This world is like a deep ocean—beautiful on the surface yet filled with hidden dangers beneath. A reflection on the timeless wisdom attributed to Hazrat Luqman al-Hakim and the path to safely navigating the journey of life.
“The life of this world is nothing but play, amusement, and mutual boasting among you…”
— Surah Al-Hadid (57:20)
Hazrat Luqman’s Warning to His Son
Inspired by wisdom traditionally attributed to Hazrat Luqman al-Hakim, we can reflect upon this powerful lesson:
“This world is like a deep, dangerous ocean. Countless people have drowned in it.
If you wish to cross it safely, build yourself a strong ship.
Let that ship be Taqwa (piety).
Fill it with Iman (faith).
Raise the sails of Tawakkul (trust in Allah).
Let Wisdom be your captain.
Let Knowledge guard your journey.
Let Patience be your anchor.”
What an extraordinary picture.
Life is not compared to a garden…
Nor to a road…
But to a vast ocean where every careless sailor risks drowning.
Look Around You - What Do You See?
A great scholar later reflected upon this advice and wrote:
People are playing games with their lives.
They chase wealth.
They chase status.
They chase admiration.
They chase pleasures that disappear as quickly as they arrive.
Yet Allah reminds us that this worldly life is nothing more than amusement and distraction.
This ocean is filled with dangers that many never see until it is too late.
There are sharks of sin.
There are crocodiles of vice.
There are poisonous snakes of temptation.
The waves of unchecked ambition have swallowed countless lives.
Its dark waters have blinded many hearts.
The more wealth people collect…
the more their greed grows.
No one ever reaches the bottom—
because this ocean has no bottom.
💔 What Has Happened to Us?
Hearts that were created to know and love Allah have become storehouses of greed and endless desires.
Humility has been exchanged for arrogance.
Obedience has been replaced with rebellion.
Tongues that were created to remember Allah have become weapons that wound families, destroy reputations, spread lies, and break hearts.
Minds that were meant to reflect upon the Creator have become occupied with endless schemes and worldly ambitions.
The five fingers of…
- Lust
- Passion
- Greed
- Desire
- Sin
…have wounded the very body of religion.
🤔 Have We Learned Nothing?
Do we ever stop to think about our own end?
Do we learn from the nations that came before us?
Do we remember those who were destroyed because they turned away from Allah?
Do we reflect upon the tiny birds that defeated the mighty Army of the Elephant by Allah’s command?
Remember…
- Pharaoh.
- Qarun.
- The people of Hud.
- The people of Thamud.
Each believed they were untouchable.
Each discovered that no one escapes the command of Allah.
Dust obeys Him.
Water obeys Him.
Wind obeys Him.
Fire obeys Him.
Even stones obey Him.
If these mighty forces remain completely under His command, how can man imagine that he alone may disobey Him without consequence?
⚖️ The Terrifying Day Is Coming
Imagine the Day of Judgment.
Hearts will tremble.
The earth will burn beneath every footstep.
The sun will be brought terrifyingly close.
People will drown in their own sweat.
The stars will scatter.
The mountains will crumble.
Humanity will move like confused moths.
Even the greatest Prophets will be overwhelmed by the enormity of that Day.
There will be nowhere to run.
Nowhere to hide.
Nowhere except the mercy of Allah.
🕊️ Two Groups - Two Destinies
On that Day…
One group will be welcomed with honour.
Another will be dragged in disgrace.
One will drink from rivers of pure delight.
The other will taste only suffering.
One chose Allah.
The other chose the world.
One invested in eternity.
The other invested in what was destined to disappear.
✨ The Truly Successful
Blessed are those whose hearts remained attached to Allah.
Their hearts shine with Divine light.
They were never enslaved by wealth.
They never worshipped status.
Their strength was faith.
Their provision was trust in Allah.
Their hope rested in their Lord alone.
Everything about them became illuminated—
their thoughts…
their words…
their actions…
their souls.
They became like oceans filled with light.
🌹 A Final Reflection
Who am I to praise such righteous people?
I am far from their rank.
If only our faith were stronger…
this world would never deceive us.
Yet so often we become blind…
and deaf…
even while these reminders stand before our eyes.
Still…
the door of repentance remains open.
Hope remains.
If only we would awaken before the waves of this ocean carry us away.
“This world is merely the journey. It was never meant to be the destination.”
Pause for a Moment to Reflect
Before you leave, ask yourself:
- What is taking me away from Allah?
- What am I holding on to that I should let go?
- What occupies my heart the most?
- What can I do today to strengthen my faith?
- What can I change today to grow closer to Allah?
- If today were my last day, would I be ready to meet my Lord?
📖 Editor’s Note
The opening ocean analogy is a well-known piece of wisdom traditionally attributed to Hazrat Luqman al-Hakim in later Islamic literature.
The direct advice of Luqman preserved by Allah can be found in Surah Luqman, particularly verses 13, 16, 17, 18, and 19, where he teaches his son about Tawhid, prayer, patience, humility, and righteous character.
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