Utilizing the blessings of Allah

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Today I wish to reference two thought provoking ayats from Surah Ibrahim that are very comprehensive issues that Allah has raised for our attention.  Firstly Allah says in ayat;

But if ye count the favours of Allah, never will ye be able to number them.  (14:34)

If we were to sit down and think of all the blessings that Allah has been so merciful to bestow on us we would never finish counting them.  A simple example is how many times for the day we breathe in and out.  Is this not a blessing?  There are some with respiratory problems that has difficulty in breathing and it leads to so many medical problems.  Another is how many times for the day we blink our eyes.  These simple things that we take for granted are truly great blessings from our Lord, in addition to the other things Allah has been kind and merciful to give us.  It’s impossible to really compute His blessings and favours on us.

The other ayat I wish to reference is ayat 28;

Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who have changed the favour of Allah into blasphemy and caused their people to descend to the House of Perdition?  (14:28)

Unfortunately, sometimes we see some people who may not have much materially, and they appear to be righteous and obedient; and when they acquire something of the world they begin to indulge and lose their focus and purpose.  Sadly they may even indulge in unlawful things. 

Allah is telling us that some people do not know how to manage the blessings that He Graciously bestows.  Some get intoxicated and go off in tangents.  And after some time they fall flat.  How many times have we seen people work hard to accumulate something of the world and thereafter go off in different un-Islamic things; and finally they fall?  Allah is warning us.  Appreciate the blessings of Allah and manage them properly because the way we utilize and manage these blessings are important.  Even the way we manage our time is important as time is indeed a great blessing from Allah. 

How do you manage your time, assets and health?  Life is not just for one day.  It is a process.  Today you may be like the full moon; bright, radiant and powerful but tomorrow you may be like the last quarter; in decline.  Strength and wealth will eventually go.  These are very important blessings so don’t use it to cause your own ruin and destruction.

Prophet Ibrahim is a perfect example of how to best utilize Allah’s blessings.  He utilised the blessings to elevate himself in both worlds.  On the other hand his relative Lot; his people were so blessed with fertile land etc and look at how they utilized it.  They indulged in reprehensible actions.  On the other hand Ibrahim planted a seed at the then barren land of Bakkah and look at the outcome today. 

Understand that we are here because of Allah’s Grace and Mercy.  He has given us life and something of recourses.  Don’t complain and envy others.  Instead thank Him and manage His blessings in such a way that it will earn for you more and more in both worlds.

One of the key to success is to do things selflessly for the sake of Allah.  If you give to Him do you not think He will return something better to you?  Rest assured that He will never let you down.  This is a practical experience. 

We are seeing examples in His Words and in the life pattern His Beloved Prophet Muhammad (pboh) and also in the message of Prophet Ibrahim.  Look at Ibrahim’s status today.  We acknowledge him every day in salaat whilst reciting our darood.  They are models for us about how to manage the gifts of Allah.

On the other hand look at the people of Moses.  They we so physically blessed; and sadly they used it for their destruction.  They were so disobedient that Allah left them wandering in the deserts for so many years.

We are reminded that our existence is because of Him and we should be conscious of this and never feel or portray any feeling of superiority.  Everything we have belongs to Allah.  He says ‘and to Allah belongs whatever is in the skies and whatever is on the earth’.

If you are given a little as a trust from your Lord utilise it properly.  And this is the Message of life and Islam.  Remember this and always remember we have one life to live on the earth; so utilise it properly right now to get eternal bliss, insha Allah.

May Allah enable us to truly understand and acknowledge His countless blessings on us and may He also bless us with the maturity to utilize it in a most befitting manner, insha Allah.

Transcript of discourse delivered by

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed