THE LORD – MAN
RELATIONSHIP
And those who become fugitives for the cause of Allah after they had been oppressed, We verily shall give them goodly lodging in this world. But surely the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if they but knew. They are steadfast and put their trust in Allah. And We sent not before thee (as Our Messengers) other than men whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Remembrance if you knew not with clear proof and writings and We have revealed unto thee the Remembrance that thou may explain to mankind that which has been revealed for them and that haply they might reflect.
(16: 41-44)
Time stamps its indelible signature on the pages of history. Flowing water changes the geography of its passages and affects their populace. Similarly, the silent tide of time erodes civilizations and assigns new meanings to human values. The Holy Prophet-SAW left this world fourteen hundred years ago and these fourteen centuries heralded great events and numerous changes. One of these changes is that we claim to be Muslims, whilst in our hearts we think that we are doing a great favors to Allah and his Prophet-SAW by practicing Islam. A common Muslim covertly links his worship with strange worldly demands. He thinks, ‘if I pray, I shouldn’t catch a cold. If I fast, I shouldn’t contract cough. How is it that I practice religion and still fall sick?’ However, this was never the purpose of the religion given to us by the holy Prophet-SAW.
Religion signifies the relationship of a human being with his Lord, it does not infuse and Divine Attributes in him. A human being always remain a human being, he never becomes an angle. All of his needs continue to chase him he still feels hungry and also needs sleep. However, religion grants him a sublime blessing, it gives him the vision to perceive The Divine Being. A believer, with the light of his Faith, perceives and feels the presence of the Invisible and Omnipresent Being, Who can neither be seen nor felt. The religion given to us by the Holy Prophet-SAW doesn’t guarantee any protection from worldly losses or diseases as a reward for worship, but it does teach a believer they way to establish a connection with his Lord.
The human relationship thrives on various bases. When I read or write a letter for an illiterate person, I expect a favor in return. A person, who has the resources but lacks the technical know-how, will employ someone who needs money and possesses the requisite knowledge. That is a give and take, a business relationship, where each person wants to benefits from the other. However, Allah is above all needs and we cannot grant Him even the smallest of favors, nor does He expect anything from us. Then, what is the basis of our relationship with Him and how can we establish this relationship? Religion gives the answer to this question.
By Divine knowledge, the Holy Prophet-SAW has recommended two ways for this purpose. The first is that we accept and believe Allah as He is, No religion has ever denied the presence of a Supreme Being. Even idol worshippers, who assign partners to Him, don’t deny His existence. The Hindus of India worship almost thirty six thousand gods, but still believe in the existence of a Supreme Being who commands all deities. However, despite this belief, why are they called disbelievers? It is because they don’t believe in Him as He really is and they falsely attribute partners to Him. Every person paints a different picture of Allah in his heart. Then how is He in reality? He has answered this question Himself, through His Holy Prophet-SAW. It is therefore necessary to believe about Allah, as described by the Holy Prophet-SAW. This fundamental belief assigns two aspects to this relationship. The first is that, He is the true God Who is so Sublime that He is worthy of worship, while we are so humble that we should worship Him. This realization builds the relationship of worship. We fold our hands on our chest during Salah and profess that Allah is our Lord and we are His slaves, then we bow down and finally we place our heads on the ground during prostration. What does all of this worship signify? It is infect, and expression of total submission and subservience to Divine Greatness. However, this claim of ours is frequently put to the test in our practical lives. How do we, who claim this relationship, behave in various spheres of our lives? Does a man, who leads the prayers of thousands of people in the mosque, similarly obey Allah outside the mosque also? Does a person who fasts, refraining from his lawful food and drink, in obedience of a Divine Command, also obey other Divine Commands with the same sincerity in other spheres of his practical life? Does he refrain himself only from food and drink or from all unlawful things? Does he, along with his worship, continue to tell lies, deceive others and work corruption? If that is his business, then he worships only in form, not in spirit. He may have gone to the mosque for Salah but hasn’t actually prayed. He may have remained hungry and thirsty, but he hasn’t really fasted. The Prophet-SAW remarked that if a person doesn’t stop disobeying Allah, doesn’t shun lies, theft and evil, then verily Allah doesn’t care about his worship. His fast shall fetch him nothing but hunger and thirst.
Worship is the relationship of a slave with his Lord, He is the Creator and we are subservient to Him. The only relationship between us is that of worship, there simply is no there relationship. We can’t become His equals nor can we transact any business with Him, business is the exchange and fulfillment of mutual requirements. Whereas Allah is absolutely Independent of all needs, while we are totally dependent, reliant; we cannot remain independent of Him even for a single moment. Then, what can be the nature of our relationship with Him? It can only be the relationship of submission and worship. He is the Lord and we are His obedient slaves. Worship is the bond of unquestioned obedience and its strength is tested in the practical life of this world. Allah has not reserved His reward for formal worship only. It is not correct to presume that He will reward only those who worship and obey Him , do justice and don’t usurp others’ rights; this alone won’t be sufficient. Allah has made this absolutely clear by quoting examples of previous nations; the opening verse reminds us of Allah’s Divine promise regarding this. Although the time and purpose of the revelation of a Quran verse may be specific, yet its orders are not limited to any particular group, but are meant for the entire human rave. The verse addressed the early Muslims but its orders are still applicable to all of us even today. It cautions a Muslim against relaying too much on his worship and highlights an event of the life of the early Muslims, and those who became fugitives for the cause of Allah after they have been oppressed. This verse praises those Muslims, who despite terrible persecution, migrated only for Allah, even when the whole world tried to block their way. This verse also implicitly indicates that those who follow the religion will face numerous problems. They will have to encounter opposition from many directions, endure hunger and disease, and face the persecution of the oppressors. This means that all of those who try to migrate will definitely encounter resistance from the rest of the society. That is no easy job. What is the reality of migration? It means to leave one area and move to another where it is possible to freely practice religion. However, a more difficult form of migration is the migration from the bad to the good. It is not difficult to leave a house or city, but it is extremely difficult to change habits. The Holy Prophet-SAW has said that, if someone leaves a city for a woman, he has migrated for that woman and if some one leaves his city for wealth, he migrated for that wealth. Only that person has migrated for Allah. Who has left his house and city for the good pleasure of Allah. If he however, doesn’t leave his bad habits and doesn’t improve his conduct, then he hasn’t really migrated, even if he has left his city. The real migration is that we divorce evil in thought and conduct and leave everything that displeases Allah.
And now why should we leave our habits? We are fond of sleep, so why should we rise in the morning for prayers? We are fond of food, so why should we remain hungry during the days of fasting? Would that make us healthy? Would that protect us from worldly problems? No! That won’t give us health or protection but it would certainly make our Lord happy. Health or disease, comfort or discomfort, it doesn’t matter but what really matters is that our Lord is happy with us. It implies that anyone who migrates for Allah will certainly face problems. The first group of Muslims, who migrated in the way of Allah, was terribly persecuted, they were subjected to all kinds of torture. But Allah reiterates His promise here and reassures us that if an emigrant overcomes all resistance and withstands all persecution in Allah’s way, He will then grant him a better place, greater respect, more comfort and numerous bounties in the world: We verily shall give them goodly lodging in this world, and surely the reward of the Hereafter is greater. In our worldly life, we work and travel for greater comfort and respect, Allah says, ‘Just change your habits and obey me. Let My Good Pleasure be the purpose of your life and behold! I shall grant you everything.’ Look at those who changed themselves and migrated. The Makkans had snatched all their belongings including food and clothes. Weren’t they the same handful of nomads, who later challenged the might of Kufr and conquered the whole world?
Rustam, a legendary hero of Persia, expressed his resentment and anger in the following words, “It is indeed very strange that these Arabs, who drink camel’s milk and eat lizards are threatening the Persian Empire which has dominated the world for centuries.” Allah rewarded those nomads with singular fame and excellence, which no other nation ever received. By itself, that is an irrefutable proof of their sincerity. They left their ancestral property, homes and even habits. They used to indulge in usury, infanticide and bloody feuds. They divorced all of this only for the sake of Allah. Resultantly, they were beaten up, persecuted, tortured and besieged in Shoab-e Abi Talib for three years to suffer all possible hardships under an open sky. They endured everything but didn’t return to their previous belief or conduct. They said “Whatever we left for Allah, we have left it for good. We shall take it back on no account.” As if that wasn’t enough, they were forced to leave their city and part with whatever was left. Some had to leave his wife, some his children, some his brother and sisters, and some had to leave his parents behind. But do you know where these apparently poor and empty handed people were going to? They were not feeing for refuge but were on their way to rule the world. You can see the Divine reward for their migration.
Worship is not a burden, but it must be absolutely unconditional. Allah says, ‘Perform your worship only for Me. Make your migration pure for Me. During the process, you shall be duly tested. Don’t think that you shall be rewarded only for your verbal claim of Islam. Were the earlier people rewarded just like that?’ And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and lives and crops (2:155), but if you resolutely wade through all of these trials and tribulations, then you have indeed reached your destination. We verily shall give them goodly lodging in this world. Then, all excellence and glamour of this world rolled at their feet; be it wealth, power or prestige, no other people got as much as those who had migrated in Allah’s cause.
No doubt, it is the same Lord even today. It is the same God and the same Prophet-SAW. Allah’s promise stands firm and fresh ever today. Why is then ignominy and dishonour the lot of today’s Muslims? It is only the Muslims’ blood that is shed and the Muslims’ honour which is molested everywhere in the world. Even Hindus are ruling and killing Muslims. Do Muslims exist only to be slain? Although at some places Muslims are trying to defend themselves also. However, what is the reaction of the UNO to these issues? The world body decidedly votes for further suppression and extermination of Muslims. Why is that? Let’s ask ourselves, what’s going to happen if we don’t fulfil our promise with our Lord. The Quran leaves no ambiguity when answering this question: Ignominy is their lot in this world. Such people reap only dishonour and shame in this world.
We enshroud ourselves in unstitched clothes and cover thousand of miles to Makkah to perform Hajj. Muslims of us gather there every year. But let’s be honest, has that reformed our belief, thought or conduct? We leave our homes and dear ones to stand respectfully before our Lord and submit, “We are Your slaves. “However, at the same times, we are selecting our targets to deceive and defraud. That really is the limit! Isn’t that a total deceit? If we don’t intend to reform and change ourselves then why do we stage this false drama? If I don’t means to sincerely submit before Allah, then what is the fun of remaining hungry while fasting? Isn’t it that I am only deceiving myself and feeling proud? If I don’t plan to obey Allah, then why do I take the trouble to prepare for the prayers and lead hundred of others to bow our heads before Him during Salah? That bowed head is actually the symbol of my total submission to Allah’s Commands. But when I rise, I processed to deceive others, tell lies and work corruption. It means that I have also tried to deceive my Lord during these prayers. Such fraud certainly blooms into thorns of ignominy and dishonour.