Another new year and another hope

From ancient wisdom and later narrated within Islamic writings, comes the following:” If the happenings on two consecutive days in the life of a person are identical then he has suffered a loss. If he has not experienced any changes to his circumstances then he is in obvious loss’. The wisdom of these sayings is logical for a person who seeks to improve his life and become more prosperous.

We have just entered into a new year with many people exchanging greetings for the wellbeing, health and prosperity with others. This is a natural course of action towards people for whom one has respect and friendship.

Islamic guidance and teachings are a permanent source of goodness for humanity, guiding us throughout every moment of our daily lives. Islam wishes all people well at all times and continually shows what is good for them. In surah 8 and verse 24 the Quran says: ‘Believers! Respond to Allah and respond to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. Know well that Allah stands between a person and his heart, and it is to Him that all of you shall be mustered’.

This Quranic verse sums up the message of Islam in few words. It is the life that is in response to the call from Allah that we all want throughout our time on earth. Our wrongdoings remove the positivity from our lives and replace it with negativity and pessimistic attitudes. Islam creates hope and benefits for humanity, but anyone who strays from this path and by doing so creates misery for others, deviates from the path of Islamic teachings.

Many examples are contained in Islamic teachings of the many occurrences and opportunities that may bring changes to people’s lives.  Below are mentioned a few to continually remind us all if we are to benefit from them.

In a hadith narrated by imam Tirmidhi, the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, says: ‘A smartly intelligent person is one who accounts for his actions and works for the life after death. And he is an impotent person who follows his self-desires and wishes from Allah all kinds of wishful desires’.

This hadith opens up a horizon for opportunity and the ability to change our perspectives, as it is well known that all actions generate reactions, either or both of which can affect our future wellbeing. This hadith also sets up a practical definition for intelligence and smartness in life and warns against actions that ‘do not give life’, as the Quran has put it.

In another hadith, narrated by Ibn Hibban, Abu Dhar, may Allah be pleased with him, who is a famous Companion of the Prophet, it says: ‘My closest friend the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and mercy be upon him, advised me of some traits of goodness. He advised me that I should not look towards those who are above me but towards those who are below me. He advised me to love the poor and become closer to them. He advised me to join relations and that I should not fear reproach from any reproacher in matters for Allah. He also advised me to speak the truth no matter how bitter that might be. He also advised me to increase saying of the ‘there is no power and no might except for Allah’ because it is one of the treasures of the Paradise’.

These beautiful words of advice from the Prophet lay down a guiding path for any person who seeks to bring meaning into his life, indeed, such pearls of wisdom can change lives for the good. 

Resolutions made at the beginning of a new year,  like quitting smoking, taking up exercise, eating healthy food, rarely last the course. Such resolutions are no doubt desirable, in terms of removing bad habits and the introduction of new good ones, but if they are not based on solid principles and firm discipline they will inevitably fail.  Islam gives guiding principles which create discipline from the core and then build on the rest of our dispositions in such a way that brings meaning into all our lives.

Islam’s five pillars are meant to sustain this guidance in our lives. According to the Quran, the only means of attaining bliss and satisfaction in people’s hearts is the ‘remembrance of Allah’ in all our actions throughout our lives. Everything else is called desire and desires are what they will remain.

In our time we have seen much chaos in the world of Islam, which obviously does not represent Islamic teachings. This has damaged and corrupted the real picture of Islam and given opponents of Islam the basis for their allegations and false claims. Islam is beautiful and it serves humanity. It gives meaning to the existence of God the Creator and proper understanding of His attributes.

One of our new year’s resolutions should be to know and understand how we relate to Allah and how Allah relates to us in our lives. Politics has twisted and continues to twist Islam’s merciful nature and its teachings and guiding principles.

Islam creates spirituality and tenderness in people and Allah is described by Him as ‘Raoof’ compassionate towards His servants. That must be our baseline approach in Islam. Indeed, in a hadith, the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, says: ‘Deen (religion) is all about dealings’. We conveniently forget or misinterpret these compassionate aspects of Islam and damage it still further by introducing violence in the name of Jihad. 

Our new year’s resolutions should include a proper understanding of Islam from its original sources, without malice or prejudice and give a fair hearing to a proper study of Islam and its values, differentiating it from cultural values and their consequences.

Islam makes a huge contribution in all walks of human life and has never been an obstacle to human endeavours. On the contrary, Islam encourages us through its messages that life must change for the better and that those who serve mankind are the ones who should be encouraged and supported. Islam further encourages us by asking us to travel and find out how creation and the formation of the earth began. Islamic guidance tells us that life started with water and that the earth and the heavens were a solid mass before Allah tore them apart.

Islamic teachings have everything to offer and the rapid rise of civilisation from the progress made from this guidance has been amply demonstrated in the past.

Our new year’s resolutions, should we want to make any, need to include a rightful pleasure for Allah’s teachings and a grateful attitude towards His favours. That is what will demonstrate our smartness and intelligence and create the life that is blessed in both worlds.