Conclusion

This world is only a temporary place of rest for people, for our true abode is the afterlife. The true abode of those believers who ran after good deeds in this world will be Paradise, while that of those unbelievers who ran away from the truth will be Hell.

Believers know that they will be tested with many trials in this temporary worldly life. They also know that their real goal is not to settle down in the very short and fleeting life of this world, but to establish a good place in the eternal hereafter, which contains no fault or deficiency. This worldly life was created so that people would desire the afterlife, and thus has been filled with deficiencies so that people would not become so attached to it.

Knowing this, believers will desire to gain Paradise and therefore will carry this desire with them in everything that they do here in order to gain much reward. While those who do not believe and so establish and hope to attain their own petty goals in this world, believers set their sights on the afterlife.

The afterlife is the place that all believers desire while living this worldly life. They never forget it, and so do not get caught up in this world. Since their belief in the hereafter is complete, all of their actions, worship, and hopes are turned toward it.

Believers race each other to do good deeds, work toward attaining the best character, and try to be a servant close to Allah due to their faith in and love for Him, as well as their hope that they will obtain His mercy and Paradise. The stronger the hope, the more intense the struggle.

Hope in Allah's mercy and Paradise greatly influence a person's whole life, attitude toward life, sincerity of worship, and resolve. Those who hope for Allah's mercy cannot do anything that He has forbidden, ignore something that He has commanded, say a bad word, or neglect the voice of his or her conscience. They advise people to good and right, discourage them from evil, and carry out with enthusiasm many other forms of worship Allah has commanded.

Within this enthusiastic make-up there is no room for hopelessness. These are the people with whom Allah is content, and to whom He has promised Paradise.

This is what you were promised. It is for every careful penitent: those who fear the All-Merciful in the Unseen and come with a contrite heart. Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Timeless Eternity. They will have there everything they want, and with Us there is still more. (Surah Qaf, 32-35)