Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 975 [Read full issue]
Response to Situations
The main purpose of an act of worship is sincerity and gaining moral and spiritual benefit from it. A ritual devoid of sincerity and moral and spiritual benefit is worthless. The Prophet Muhammad said: "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, God is not in need of his leaving food and drink in fasting" [Bukhari]. This means that God will not accept his fasting, which looks like a good deed while it is not.
An act of worship that produces arrogance in one's heart is an evil deed, not a good one. The Prophet said: "He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance shall not enter Paradise" [Muslim].
These matters depend on our response. The Prophet said: "How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him" [Muslim]. This hadith indicates that we are the ones who bring good or bad outcomes to ourselves. It is all up to us! If we are thankful to God for the good things that happen, this is good for us. If we are patient when bad things happen to us, this is also good for us. However, if we are arrogant when good things happen, this is an evil outcome. If we are impatient when bad things happen, this is also an evil outcome. Thus, based on our reactions, we determine whether what happens to us is a heavenly gift or otherwise.
Compiled From:
"A Journey to God: Reflections on the Hikam of Ibn Ataillah" - Jasser Auda