Constructive Positivism

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) said, "If the Hour (the dayof Resurrection)
is about to be established and one of you was holding apalm shoot, let
him take advantage of even one second before the Hour isestablished to
plant it."
The spirit of constructive positivism and active endeavor is one of
the principles stressed by Sunnah. This spirit shouldcontrol the
Muslim's mind, senses, thought, and conduct. It symbolizes interest in
deeds rather than verbal eloquence and rhetoric. It lays great
importance on construction rather than destruction, and in lighting
candles rather than cursing darkness.
This positive orientation is quite evident in the above hadith, that
calls for exerting one's utmostuntil the very last moment of one's
life even though the Last Hour is established or is about to be. Now,
why should a Muslim use this precious moment in planting a palm shoot?
Why should he busy himself with it, when the Last Hour is established
or is about to be, notwithstanding the fact that neither he nor anyone
else is going to benefit from it? How come he wastes that invaluable
second of the establishment of the Hour in planting a palm shoot that
will not yield before years to come?
This tiny shoot is a symbol of the value of activity per se. A Muslim
worships Allah through his work in constructing and developing the
land. He is to keep on working until his last breath.
This positive orientation is evident in elevating the mastery of one's
work to the level of obligation and worship. Encouraging Muslims to
attain the highest degreeof quality and perfection in their work, the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told us that Allah likes one
to perfect one's work, no matter how bigor small this work.
This principle appears in many hadiths that prohibit cursing and
swearing. Even with regard to Satan, the open enemy to humans, we are
ordered not to waste a moment in cursing him; rather, we should busy
ourselves with more useful and fruitful acts such as remembering Allah
and seeking His support and help. Abu Hurairah reported that the
Prophet said, "Do not abuse Satan, but seek Allah's Refuge from his
evil" (Sahih al-Jami` as-Saghir).
Cursing Satan is futile. Instead, one should remember Allah the
Exalted and seek His refuge from the evils of Satan. One of the most
famous hadiths concerning this matter is as follows: Abu Tamimah
Al-Hujaimi reported: One day as I was riding behind the Prophet on a
donkey, it stumbled and Ishouted, "Let Satan perish!" The Prophet
said, "Do not say 'let Satan perish,' for if you say so he will feel
important and haughty and he will say, 'I thwarted him with my power!'
Instead say, 'In the name of Allah,' so that he will (feel humiliated
and) be smaller than a fly" (Sahih at-Targhib wat-Tarhib).
This means that the devil becomes puffed up with pride whenever one
curses him or invokes Allah against him. However, when one remembers
Allah and ignores Satan, then Satanfeels dwarfish and grovels.
Certainly, pronouncing "in the name of Allah" is a positive act
because it means that one is remembering Allah and seeking His refuge;
whereas saying "let Satan perish" is a negative act, as it does not
offer solutions nor achieve anything; thus Satan rejoices on
hearingit.

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