O POWER SEEKERS! FEAR ALLAH, SERVE PEOPLE!

To The Power-Seekers:

Fear Allah, Serve Mankind!

Don’t Abuse Or Fool People

By False Hopes, Empty Promises!

(M. Javed Naseem)

وَٱتَّبِعُـوۤاْ أَحْسَنَ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُـمْ مِّن قَبْلِ

أَن يَأْتِيَكُـمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَشْعُرُونَ
"And follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you

from your Lord, before the penalty comes on you

suddenly while you perceive not!”

(al-Quran 39:55)

The history of mankind tells us that people were always controlled, enslaved and ruled by the powerful elite – the clan leaders, feudal lords. They claim to be superior to other humans, therefore, they are entitled to rule/govern. What makes them superior? The power! In the stone-age, it was physical strength that was regarded as power. Today, it’s not physical, it’s rather material. The rest is the same.

The children (legitimate or illegitimate) of the powerful also consider themselves as powerful as their forefathers thus laying claim on leadership. They choose to be called Emir, Syed, Chaudhry, Thakur, Nawab, Makhdoom, Sarkar, Wadera, etc., etc. There's an endless list of these self-proclaimed titles in India and Pakistan - as a matter of fact in every culture and country of Asia, Africa, Europe and America. That's why you always find certain 'elite' families in power or in the parliaments. They love to govern, rule and control others. From that perspective, today's Europe and America are not different from the tribes of pre-civilization. The only visible change is in the way they operate. They have become sophisticated in their tactics although objectives remain the same. It's a shameful situation but the ruling class does not know this word.

Every major religion tried to bring respect, honor, dignity and equality to the mankind but people created their own religions to suit them; to give them preferential status or superiority. The powerful don't believe in equality or parity. They even monopolized religion. There was a time in Europe when only the elite had the right to study the Bible! That's what man does to other men.

The constitution of the United States of America says: 'All men are born equal'. Still, only the rich elite go to the Congress or Senate. Actually, it is more than that. Not every rich can achieve that feat. That right is reserved to those rich who belong to certain 'fraternity' enjoying political clout, priority and preference.

Islam abolished all those priorities and preferences, and established only one measure of priority or preference. And that was piety (or righteousness) or Taqwa (in Arabic). Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.) commanded the believers to observe strictly that measure and judge people on that scale for all jobs besides skills. No preference at all on the basis of kinship or tribal status! Simple but very fair/just! Unfortunately, most Muslims in India and Pakistan don't observe or respect that. They want preferential treatment on the basis of family ties, wealthy status or clans. That's ignorance (Jahalat). Allah has warned us very clearly in the Holy Quran:

وَمَآ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلاَ أَوْلاَدُكُمْ بِٱلَّتِى تُقَرِّبُكُمْ

عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰ إِلاَّ مَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحاً

فَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَآءُ ٱلضِّعْفِ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ

وَهُمْ فِى ٱلْغُرُفَاتِ آمِنُونَ
“It is not your wealth nor your sons, that will

bring you nearer to Us in degree; but only those

who believe and work righteousness – these are

the ones for whom there is a multiplied Reward

for their deeds, while secure they (reside)

in the dwellings on high!”

(al-Quran 34:37)

The life of this world is just a game, a pastime. We are commanded to use this life for the preparation of eternal life in the Hereafter. The happy eternal life is guaranteed to those only who obey their Lord Creator. Those are the people who try to please Allah with their good deeds; by spending wealth and lives in the way of Allah. That’s a great success! Here’s the recipe to that success:

                     

واْ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلواَةَ وَآتُواْ ٱلزَّكَواةَ

وَأَقْرِضُواُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً وَمَا تُقَدِّمُواْ لأَنفُسِكُمْ

مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْراً وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْراً

وَٱسْتَغْفِرُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
”….. You read, therefore, as much of the Quran as

may be easy (for you); and establish regular prayer

and give regular charity; and loan to Allah a beautiful loan.

And whatever good you send forth for your souls, you

shall find it in Allah's presence, yes, better and greater,

in reward and seek you the Grace of Allah, for Allah is

Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

(al-Quran 73:20)

Most people get carried away by the glitter of this world and forget the Hereafter thus jeopardizing it. They will also get the reward of their good deeds in this world but there would be nothing for them in the Hereafter. Why so? Because they never worked for the Hereafter! They concentrated their efforts to enjoy a comfortable life in this world, ignoring the commands of Allah and failing to discharge their duties toward other human beings.

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ ٱلآخِرَةِ نَزِدْ لَهُ فِى حَرْثِهِ

وَمَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ ٱلدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا

وَمَا لَهُ فِى ٱلآخِرَةِ مِن نَّصِيبٍ
“To any that desires the crop of the Hereafter,

We give increase in his crop, and to any that desires

the crop of this world, We grant somewhat thereof,

but he has no share or lot in the Hereafter.”

(al-Quran 42:20)

Those who are in power, they don’t want to relinquish it. And those who are outside, they are trying their best, with all fair and unfair means, to get into the corridors of power to enjoy authority and plunder other people’s money. They should fear the Creator as they will be punished for betraying people’s trust; for lying; for fooling people; for offering fake hopes and empty promises.

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْحَيَاةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا نُوَفِّ

إِلَيْهِمْ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فِيهَا وَهُمْ فِيهَا لاَ يُبْخَسُونَ
أُوْلَـٰئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ ٱلنَّارُ

وَحَبِطَ مَا صَنَعُواْ فِيهَا وَبَاطِلٌ مَّا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ

“Those who desire the life of the present and its

glitter, to them We shall pay (the reward/price of)

their deeds therein, without diminution. They are

those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but

the Fire. Vain are the designs they frame therein

and of no effect are the deeds that they do!”

(al-Quran 11:15-16)

There is a very clear message in the above verse and it is about keeping the balance. We should understand the difference between ‘Douniya’ (this world) and ‘Aakhirah’ (the Hereafter). Douniya is a temporary glitter and we should not run after it. It should not be the sole purpose of our life to accumulate worldly comforts (material gains). We are sent to this Douniya to work on our Aakhirah (the Hereafter). Therefore, we should use this opportunity very wisely and keep the balance. We have very limited time.

There is also a warning in this verse. If we concentrate mainly on this world and its comforts, and ignore the Hereafter, then Allah will pay us the reward of our efforts right here in this world. There would be nothing in the Hereafter for us, and that’s the worst thing we can do to our souls.

There is also a warning for power seekers in the following verse of the Quran. Allah tells us that if we try to accumulate wealth, property or material things in this world, without caring about Haraam or Halaal, without caring about others’ rights or by manipulating and exploiting others, we won’t get any reward in the Hereafter.

وَمَآ آتَيْتُمْ مِّن رِّباً لِّيَرْبُوَ فِى أَمْوَالِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَلاَ يَرْبُو

عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ آتَيْتُمْ مِّن زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ ٱللَّهِ

فَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُضْعِفُونَ

“That which you lay out for increase through the

property of (other) people, will have no increase

with Allah. But that which you lay out for charity,

seeking the Countenance of Allah, (will increase).

It is these who will get a recompense multiplied.”

(al-Quran 30:39)

Allah is the Creator and we are the creation. We should fear him the way He should be feared. If we are unfair and unjust with other human beings, that cannot please Allah. On the contrary, we are inviting the wrath of Allah. Fearing Allah means that we should obey His commands; be just/fair and honest in our dealings; do things/deeds we are commanded to do and abstain from the things/deeds that are forbidden. We are supposed to help the needy, support the weak and stand up against injustice.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
“As for those who fear their Lord unseen,

for them is forgiveness and a great reward.”

(al-Quran 67:12)

ذٰلِكَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَنزَلَهُ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ

يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَيُعْظِمْ لَهُ أَجْراً 
“That is the command of Allah, which He

has sent down to you; and if any one fears

Allah, He will remove his ills from him,

and will enlarge his reward.”

(al-Quran 65:5)

We are told very clearly that obedience to Allah and compliance to the laws/rules laid down by Him, will win us the pleasure of the Almighty. In return, He’ll reward us with the best prize – the Paradise.

أُوْلَـٰئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُمْ مَّغْفِرَةٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِى

مِنْ تَحْتِهَا ٱلأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ ٱلْعَامِلِينَ
“For such the reward is forgiveness from their

Lord, and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath,

an eternal dwelling. How excellent a recompense

for those who work (and strive)!”

(al-Quran 3:136)

That’s the reward for the righteousness. At the same time, we have been warned about the punishment for disobedience and arrogance:

فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّالِحَاتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ

وَيَزِيدُهُمْ مِّن فَضْلِهِ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُواْ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُواْ

فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً وَلاَ يَجِدُونَ لَهُمْ مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيّاً وَلاَ نَصِيراً
“But to those who believe and do deeds of

righteousness, He will give their (due) rewards,

and more, out of His bounty. But those who

are disdainful and arrogant, He will punish

with a grievous penalty; nor will they find,

besides Allah, any to protect or help them.”

(al-Quran 4:173)

لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَزِيدَهُمْ مِّن فَضْلِهِ

وَٱللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
“That Allah may reward them according to the

best of their deeds, and add even more for them

out of His Grace; for Allah does provide for

those whom He will, without measure.”

(al-Quran 24:38)

أُوْلَـٰئِكَ يُؤْتُونَ أَجْرَهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ

وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ ٱلسَّيِّئَةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
“Twice will they be given their reward, for that

they have persevered, that they avert Evil with

Good, and that they spend (in charity) out of

what We have given them.”

(al-Quran 28:54)

The righteous have been promised by their Lord an excellent reward – eternal life in Paradise without any fear or worry.

وَٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ

مِّنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ غُرَفَاً تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلأَنْهَارُ

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا نِعْمَ أَجْرُ ٱلْعَامِلِينَ
”But those who believe and work deeds of

righteousness, to them shall We give a Home

in Heaven – lofty mansions beneath which

flow rivers, to dwell therein for ever – an

excellent reward for those who do (good)!

(al-Quran 29:58)

قُلْ يٰعِبَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمْ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُواْ

فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ وَأَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَاسِعَةٌ إِنَّمَا

يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
"O you my servants who believe! Fear your

Lord; good is (the reward) for those who

do good in this world. Spacious is Allah's

earth! Those who patiently persevere, will

truly receive a reward without measure!"

(al-Quran 39:10)

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