By: Rameeza Shaikh
We know that the world we live in has got many problems. Small or big, natural or man made. In fact, we mankind are responsible for most of the problems because almost everything is a consequence of what our hands have sent forth or left behind. Have a wide picture of the real world. The truth is that this world has become a place of business with its priority being the making of profit, while it should have been Justice. Because concern about profit leads to selfishness whereas Justice itself is unbiased and selfless. This concern about profit is what makes people greedy and leads them to do bad things.
We have so many people who don't even get basic needs fulfilled (even though there is enough for everyone in this world) and on the other hand we have families having much more than required, with loads of investments. Yes they may have worked very hard for all the luxuries they got but they had opportunity, ability and so they must also take responsibility to help other human beings. But that is not how people think. Why? Because most people don't realise the true purpose of life. What is success according to the world order? It is when you can have what you want (even if many don't get what they need). If there is anything wrong, then those who have ability to stop it have responsibility to stop it.
Now think this way...Most of the people in our world believe in God, then why so much evil around? The answer is simple, its because most people believe in God but they don't really know God. There is a complete difference between the two. People who truly know God, they try to be good, just, trustworthy, honest, and they abstain from doing wrong because they fear God as they know that God is watching and to Him is our return. Such people are very few, infact you can call them as STRANGERS in this business oriented world. I know, no one's perfect and sinless, neither God expects us to be perfect and that is why God reminds us of His Forgiveness so that even if we make mistakes then we can always turn back to Him and ask Him for forgiveness and help.
Allah addresses those who have sinned in Quran...
"Say: O my slaves who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not for the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." Az-Zumar (39:53)
Most people don't try to know God, its not even an option, who talks about God really? We talk about god of cricket and all but what about the Al-Mighty God? We are rather traditional people who tend to follow only family traditions and by doing this we think we are religious and we believe in God. God obviously deserves much more! We are so pre-occupied with stuffs like sports, entertainment, work and what not that giving a serious thought about life and its priorities is not normal bacause the priorities are already set for us...Its money, house, car, luxuries...the list ends only when you die. And what all are you gonna take with you then? Made a list for that? Why not?
This world should be about business of good deeds. We should be concerned about our account of deeds more than our bank accounts. God gave us life and this world to live in. We have freedom to make our choices. Firstly we are supposed to be grateful to Him for what we have and we need to work if desire more i.e. Paradise. Yes you are obviously supposed to work for this life but don't try to make it your Paradise because you can't do that. What good is an increase in wealth when life grows even shorter? No one's permanent here.
I don't expect this world to be perfect and neither should you, but at least you must take responsibity for your own actions and beliefs. Life is a test about what you have and what you do with it. Like, if you are wealthy then do you give your wealth in the way of God to help others? If you have knowledge, then do you spread it to benefit others for the sake of God? You may think that what change you alone can do? The only change you need to sincerely care about is of within you. Or you don't care because most of the people don't care? You will be answerable to God about your deeds and not about what others did. Don't be like that child who closes his eyes and thinks that no one can see him. Having success (luxuries) is not the true purpose of this life.
"And fear the Day when you will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be repaid in full what it earned, and they will not be wronged." - Qur'an 2:281
If your doctor gives you medicine, you thank him and not the medicine (that would be wrong)...similarly, you should be grateful to God for everything. The only way to be good is through being grateful to God. God is the Provider, All-Knower, All-Powerful, Your Creator...and now you gonna go and thank someone else while everything else is subordinate to Him? That is denying His Authority. You think that's no big deal?
"Those who remember Allah standing and siting and on thier sides and they reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth saying, 'Our Lord, You have not created this in vain. Glory be to You, so save us from the punishment of the Fire." - Qur'an (3:191)
Want to be good and serve God? You got to know Him first or else you may end up with worshiping someone else and that would be the greatest injustice done by you. So you cannot serve Him without knowing Him.
Want to achieve good in this world and also in the Hereafter? You got to be a Stranger!
Be the change you want to see, and this advice is for both you and me. :)
We know that the world we live in has got many problems. Small or big, natural or man made. In fact, we mankind are responsible for most of the problems because almost everything is a consequence of what our hands have sent forth or left behind. Have a wide picture of the real world. The truth is that this world has become a place of business with its priority being the making of profit, while it should have been Justice. Because concern about profit leads to selfishness whereas Justice itself is unbiased and selfless. This concern about profit is what makes people greedy and leads them to do bad things.
We have so many people who don't even get basic needs fulfilled (even though there is enough for everyone in this world) and on the other hand we have families having much more than required, with loads of investments. Yes they may have worked very hard for all the luxuries they got but they had opportunity, ability and so they must also take responsibility to help other human beings. But that is not how people think. Why? Because most people don't realise the true purpose of life. What is success according to the world order? It is when you can have what you want (even if many don't get what they need). If there is anything wrong, then those who have ability to stop it have responsibility to stop it.
Now think this way...Most of the people in our world believe in God, then why so much evil around? The answer is simple, its because most people believe in God but they don't really know God. There is a complete difference between the two. People who truly know God, they try to be good, just, trustworthy, honest, and they abstain from doing wrong because they fear God as they know that God is watching and to Him is our return. Such people are very few, infact you can call them as STRANGERS in this business oriented world. I know, no one's perfect and sinless, neither God expects us to be perfect and that is why God reminds us of His Forgiveness so that even if we make mistakes then we can always turn back to Him and ask Him for forgiveness and help.
Allah addresses those who have sinned in Quran...
"Say: O my slaves who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not for the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." Az-Zumar (39:53)
Most people don't try to know God, its not even an option, who talks about God really? We talk about god of cricket and all but what about the Al-Mighty God? We are rather traditional people who tend to follow only family traditions and by doing this we think we are religious and we believe in God. God obviously deserves much more! We are so pre-occupied with stuffs like sports, entertainment, work and what not that giving a serious thought about life and its priorities is not normal bacause the priorities are already set for us...Its money, house, car, luxuries...the list ends only when you die. And what all are you gonna take with you then? Made a list for that? Why not?
This world should be about business of good deeds. We should be concerned about our account of deeds more than our bank accounts. God gave us life and this world to live in. We have freedom to make our choices. Firstly we are supposed to be grateful to Him for what we have and we need to work if desire more i.e. Paradise. Yes you are obviously supposed to work for this life but don't try to make it your Paradise because you can't do that. What good is an increase in wealth when life grows even shorter? No one's permanent here.
I don't expect this world to be perfect and neither should you, but at least you must take responsibity for your own actions and beliefs. Life is a test about what you have and what you do with it. Like, if you are wealthy then do you give your wealth in the way of God to help others? If you have knowledge, then do you spread it to benefit others for the sake of God? You may think that what change you alone can do? The only change you need to sincerely care about is of within you. Or you don't care because most of the people don't care? You will be answerable to God about your deeds and not about what others did. Don't be like that child who closes his eyes and thinks that no one can see him. Having success (luxuries) is not the true purpose of this life.
"And fear the Day when you will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be repaid in full what it earned, and they will not be wronged." - Qur'an 2:281
If your doctor gives you medicine, you thank him and not the medicine (that would be wrong)...similarly, you should be grateful to God for everything. The only way to be good is through being grateful to God. God is the Provider, All-Knower, All-Powerful, Your Creator...and now you gonna go and thank someone else while everything else is subordinate to Him? That is denying His Authority. You think that's no big deal?
"Those who remember Allah standing and siting and on thier sides and they reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth saying, 'Our Lord, You have not created this in vain. Glory be to You, so save us from the punishment of the Fire." - Qur'an (3:191)
Want to be good and serve God? You got to know Him first or else you may end up with worshiping someone else and that would be the greatest injustice done by you. So you cannot serve Him without knowing Him.
Want to achieve good in this world and also in the Hereafter? You got to be a Stranger!
Be the change you want to see, and this advice is for both you and me. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment