on the life of a man and see why he should always make a success of
life andwhy one who denies it becomes a failure in life, both here and
in the hereafter.
1. A believer in this Kalimah can never be narrow in outlook. He
believes in a God Who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the
Master of the East and the West and Sustainer of the entire universe.
After this belief he does not regard anything in the world as a
stranger to himself. He looks on everything in the universe as
belonging to the same Lord he himself belongs to. His sympathy, love
and service are not confined to any particular sphere or group. His
vision is enlarged, his intellectual horizon widens, and his
outlookbecomes as liberal and as boundless as is the Kingdom of God.
How can this width of vision and breadth of mind beachieved by an
atheist, a polytheist or one whobelieves in a deity supposed to
possess limited and defective powers like a man?
2. This belief produces in man the highest degreeof self-respect and
self esteem. The believer knows that Allah alone is the Possessor of
all power, and that none besides Him can benefitor harm a person, or
provide for his needs, or give and take away life or wield authority
or influence. This conviction makes him indifferent to, and
independent and fearless of, all powers other than those of God. He
never bows his head in homage to any of God's creatures, nor does he
stretch out his hand before anyone else. He is not overawed by
anybody'sgreatness. This attitude of mind cannot be produced by any
other belief. For it is necessary that those who associate other
beings with God, or who deny God, should bow in homage to some
creatures, regard them able to benefit or harm them, fear them and
place their hopes in them.
3. Along with self-respect this belief also generates in man a sense
of modesty and humbleness. It makes him unostentatious
andunpretending. A believer never becomesproud, haughty or arrogant.
The boisterous pride of power, wealth and worth can have no room in
his heart, because he knows that whatever he possesses has been given
to him by God, and that God can take away just as He can give. In
contrast to this, an unbeliever, when he achieves someworldly merit,
becomes proud and conceited because he believes that his merit is due
to his own worth. In the same way pride and self-conceit are a
necessary outcome and concomitant of shirk (association of others with
God in His divinity), because a mushrik believes that he has a
particular relation with the deities which does not exist between them
and other people.
4. This belief makes man virtuous and upright. He has the conviction
that there is no other means of success and salvation for him except
purity of soul and righteousness of behavior. He has perfect faith in
God Who is above all need, is related to none and is absolutely just.
This belief creates in him the consciousness that, unless he lives
rightly and acts justly, he cannot succeed. No influence or
underhandactivity can save him from ruin. As against this, the kafirs
and the mushriks always live on false hopes. Some of them believe that
God'sson has atoned for their sins; some think that they are God's
favourites, and will not be punished; others believe that their
saintswill intercede with God on their behalf; while others make
offerings to their deities and believe that by so bribing the deities
theyacquire a licence to do whatever they like. Such false beliefs
keep them enmeshed in sin and evil deeds; depending on their deities,
they do not bother about their souls and living pure and good lives.
As to atheists, they do not believe that there is any Being having
power over them, to Whom they should be responsible for their good or
bad actions; therefore they considerthemselves independent to act in
whatever way they like.Their own fancies become their gods and they
live like slaves of their wishes and desires.
5. The believer never becomes despondent. He has a firm faith in God
Who is Master of allthe treasures of the earth and the heavens, Whose
grace and bounty have no limit and Whose powers are infinite. This
faith imparts to his heart extraordinary consolation, fills it with
satisfaction and keeps it filled with hope. Although he may meet with
rejection from all sides in this world, faithin and dependence on God
never leave him, and on their strength he goes on struggling. Such
profound confidence can result from no other belief than belief in one
God. Mushriks , kafirs and atheists have small hearts; they depend on
limited powers; therefore in times of trouble they are soon
overwhelmed by despair and, frequently,they commit suicide.
6. This belief produces in man a very strong degree of determination,
patient perseverance and trust in God. When he makes up his mind and
devotes his resources tofulfilling the Divine Commands in order to
secure God's pleasure, he is sure that he has the support and backing
of the Lord of the universe. This certainty makes him firm and strong
like a mountain, and no amount of difficulties, impediments and
opposition can make him give up his resolution. Shirk , kufr and
atheism have no such effect.
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And Allah Knows the Best!
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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA
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