IF YOU CAN'T HELP PEOPLE, Stop Fooling Them! A Man In Authority Is A Servant.

If You Can’t Help People,

Stop Fooling Them!

You Cannot Rule By Lies

And Deception!

A Man In Authority Is

A Servant To People!

(M. Javed Naseem)

The Bible says:

“Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need

clothes and don’t have enough to eat. What good

is there in your saying to them, ‘God bless you!

Keep warm and eat well!’ – if you don’t give

them the necessities of life?”

(James 2:15-16)

In today’s world, every ruler (government) is lying to its people; fooling them with empty promises; and deceiving them on most issues. We are living by hypocrisy and diplomacy. And they both constitute lies and deception! We are living fake lives to impress others and don’t want to come out of the shell of ‘image’ that we have created around us. We are so worried about others – what would others think if we do this or that? But in fact we don’t care about others. There are those ‘others’ who live in misery, poverty and need but we don’t care about them. We selfishly care about ourselves only and use others as excuse. We are hypocrites – liars!

”A painful doom is theirs because they lie.”

(al-Quran 2:10)

We worry about those people who don’t care about us either. They are the people who believe that a successful person has to be a good liar too. Not true at all. Almost all politicians in the world are liars – good or bad – but not all of them are successful. Apart from that, who respects a liar? I don’t; do you?

“Lo! Allah guides not one who is

a prodigal, a liar.”

(al-Quran 40:28)

”Woe unto each sinful liar!”

(al-Quran 45:7) 

As humans, we need to be compassionate and sympathetic towards others – especially the less fortunate. It is our moral, social and religious obligation to take care of those who need care and help. It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

"Beware! Every one of you is a shepherd and every one is answerable with regard to his flock. The Caliph (ruler) is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs). A man is a guardian over the members of his family and shall be questioned about them (as to how he looked after their well-being). A woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children). A slave is guardian over the property of his master and shall be questioned about it (as to how he safeguarded his trust). Beware, every one of you is a guardian and every one of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust.”

 During the times of Caliph Umar bin al-Khattab, a great servant of Allah, Saeed bin Aamer, was appointed as governor of Homs (or Hams). After some time, some people of Homs complained and asked for his removal. Caliph Umar was a bit surprised. He was an excellent judge of people and could not believe what he heard. He prayed to Allah to bless him with wisdom, and then went to Homs to see the concerned parties. He held the court at Saeed’s place and suggested that Governor Saeed bin Aamer listen to the complaints of the people. He then asked the people about their complaints.

The residents of Homs said that they had three complaints. Their first complaint was that the governor used to leave home late and never started the business of the court early in the morning.

Caliph Umar asked Saeed bin Aamer to explain.

Governor Saeed replied that his wife was the only person at home who would take care of the household. They had no servants. He helped her to make the dough and bake the bread. Then they would eat together. After that, he would do the ablution (wudhu) and leave home for work.

Caliph Umar then asked people about their second complaint. People said that the Governor did not entertain their complaints at night. He would tell them to come in the morning.

Caliph Umar turned to Governor Saeed and asked for his explanation.

Saeed bin Aamer said that he did not like to answer that question but as a token of respect for the Caliph, he would explain. He said that he had divided the day and night into two parts. The day was reserved for the service of the creation (people); and the night was reserved for the Creator (Allah). He said that he prayed to Allah all night, therefore, he could not attend any worldly business.

Caliph Umar bin al-Khattab asked people what their third complaint was. People said that the Governor used to take one day off every month. On that day, he would not take care of people’s business.

Caliph Umar bin al-Khattab asked Saeed bin Aamer how would he answer to that? Governor Saeed explained that he had no servants or maids. He washed his own clothes once every month and then waited for them to dry. When the clothes were dry by the evening, he would put them on to go out. He could not come out of his house earlier.

Caliph Umar thanked Allah for his selection of Saeed bin Aamer as Governor, then he advised people to appreciate such a good governor.

Later on, Caliph Umar sent a gift of one thousand Dinars for Saeed bin Aamer to facilitate his household needs. His wife suggested that she should hire a maid for the household. Governor Saeed told his wife that there were still poor people around who needed the money more than her. What if they came to ask for help? The wife understood and agreed with his suggestion to donate the money in charity (Sadaqah). Then both of them put that money in small pouches and distributed it among the needy.

That’s how a ruler should take care of his subjects!

If the rulers of today’s Muslim countries take a minute and think about their kingdoms and so-called democracies in the light of the Holy Quran and Sunnah, hopefully they will get the message and wake up. Otherwise, they should know that the grip of Allah is very severe and the punishment would be their destiny.

“And how many a generation we destroyed

before them, who were mightier than these in

prowess so that they overran the lands! Had they

any place of refuge (when the judgment came)?

Lo, therein verily is a reminder for him who has

a heart, or gives ear with full intelligence.”

(al-Quran 50:36-37)

The Bible says:

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

(Philippians 2:4)

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

(Luke 6:38)

 

“But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?”

(1-John 3:17)

“Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.”

(Proverbs 20:17)

“For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.”

(1-Peter 3:10)

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience!”

(Ephesians 5:6)

The Almighty tells us again and again that we should pay attention; use our intelligence and show heart. We should think and reflect, and eventually repent. He is infinite mercy and He will guide us through. We just cannot disregard all calls and warnings. It is time that we change our attitude and bring some positive changes. If not, then He will bring the change. And when Allah brings the change, it is very sudden. It is very easy for Him to turn the world upside down. He makes the nations disappear in an instance, and replace them with the new ones. Are we waiting for that?

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