Man always looks for what benefits him and what protects him from
harm. However, to accomplish this, man must be able to realize what is
harmful. He must then know whom he should need, trust, and love so
that he can attain what is beneficial as well as to feel good about
his choice.
He also must know the proper and good approach that would make him
achieve this goal. This latter conditionrequires that man:
1.Know about harm
2.What ways can be used to drive harm away?
Certainly, man can have no better guidance than that which comes from
the One Who had perfected everything, and the One who Has no
deficiency in Himself and in His Attributes. The One Who is
Ever-Living and Who does not die. There can be no One better than the
One Who Has no need for anything; the One Who is rich; the Giver; the
One who, after all, controls man's soul. Man is so poor to Him. He is
Allaah, the True and only God. Man can bring harm to himself if he
seeks other than Allaah for help. Allaah is the OneWho can help man
drive away any harm for it cannot occur without His Will and His
Power.
Allaah Almighty sent down His Books and chose His Messengers to guide man to:
1. Know His Lord as He Almighty had explained about Himself, and
2. Seek Him Alone while living in accordance withHis plan
Knowing Allaah's Names and Attributes liberates man from worshiping
any form of creation because creation is weak and is in need of The
Creator, Allaah. The knowledge about Allaah leads man to know that he
is created to live according to Allaah's wayas revealed to His
Messengers may Allaah exalt their mention the final of whom was
Messenger Muhammad .
This Revelation contains a complete code of life. Everything that is
beneficial or harmful is established so that man can center his life
aroundthis Revelation. If man commits wrong and knows that Allaah is
Oft-Forgiving he would turn to Him, and to Him alone, seeking His
forgiveness; Allaah Says (what means): "Know, therefore, that there is
no God Who deserves to be worshiped except Allaah; and ask forgiveness
for your sins." [Quran 47:19]
It is wrong to think or believe that Allaah created other 'gods'
besides Him so that man turns to them for help; loves them or fear
them, etc. He is the same God ofall nations. He does not order that
people should make of stars, sun, fire, 'Eesaa (Jesus), Moosaa
(Moses), Muhammad may Allaah exalt their mention etc. gods besides
Him. He (Most Exalted) cannot be 'contradictory'. He has one way
(religion) that calls man to surrender hiswill only to Him.
He warned that if man (even Muhammad ) would take partners withHim,
then his work will fail and will be among losers; Allaah Says (what
means): "And verily, it had beenrevealed to you (O Muhammad ) as has
been revealed to those before you. If you join others in worship with
Allaah (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain and you will
certainly be among the losers. Nay! But worship Allaah and be among
grateful." [Quran 39:65-66]
Let us know what Muhammad the man-Prophet, who knew Allaah best, used
to say: "OAllaah, I seek refuge in You for Your Pleasure and against
Your Wrath, and in Your Forgiveness and against Your Punishment andin
You from You, I cannot Praise You as You can Praise Yourself."
(Muslim, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah)
He used to say also: "I have surrendered myself to You, Ihave directed
my face to You, I have entrusted my affairs to You, I have compelled
my back to refuge in You, in want and in fright of You, there is no
resort nor survival from You except (in turning) to You. I have faith
in Your book (i.e. the Quran) which You brought down and in the
Prophet (Muhammad ) you have sent." (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim)
When we read in the Quran (what means): "Whatever of Mercy (i.e. of
good), Allaah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it, and whatever
He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter. And He is the
All-Mighty, the All-Wise." [Quran 35:2]
And when we read (whatmeans): "If Allaah touches you with hurt, there
is none can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you,
there isnone who can repel His favor which He causes it to reach
whomsoever of His slaves He will,and He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful." [Quran 10:117]
We should be motivated to return to Him Alone at times of ease and at
times of hardship. And when we read (what means): "If Allaah helps you
none can overcome you, and if Heforsakes you, who is there, after Him,
that can help you. And in Allaah (alone) let believers put their
trust." [Quran 3:160]
The Quran, therefore, leads man to a true liberation from any false
attachment. It brings peace to the heart. It helps the believer
againsthypocrisy and all forms ofdishonesty.
Imagine, for example, a believer facing a problemat work. He sees
wrong and faces unlawful practices. He does not fear rejecting what is
wrong. He knows that the job is only a means togain his sustenance.
While he may be unable to correct what is wrong,he knows well that
Allaahis the One Who provides. If he leaves his job for the sake of
Allaah, Allaah will give him a better one. Allaah Almighty Said (what
means): "And whosoever fears Allaah and keepshis duty to Him. He will
make a way for him to get out (from) every (difficulty), and He will
provide him from (sources) he could never imagine." [Quran 65:2-3]
The above texts, necessitates that man must depend upon AllaahAlmighty
asking Him Alone for assistance. It also requires that man must love
Allaah and worship Him Alone to gain His pleasure and His help. Is it
not true that the people who consider this life as the "Final Goal"
end up worshiping many things in it? You see them so careful
about"having it all". They torture themselves: pain, difficulty,
constant worry,keeping their hands in the banks for loan after loan to
keep up with the"demands of development". They are under the constant
threatof fore-closure. They constantly see poverty in front of their
eyes.
The Prophet said: "Allaah says: 'Son of Aadam: Fill your time with My
worship and I will fill your heart with richness, and end off your
poverty. But if you do not, I would make your hands fully busy (i.e.
in worldly affairs) and I would not end off your poverty.'"
(At-Tirmithi)
Our purpose of existence on earth is more meaningful than being slaves
to worldly gains. There can be no meaningful life better than that
prescribed by our Creator Allaah. Every act done according to Allaah's
way is an act of worship. Man is the beneficiary and Allaah is in no
need; Allaah Says (what means):: "O mankind! It is you who stand in
need of Allaah, but Allaah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs),
Worthy of All Praise." [Quran 35:15]