DO WE STILL SEEK HONOUR, DIGNITY AND RESPECT IN ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES ISLAM? A Muslim is a sacred being for our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) said that our honour, lives and properties are sacred and inviolable. That also makes us honourable slaves of The Almighty King of the universe. Our honour and sacredness has no worldly connections for nothing in the whole wide world adds to this natural honour and sacredness which we earn and is conferred upon us by Islam. Our pious predecessors lived humble, austere and ascetic lives bereft of the pomp, glory and luxuries of earthly kings and princes. They wore old clothes full of stitches and patches. They ate bread made of coarse barley and drank ordinary water. They trekked long distances on a daily bases so much that their feet have deep cracks in them. They hardly ate their fill and went without food most of the time despite being diligent and hardworking people. But they were happy with high self-esteem and elevated spirits because they were Muslims. They felt a lot of value and worth inside of them because they knew that they were the best of humans ever to walk this earth for they were righteous slaves of the Creator of all and the Owner of the universe and all that it contains who has not placed their honour in any worldly wealth or position but in their Islam. Our Prophet was an illiterate who could neither read nor write but he was the most honourable of mankind who brought the divine guidance of Islam to us from the Lord of the worlds. He was simple and humble though he was the king of a great empire. He wore coarse clothes, ate with his hands and licked his fingers after meal. He walked on the land with utmost humility and was very shy like a virgin in her closet. He sat with the poor and lowly despite being the commander of a great army that conquered nations. His honour was not in his being a ruler or conqueror but in his faith. His lifestyle was ascetic and lived on meagre means but with joy and contentment of the heart. He was ever- smiling except when he sees something that displeases him which he showed with a change in his countenance. He sat on the bare floor and prostrated in prayers in the mud. The sun and rain bit him freely even while in the sacred mosque and he never complained or looked dissatisfied with his condition. He did not attach any value or importance to this world and all it contains of wealth and comfort for the world in his eyes valued less than the wing of a fly or the carcass of a cow. His honour was in his Islam. So were his companions who thought little of the present life and focused their hearts and energy on the afterlife and in attaining the divine pleasure of The Majestic Lord of the worlds. When the Muslim army conquered Jerusalem and Umar r.a. had to go to collect the keys of the city gate from the then chief priest of Jerusalem, he shared the riding of a horse with his servant who escorted him on the journey. It was the turn of the servant to ride when they got to Jerusalem and some of the Muslims awaiting his arrival felt ashamed to see the Amirul mumineen holding the reins of the horse for his servant who was on the horse riding. Umar r.a. quickly rebuked the Muslims for their wrong judgements by saying that nothing brings us honour except our being in the fold of Islam. Not even being the leader of the Islamic state. And Allah says in the Quran, Is it honour they seek from them( the kufar)? Say: All honour belongs to Allah altogether. And in suratul Munafiqun, Allah says, Honour belongs to Allah, and to His Messenger and to the believers but the hypocrites do not know this. Today, Muslims have developed all forms of complexes seeking honour in wealth, children, mansions, children, possessions like cars, jets, lands, shares, ownership of big multinational companies, in being members of worldly clubs, associations, connections to those in high places, etc, etc. All these are just worldly mirages and deceits which doesnt give any honour or prestige in the real sense of it. Ephemeral things are transient. They never last. But the honour of Islam shall remain forever. Let us seek the face of our Lord, the Lord of honour, glory and majesty whose power never diminishes and whose honour never fades. All things shall perish! Except the face of your Lord, The Possessor of Majesty and Honour. Which then of the favours of your Lord can you deny? -Suratul Rahman.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 02:47:59 +0000
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