Work hard for the fruitful end

 

Al-Waleed ibn Mughirah, Umayyah ibn Khallaf, and Al-'Aas ibn Waa'il spent liberally from their wealth in the tight against Islam and its adherents.

 

(And so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become anguish for them. Then they will be overcome)    (Qur'an 8: 36)

 

Yet many Muslims are miserly, hoarding their wealth and keeping themselves aloof from good causes.

 

(And whoever is niggardly it is only at the expense of his own self)   (Qur'an 47: 38)

 

In Golda Mayer's memoirs, Malice, the Jewish writer said that at one stage in her life she would work sixteen hours continuously without breaks. But for what end did she strive? It was to serve her false principles and deviant ideas. She toiled until she and Ben Gurion established a country.

 

I then reflected on the thousands of Muslims that will not work even for a single hour a day. Instead it is playing, eating, drinking, sleeping, and wasting time.

 

(What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allah [i.e. Jihad] you cling heavily to the earth?)        (Quran 9: 38)

 

'Umar was steadfast in working day and night and he would sleep but a little. His family asked, "Do you not sleep?" He replied,

"If I sleep at night, my soul will be lost (meaning that he spent his nights in worship) and if I sleep during the day, my people (citizens) will be lost (as Caliph, he spent his days taking care of the peoples' affairs)."

 

The memoirs of the Assassin Moshe Dayan, The Sword and Rule, is replete with accounts of how he flew from one country to another, day and night, attending meetings and conferences, always making deals and pacts. I thought what a shame it was that a person that seemed more akin to pigs and apes than to mankind displayed such extraordinary fortitude. To complete this somber thought, I reflected on the feebleness and incapability of so many Muslims.

Here again I remembered 'Umar's words about the stamina of the evildoer and the feebleness of self-assurance.

 

Under the aegis of 'Umar's rule, indolence and inactivity were not tolerated. He once evicted some youths that lived in the Mosque. He chastised them with blows and said, "Go out and seek sustenance, for the sky does not send down rain of gold or silver." Laziness begets worry, depression, and manifold illnesses, while activity and work beget satisfaction and happiness. If each one of us does what he is supposed to do, all of the above-mentioned maladies can be eradicated, and our society will benefit from an increase in productivity and development.

 

And say: 'Do deeds!                            (Quran 9: 105)

 

(…you may disperse through the land)  (Qur'an 62: 10)

 

(Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord [Allah], and towards Paradise….)  (Quran 57: 21)

 

(And march forth in the way [which leads to] forgiveness from your Lord and for Paradise…..)  (Quran 3: I 33)

 

The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said,

"Verily, the Prophet Dawood would eat from the labor of his hands."

 

Though it might seem to be a paradox, many people are dead despite the fact that they are alive. They have no clue as to the purpose of life, and they do nothing for themselves or for others.

 

(They are content to be with those [the women] who sit behind [at home].) (Qur'an 9: 87)

 

(Not equal are those of the believers who sit [at home], except those who are disabled [by injury or are blind or lame, etc.], and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah...)  (Qur'an 4: 95)

 

The dark-skinned woman who cleaned the Prophet's Mosque played out her role in life with alacrity and a sense of purpose. And as a result she entered Paradise.

 

(And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a [free] Mushrikah [idolatress, etc.], even though she pleases you.)    (Qur'an 2: 221)

 

Similarly, the boy who made the pulpit for the Prophet (bpuh) contributed according to his abilities, and for that he earned his reward. His talents were in carpentry and he took advantage of those talents.

 

(…and those who could not find to give charity [in Allah s Cause] except what is available to them…)    (Qur'an 9: 79)

 

In a move that expanded the opportunities for the call to Islam, the American Government opened the doors for Muslim preachers to visit prisons in order to teach prisoners about Islam. The apparent reason or motive was that those criminals, drug-dealers, and murderers who accept Islam during their stay in prison re-enter society as productive and good members.

 

(is he who was dead [without Faith by ignorance and disbelief and We gave him life [by knowledge and Faith] and set for him a light [of Belief] whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief polytheism and hypocrisy)…) (Qur'an 6: 122)

 

An extreme attachment to this life, the yearning to live long, and an abhorrence of death that goes beyond normal limits --- these all result in anxiety, worry and sleeplessness.

 

Allah blamed the Jews for their strong attachment to the life of this world.

 

(And verily you will find them [the Jews] the greediest of mankind for life and (even greedier) than those who ascribe partners to Allah. Every one of them wishes that he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such life will not save him even a little from [due] punishment. And Allah is All-Seer of what they do) (Qur'an 2: 96)

 

Regarding this verse, there are some important issues that we need to discuss. First, Allah mentioned that every one of them wishes for a long life. ln other words, no matter what the quality of the life they lead, regardless of whether they lead a life that is worthless and trivial or not, they have strong aspirations to stay in this world for a long time. _

 

Second, there is the choice of the words "one thousand years."

Perhaps the reason for this stems from the tradition of Jews that when they would meet each other, their greeting was, "Live for a thousand years." Allah reproached them for desiring such a long life. And yet, suppose that they did live for one thousand years, what would be their end? lt would still be the scorching Fire!

 

(But surely the torment of the Hereafter will be more disgracing, and they will never be helped.)  (Qur'an 41: I6)

 

And the following is a common Arab saying:

"No worries, and supplication is to Allah."

 

This means that, since Allah above is the One Whom we ask for good, why should we worry. lf you put your trust in Allah concerning your worries, He will remove them from you.

 

(Is not He [better than your gods] who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and who removes the evil... )  (Qur'an 2 7: 62)

 

(And when my slaves ask you [O' Muhammad] concerning me, then [answer them], I am indeed near [to them by My Knowledge]. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on me [without any mediator or intercessor].) (Qur'an 2: 186)

 

An Arab poet said:

"The patient one is worthy of achieving his goal, and the one addicted to knocking on doors is worthy of entering."