Bankruptcy

The Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, once asked his companions saying: ‘do you know what is a bankrupt? They all replied: ‘a bankrupt among us is a person who has no money and no belongings’. The Prophet replied saying: ‘A bankrupt in my ummah is a person who would come on the day of Judgement with Prayers, fasting and zakah, but he would have mistreated another person, slandered and accused another, eaten the wealth of another, and shed the blood of another and beaten yet another. Such a person and others would be recompensed from his good deeds and if his good deeds were used up before everyone was recompensed from them, the wrongdoings of other people would be taken out and added to his deeds and he would be thrown away in to the hellfire’.  Narrated by Muslim

This is a revealing hadith about the consequence of our deeds, large or small. It tells us that accomplishing only our religious obligations is not going to be very rewarding if our moral obligations towards people and our dealings with them are not of an equally high standard. This is a matter of an absolute justice in the Sight of Allah.

Allah says in the Quran: ‘Believers! Be persistent upholders of justice and bear witness to the Truth for the sake of Allah, even though it may be against yourselves or against your parents and kinsmen, or the rich or the poor, for Allah is more concerned with their wellbeing than you are. Do not, then, follow your own desires lest you stray from justice. If you twist or turn away from (the truth), know that Allah is well aware of all that you do’. S4 V135

Bankruptcy begins when one loses or discards fairness in balancing matters of justice towards other people as well as one’s obligations towards Allah. Arrogance plays an important role in the destruction of people’s good deeds. Islamic teachings tell us of the need to be humble and display humility in following and accepting Allah’s guidance.

Rough or indecent manners and rudeness are unacceptable at all times towards anyone. Indeed, in a hadith, the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, says: ‘deen (Islamic teachings) is all about dealings’. Our best character traits are displayed and our spiritual morality is tested once we start dealing with real life issues and affairs relating to other people. Islam constantly emphasises to its followers the importance of accountability in our life for our deeds and actions. Indeed one of the names accorded to the ‘Day of Judgement’ is the ‘Day of Recompense’ which we regularly invoke every time we read the Surah al-Fatiha in our daily Salaah: ‘the Master of the Day of Recompense’.

The Quran highlights the purpose of our salaah, fasting and Zakah in the following verses.

It says about the Salaah in the Surah 29 and verse 45: ‘and establish Prayer (Salaah). Surely Prayer forbids indecency and evil’. So, a person is expected to match his character to the spiritual obligations we offer in our salaah. If we do not, then in the process of accountability the Prayer loses its weight and its rewards may benefit only those who may have been wronged by that person. Prayer teaches us humility in the Sight of Allah and makes us aware of our accountability to him for any of our actions, large or small, that wrong other people.

Similarly, when talking about fasting, the Quran places considerable emphasis on its spiritual benefits and says: ‘believers! Fasting has been prescribed upon you as it has been upon those who were before so that you become God-fearing (or may learn restraints)’.

The meaning of taqwa, the word used in the verse for God-fearing, carries both meanings. In a hadith the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, says: ‘fasting is a shield’. This explains the expected outcomes from the act of fasting so that it does not become only the act of experiencing hunger and thirst.

In the same way, when the Quran mentions the purpose of Zakah, it said: ‘O Prophet! Take alms from their riches and thereby cleanse them and bring about their growth (in righteousness).’ S9 V103

It helps in many ways when a person willingly takes charity from his wealth and gives a portion away as Allah has directed. It reduces his degree of greed and miserliness. It brings relief to people who need help and support. It also earns the pleasure of Allah and induces humility and protects from arrogance.

In a moral bankruptcy, people’s ego becomes ever more important and the performance of their religious obligations solely as a ritual can cause false pride and lead to the mistreatment of others.

The Prophet has warned the believers about this possible moral bankruptcy that may result, on the Day of Recompense, with one standing at a total loss. In a hadith, the Prophet said: ‘A clever person is one who accounts for his deeds and works for the benefits of the hereafter’.

Anyone who accounts for his actions and deeds and works towards his benefits on the Day of Recompense will not appear as a bankrupt on that day, inshaAllah.

The Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, drew our attention to this possible bankruptcy and warned us to be on the alert. How many of us take such matters lightly and continue to think it will be all right on that day.  Offering good deeds and avoiding any wrongdoing towards others would seem to be a sensible first step in ensuring that we do not lose out on that Day of Recompense.

Islam is all about living a blessed life in this world and a blessed life in the Hereafter. Islam warns against ‘zulm’, as this would appear as total darkness on the very day when we will all need hope and forgiveness to enter the Paradise. If we have committed a wrong towards anyone it is better that it be put right in this world, before it could be questioned by Allah on the Day of Judgement.