Fruits of our Deeds, Void Entertainment, Thank You Allah
Issue 218 » April 18, 2003 - Safar 16, 1424
General
An-Najm (The Star)
Commentary: "My belief is in my heart"; "I know I sin often, but my intentions are always pure: after all, it is one's intention that really counts!"; "No one will reach Paradise except for Allah's Mercy." While all these concepts are valid (i.e.
purity of belief and intentions are necessary), it is our
readiness to obey, strive, and act that deserve Allah's Mercy.
It is perhaps for this reason that Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have
mercy on his soul) once said: "On the Day of Judgment,
Allah will allow His obedient servants into Paradise by
His Mercy and divide it amongst them according
to their deeds."
Knowledge Without Action
As Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058-1111
CE) argues in his Dear Beloved Son
(containing advice to his student): "Be not bankrupt of good deeds,
nor void of [spiritual] status. Know for
certain that abstract knowledge alone will neither increase you in
power, nor strengthen your situation. Likewise if
a brave warrior in possession of ten Indian swords and other
weapons was alone in the wilderness, and a great ferocious lion attacked
him, do you think the weapons could defend
him if they were not used against the lion?
"....By the same principle, if a man
read a hundred thousand theories, they would be of no use to him if
he did not try and apply them. Therefore, if you studied a hundred years and collected a thousand
books, you would not be prepared for the Mercy of Allah, the Exalted,
except by action."
Three Principles
to Remember:
From this verse three important principles
can be derived:
1-that every person
will get only the fruit of his own deeds;
2-that the fruit of
one person's deeds cannot be given to another unless he has a share
in that deed;
3-that none can attain
anything in the Hereafter without the desire to strive for it.
Abul Ala Mawdudi (1903-1979) in his extensive
exegesis of the Quran, Towards Understanding the Quran,
points out, "Some people wrongly apply
these principles to the economic problems of the world and conclude
that no person can become the lawful owner of anything except of his
or her own earned income." While Islam encourages
everyone to work hard to earn their own livelihood, there are
provisions, such as Zakat and inheritance laws that
allow one person's income to be transferred to others on the basis
of their moral and legal entitlement.
Exception to this Verse
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
said: "When a person dies, his deeds come
to an end except for three: (a)
Deeds of continuous charity (Sadaqa), (b) (written) knowledge
with which humankind gets benefit; (c) a righteous, pious son (or
daughter) who begs Allah to forgive their parents."
[Sahih Muslim]
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Trusting
Allah vs. Filling Void with Entertainment
If we [the teens] put our trust and faith into something
false and take something false as our protector, we'll be setting ourselves
up for failure and disappointment. We must
put our trust in Allah and have faith that He will protect us and guide
us on the straight path. Islam may not seem thrilling and everyone these days seems to be looking for a thrill, something
to excite them and make them happy. Movie stars and athletes have become
glorified and are taken as role models. On
the surface, to the untrained eye, they appear happy, beautiful, and perfect,
but away from the cameras and deep in the night, they question their purpose
and fill their void with drugs and alcohol. Much like
a flower, they are weak and ungrounded.
Following Islamic rules may not seem thrilling and exciting
on the surface, but it is a fool proof way
to achieve long term happiness and peace of mind, unlike the instant gratification
that may put a smile on someone's face for a minute, but eat away at his
heart for a lifetime!
- By Sr. Sumaiya Beshir, Ottawa, Canada |
Thank You Allah O Sons of Adam, if God has blessed anyone with a house where he can live, water to quench his thirst, food sufficient to relieve his hunger, cloth enough to cover the body and limbs and a wife chaste and helpful in maintaining his position in life, he should thank God for he has everything he needs in this world. Everybody should take up some profession for his sustenance and content himself with it. Moderation should be adopted as the rule of life and some of the spare time, particularly in the morning, evening and later part of the night, should be devoted to the remembrance of God and recitation of the Quran. One should also listen to the Traditions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and join the gatherings held for recollection of God. - Hakim-ul-Islam Shah Waliullah [Taken from 'Saviours of Islamic Spirit' by Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi Vol. 4 pg. 243] |
