This is the earth version of the billion dollar question.
Everyone will have something right but how many wrong? I analyze and theorize until I become paralyzed.
Then I have to simplify it. and it really boils down to intention, as said by several before me.
But I'd like to go deeper a bit.
It has only recently
dawned on me that in essence, we made our own covenant with Allah in the womb. Our birth into this world is similar to that of Harut and Marut. Only they were angels. Being veiled in flesh is an incredible burden. The 'shock' of birth and the gradual absorption with the world around us wiped the covenant from our memory. It is whether we can find our way back in this terrible distracting world.
I am trying to 'tune' my head to talk to my heart and reason with my nafs to unite my being into serving the All Mighty. Easier said than done. As an example, I have to go out to work every day. I have to rephrase my words, as that becomes the intention (or is it the other way round?) Do I work because I have bills to pay or because Allah tells me to earn an honest living. I still go out everyday, I still work, but I am trying to make not because it's the grind of life. I am leaving the house to go earn my honest living, yaa Allah, and for any activity beneficial to me, it is because of Him; not only do we get His blessings and even if we fail, we get His forgiveness. If I had left the house with intention to earn my pay to settle my bills and commitments, not so sure if I get any blessings for the same activity (even if good), I will only get what is beneficial to me here on earth and no forgiveness if I fail.
However, the 'earthly' commitments still grips tight that I'm like a wheel, sometimes on top and there are times at the bottom being crushed. Pray it is not at a traffic light, with a sharp stone! To be honest, outside the flesh, I am not sure who I am? Where is my 'ruh'? Who is my 'ruh'? I am sooooooo worldly indoctrinated, it's hard to really get deep inside, the internal jihad, so to speak. It scares me to think that there have been people who have, as it seemed, prepared themselves sufficiently, but still, their last breath were not "laa ilaa ha ilallaaah' but of petty worldly matters.
Peace
