Outline
- Introduction
- The Conventional Definition of Retirement
- The Conventional Retirement Age
- An Effective Retirement
- Planning for an Effective Retirement
- Conclusion
Introduction
Alhamdulillah… Infinite praise and thanks are due to the Almighty Allah, who grants the best retirement package to those who plan and work for it. Complete blessings and salutations go to the best man, who ever best planned for a retirement, Sayyidinā Muhammad, his household, his companions, and all those who follow his guided path.
Rightly, hardworking individuals eagerly look forward to retirement. The wide perception implies, that the freedom you earn yourself upon reaching retirement is worthwhile sacrificing your working life, your youth, your health and, in fact, your entire life for. But hey! what is retirement and does one really reach retirement in this part of life?
This article thinks aloud about retirement, by which it seeks to understand how retirement is perceived in the conventional mindsets, as opposed to how it should be perceived when Islam and the Hereafter are taken into consideration. It also proposes a plan for an effective retirement, that you can’t afford to resist as a Muslim. So, happy reading!
The Conventional Definition of Retirement
The English dictionary defines ‘retirement’ as “the action or fact of leaving one’s job or ceasing to work.” Pay attention to “ceasing to work,” and you realize that you have the choice of whether to work. However, when you choose to work, then your free time, health, and youth should all be devoted to your job. And it’s only when you choose to cease to work, that you attain retirement.
This definition implies that you’re only entitled for a retirement when you’re employed or have established a company of your own. Thus, only when you decide to stop working, then you’ve retired. This means, when you reach a certain age, or find yourself in a given condition, you will have to cease to work, officially.
The Conventional Retirement Age
It depends on the country, in which you’re working. However conventionally, retirement age ranges between 60 and 65 years. Today, countries are gradually raising the bar to 67. In fact, your company may allow you to continue to work with less salary (of course), if it deems you fit, after reaching the official retirement age. On the other hand, in some jobs as well as situations, you may opt for an early retirement.
In other words, in a way or another, everyone makes a living from working. But while working, you must have a financial system that allows you to save, for your elderly age, when you retire. This is because, you cease to work when you no longer have the energy, health and creativity needed to add significant value to the company, for which you work. You don’t retire, simply because you want to. Especially if you work to make a living, rather than supporting a good cause. Instead, you retire because the company wouldn’t need you anymore… Bitter truth. Isn’t it?
With the conventional definition of retirement in mind, one will be forever worried and concerned that he’s not saving enough for his retirement. And true indeed, there’s no way an ordinary Joe or Jane, and for that matter, the majority of us (think about the bottom 80 known as B80), will have enough savings that’ll sustain him after retirement. Especially if he’s destined to live more than a decade after retirement. This is even truer if you take into consideration, the fact that 98% of the world’s population share only 2% of the world’s wealth.
An Effective Retirement
The conventional retirement may be effective, depending on the amount of fortune you make before your retirement takes effect. But little do we realize –assuming we’ve really managed to make some fortune– that the majority will not have to use (I won’t say enjoy) their retirement savings. Simply because some will kick the bucket before reaching the perceived retirement age. Some will pass on a year, two or three years, after retirement. This is, if at all, you have made any savings.
The hard truth is, after we pass on everyone will get to realize that real retirement actually takes place after death. Never before death. Those who have saved enough for that real retirement will be forever grateful. And those who failed, will be in a regret, when it may be too late.
This is to say, the retirement you go for when you stop working (whether in the form of working for an employer or running a business of your own) is an artificial retirement, crafted and promoted by man. Whereby real retirement is when you are done with the duties you were created to serve in this life. And these duties come to an end the moment you take your final breath. It’s worth remembering, that the duties come to an end. But its effects carry on, through your legacy.
The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam emphasizes in one ḥadīth, that when the day of resurrection is about to happen, if you happen to be having a plant in your hand and about plant, if you can do so before the last moment strikes, do so. In other words, even on your deathbed, there are deeds that earn you more savings. Because real retirement hasn’t started yet.
Above that, the Qur’an tells us through the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam that one should worship God until he final breath. The assumption is that you and I agree, that our basic job on earth is to worship God.
وَٱعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ ٱلْيَقِينُ
“and worship your Lord until what is certain [death] comes to you” (Sūrah Al-Ḥijr, 15:99).
The implication of the above verse is; as long as you’re alive, there’s no such thing called retirement. Therefore, it will be wise for the Muslim to engage himself in activities that are beneficial to him and those around him. If not, chances are that Allah will engage him against his will. This engagement comes in many forms, including sickness, travelling for treatment, encountering social issues, unnecessary worries and concerns.
If you have ever taken care of an elderly person, you must have come to the realisation, that there’s no retirement with elderly age. If you have never experienced taking care of an elder person, then I would suggest, that you spare a few minutes of your precious time, and seek to talk to your elderly uncles, or elderly neighbours. The chances are, you’ll conclude that elderly age is all about pains, anxiety, loneliness and helplessness, among others. This goes without mentioning loss of memory, sensitiveness and whatnot. This is true, regardless of the financial condition of the person. It’s just parts and parcels of elderly age.
وَمَن نُّعَمِّرْهُ نُنَكِّسْهُ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ ۖ أَفَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ
“If We extend anyone's life, We reverse his development. Can they not use their reason?” (Sūrah Yāsīn, 36:68).
Such conditions are treated or overcome with activities. Not with money or affordability. The common notes in this age include pains, anxieties, sleeplessness and the list goes on. When this happens, you may frequent the hospital. Not many know or would admit that when it comes to pains, your financial means can only afford you treatment, not necessarily a healing. Sometimes, the more you can afford treatment, the more your body is exposed to cuttings [read: pains] in the name of surgery.
In a nutshell, the struggle in an elderly age, equals or is even worse than you’ll undergo in meeting end-needs during your youth age. This is because it happens at your weakest moments in life, at a time when you can hardly communicate your pains and feelings and be understood well.
Having said that, the happiest elderly you’ll find is the one who has some physical activities that keeps his body flexible, intellectual activities that keeps his mind vibrant and spiritual relevance that keeps his soul connected with the Creator.
If you’re reading this, it means you still have the chance to plan for a real retirement. A retirement which involves no insurance companies, yet it comes with abundant returns. If you really believe in the effectiveness of the conventional retirement packages, which requires that one works tirelessly, then you should have what it takes to appreciate that the real retirement is more effective, and failing to work towards it have painful implications.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا ﴿١٠٧﴾ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًا ﴿١٠٨﴾ـ
“Those who believe and do good works shall have the gardens of Paradise for their abode. They shall forever dwell in the Gardens of Paradise, desiring no change” (Sūrah Al-Kahf, 18:107-108).
Over there in the abode of Paradise, no pain nor worries and anxieties. No sickness, let alone the need for treatment. For that, as a dweller, you’ll be saying, out of gratitude:
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا ٱلْحَزَنَ ۖ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ ﴿٣٤﴾ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحَلَّنَا دَارَ ٱلْمُقَامَةِ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ لَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا لُغُوبٌ ﴿٣٥﴾ـ
“Praise to Allah, who has removed from us [all] sorrow. Indeed, our Lord is Forgiving and Appreciative. He who has settled us in the home of duration out of His bounty. There touches us not in it any fatigue, and there touches us not in it weariness [of mind]” (Sūrah Fāṭir, 35:34-35).
Planning for an Effective Retirement
Certainly, planning for a conventional retirement may be a good thing for the Muslim to consider. The only thing is that as far the majority of people are concerned, they just can’t save enough to enjoy a good retirement package. On the other hand, even those who can really afford, planning a conventional retirement can only afford treatment; they can’t prevent calamities from happening.
Here, I have a good news for you. And it comes from your beloved; Rasūlullah, ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. There are two easy things you should be doing as part of your preparation for a good elderly age. (I don’t want to call it retirement, because there’s no such thing as retirement in this life.) These two things are du’a and charity. Yes, you read them right; du‘a and charity. Let me elaborate.
Du’a; Seeking Refuge from Geriatric Old Age
Du‘a is one of the most effective tools that help you to prepare for a painless elderly age. No hospitals, no surgeries, and no depressions. Imām al-Bukhārī reports that Sayyidunā Sa‘d ibn Abī Waqqāṣ raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu used to teach people the following du‘a, and would say, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to say them after prayers.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلَى أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ”.
“O Allah! I seek refuge with You from miserliness, and seek refuge with You from cowardice, and seek refuge with You from being brought back to a geriatric old age, and seek refuge with You from the afflictions of the world, and seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave.”
A brief reflection on the meaning of this powerful du‘a reveals how, when the du‘a is answered, your elderly age will be smooth sailing; less painful, should there be any and free from depression. It won’t prevent you from aging. But it will ease your pains and grant you security and piece of mind. How? That’s decided by Him.
Giving Charity: Alternative to the Conventional Retirement Insurance
The returns and rewards of giving charity is abundant. It’s a fact that it entitles you to the prayers of the angels. It’s also a fact, that it grants you shade on the Day of Resurrection. In other words, giving charity is one of the deeds that earn you the virtue of being loved by Allah. It’s also one of the 7 keys to real prosperity. Above all that, giving charity also protects you against calamities. Especially in your times of desperate need and weakness.
Yes, you give charity for Allah’s sake. And you give it when you can afford. Therefore, Allah takes it upon Himself to provide for you in your times of need, when you can’t afford. Imām al-Bukhārī reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says in a ḥadīth Qudsī:
قَالَ اللَّهُ أَنْفِقْ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْكَ ”.
“Allah said, ‘O son of Adam! Spend, and I shall spend on you.”
It’s hoped that, if you subscribe to these Prophetic teachings; du’a and constant charity giving, your pains in your elderly age will be lifted, or in worst situations, eased. Even if you fall sick, your struggle will be lesser than those around you. If you will have to endure pains, you’ll be surrounded by people of love, compassion and those who will pray for you, now and after your passing.
Away from discussing the permissibility or prohibition of signing up for insurances and retirement insurance in particular, I would say, when one signs up for a retirement insurance package, in the best situation, the company will pay him back the best a company can afford to pay back to a client. But, you must pray hard, that the company is not hit by bankruptcy in your lifetime. However, when you sign up to constant charity giving (without a written obligation as you must, with insurance companies, but you give as and when you can afford), the returns are granted and secured. Moreover, in the worst situation, your payback is more than any human being or company can pay you. In the best situation, you reap the fruits of this good deed in this life and in the hereafter.
Conclusion
Yes, there’s a retirement at the end of the day. In fact, there’re two of them. A real retirement, and a synthetic one. The choice is yours to determine which you aim for. Unarguably, you can aim for both. But there may be a situation where you have to choose one. When that time comes, you should know what to choose. Which either your decision, everyone will reach the true retirement. But not everyone will have to live the manmade retirement, even if they have worked harder, accumulated lots of fortune, and prepared for it.
It’s important to note, that you need money, to be able to prepare for the manmade retirement. Regardless of the means, through which the money is been accumulated. Whereby, money is not a prerequisite in preparation for the true retirement. Wherever money becomes applicable, i.e., when you happen to be well off, then only pure and clean money can earn you a good retirement.
In no circumstance does this article imply, that you shouldn’t plan for a conventional retirement. In fact, Islam encourages everyone to fairly enjoy their share of this life. But as much as the conventional retirement is worthy, your retirement in the next life is far worthier the struggle, strive and sacrifice.
Now, you know retirement takes places only when one kicks the bucket. Before that, you may only experience an elderly age. If you will have to experience that, you need to have activities that bring you happiness and make the experience fruitful and worthwhile. Inshā Allah, our next article will be sharing some activities that are helpful in preparing and overcoming that period. So, stay tuned.
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Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
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