Dunya (islam)

In Islam, DIN (دُنْيا) refers to the temporal world and its earthly concerns and possessions. In the Quran, "dunya" is often paired with the word "life" to underscore the temporary and fleeting nature of the life of this world, as opposed to the eternal realm of the afterlife, known as "akhirah". According to the Quran, humans and other communities have a limited time on earth before they pass on to the afterlife. In fact, the Quran teaches that everything that exists is temporary and will ultimately fade away. The pursuit of nearness to God is thus emphasized as the ultimate purpose in life, as only God's Being and Essence endure forever. Prophetic traditions echo the Quranic teaching, emphasizing the importance of the afterlife, or "akhira" over the present world. "Dunya" is an Arabic word that means "lower or lowest," or "nearer or nearest", which is understood as a reference to the "lower world, this world here below". The term "dunya" is employed to refer to the present world "as it is closest to one’s life as opposed to the life of the Hereafter". In the Quran, it is often used in conjunction with the word "life" to refer to this world, in contrast to the next, meaning the akhirah. The term "Al-dunyā" appears in the Quran 115 times and refers to both the temporal world and the duration of one's life on earth. The Quran emphasizes the temporary and fleeting nature of the life of this world compared to the eternal life of the next world. According to the Qur'an, human beings and other communities are on earth for a specific time period before they enter the afterlife. This period is known only to God and is referred to as "ajal musamma". "He it is who has created you out of clay, and then decreed a term [for you] – a term known [only] to Him . . ." (6.2). "For all people a term has been set: when the end of their term approaches, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor hasten it" (10.49). While the world is primarily seen as a place where humans prepare for the afterlife, it can also bring fulfillment and be rewarding in its own right.