The Mayor of Bath, Cllr Colin Barrett, the 782nd Mayor, has chosen ‘Lifetime of change’ his theme for his office term. I was invited, along other faith representative, to give my presentation from an Islamic perspective. Following is my speech:
Dear Friends! What constitutes a lifetime of change? Is it about our own career and personal development experience? Is it about having a personal calling from God to follow in His Path? Is it about a sudden awakening to, or embracing a cause, or is it about a diametrical change in our perceptions and human values?
We have all experienced some personal change and development in our lives. For many, these changes represent pleasant chapters in their lives and are welcomed. Unfortunately for many others, they may offer a very unpleasant experience, and life may seem to be taking a turn for the worse.
Is this why so many of us are frightened by even the thought of change, even to the small and normally ignored aspects of our life? If we are so scared at these ‘little’ changes, is it any wonder that we are absolutely terrified at the thought of larger changes!
I will talk today, from an Islamic perspective, about introducing change or ‘change making’ into the lives of others. Islam tells us about the spirit of reform and the making of human beings into agents of change. God the Creator has shaped our human nature in such a way as to reflect some of His personal attributes; creativity, kindness and care.
Change is regarded, in Islam, as one of the most powerful forces in God’s creation. Everything that remains static in this world soon stagnates and becomes, inevitably, useless. Even peoples and nations must seek to change themselves if they are to survive and prosper in this ever more competitive world.
The lives of all the prophets and Messengers were meant to bring changes to peoples’ lives. Prophets like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad and many more, were great examples in introducing a lifetime of change to others.
Attaining change is one of the most desirable objects in life. The Quran says: “Allah does not change the state (or condition) of a people unless they change what is in themselves”. Sura13 verse: 11
It further elaborates the point by saying: “Let there be from among you a people who call towards goodness, and enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and they are the one to prosper”.
In one of his sayings, Prophet Mohammad said: “He whose two days are equal (in accomplishment) is a sure loser”. He also very emphatically told the people: “the purpose of my prophetic mission is to extract the best from human characters”.
He further obligates people by saying: “if any of you sees an evil or bad situation, then let him change it with his hand (denoting direct involvement), if he could not do it, then let him speak about it (for or against), and if he is unable to accomplish that, then let him regard it as evil or bad situation in his heart. That is the least of faith.”
When it comes to contributing towards the betterment of others, we must not be selective or selfish. We all must pull together, as we have recently in the case of the victims of the Haiti earthquake. This tragedy has been a life-changing experience for most of those who were affected by it, one way or other.
There is an effective machinery of change making process placed within the Islamic practices. Islamic obligations are instituted to bring in changes in peoples’ lives. For example, Daily prayers connect one with their creator and give hope and courage in life; Zakah the obligatory charity purifies the wealth gaining and accumulating process; the month of fasting is about spiritual and social changes and to help make changes into the lives of others, and the hajj, widens the personal perspective towards other people in the global term.
The prophet Mohammad said: “it is an act of goodness and charity to give smile to your fellow human”. He even said: the least of the charity is to refrain yourself from harming others.
In Islam, a lifetime of change is a goal attained by obedience to revealed divine principles. Indeed, the Quran says: “God has created the life and death so that He may test you who is better in good deeds”.
Dear friends! A sudden enlightenment about a purpose or goal in life or hearing about other’s personal accounts of life changing experiences may provide many of us with some of our best or worst moments of change. However, what is most important is how our experiences affect others. Have we made a selfish change, or are we trying to act selflessly by introducing others to a lifetime of change by raising their standard of behaviour? Have we succeeded in dealing with the causes of conflicts and human suffering or are we mischievously helping to perpetuate something to serve some ulterior motive. Deciding what has been achieved, and the motives for it, often falls to those in a position of leadership. However, positive leadership should encompass a lifetime of change in the leaders themselves. A change making leadership no doubt helps to change the lives of others and people feel the change is in the air.
