Calling To True Benefit

As a Muslim we should be trying to do one thing. This is because Allah created us for one purpose alone. Allah created us to worship Him alone. That is the reason for our existence. We were not put here to simply eat and drink until Allah calls our souls back. This is not an existence that you see most have taken it to be, where we come and gather all that we can gather while we wait to die. Rather this whole existence is for the sole purpose of singling out Allah in worship. Allah says in His book,

{وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ. مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ رِزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يُطْعِمُونِ. إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُوالْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ}

[الذاريات: 56-58]

{And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures). Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong.}

[51:56-58]

So we see that our job is one, and this is to worship Him, and worship Him alone. Now the types of worship are many. The one that we want to focus on today is the importance of calling one another to that which Allah loves and is pleased with. In doing this we will find that we will also be calling one another away from those things that Allah is dislikes and is displeased with. This is one of those things that makes the Ummah (Nation) of Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) the best of the nations. Allah says about the Muslims,

{كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ}

[آلِ عِمْرَانَ: 110]

{You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma’ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah.}

[3:110]

We should be doing our best at all times to call the people to that which is correct, and away from those things that are harmful to them. Now, this is a general statement. It holds especially true though, when we are talking about those people that we say that we love and care deeply about. How can we not take every waking moment and opportunity to call these people to that which will cause them to be happy in this life and the next? How can we not warn them from a danger that is coming and that no one will be able to stand?  How can we know that those that we love are setting themselves up to be eligible for a punishment that they could not possibly bear? The people that we love are running towards the punishment of Allah, and we sit back and laugh and joke with them so they are please with us? Is reasonable? Of course it isn’t.

We sit on the social media networks, at the jobs, on the phones and let all types of things fly by that even if we are not going to correct, we should at least put a stop to them. If we cannot make a person refrain from doing a sin all together, we should at least love them enough to make them feel uncomfortable enough that they do not do it around us. This way, at least they are not, while with us, adding more and more evil deeds to be placed on their scales the day they meet their Lord.

Is this not aiding them and their situations?  Shouldn’t all types of aide that will be beneficial be given to those that we love? Or should our relationships continue to be like many of them have become?

Our relationships have become those where we support you in doing those things that will lead do one another’s happiness, as well as those things that may lead to their destruction. If they are doing something that is pleasing to Allah, we sit, clap and cheer them on. Also, if they are doing something that Allah and His Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) have warned us against the punishment for these things, we still sit, clap and cheer them on.

How is it possible that this is real love that we have for an individual? If we saw them about to walk out in front of a car we would do our best to stop them. If we knew they were about to eat or drink something that would poison them, we would stop them. So how is it that when we run into them doing these things that go directly against that which they were commanded with, we say and do nothing?

When we be honest with ourselves, we help them in the first two situations for a very selfish reason. It is because we are not ready for them to leave us. We want them to stay around with us as long as possible. As well, the reason that we do not stop them from disobeying Allah is 9 times out of 10 this same selfish reason. It is because we don’t want them to get mad at us and leave us. We would rather them walk the path of possible destruction and pay the price when the time comes, just so long as they stay our friend a little bit longer. This is a very selfish attitude that we all must do our best to abandon.

As well, I want you to think about something. This article talked mainly about how to be a ‘Real Friend’ to someone. Now you need to sit and think about the type of people that you have around you. Are they people that truly want that which is best and most beneficial for you, or are they those that are being selfish, and are willing to watch you walk to your possible destruction, just so long as you walk with them a bit longer?

May Allah The Most High, correct us and all of our affairs… Allahuma ameen.