Monday 20 June 2011

Those Whom Allah Loves Most - Light of Islam

THOSE WHOM ALLAH LOVES MOST

 


 

PRESENTED BY

AL-BALAGH FOUNDATION



In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.



"The day when every soul will find what it has done
of good brought forward, and what it has done of evil; it
will wish there was a far space between itself and it
(evil). And Allah warns you to beware of Him; and Allah
is Compassionate with His servants".

Holy Qur'an (3:30)

"They ask you what they should spend. Say:
Whatever of wealth you spend, is for the parents,
relatives, orphans, the needy and the traveller, and
whatever good you do, Allah is surely Omniscient of
it".

Holy Qur'an (2:215)

A man once asked the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.):

"What people does Allah love most ?".
He said, "They are the most useful ones to
people."
(1)

It is also narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)
that he said:

All mankind belong to Allah, therefore the most
favored by Allah is the one who is good to his or her own
family"
(2)

It is also narrated that the Messenger (s.a.w.) said:

"Whoever guides (others) towards good is
like the one who does it."
(3)

It is also narrated that:

"The doer of good is better than good
itself and the evil-doer is worse than evil itself"
(4)

It is also narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

"Do not do anything of good so as to be
seen by people, nor give it up because of shyness"
(5)

It is narrated from Imam Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s.) that
he said:

"Speak much of good in order to be known by
it and do good to be identified with its followers."
(6)

Ideologies. laws. systems. ideas and theories- created
by human beings in the fields of ethics, politics.
sociology. economic, psychology and the arts etc... all
express their author's ideological. psychological and
social inclinations.

It is also obvious that the nature of human creation
is defective and incomplete. People generally differ
among themselves in their psychological. ideological.
ethical and social background and education.

Therefore, some ideologies and theories reflect the
twisted and complex ethics of their authors and
originators who produced these ideals either under the
influence of their environment or by inheritance and
education.

Thus, we see some of these ideologies bear the spirit
of spite and revenge. while others are characterized by
chaos and disorder...still others reflect the greedy and
selfish nature of their originators. In every aspect they
mirror the nature. personality. disposition and
psychological state of their authors.

Thought is essentially a self-portrait. All the
tragedies, sufferings and evil borne by humanity are the
result of poisoned thinking transformed into
philosophies, designed either to deceive the human being
or be imposed on him by force. People are victims of
unbalanced personalities like Marx. Nietzsche, Freud,
Sartre, Durckheim and other theorists and philosophers
which urge people towards destruction and chaos.

The main difference between Islam and other ideologies
is its being the Message of Allah to mankind and a call
to reform humanity towards following the Divine Path.

Therefore Islam, through its laws and principles,
expresses the perfectness of the Great Creator. Who is
the source of good, knowledge, mercy, love. and beauty in
this world. His characteristics are made clear by the
call of the prophets and messengers in the spirit of
goodness love and peace.

Thus among the foundations on which the moral and
social system of Islam is built, is its call to do good,
to make the human being a source of power. and
reformation in this world. Islam frees him from the
wicked tendencies which cause him to abstain from doing
good to people and society.

A major social problem for the human being is created
by his selfishness, desiring good only for himself and
sometimes forbidding that good be rendered to others.

This wicked tendency which the Holy Qur'an
collectively describes as 'shu'h' (greediness) is
condemned. The Qur'an also condemns whoever is
characterized by it, considering him to be among the
criminals and the aggressors who stand against human
principles and life itself. and promises him intense
punishment in the hereafter, as it views 'shu'h' as the
source of all tribulations. the root cause of poverty and
aggression, hatred, spite, covetousness, deprivation and
sufferings in this present life.

The Almighty Allah has said:

"Do cast into hell every ungratefull,
rebellious one. Forbidder of good, exceeder of limits,
doubter."

Holy Qur'an (50:24-25)

The Almighty has also said:

"..and reconciliation is better, and souls
are prone to avarice. And if you do good and be
God-fearing, then surely Allah is Cognizant of what you
do"

Holy Qur'an (4:128)

For the same reason, Islam considers prosperity and
success as a protection against such harmful moral
sickness.

The Almighty Allah has said:

"...and whoever is saved from the
greediness of his soul, these it is that are the
successful."

Holy Qur'an (64:16)

When the Messenger(s.a.w.) talks about good and its
doers in society. He wants to teach Muslims and Islamic
society that an Islamic society is a cooperative one...
The social service performed by a scientist. farmer,
doctor. teacher, thinker, social reformer , and one who
participates in charitable projects, or helps the poor
and the needy. all these works are considered good deeds
to which generous people in society contribute.
Therefore, those who are doing good and are inspired in
their work by knowledge of Allah and who like to do good
seeking His pleasure. these are the best people because
of their social usefulness.

The glorious Prophet (s.a.w.) has guided our social
preferences through his example. i.e. serving the society
and encouraging social advancement while seeking Allah's
pleasure.

The Islamic view which sees society as one family and
creation (the human being, animal, plant) as belonging to
Allah and depends on Him. It aims to shape this world
with all its individuals and elements into a unity and
completeness, to deepen the cultured comprehension and
consciousness of man and to confirm his role in serving
to develop the world. Thus man is in need of mutual good
advantages. to help his brother progress in humanistic
ways. The animal and plant kingdoms are also in need of
and prosper through this enlightened attitude.

Man is the master of this earth and it is his
responsibility to improve it. Thus we see that Prophet
Salih (a.s.) when addressing his people, explains to them
this fact which the Holy Qur'an narrates as a profound
lesson for humanity.

The Almighty Allah has said:

"And to Thamud (We sent} their brother
Salih. He said: O my people! worship Allah, you have no
god other than Him; He brought you forth from the earth,
and settled you therein; so ask forgiveness of Him, then
repent to Him; surely my Lord is Near, Responsive."

Holy Qur'an (11:61)

We also see that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)
ordered people to do good and considered the one who does
so as the best one among people. It should be noted that
the truth of his call 'to do good' encompasses animals
and plants which is clear through his speech. Once a man
asked the Prophet (s.a.w.): Can we consider watering a
thirsty dog as a charity? he answered:

"To water every thirsty liver, there is a
reward in it."

The truth of this prophetic character is incarnated in
the Messenger's behaviour and in his august
biography...It happened once that a thirsty cat crossed
near him, he bent down holding a plate full of water with
his noble hand and allowed it to drink.

The Messenger's call to do deeds beneficial to people
gives life. value and meaning through which people will
feel the value of existence and the meaning of humanity.

If in the struggle for being fertile ground is not
found, goodness does not prosper and the human being
becomes voracious, life will be transformed into
unbearable evil and greed.

According to Islamic principles. a human being is
considered as a source of goodness and a continual
blessing. Any good word which increases love and peace;
or reduces the pains and the sufferings of souls which
are burdened with afflictions; or engenders calmness and
confidence in the hearts; or eliminates fear and
narrowness; or reforms the wicked one from among the
people; or removes enmity among people is the word which
expresses the spirit of goodness of the speaker.

Any genuine smile and constant cheerfulness in the
face of your Muslim brother will reduce his weariness,
sufferings and problems of life, is considered a good
deed whose author should be praised and is deserving of
the respect of people.

Any attempt to provide the needs of the poor and to
help the aggrieved one relieve his sorrow. is an act of
beneficence which is loved by Allah and for which people
will give thanks. Any display of sympathy, which a man
shows to an oppressed human or animal, is considered an
act of good loved by Allah and His Messenger and received
with gratefulness by the people.

To resist by bearing the responsibility of doing good
and to call others to Islam is an act of goodness which
is loved by Allah, Who invites people to do so.

"And from among you there should be a party
inviting to good and bidding what is right anf fibidding
what is wrong and those are the successful"

Holy Qur'an (3:104)

To direct others to do good or to initiate it, whether
through speech, or guiding, or b. y explaining its ways;
all are acts of benevolence loved by Allah and
appreciated by people.

There are different ways of doing good and its door is
open for all. Every one has the capacity to do so or
participate in it by directing others towards it. or by
standing against his greediness and its wickedness and in
this way he will protect himself from destructive ethical
sickness.

It is in man's capacity to be a source of benefit
through his innate power, ability and position. Let us
then increase our doing of goodness and continue to do so
because the charitable person is superior to the action
itself A flower is said to be better than the fragnance
which arises from it due to its being the origin of the
sweet smell.

One Hadith proclaims:

"The doer of good is better than the deed
itself."

And thus an evil-doer is described as to be worse than
evil itself, resembling carrion which is considered worse
than its bad smell as it is the sourse both of person and
terrible odor.

It is narrated from the Messenger (s.a.w.) that:

"To smile in the face of your brother; to
encourage others to do good and forbid them from doing
evil; to guide a man who has gone astray; to remove a
stone, a thorn or a bone from the road; to pour water
from your bucket into your friend's bucket, all these
acts are considered to be deeds of charity."
(7)

Everyone can be among the best of people in doing good
and, as a result, will be gladdened by it and respected
by all people. Accordingly then, we should not let any
day pass without utilizing it in doing good and not let
any opportunity pass without utilizing it to benefit
people.

By visiting one of your friends you can bring joy to
his heart and to visit a sick person. you can reduce the
suffering of illness. Reconciling differences among
people can remove the source of dispute. To say a word of
consolation to comfort a sad soul; to contribute what you
can to supply the needs of a poor man; to think how to
initiate a charitable project; or to solve the political,
economic and moral problems of a society; or to defend
against economic. political and social corruption; to
give shelter to a stranger who is grieved by being far
from his family or country; to instill pleasure and
happiness in the heart of an angry man; to secure a
frightened man who has lost the sweetness of security and
peace; to brighten the life of an orphan with sympathy
and compassion; to hide the mistakes or errors of others
which may happen in front of you without letting people
know... all of these are noble and charitable deeds.

Let us all then hasten to establish individual or
cooperative foundations. We should form committees which
collect money and alms, donate to mosques. clubs.
charitable associations and villages and spend these
resources in the fields allowed by Islamic law. These
initiatives are considered deeds of kindness which lead
to the reform of society, and the solution of its
problems.

Our goal should be to establish cooperative projects
which distribute financial assistance to the poor and the
needy. All can participate in such undertakings whether
young or old and according to their abilities. These
works can include agricultural and industrial projects
which will help solve the problems of poverty and
unemployment. Schools, mosques, hospitals and camps for
refugees and the disabled could also be built. All these
initiatives are among the deeds of charity and
benevolence whose doers are loved by Allah. To establish
banks which lend the poor and the needy and those who
work but do not have enough money to live or to help
unmarried youths to get married in order to build Muslim
families ...all these are measures against usury ,
economic injustice and will go a long way in securing the
roots for a peaceful Islamic life.

So, among the charitable projects loved by the
Almighty Allah are: Establishing associations,
organizations, schools, libraries for the sake of
spreading Islamic culture. doing good, forbidding
evil"..

Included among Allah's rights over us that we donate
part of our properties. abilities and experiences for
benefitting people. supplying their needs. reforming
society and solving its problems.

All can participate in performing such good deeds.
which are considered as charity the best of which is
continuous and whose benefit unstinting. It is narrated
that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:

"If a man dies, his deeds will vanish
except three: A continuous alms-giving, or a righteous
son who prays for him after his death or knowledge from
which people can benefit".

Therefore, among the problems of our society which
prevent its progress and development are foreign
dependence, neither participating in doing good-deeds,
nor establishing charitable associations or bearing
responsibilities.

Every one is duty-bowed to get rid of such unhealthy
conditions. Let those who have abilities participate in
such projects or at least call others to participate in
them.

Surely Almighty Allah is the source of goodness and
benevolence in this life. Try to direct yourself towards
Him. Certainly doing good is the right way leading to
perfection and happiness. Let the speech of our Holy
Messenger be an example in your daily life and a guide in
your way of living.

"Behave like Allah behaves."

Let us start doing good, and continue the endeavour in
order to spread charity and do good deeds.

 

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