Dr. Saleh as-Saleh Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 29 | Size: 1 MB
Allah could not have created this
universe without a purpose. He is All-Wise, All- Knowledgeable,
All-Merciful and All-Just. All of these attributes entail providing ways
of guidance that would lead to the proper knowledge of Him, and thus
the right way to worship Him:
أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى
“Does man think that he will be left Sudaa1 (without a purpose)?”(Qur’an 75: 36)
One of Allah’s ways of guidance is the
office of Messengership which involves the Message and the Messenger.
The essence of the Message is to direct man to relate to His Creator
through complete submission and obedience (this is the meaning of
Islam).
Man does not possess the air he breathes.
He does not create. He is not the creator of himself. He needs to know
what benefits him and what harms him. The Message from Allah comprehends
everything. It brings man to live for a noble purpose. That is why
Allah called the Message of Islam, an Inspiration and a Light:
“And thus We
have sent to you (O Muhammad) Ruhan2 of Our command. You knew not what
is the Book (the Qur’an), nor what is Iman (Faith)? But We have made it
(the Qur’an) a Light, whereby We guide whom We will of Our bondsmen. And
verily you are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path.”(Qur’an 42: 52)
The Inspiration brings Life, and the Light brings Light. Allah gave a beautiful parable on the Message and its effects, saying:
He sends
down water (rain) from the sky, and the valleys flow according to their
measure, but the flood bears away the foam that mounts up to the
surface, and (also) from that (ore) which they heat in the fire in order
to make ornaments or utensils, rises a foam like unto it, thus does
Allah (by parables) show forth truth and falsehood. Then, as for the
foam it passes away as scum upon the banks, while that which is for the
good of mankind remains in the earth. Thus Allah set forth parables (for
the Truth and Falsehood, i.e. Belief and Disbelief).”(Qur’an 13: 17)
The Knowledge about the Message (about
Allah, the universe, the purpose of our existence, what is good and what
is bad) is like the water sent down from the sky. In the water there is
life for our bodies and in the Message there is life for our hearts.
The parable of the light was given in the heating fire which removes
impurities (foam) from metals like iron, gold, and silver, and what
remains is a pure and beneficial substance.
The valleys are our hearts. This is where
knowledge flows to. Some valleys can hold more water flow than others;
each has its own capacity. Some valleys have surfaces that will not hold
any water. The same for hearts. Some holding more knowledge than
others, while some comprehend and understand little. The foam produced
during water flow passes away as scum upon the banks and what benefits
mankind remains on the earth. Similarly, lust, uncontrolled desires,
doubts about Allah and His true religion are just like foam; they shall
pass away while belief in Him and in His Message will remain. This life
links man to his Creator and to all that is created by Allah, and
provides him with codes of conduct that distinguish him from the animal
world. Those who think that man’s presence on earth has no purpose are
most certainly wrong:
“And they
say: “There is nothing but our life of this world, we die and we live,
and nothing destroys us except the Dahr (time)3″. And they have no
knowledge of it, they only conjecture.”(Qur’an 45: 24)
Those who are aimless about their purpose
of existence search for all possible means of “enjoyment” and compete
for it. Their life as explained by Allah:
“They have
hearts (minds) wherewith they understand not, they have eyes wherewith
they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not (the Truth).
They are like cattle, nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless
ones.”(Qur’an 7: 179)
In the world of animals there is a struggle for survival! But in the human world there is a purpose:
“O mankind!
We have created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and
made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily,
the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is that (believer) who
is best in At- Taqwa: adhering to the religion of Allah and best in
performing good deeds as prescribed by Allah.”(Qur’an 49: 13)
The aim to achieve At-Taqwa is
constructive and beneficial and it stands against mischief like “might
is right,” “my Color is better,” “worshipping of idols, lust, money, or
other created entities,” and so forth:
This is part of man’s purpose on earth. Man’s whole life is related to His Creator:
Say (O
Muhammad SAW): “Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and
my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all
that exists)(162)“He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.”(163) (Qur’an 6: 162-163)
All deeds and utterances, open or hidden,
and which Allah loves and accepts, constitute the meaning of worship.
All forms of worship are explained in the Qur’an and by the Prophet
(SAW: sallallaahu ‘alaihi was-sallam4). Worship is not left for our
limited minds to decide upon their ways. Worship is one’s life according
to Islam. Thus it can only be devoted to our Creator, Allah.
___________________
1 Sudaa, has many meanings including, aimless, without a purpose, not to be held accountable, neglected etc.
2 Ruhan, an inspiration and a mercy.
3 Everything is in the Hands of Allah, He is the disposer of everything. Time does not cause cheerful or disastrous events.
4 (SAW): sallallaahu ‘alaihi was-sallam: This is an invocation meaning
may Allah exalt his mention and render him and his message of Islam,
safe from every derogatory thing.
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