Lesson 11

 

Social Law

 

1b.       Being spiteful is equally as bad a sin as being arrogant. Being gifted with Allah (S.W.A)’s gifts is a test as is not being gifted with the same. Instead of hating the people who are more gifted than us, we should thank Allah for putting his blessings in our proximity. Can you imagine a world of people incapable of helping one another even if they wanted to? I am sure such a world would lack any sparkle and would be depressing and miserable. So we are a new generation. We will recognize and respect all blessings in our possession and in possession of other people. All blessings are from Allah (S.W.A) and they exist for the good of life. To reject those who have more than us is to reject Allah (S.W.A)’s blessings as well, and we certainly can never remember to thank Him for them. Instead of cursing, spitting, and asking Allah (S.W.A) to strip people of their gifts, we must instead ask Allah (S.W.A) to help these people to use these gifts in ways that Allah (S.W.A) would approve. Here is Allah (S.W.A)’s guidance to us.

“No misfortune can happen on earth or in your soul but is recorded in a decree before we bring it into existence; That is truly easy for Allah: (57:22)”

“In order that you may not despair over matters that pass you by, nor exult over favors bestowed upon you. For Allah loves not any vain-glorious boaster. (57:23)”

“Such persons as are covetous and commend covetousness to men, and if any turn back (from Allah’s way), verily Allah is free of all needs, worthy of all praise. (57:24)”

We are all gifted differently.  We should not only consider material blessings as the only God-give gifts. The gift of having parents to look after us when we are young and to look at us when we are grown and productive, is a big gift, for example. Therefore we should not lament for that which we don’t have and instead look for what we have and be thankful for that. This is how Allah (S.W.A) teaches us to express our gratitude to him for having given us our parents. Allah (S.W.A) instructs us thus,

“We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength, and attains forty years he says, ‘Oh my lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for my favor which you have bestowed upon me, and upon both  my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as you may approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to You and truly do I bow (to You) in Islam. (46:15)”

Last but not least, we are forbidden to disrespect any of Allah’s creatures, but we are condemned if we worship any of them including our parents. Allah (S.W.A) exhorts us to respect and obey our parents very much in all affairs except where they order or influence us to worship other than Him. Nevertheless, we cannot worship our parents – dead or alive; we cannot worship the dead in general; we cannot make our fans our idols – that is worship; we cannot worship our teachers to bribe them for better grades; we cannot worship our bosses hoping to keep our jobs or secure a promotion. In the purest sense, the power to lose a job or to be promoted is none other than Allah’s. Certainly we cannot worship idols of stone or any of other created things; above all we cannot worship ourselves – our ego, our power, our wealth, our children, our honor or our lineage. If we worship anything other than Allah (S.W.A), this is what he has to say.

“And he (prophet Ibrahim (A.S))  said :for you, you have taken (for worship) idols besides Allah, out of mutual love and regard between yourselves in this life; but on the Day of Judgment you shall disown each other and curse each other: and your abode will be the fire, and you shall have no one to help (21:25)”

“The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds (to itself) a house: but truly the flimsiest of houses is the spider’s house – if they but knew. (29:41)”

“Behold, Luqman said to his son by way of instruction: Oh my son! Join not in worship (others) with Allah, for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing. (31:13)”

We can respect, care and love all Allah (S.W.A)’s creatures, but worship must be reserved for Him alone.