Financial Sacrifice- 4

 

On Bait'ul-Maal

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue today the fourth part of my sermon on Financial Sacrifice.

 

Today, we will delve into the meaning of the Bait'ul-Maal? The expression “Bait'ul-Maal” is a combination of two words, namely “Bait” (which means “House”) and “al-Maal” (which means “the Wealth”). The meaning of this compound name literally means “House of Wealth” or “Treasury House”, where wealth is accumulated and preserved.

 

Today we know the Bai'ul-Maal as a record of many financial transactions, whether it is in businesses, in governments, and especially also in the field of the Deen of Islam where many people contribute and all are recorded in many well detailed books and even deposited in the bank.

Financial Sacrifice- 3

 

'Say, My Lord extends provision for whomever He wills of His servants and He restrains (it). And anything you spend (in His Cause) He replaces it, and He is the Best of providers.' (Surah Saba, 34: 40)

Today, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I am continuing my sermon – series of sermons – on Financial Sacrifice.

 

Like I read before you, Allah is [initially] addressing Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) in Surah Saba, Chapter 34, Verse 40, and telling him: Qul! (Say!) – Tell them that your Lord, your Rab increases provisions for whomsoever He wants and He decreases provisions for whomsoever He wants. And Allah puts emphasis on spending in His path, for His Cause, and He says that each spending that His servants do for Him, for His Cause, then He takes upon Himself to replace this by a better reward for His servants, because it is Allah Who is the Best Provider – and it is to Him alone that people must turn to and put forward their requests.

 

That is why in connection with this, Allah has established for His servants patience – they should have patience.

Financial Sacrifice

  

In his Friday Sermon of 08 September 2023~22 Safar 1445 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius gives a deep exposition on giving in the way of God.  

Sincerity of intention and action is the mark of true faith. A true believer remembers Allah (swt) with her heart; is in awe of God’s commandments and prescriptions all the time. One’s mind, body and wealth- all will testify to devotional religious practices in everyday life: recitation of the Holy Qur’an; regular performance of the prayer; spending one’s wealth and resources secretly and openly in service of God’s cause. A public act of giving can encourage others to do the same. A person should not to be boastful; Qur’an condemns hypocrisy and show off- ‘someone who spends his wealth only to be seen by people’ (2:265; 4:39). Indeed, the true spirit of giving in religion- whether publicly or privately, is seeking only the Face of God, the approval and pleasure of God in sheer gratefulness for all that He has entrusted one with in terms of wealth and resources in this world.  ‘Those who give, out of their own possessions, by night and by day, in private and in public, will have their reward with their Lord: no fear for them, nor will they grieve’ (2:274)

Read the Friday Sermon Below: 

'Those who recite the Book of Allah, keep up the prayer, give secretly and openly from what We have provided for them, may hope for a trade that will never decline.' (Surah Al-Fatir, 35: 30)

 

Here “from what We have provided” does not just mean wealth, but also includes abilities, skills and means. So Allah is talking about those who spend from what He has provided them. They spend in secret too and openly too. Allah says that those are people who have made a transaction which shall never perish; a business or trade that will never fail. And its advantages will continue all the time. We know that in the world there are many businesses that prosper and flourish and develop but after a while, if not in the lifetime of a person, but in the lifetime of his children, the business ends and is destroyed.

 

But here Allah mentions such a business which never ends, never fails, i.e. a never-ending prosperous business. In that subject too, like I explained before, I told you that [like in this verse] spending in the path of Allah has been linked to other subjects. Otherwise, the act to just spend in itself is without any importance. There are people who sometimes give importance to people who have money and who can spend and they don’t give any importance to a person who does not have any money and who cannot spend.

 

In the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, we do not make any difference between the rich and the poor. The difference is in Taqwa only. If a poor person who is Muttaqi gives a little something [to the Jamaat – in the way of Allah], then we honour him for this financial sacrifice, even if it be little. There should not also manifest the feeling and thought that if the rich are spending, then we should not give them any importance. Importance should be given to both the rich and the poor. They both are making efforts according to their means to give in the path of Allah.

Mauritius and the World

 

The Situation at National Level & In the World

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I have chosen to speak to you today about the situation around the world, and especially in Mauritius. The situation is alarming with pandemics, as well as natural disasters, economic crises, loss of jobs [sudden unemployment]. The prices of all commodities have skyrocketed across the world; many people suffer greatly.

 

But what is happening in Mauritius really has exceeded all limits, especially concerning the increase in the price of medicines, vegetables, meat, chicken, food, fuel, as well as the increase in the price of transport.

 

All Mauritians will agree with me that the current crisis is more serious than the pandemic [of Covid-19 and its variants]. The economic and social crisis currently shaking the country is more serious than Covid-19. This crisis is not only about health but about the ability to see if we can live together as a society with dignity.

 

You know, many people these days live in anguish and suffering at the rising prices of essential consumer items. This rise in the cost of living was felt as a blow and a shock by the poorest in society. All the prophets (pbut) [Chosen Men and Servants of God] since the creation of this temporal world - and it will go on until the days of the Last Judgement - value [we value] work and sharing. Faced with problems of all kinds that seize the disciples who are subsequently taken by discouragement, the Messengers of God not only take an interest in their pain and their daily activities, but also trust them.

In Mauritius, there is public concern about the deterioration of the quality of life. Faced with these brutal price increases that can last, people are very worried and when people suffer they tend to shout or make a fuss and mess.

Ramadan & Fasting- 2

  

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil). (Al-Baqara 2: 184)

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, we have entered the blessed month of Ramadan, and today I continue the second part of my Friday sermon that I started last Friday.

 

Hadith: Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “Fasting is a protection and a powerful fortress.” (Ahmad, Baihaqi).

 

As I have mentioned last week, the month of Ramadan is a month wherein a Mumin (believer) must make a lot of sacrifice. The sacrifice he has to make is that he has to get up early in the morning to do the Salaat-ul-Tahajjud and take the Sehri. In my last week’s sermon I quoted this Hadith which shows the importance of Sehri. I also said that Roza [fasting] keeps us healthy. Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Keep the fast and you will stay healthy.” (Tibrani).

On 'Zakat' & 'Sadaqah'

 

Qur'anic Commandments- 6

‘And in their wealth and belongings was a rightful share for those who asked for help and for those who could not.’ (51:20)

‘Take alms out of their wealth, so that you may thereby purify them (of their evils) and enhance them in their virtuous deeds.’ (9:103)

‘…and observe Prayer, and pay the Zakāt, and set apart a goodly portion of your possessions to give for the sake of Allah. And whatever good you send on before you for your souls, you will find it with Allah. It will be better and greater in reward …’ (73:21)

‘And whoso is rid of the covetousness of his own soul–it is these who will be successful.’ (59:10)

 

‘Zakat’ is a Qur’anic injunction: an obligation on rich believers to part with a share of their resources and wealth with the needy members of society, in pursuit of individual well-being and collective development. Among numerous teachings that Islam recommends to ‘flatten’ the glaring inequities of the social order- where different classes of people live together with diverse fortunes; altruism and philanthropy are promoted through faith practices such as ‘Zakat’ and ‘Sadaqah’. Whereas Zakat denotes compulsory giving binding on all the rich, Sadaqah is voluntary giving strongly recommended on all believers who seek spiritual merit in Divine pleasure. 

The Holy Qur’an speaks about Zakat, in over 80 places; almost always join the payment of Zakat along with the observance of Prayer (Al- Salat) - both together constituting among the primary obligations of Aqeedah Islamiah.    “And they were not commanded but to serve Allah, bearing true faith in Him, (and) being upright, and to observe Prayer, and to keep on presenting the Zakat. That is the true and firm conduct of faith”. (98:6)

The payment of Zakat and Sadaqah by the believer in service of fellow humans and the society at large has many beneficial consequences. As the Holy Book notes concerning Sadaqah, “the alms are only for the poor and the needy, and for those employed in connection therewith, and for those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and for the freeing of slaves, and for those in debt, and for the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer—an ordinance from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.” (9:60) 

The believer stands to benefit from these good deeds in both visible and subtle, spiritual ways: “And whatever of wealth you spend, it is for yourselves, while you spend not but to seek the favour of Allah. And whatever of wealth you spend, it shall be paid back to you in full and you shall not be wronged” (2:274)

Altruistic individuals not just stand to derive inner happiness from their generous outreach, but they also contribute to betterment of the social conditions that attract Divine forgiveness, mercy, pleasure and blessings on them and their progeny in this world and the world to come; the Qur’an alludes in so many verses: “And those who persevere in seeking the favour of their Lord, and observe Prayer, and spend out of that with which We have provided them, secretly and openly, and repel evil with good. It is these who shall have the best reward of the final abode” (13:23). Likewise, the Book of God condemns in no uncertain terms those who remain indifferent to the social obligations on payment of Zakat.

Read the Qur'anic commandments Below:

On 'Zakaat' & 'Sadaqaat'

Islam fosters the spirit of universal brotherhood, and brings about peace and stability in social relations across class divisions through a framework of values that promote empathy, solidarity and genuine concern for the less affluent sections of people by imposing special obligations on the richer classes. The concept of 'Zakaat' stands at the centre of the economic values of Islam on charitable giving. In his Friday Sermon of 07 May 2021~ 24 Ramadan 1442 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius, inter alia, spoke about the significance of 'Zakaat' and 'Sadaqa-e-Fitr' (i.e. Fitra). Speaking about the transformative potential of Zakaat as a dynamic social compact of charitable giving, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) notes: "The regime of Islam does not foresee misery in society through Zakaat, but unfortunately, many Muslims do not realize its importance and do not fulfil this duty. If Zakaat was managed properly, then many evils in Muslim society and in the world could have been avoided."

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon Below: 

In the Holy Qur'an, Allah (swt) says: 

“And be steadfast in prayer (Salaat); practice regular charity (Zakaat).” (Al-Baqara, 2: 44)

“Take of their riches a donation to purify them and to cleanse them thereby; and pray for them; surely your prayer is sereneness (i.e., tranquillity) for them; and Allah is Ever-Hearing, Ever Knowing. Do they not know that it is God Himself who accepts repentance from His servants and receives what is given freely for His sake and that He is The Accepter of repentance, The Most Merciful?” (At-Tauba, 9:103-104) 

“None of you [believers] will attain true piety unless you give out of what you cherish: whatever you give, God knows about it very well.” (Al-Imran, 3:93)

The Many Rewards of Ramadan

The Night of Destiny and Spiritual Retreat- II

During the holy month of Ramadan, believers seek divine favours and all opportunities to draw closer to Allah (twa), through whatever Allah has ordained as Farz (obligatory) and Nafl (supererogatory) as well. The reward for a supererogatory work during Ramadan becomes equal to that of a compulsory work, and the compulsory work is rewarded even more.

As believers, we must always seek out all that is good for us in this world, and in the hereafter. We recite this prayer (duah) as follows: 

Rabbana atina fi d-dunya hassanatan w-wa fi-l-aakhirati hasanatan w-waqina ‘adhaba n-naar. 

Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire. [Ameen].

The believer always prays in this way [he recites this invocation often], where he seeks what will benefit his physical body in this world, and also what will benefit his soul, in the spiritual sense [in the field of spirituality]. And when one day he has to appear before Allah, he will come to Allah with a pure soul. 

A 'Ta'lim' Meeting at Mathra

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, South Kerala (India) organized a One-Day Divinity Study Programme for the benefit of its members-men, women and children- at the historic Noor'ul Islam Masjid, Mathra on Saturday, 09 February 2019 ~ 04 Jamadi’ul Aakhir 1440 AH. Many members of the Jamaat from different places across the State- Palakkad, Kodungallur, Alappuzha, Karunagappally, Kaliyikkavila, etc.- reached at the Masjid ahead of the Programme so as to participate also in the Friday Jumu'ah Namaz as well, Alhamdulillah. 

Brothers who participated in the programmes include Muhammad Sabir Saheb of Palakkad; PK Shamsudeen Saheb of Kodungallur; K. Saleem Saheb, and Na'ib Amir YK Hariz Saheb of Alappuzha; DA Zainul Abdeen Saheb of Karunagappally; Na'ib Amir/Jamaat Sadiq Ali Saheb; Zachariah Ibn Zain, Munir Ahmad Azim (Jr.), etc. Mukarram Amir/Jamaat Janab Jamaluddin Raother Saheb led the study sessions.

The Ta’lim/ Tarbiyyat meeting took place at the Masjid in three different sessions through the day: morning, afternoon and evening. In the morning and afternoon, parallel sessions took place for the men and the women. In the men’s section, the meetings were  done in a way like an extended conversation where the ‘floor’ was open for raising points to every one. Maulvi Ismaeel Saheb of Mathra was also present on the occasion.   In an age of doctrinal rigidity and sectarian feelings among the Muslims, it has become difficult to have a civilized dialogue among the co-religionists themselves. How the ‘big picture’ of Islam gets lost out due to such blurred visions and narrow readings of the Divine Will was highlighted. In such bewildering times, Mukarram Amir saheb suggested all members to study the  Friday sermons and discourses of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) on a regular basis to know Islamic teachings and to appreciate the straight and correct path ahead of us in our own individual and collective lives.        

Siraj Makin, the women's collective of the Jamaat, also held its special sessions on the occasion. Senior member Razia Hariz Saheba, Na'ib Sadr Fauzia Jamal- Zain saheba, Rajeena Sadiq Ali saheba, Sofiya Beevi saheba, Mubeena Sabir saheba, Fa-e-zah Maryam Zain and Arshana Sabir participated actively in the various programmes: Tilawat-ul-Qur'an, Nazm recitation, speeches on Qur'an themes as well as topics from Ahadith, etc. Na'ib Sadr Fauzia Jamal saheba, who recently translated into Malayalam the Commentary on Surah An-Nur (originally written in English by Hazrat Ummul Mu'mineen International Sadr Saheba (Siraj Makin), shared parts of the forthcoming book at the meeting. The Malayalam translation of the Commentary is to be published by the Jamaat shortly, Insha-Allah.    

The key take-away from the Study Programme was the Special Address of Hadhrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius on the importance of Salat (Prayer) and Zakat (Financial Sacrifice) in our individual and collective spiritual life, including community welfare and progress.  In his discourse, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) notes the foundational role of Salat  in the shaping of our spiritual future: its intrinsic worth in being the "unique gateway" to the Divine Presence and its instrumental role in seeking the mighty help of the Divine in facilitating our challenging tasks. Like wise, Hazrat Khalifatullah (atba)  points to the critical role of Zakat in community life. To meet the manifold expenses of the community in the larger cause of Islam, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) exhorts the believers to assume collective responsibility to contribute liberally to the cause of Allah.

The Importance of 'Zakaat' in Islam

Zakaat in Islam

Zakaat is a pillar of Islam and an obligatory act of charity ordained to every eligible Muslim. It is an act of devotion and an effective form to achieve social justice. It is also one of the five pillars of Islam and prescribed in the Holy Quran and in the Hadiths. The root of the word Zakaat in Arabic means blessing, growth, purity or improvement. The word Zakaat refers to the part of the wealth prescribed by Allah to be distributed among the categories of people described by Allah in Surah At-Taubah (Chapter 9, verse 60) and the Hadiths. Zakaat is an act of worship that purifies the wealth and soul of Muslims.

The purification of wealth means the mobilization of goods for financial growth and justified distribution (equal repartition of wealth). Purification of the soul means liberation of the Muslim’s heart from hatred, jealousy, selfishness, and greed.

Technically speaking, Zakaat is a fixed proportion that is withdrawn on an annual basis from the wealth and distributable profits and given to beneficiaries of this fund (as indicated by the Quran and Sunnah) for the well-being of Muslim society. Zakaat is calculated on the net balance after the Muslim has deducted his expenses for personal, family and other purposes (necessities). At the end of the year if the Muslim is in possession of 35 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver or the cash equivalence or article of commerce he must pay Zakaat on it at 2.5% tax, also applicable to agricultural products and livestock.

Zakaat is mentioned about thirty times in the Holy Quran and it is mentioned most in association with Salat (prayer) as this verse indicates: “Those who establish Salah (prayer) and give Zakah (Obligatory Charity/ Tax).” (Al-Baqara 2: 278).

Narrated from Anas (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Whoever departs this world with sincerity towards Allah, worshipping Him alone with no partner, establishing regular prayer and paying Zakaat, he dies while Allah is pleased with him.” (Ibn Majah).

'Giving in the Way Leads to Blessings'

Financial Sacrifice-Part II

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue the same subject which I started last Friday on Financial Sacrifice.

So like I said last week, the solution of all the economic and other problems of man, of all believers is found in spending in the way of God (Allah the Almighty). This is the remedy for overcoming poverty and all kinds of difficulties and problems.

Another remedy for overcoming poverty is faith. As a result of paying Zakaat and other financial contributions one's faith increases and one wins the pleasure of God. Allah never ignores those who make sacrifices for Him. He never deprives them of their needs. One has to become a beggar either of God or of the world. It is better to become a beggar of God. Therein lies true intelligence.

'Eid-ul-Fitr': Origins and Significance

Today is the first day of Shawwal. As some of our brothers and sisters may not be aware, Shawwal is the first of the three months named as “Ashhur al-Hajj” (i.e. the months of Hajj).

Although the major acts of Hajj are normally performed in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, yet the whole period starting from the first of Shawwal (i.e. Eid-ul-Fitr) up to the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah (i.e. Eid-ul-Adha) is deemed to be the period of Hajj because some acts of Hajj can be performed any time during this period.

For example, the Tawaf-ul-Qudum (i.e. the Tawaf which is usually performed by those who reside outside Makkah), followed by the Sai’ of Hajj (i.e. the quick seven times walks between the hills of Safa and Marwa) cannot be performed before Shawwal, while it can be performed any day after the beginning of Shawwal. Likewise, an ‘Umrah performed before Shawwal cannot be treated as the ‘Umrah of Tamattu, while the ‘Umrah performed in Shawwal can be affiliated to the Hajj, making it a Hajj-e-Tamattu. Tamattu literally means to enjoy or take advantage of a facility. A pilgrim who performs the Hajj of Tamattu combines both ‘Umrah and Hajj.

Moreover, the ihram of Hajj should not be started before Shawwal, because it is a disliked practice (Makruh). For these reasons these three months have been named as the ‘months of Hajj’ and the month of Shawwal has the distinction of being the first of these. Alhamdulillah.

And today, the first of Shawwal is Eid-ul-Fitr. This is really a great blessing which Allah has bestowed on the Ummah (Community) of His beloved and most perfect Servant and Messenger, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). Eid-ul-Fitr comprises of two separate words ʻEid’ and ʻFitr’. ʻEid’ means a recurring happiness or festivity and ʻFitr’ means to break or open the fast. Therefore, Eid-ul-Fitr means the recurring festival of the breaking of the fast.

The Eid-ul-Fitr is a thanksgiving day where we - Muslims - assemble in a brotherly and joyful atmosphere as one united congregation to offer our gratitude to Allah for helping us to fulfil our spiritual obligations as ordained by Him prior to the Eid. It is also a day of Victory for those who have been able to keep every satanic thoughts and acts at bay during the holy month of Ramadan and have enjoyed the performance of all good deeds to please Allah. Indeed, if the acts of worship (Ibadat) and good deeds of this Ramadan are finished and the Eid prayer is now completed, but the Ibadat of the Muslim believer will never finish until death. The believers are required to ever keep the good values and acts which they have learnt to maintain during the blessed month of Ramadan and to keep them alive for the rest of the year until the next Ramadan and so on till their death. Thus, Ramadan comes as a training for the believers to keep them ever on the right path and thus remain in the sight of Allah, ever pleasing and happy.

'Eid-ul-Fitr': Celebrate with Devotion

We are living the last days of this blessed month of Ramadan. Its departure is indeed imminent. Fortunate are those who have taken full advantage of the blessings of Ibadat (worship) and repentance. Bear in mind that the Ramadan may be a witness for or against you. Those who have been blessed to fill it with faith and good deeds should thank Allah for this great favour and continue this good practice even after its departure. 

Indeed the reward for fasting the month of Ramadan is Allah Himself. Fortunate are those to whom Allah have chosen to disclose His presence by pouring down upon them the grace and blessings which is embedded in the fasting of Ramadan and the Night of Qadr (Decree). Indeed Allah  never denies a soul his or her just and complete reward.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. (Az-Zalzalah 99: 8)

Allah has ordained for the Muslims such acts of worship at the end of Ramadan in order to assist us all in our expression of love and devotion for Him, to consolidate our faith and increase the weight of our good deeds. There is:

1) The proclamation of the Takbir (i.e. the glorification of the grandeur of Allah) beginning on the night of 1^st of Shawwal, i.e., the beginning of the Eid-ul-Fitr which starts at sunset on the last day of Ramadan.

Bear in mind that in Islam, by way of importance, the night precedes the day, all because the Islamic month is lunar. Therefore, the new Hijri date begins with the setting of sun. So, if today is Friday (Yaum'ul Jumu'ah) 28 Ramadan 1438 AH, then the moment Maghrib time begins, it shall then already be Saturday (Yaum'ul Sabti). And since the day starts at Maghrib, then on the last day of Ramadan (which can either be 29 or 30 days), we do not pray Tarawih (Voluntary Night prayers, usually in congregation). This is because the new day of Eid has already started at Maghrib. So when the moon is sighted Insha-Allah on the following Sunday night (i.e. 30^th day of Ramadan), then Eid-ul-Fitr shall begin, and this shall also mark the end of the Ramadan.

Finding God: Five Steps for the Seeker

Make God Almighty your Ultimate Goal:

People who are rather short-sighted and lack discernment define different reasons for their lives and are limited to worldly objectives and ambitions. But the purpose decided for man by God Almighty is according to His own holy words:

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (51: 57)

The real aim of God is to make the man understand the main purpose of his existence on earth, that is to say, to be completely devoted to Him. It is obvious that man cannot set a goal to his own life because he neither comes into this world on his own nor does he leave this world on his own, according to his will. He is a creature and the One who has created him and invested in him better faculties which are superior to animals has also identified a goal for his life. We understand it or not, the fact remain that the purpose of the creation of man is undoubtedly worship and understanding of God and a complete devotion to Him. Elsewhere in the Holy Quran, God Almighty has said:

“Surely the true religion in the sight of Allah is Islam...” (3: 20)

“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth (as one devoted to God). It is the nature made by Allah, the nature according to which He has created men. There can be no change in Allah’s creation. This is the true religion. But most people do not know.” (30: 31).

The religion that gives us a real appreciation of God and prescribes His true worship is Islam. Islam is inherent in human nature and man was created in accord with ISLAM - submission to the One God - and such is the eternal and true faith. This is to say that God wanted man to be fully devoted to His worship, that he loves and obeys Him with all his faculties. So He (Allah) has blessed man with all appropriate faculties to achieve ISLAM (to submit to Him, that being the real target for the creation of mankind).

Despite the fact that man is taken up by the various projects of his life, he can find true happiness only in God Almighty (Allah). After having accumulated enormous wealth, after having held high office, after having become a great trader, and ruled over a vast kingdom, and after having been recognized as a great philosopher, at the end he leaves all these commitments with great regret. His heart constantly reproaches himself for his total concern for worldly affairs and his conscience never accepts his illicit activities full of trickery and artifice.

An intelligent person can better understand that problem. We cannot assign a higher purpose to something beyond its/ his capacity, beyond which it/ he can no longer function. For example, the highest work of a bull is the ploughing of fields or irrigation or transportation. Its faculties are not adapted to anything else. Thus the aim of the life of a bull comes down to these three functions. It has no ability to do anything else. 

But by examining the faculties of man and trying to find their limits, we find him in search of God the Exalted. He wishes to become so devote to God that he devotes everything he owns/possesses to God. He shares with other animals his natural survival instinct. However, in the field of manufacturing certain animals surpass him. Indeed the bees extract the essence of different varieties of flowers to produce a honey so excellent that it surpasses the understanding of man up till now. It is therefore obvious that the summits of human faculties are to meet God the Exalted. So the real purpose of his life is that the window of his heart should open to God.

True Piety: Being Mindful of God

RIGHTEOUSNESS & SUBMISSION TO ALLAH

 

Who is a Mumin (Muslim)? How to become a good Muslim? These are questions which Allah answered in several of the verses of the Quran and which are also found in the Hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Allah says in the Quran:

Righteousness (Devotion to Allah) is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, 

but (true) righteousness is (in) one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveller, those who ask (for help), and for freeing slaves; 

(and who) establishes prayer and gives Zakah; (those who) fulfil their promise when they promise; and (those who) are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. 

Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous/God-fearing. (2: 178)

Righteousness which comes from the heart and which is a vital instrument to obtain true piety (Taqwa) is found in obedience to Allah in all the commandments which He has established for His male and female servants on earth. Be them men or women, young or old, all have duties towards Allah, such duties which they have to respect so that they may become true servants of Allah.

The Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said:

“How wonderful is the situation of the believer, for all his affairs are good. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks 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. This does not apply to anyone but the believer.” (Muslim)

But I have to mention also that there are stages in the types of believers, like Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) expounds to us: “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer”.

Despite the fact that a believer remains a believer as he believes in Allah and all that which He has prescribed, but not all believers 100 % succeed in establishing/put into practice all that which Allah has ordained him to do. There are even some who go on to lose their faith while believing that they were doing a good deed while they were on the contrary attracting the displeasure of Allah upon them. There are some who do good deeds, partly for the eyes of Allah, and partly for the eyes of people (ostentation). Therefore, this finally annuls the deed because of the weakness displayed in the fulfilment of that good deed.

Verily, someone, especially someone who says that he is Muslim, who says that he believes in Allah and all that which Allah has told him to believe (i.e., belief in Allah, His angels, prophets, divine books, destiny and the rewards and punishments of the afterlife) shall not succeed in anything if he does not submit to the will of Allah. The devotion which he says he has (towards Allah) shall become useless if he does not follow that devotion/righteousness with sincerity of the heart.