in the process, may He secure a home for us in the hereafter, Aameen.

— Shaykh Dawood Seedat