As human beings, we have a tendency to care about the things that we own or have. Be it our parents, our family, our career, our wealth, and everything else we have. It’s perfectly OK for us to care for them. However, the things we care about sometimes interfere with what we believe in. For a Muslim, there is a possibility that our care and love inhibits us in fulfilling our destiny to be Allah’s Khalifa (leader) on earth, to be blessings for the universe. In another word, our love for other things competes with our ultimate love for Allah.
How many times have you sacrificed what you believe is right for the sake of your family, your career, for increasing your wealth, or other things? Although all of them may correlate and can be synergized, there are times when we have to choose our priority. One example is to walk a path/career which is forced on to you by other people. For a Muslim, he/she is supposed to pray at the beginning of the praying time, which is the best time to pray. But our business often makes us postpone it until the last minutes. Be it our work, our travel, or even merely chatting with friends. There are even times when some of us are “forced” to combine prayers (jama) when we actually don’t need to, or even forget it completely.
Allah has given a warning in the holy Quran about this through surah At Taubah verse 24 about this.
قُلْ إِن كَانَ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَالٌ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَاكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَجِهَادٍ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَتَرَبَّصُواْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ اللّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَاللّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
The approximate meaning is:
“Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which ye fear a decline, or the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah, or His Prophet, or the striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His decision. And God guides not the rebellious.”
This warning should not be taken lightly. As I am very sure that many Muslims, including myself, often put a lot of things in priority above obeying Allah’s commands, things that often have nothing to do with striving in Allah’s cause. However we love something, it should not distance us from Our Lord. And to uphold Islam, this bad habit has to change…
So what IS dearest to you?
Many of us may not read the Qur'an that often, or even if we do, we don't understand the meaning. It is what is causing Islam's decay. People walking around saying that they are Muslims without knowing what it truly is. It has to change. Read it bit by bit, and you will definitely find many interesting things that you never thought you'd find. May all of us be able to fulfill our destiny of becoming Allah’s Khalifah through love and total devotion towards Allah.
Keywords: At taubah 24, Islam, religion, quran, holy, qur'an, love
How many times have you sacrificed what you believe is right for the sake of your family, your career, for increasing your wealth, or other things? Although all of them may correlate and can be synergized, there are times when we have to choose our priority. One example is to walk a path/career which is forced on to you by other people. For a Muslim, he/she is supposed to pray at the beginning of the praying time, which is the best time to pray. But our business often makes us postpone it until the last minutes. Be it our work, our travel, or even merely chatting with friends. There are even times when some of us are “forced” to combine prayers (jama) when we actually don’t need to, or even forget it completely.
Allah has given a warning in the holy Quran about this through surah At Taubah verse 24 about this.
قُلْ إِن كَانَ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَالٌ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَاكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَجِهَادٍ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَتَرَبَّصُواْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ اللّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَاللّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
The approximate meaning is:
“Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which ye fear a decline, or the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah, or His Prophet, or the striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His decision. And God guides not the rebellious.”
This warning should not be taken lightly. As I am very sure that many Muslims, including myself, often put a lot of things in priority above obeying Allah’s commands, things that often have nothing to do with striving in Allah’s cause. However we love something, it should not distance us from Our Lord. And to uphold Islam, this bad habit has to change…
So what IS dearest to you?
Many of us may not read the Qur'an that often, or even if we do, we don't understand the meaning. It is what is causing Islam's decay. People walking around saying that they are Muslims without knowing what it truly is. It has to change. Read it bit by bit, and you will definitely find many interesting things that you never thought you'd find. May all of us be able to fulfill our destiny of becoming Allah’s Khalifah through love and total devotion towards Allah.
Keywords: At taubah 24, Islam, religion, quran, holy, qur'an, love