OUR FOCUS IN LIFE
Text of a Lecture delivered by
Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed
Brothers and sisters, a sober minded believer is supposed to reflect on the past activities and make resolutions for improvement in the future, as like is like snow-ball, it keeps getting less and less all the time. Each Muslim must always keep in front of him two important issues. These are:
• He has to build a good relation with his Lord.
• He has to keep good relation with his fellow human beings.
Relation with the Lord:
A believer knows that while every human being is returning to the Lord, few will ever meet with Him. In order to reach that goal one has to always keep in mind what Allah says in the Holy Qur'an in the following verse:
Whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Lord, (he must) not join any partner with Him. (18:110)
Joining partners with Allah means diverting one's focus from the Straight Path, which is the only way to get to Him. Many people do good deeds in every community and religion, but along with their good deeds they worship creatures instead of the Creator alone, and as a result they will not get back to Him.
It is necessary to keep in mind the important message that:
All that is on the earth will perish, and the Face of the Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honour will abide forever. (55:26-7)
So any creature that is worshipped as gods besides Allah will no longer be existing when every thing on the earth will be destroyed.
Believers are a special people, as they are accustomed to meet Allah, at least five times everyday in worship. In addition to this experience, Allah tells them to catch hold of His Hand. When this is done He will take that fortunate person along to the Garden. He says;
Whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. (2:258)
And just as Muslims greet each other with the salutation of peace, so too, Allah says:
Peace, a Word (of Salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful. (36:58)
A believer can strengthen the bond with his Lord by manifesting true and sincere love for Him.
Those who have faith are overflowing in their love for Allah. (2:168)
He can demonstrate this practically by loving Prophet Muhammad (pboh) more than anything else, as the Prophet (pboh) is the beloved of Allah. Allah says:
Relationship with fellow human beings:
The next important area of focus of the believer is his relation with fellow human beings. In this connection he has to keep the following in mind.
• Good and evil are not equal, it is not correct to fight evil with evil. Allah says:
Good and evil are not equal; repel (evil) with what is better (i.e. with good). Then will he between whom and thee was hatred (will) become as it were thy intimate friend. (41:34)
• A person must love for others what he would like for himself. Allah says:
Do good to others as Allah has been good to you. (28:77)
Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have told his companions that: A Muslim is he who likes for his brother what he would like for himself.
• A Muslim must be prepared to help his brother or sister in times of need. Allah says:
And what will explain to thee what the steep path is: it is the freeing of the bondman; or giving food in a day of privation, to the orphan with claims of relationship; or to the indigent (down) in the dust. Then will he be of those who believe; and enjoin patience (and constancy) and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. (90:12-17)
• A true believer will never try to make mischief or be cause of mischief in the land. Allah says:
Do not spread mischief, discord or corruption in the earth; Allah does not love people who spread corruption and mischief. (28:77)
Always be aware of the fact that Allah has appointed a Satan with each human being to divert his focus from the Straight Path. He will make the evil of the world most attractive to catch those who do not have the will power to resist. Try your best to keep your focus and work towards returning to your Lord successfully, so that He will be pleased with you and you will be well pleased to meet Him.
