'Never Despair; Face All Situations'

The existence of man is not due to chance. His presence on earth either is not without purpose. His creation is a divine decree for specific purposes. Undoubtedly, and without exaggeration, he is the only creature that Allah the Supreme Creator, has preferred to others. 

“Verily, we have honoured the Children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferred them above many of those whom We created with a marked preferment.” (Al-Isra, 17: 71).

His superiority over other creatures is manifested in various ways: Allah granted him free will, and he has a mind that allows him to distinguish good from evil. Moreover he has a soul which Allah has created and which Allah has ordered to the angel to breathe in his body to make it human. Allah has made His own praise in His blessed Book, when He describes the stages of the creation of man: 

“We created man from an extract of clay. 

Then We placed him as a drop of sperm in a secure receptacle. 

Then we made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot; 

and then We made the clinging clot 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.” 

  ---(Al-Mu’minuun, 23: 13-15).

Therefore, man must recognize his value and supremacy over all other creatures. He is an unparalleled elect (from among all the creations of Allah). His soul, and his body are all a favour from the Great Creator, a wonderful gift. He is responsible to preserve, to protect and refrain from causing them (i.e. his body and soul) any harm. 

But since man ignores all these realities, the existence of man on earth becomes something meaningless to him and does not represent any value in his eyes. He 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. How many nations were exterminated from the first one to the last for no good (valid) reason?

Crime has become a scourge that is gaining ground day by day. There is not a moment which passes by without us learning of a new crime being committed somewhere. Yet the reasons for the killings are very trivial: a cigarette, a small amount of money, jealousy, a love story gone wrong, etc. Yet Allah has categorically forbidden one to take the life of another human being. 

“And do not slay the life which God has forbidden, except by right. Whosoever is slain unjustly, We have appointed to his next-of-kin authority; but let him not exceed in slaying; he shall be helped.” (Al-Isra: 17: 34).

In addition to the massacres and crimes, another scourge which is becoming increasingly alarming nowadays is suicide. To end one’s life with one’s own hands is a very serious sin that Allah, the Creator has forbidden. 

“Do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you.” (An-Nisa, 4: 30). 

If He has given us life, why then must we rid ourselves of it? 

What is happening today is very saddening, indeed very frightful, particularly among young people. They are losing their lives for diverse and trivial reasons: e.g. an exam failure, difficulty in finding work, a disappointment in love, a dispute with the parents etc. When any of this happens, the thought of ending his life is seen by him as a solution to his problems. Suicide is a sin the consequences of which will be heavy on the day of the Resurrection for the one who has recourse to it. 

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: 

“Whoever kills himself with iron then his iron will be in his hand, thrusting it into his stomach in the fire of Hell abiding therein eternally. Whoever drinks poison and kills himself will drink it in the fire of Hell abiding therein eternally. Whoever threw himself off a mountain and killed himself will be thrown into the fire of Hell abiding therein eternally.” (Muslim).

This severe punishment clearly shows that the one who commits suicide will not have any rest in the afterlife. If despair has brought him in such a situation, well there’s worst which awaits him in the afterlife! Let each of us, Muslim as well as non-Muslim, make a good reflection to understand the true value of life. Let us take care of this divine gift, morning and night. Let us respect the lives of others. It is for us to meditate on the words of Allah: 

“For this reason did We prescribe to the children of Israel that whoever slays a soul, unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it is as though he slew all mankind; and whoever save a life, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.” (Al-Maida, 5: 33).

It is Allah who gave us life and it is for him to take it whenever He wants. Do not anticipate death by ending your days on earth. Never despair in life, because despair is the work of Satan and those who do not acknowledge their Creator. Put your trust in Allah because “After every difficulty there shall be ease!” (As-Sharh, 94: 6-7).

Anger, jealousy and bitterness are bad counselors. Learn to master them and to forgive those who offend you. Be satisfied with your life, whatever be your situation. May Allah have mercy on us and forgive us! Ameen.

----Friday Sermon of 11 November 2016(10 Safar 1438 AH) delivered by Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius.