'Value Your Life'

Neither the existence of man nor his presence on earth is due to chance and without purpose. Its creation is a divine decree for specific purposes. Undoubtedly, and without exaggeration, he is the only creature whom the Supreme Creator, Allah has preferred to others.

“And We have certainly honoured the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things, and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of Our creation.” (17: 71).

His superiority over other creatures occurs in different ways: Allah granted him free will, and he has a spirit that allows him to distinguish good from evil. He has also a soul which has been created by Allah and which He has breathed into him to make him human, and holder of some divine attributes.

Allah praised Himself in His blessed Book, when He describes the phases of the creation of man:  

“We created man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging. Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump (of flesh), and We made (from) the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators!” (23: 13-15).

Therefore, man must recognize his value and supremacy over all other creatures. He is an unequalled elect. His soul, and his body are all a favour of Grand creator or a beautiful gift. He is responsible to preserve, to protect and refrain from causing it any harm. But when man ignores all these realities, and that the existence of human beings on earth means nothing to him and does not represent any value in his eyes, so he is deprived of the his innate divine essence. This essence is blocked, and becomes ineffective. Thus, man considers himself a creature similar to others, with a beginning and an end. Nothing more. This way of thinking is the main cause of the loss of thousands, if not millions of lives.

Broken Societies: KIllings and Suicides 

How many people were exterminated from first to last without good reason? Crime has become a scourge that is gaining ground day by day.

At every moment we learn that a crime has been committed. Yet the reasons for the killings are very banal: a cigarette, a small amount of money, jealousy, a love story gone wrong, etc. Yet Allah has categorically forbidden taking the life of a human. “And do not kill any one whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause, and whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he will be helped.” (17: 34).

In addition to the massacres and crimes, another scourge which is becoming more and more recurrent nowadays is suicide. To end one’s days with one’s own hands is a very serious sin that Allah, the creator has forbidden. “And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allah is Merciful to you.” (4: 30). 

If He has given us life, why get rid of it? 

What is happening today is not only grieving, but also fearsome, particularly among young people. They lose their lives for diverse and vain reasons: exam failure, difficulty in finding work, argument with parents, etc., the thought of ending their days is seen as a solution to their problems. Suicide is a sin whose consequences will be heavy for the people committing it on the day of the Resurrection. Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah said: 

“Whoever kills himself with a sharp object shall keep cutting himself with it forever in hell.. He who commits suicide by drinking poison will take hold of his poison and swallow it forever in hell. He who throws himself from a mountain will be in hell forever and throw himself eternally.” (Muslim)

This severe punishment clearly shows that someone who commits suicide will have no rest in the afterlife. If desperation has resulted in such a situation, well it’s the worst that will wait there. 

Let each of us, Muslim as well as non-Muslim, make a good reflection to understand the true value of our life. Let us take care of this divine gift, morning and evening. Let us respect the lives of others. It is for us to meditate on the word of Allah: “So We decreed for the Children of Israel that whoever kills a person not guilty of murder or for spreading mischief in the land is as if he had killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as if he saved the life of all men.” (5: 33)

It is God who gave us life and it is up to Him to take it when He wants. Do not anticipate death by ending your days on earth. Never despair in life, for desperation is the work of Satan and those who do not acknowledge their Creator. 

Place your trust in Allah because “After every difficulty, there will (be) ease!” (As-Sharh, 94: 6)

Anger, jealousy and bitterness are bad counsellors. 

Learn to control them and to forgive those who have offended you. Be happy with your life whatever your situation. 

May Allah have mercy on us and forgive us! Ameen. All praise to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!


---- Friday Sermon of 24 July 2015 (07 Shawwal 1436 AH) delivered by Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.