Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Marriage Proposal
Al-Qasas (The Story) - Chapter 28: Verse 27

"[The father] said: 'I will give you one of these two daughters of mine in marriage on the understanding that you will remain eight years in my service. If you should complete ten years, it will be of your own choice. I do not wish to impose any hardship on you. You will find me, if God so wills, an upright man.'"

The father probably sensed a mutual liking between his daughter and Moses, one which could be the basis for a happy family. Frankly and simply the old man offered on of his daughters, without naming her, as a wife for Moses, but he might have felt that the intended girl was known to him as they seemed inclined towards each other. He stated this without any embarrassment, for the offer was one of marriage. There is after all nothing to be embarrassed about when the aim is to build a home and establish a family. It is only when people move away from sound, natural values, to observe unhealthy traditions, that they are unnecessarily restricted. Thus, in our social environment today, we see that no parent or guardian can approach a man of sound faith and integrity to propose that he should marry his daughter, sister or other relative. Such traditions make it imperative that the man or his parents should make the proposal, as it is improper that a proposal should be made by the woman's side. The irony is that under such deviant traditions and in such social environment young men and women meet, talk and play together without any intention to get engaged to be married. Once the idea of marriage in entertained, affected shyness is observed and other barriers are erected to prevent any simple, frank and honest discussion.

During the Prophet's lifetime, fathers used to offer their daughters to men marriage. Indeed, women offered themselves to the Prophet or to whoever he wished them to marry. This was done in all honesty and propriety, without any embarrassment for anyone. It was with such an open and simple approach that Islamic society used to build its homes. Nothing needed to be done under cover, or with affected or devious means. This is exactly what the old man did with regard to Moses, promising not to impose any hardship on him or to ask him what was beyond his means. He hoped that, with God's grace, Moses would find him to be an upright man. This is the most appropriate way of talking about oneself. One neither boasts of one's virtues nor emphatically states that one is a good person. One only hopes to be so, leaving the matter to God.

Compiled From:
"In the Shade of the Quran" - Sayyid Qutb, Vol. 12, pp. 221, 222

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Using Wealth

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Verily, those who have the most [wealth] will be the ones with least on the Day of Resurrection except for the one who says, 'This is for that, this for that and this is for that [in other words, he gives the wealth away for good causes].'" [Bukhari, Muslim]

In general, gathering a lot of wealth in this world takes up a lot of time and effort. Those who gather such wealth are spending much of their time in such worldly matters and, hence, they do not have much time to spend for matters of the next world. Unless they use that wealth in good ways before Allah takes it from them, they will be among the people with the least on the Day of Judgment.

Using wealth in a good way is one of the greatest ways by which one can earn Allah's pleasure. The relevant issue is what the person does when he has wealth. Does he use it in ways that are beneficial to him for his meeting with his Lord? Or does he use it in ways that do not benefit him or may even harm him? If he does not use that wealth in a way that is beneficial to himself in the Hereafter, he has lost a tremendous opportunity. He may never get that opportunity again. When he uses up all of his wealth in frivolous pursuits, there may come a time when he needs all he has simply to support himself and his family. At that time, the question of him giving for the sake of Allah will no longer be a viable question. He will not have the ability to give and, worst of all, he demonstrated to Allah that if he had the ability to give, he would not give.

Compiled From:
"Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi" - Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo, p. 1554

Blindspot!

Serving Everyone

There is a vast ground for Muslims' social relations as a minority with non-Muslims. Broadly it is at two levels: (i) Excellent social relations with non-Muslims and (ii) establishing centres for social welfare. Both these steps are inter-dependent. For these are rooted in the mindset produced by Islamic teachings. If this is realized that a Muslim is obliged to serve anyone, without any discrimination, it would motivate us to share the sorrows of the suffering humanity and helping those in need. Muslims would be thus mentally prepared for assisting others in an active manner. It would help eradicate such negative traits such as selfishness, greed, and self-centredness and promote values such as sacrifice, self-abnegation, spending on others, generosity, treating others well, maintaining ties of kinship, love, affection and concern for others. This would prompt them to treat others on a preferential basis.

Compiled From:
"The Prophet Muhammad : A Role Model for Muslim Minorities" - Yasin Mazhar Siddiqi, p. 194