An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the pay check, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour.
The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.”
What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.
So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized, we would have done it differently.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.
The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said: “On the Day of Judgement, one will not be able to move away, before Allah, until he has accounted for his:
LIFE: How it was spent?
KNOWLEDGE: To what use it was put to?
WEALTH: How it was acquired and spent?
BODY: How it was utilised?”
Our temporary life here is only a life of probation, for the perpetual life in the Hereafter. Strive as much as we can with good deeds so that our LIFE; KNOWLEDGE; WEALTH AND BODY; when questioned on the Day of Judgement, will have acceptable; sincere; virtuous actions written all over.
May we perform our Actions with UTMOST SINCERITY now; so that we may reap the benefits in the Hereafter. INSHA-ALLAH.