Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

The Balance
Al-Hijr (The Rocky Tract) - Chapter 15: Verse 19

"And the earth We have spread out, set thereon heavy mountains, and We have caused to grow in the earth all kinds of crops in due [proportion and] balance."

One of the key Quranic symbols that often features together with wasatiyyah (moderation) and justice, as an added dimension to them both, is al-mizan (lit. weighing scales, meticulous balance). God created all things in correct proportions, harmony and balance.

The Divinely ordained balance is pervasive and applies to every level of reality, from the physical to the alchemical, psychological, and spiritual. There is a balance of the elements within healthy bodies, and in our psyche—a state of balance in their naturally-endowed proportions signifies health, and wholesome living. And for the spiritually-accomplished Muslim there is a balance among the soul, body, and spirit that impacts, in turn, the pace and proportionality of his quest for satisfaction of their respective demands. To give each and everyone its due (haqq) in accordance with its God-ordained nature is to live in balance, which also means to live in justice.

Balance also applies to accuracy in measurements that often constitutes a component of justice, and a requirement also of fair trading and other levels of interaction with one’s fellow humans.

Compiled From:
"The Middle Path of Moderation in Islam: The Qur'anic Principle of Wasatiyyah" - Hashim Kamali, p. 86

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Worldly Affairs

The first Muslim community lived around the Prophet (peace be upon him) who was both the Messenger and the reference. He directed Believers, answered their questions and, thus, calmed and soothed their hearts and minds. His was the path of wisdom, knowledge and science. Initially, in his presence, there was no need to determine different domains of knowledge or to think of any kind of specialisation within the strict religious field. The teaching was unique, global, and affected all areas of human life but the Prophet made it clear that he was only a man and that as regards world affairs he could be wrong or wronged. For instance, when the Prophet arrived in Madina, he found the people grafting their date-palm trees. He said: “Perhaps it would be better if you did not do that.”The Ansar subsequently abandoned this practice but the yield from the date-palms became less: they informed the Prophet of this and he answered: “I am a human being. So when I tell you to do something pertaining to Religion, accept it, but when I tell you something from my personal opinion, bear in mind that I am a human being. You have better knowledge in the affairs of this world.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

Many other situations like this were reported, all of which confirm the Prophet’s status as a depository of Divine norm (furqan) and, as such, a reference for everything religious, yet a fallible human being in all other matters. This distinction was clear for the Companions and the Prophet variously consulted them in order to take a decision according to the majority opinion. This first distinction is very important not only because it clarifies the role of the Messenger as such, but also because it sheds new light on the Prophet’s encouragement to his Companions to make legal rulings. Just as he did his best concerning world affairs, so they had to do their utmost with both matters religious and legal rulings all the while remaining true to their Faith, the Islamic practice and the right path.

Compiled From:
"To Be A European Muslim" - Tariq Ramadan

Cool Tips!

Motivation

Charles Schwab, president of U.S. Steel and the highest-paid executive of his time, understood how to motivate men. When one of his mills wasn't producing its quota, he went to the mill manager and addressed him personally:

"How is it," Schwab asked, "that a man as capable as you can't make this mill turn out what it should?"

"I don't know," the man replied, "I've coaxed the men; I've pushed them; I've sworn and cussed; I've threatened them with damnation and being fired. But nothing works. They just won't produce."

"Give me a piece of chalk," Schwab said. Then, turning to the nearest man: "How many heats did your shift make today?"

"Six."

"Without another word, Schwab chalked a big figure six on the floor, and walked away. When the night shift came in, they saw the '6' and asked what it meant. 'The big boss was in here today,' the day men said. 'He asked us how many heats we made, and we told him six. He chalked it on the floor.'

"The next morning Schwab walked through the mill again. The night shift had rubbed out '6,' and replaced it with a big '7.'

"When the day shift reported for work the next morning, they saw a big '7' chalked on the floor. So the night shift thought they were better than the day shift, did they? Well, they would show the nightshift a thing or two. They pitched in with enthusiasm and when they quit that night, they left behind them an enormous, swaggering '10.' Things were stepping up..."

If you're looking to motivate those around you, throw down a challenge.

Compiled From:
"How to Win Friends and Influence People" - Dale Carnegie, pp. 238-240