Action and accomplishment in Islam

One of the most important values that Islam offers to people and requires of its believers, is to show their usefulness to human society. Islam is not an idle belief, nor does it proclaim ideologies that disconnect it from the practical aspects of human life. Islam is a proactive system in which believers are encouraged and driven to serve humanity. Anyone who studies the Quran and reflects on its teachings will find that the Quran combines practice with faith in many of these teachings. One of the shortest surahs in the Quran reads as follows: ‘By the time; man is indeed in the state of loss; except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and counsel each other to hold on to truth and counsel each other to be steadfast’. Surah 103

Indeed, the spirit of Islam encourages and directs people towards the path of action and good deeds. The Quran, highlighting the purpose of human life in this world, says: ‘Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion of the universe, and Who has power over everything. Who has created death and life that He might try you as to which of you is better in deed. He is the Most Mighty, the Most Forgiving’. S67 V1-2

Islam teaches us that we must lead in action in every field and aspect of human life. It requires that human beings are useful in themselves and in their society. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, was one of most kind and proactive persons in the service of humanity. In one of the earliest revelations of the Quran, Allah testified to his high character, saying in the Quran: ‘and you are certainly on the most exalted standard of moral excellence’. S68 V4

When the Prophet received his first revelation and returned home in terror after his first experience of contact with Gabriel (Jibreel), his wife Khadija comforted him and said: ‘Nay, Allah will never disgrace you. You indeed join relations, and you speak truth, and bear the burden of other people, you honour guests and help out the victims of natural disasters’.

This description of the character of the Prophet, by his wife Khadija, reveals the moral endeavour necessary when trying to serve and benefit human society. How many people have ever managed to offer such service to people?

In our time we have a Muslim Ummah, spread out over every continent of the world and exceeding 1.5 billion persons in number. More than enough, one would think, to contain many wishing to lead the world in morality and action.  But Muslims, with few exceptions, appear to be far too busy doing what the rest of the world is doing; running after the glamour of power and wealth and indulging in murderous politics.

Allah has created the capacity, in all of us, to become useful in human society and we never lose this capacity, even those of us who appear incapable of doing any good. Sometimes only a little knowledge with the right environment is needed to bring it out. But, knowledge and Faith, through which Allah raises the rank of people, are twinned in the Quran. The Quran says: ‘Allah will raise to high ranks those of you who believe and are endowed with knowledge’. S58 V11

No man should live in ignorance. Indeed, Allah wants and encourages all people to come out of the darkness of ignorance and inactivity and embrace a useful existence, enhancing their characters and their lives.

In a very famous hadith, the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, emphasises the religious importance of being useful to people and says: ‘the best among people are those who are most beneficial to others’. Islam has never been a selfish religious teaching. It is universal in its character and benefits all, whether they are believers or not.

The Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him also said: ‘the most beloved person in the Sight of Allah is one who is most beneficial to people. And one of most beloved actions to Allah is a happiness that a person causes to a Muslim (and for that reason to anyone), or helps remove from him a distress, or pay off their debt, or relieve him from hunger.’ Authenticated by Al-Albani

The Muslim Ummah has become so selfishly entangled with its own personal problems that the vast majority of its members are living with only the most tenuous connection to their religion. It is sad to see that Islam is no longer the driving force it was once in creating a socially lively, intellectually coherent, and practically consistent society, where people took pride in their worthiness.

Islamic ibadaat (obligatory and non obligatory forms of worship), in addition to their spiritual virtues, are meant to purify people from suffering of all kinds, including ignorance and an inactive state of mind. The Quran gives us an eternal principle for encouraging us into action. It says: ‘Allah does not lay a responsibility on any one beyond his capacity. In his favour shall be whatever good each one does (earns), and against him whatever evil he does’. S2 V286

The word ‘does’ is translated in this context from the Arabic expression to ‘earn’. It is the effort that one has to make to earn the pleasure of Allah and the emancipation from every suffering and source of suffering.  Earning goodness comes through positive action and engagement. A morally exalted person does make impact on others, however, sometimes it may also induce exasperation in others.

In the world, in which we live today, true Islamic ethical values and moral system must certainly be regarded as a blessing. Our proactive engagement in the service of mankind is nothing less than a religious duty which will earn rewards from Allah. The Muslim world has gone through very damaging processes of late. Sometimes resulting in self-inflicted wounds and on other occasions deliberate provoking impactful damage on others. Loyalty to Allah’s guidance and a purposeful collective action to honour ourselves with knowledge and spirituality, thereby avoiding what is wrong and in error, is one path to raise us higher in rank in His sight.

We need to display our resilience and become responsible people once more. Usefulness to others, whether to the Muslim community or non-Muslim communities, will help us to regain both our spiritual strength and the moral high-ground. It will also earn us a place in the hearts of all the people and only then will we finally regain our pride and honour and earn the pleasure and rewards of Allah.