From the Slavery of our Desires to the Slavery of Allah

Sunday, 15 August 2010 17:57 Zaynab Ismail

‫َيا َأُّيَها اَّلِذ يَن آَم ُنوا ُك ِتَب َع َلْيُك ُم الِّص َياُم َك َم ا ُك ِتَب َع َلى اَّلِذ يَن ِم ْن َقْبِلُك ْم َلَع َّلُك ْم‬
‫َتَّتُقوَن‬
"O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you
so that you may attain taqwa." (Al Baqarah: 183)

Ramadhan is the month where the believer is reminded of why he was created. It is the
time when the bond between the Creator and created is at its strongest, where we are
reminded of the power, knowledge and love Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬has for us. Through our
hunger in this life we are reminded of our need for Allah ‫بحانه وتعالى‬WW‫ س‬and we are
reminded of the hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgment. Our needs stretch even further
to all worries and problems in this life and by Allah's ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬mercy we have been
given guidance so we do not wander the earth in conflict and confusion.

Today the western societies have no such guidance and instead we see their societies
declining, where their moral compass is being taken over by people who are only
concerned with their desires. Islam came to enable man to satisfy his needs whilst
protecting the individual and the wider community. Therefore the Muslim can worship
Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬at all times not only on the prayer mat. This guidance presents us with
the best way to live whilst at home, work, within politics and any other problem which
we may face.

In the west we see society is driven to please only themselves ignoring the consequences
of their actions, since the capitalist belief calls for the individual to be free, to seek
happiness in any way they sees fit. The reality of this is a society which glamorises
adultery, crime and exploitation of women, in the quest of seeking pleasure. The outcome
for the wider society means a rise in issues such as knife crime, paedophilia and broken
homes in the search for money, status and enjoyment.

Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬reminds us of this:

‫َأَر َأْيَت َمِن اَّتَخ َذ ِإَٰل َهُه َهَو اُه‬

"Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire?" (Al Furqan:43)

The reality of western society is one which is becoming increasingly animalistic, where
survival of the fittest reigns supreme. The search for satisfaction only grows in a person
left with no boundaries, and the need to consume continues to grow leading some youths
to kill in order to steal a phone to sell for a few pounds. This inevitably leaves the weaker
elements of society vulnerable to others who will use their power against any who stand
in their way.

The destruction does not end with the local society but is exported abroad through
globalisation. Not only are the values of freedom and democracy being pushed on the rest
of the world but the greed which accompanies capitalism has resulted in an
environmental and economic disaster. Subsequently the west continues to become richer
whilst the majority continue to struggle.

Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬says:

‫ُهَّللا َو ِلُّي اَّلِذ يَن آَم ُنوا ُيْخ ِرُجُهْم ِم َن الُّظُلَم اِت ِإَلى الُّنوِرۖ َو اَّلِذ يَن َك َفُروا َأْو ِلَياُؤُهُم‬
‫الَّطاُغ وُت ُيْخ ِرُجوَنُهْم ِم َن الُّنوِر ِإَلى الُّظُلَم اِتۗ ُأوَٰل ِئَك َأْص َح اُب الَّناِرۖ ُهْم ِفيَها‬
‫َخ اِلُد وَن‬
"Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness, He will
lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the Evil Ones: from
light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of
the fire, to dwell therein (for ever)." (Al Baqarah:257)

We have made many things our aim in life, a career, owning ones own house, the perfect
family, ease and tranquillity but these things may take us to jahannam if they are placed
before Allah ‫سبحانه وتعالى‬. We must first see our life as belonging to Allah ‫سبحانه وتعالى‬, and
follow the objective in life He ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬defined for us which is to worship Allah ‫سبحانه‬
‫ وتعالى‬alone.

‫َو َم ا َخ َلْقُت اْلِج َّن َو اِإْل ْنَس ِإاَّل ِلَيْعُبُد وِن‬

"We have not created mankind and jinn except but to worship Me." (Adh Dhariyat:56)
To worship Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬means to place Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬before our own desires,
therefore in ease and hardship we think only of whether Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬is pleased with
us. This creates an individual and society which is not consumed by its own greed, since
the needs are satisfied and regulated by the Qur'an and sunnah.

Whereas this is the ideal life for the believer, the test is in the struggle we face to
disregard the daily temptations and fears.

‫َأْذ َهْبُتْم َطِّيَباِتُك ْم ِفي َح َياِتُك ُم الُّد ْنَيا َو اْسَتْم َتْع ُتْم ِبَها‬
"You squandered the good things that you had in the life of this world, and you sought
contentment in them." (Al Ahqaf: 20)

‫ِإَّنا َج َع ْلَنا َم ا َع َلى اَأْلْر ِض ِزيَنًة َلَها ِلَنْبُلَو ُهْم َأُّيُهْم َأْح َس ُن َع َم اًل‬
"Surely We have put what is on the earth as a glittering show so that We may test
them, as to which of them have the best actions" (Al Kahf: 7)

Our daily struggle with the haqq (good) and batil (evil) includes our desires since they
can take us to either janhah or jahannam. We have been warned in the verses about the
nature of this world and that it can lead the best of people to the wrong path. So we must
strive to think about our actions whether they are truly for Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬sake, or ours.

Islam perfectly blends ones own needs and the responsibility to others. Ramadhan is the
embodiment of this idea where not only does the Muslim concentrate on their
relationship with Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬emerging more content and more determined to be a
better Muslim. Whilst at the same time rushing to help and be with others through giving
sadaqah, zakat, giving of food and bonding with the community through tarawih prayers.

The vision of an Islamic life is a beautiful one but the unfortunate reality is that whilst we
strive hard to worship Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬and improve ourselves through Ramadhan, the
remembrance of Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬doesn't go past our throats. In our dhikr we will praise
Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬and call him the great one but our words fall on a society which has no
place for our deen.

This should worry and agitate us like it did the Prophet ‫ صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬and the sahabah
(ra). The need was so important they risked wealth, jobs, family and even their lives in
order to carry the dawah for Islam to give the deen of Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬to the rest of
society. The dawah agitated the disbelievers such that they called for the Muslims to stop
but the Prophet ‫ صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬said;

"Oh my Uncle, By Allah, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left
hand on condition that I abandon this matter (Islam), until Allah has made victorious or I
perish, I will not abandon it."
It is clear from this statement that the deen of Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬was more important than
any luxury the Quraysh were trying to bribe the Prophet ‫ صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬with. There is a
strong message from these actions as we cannot afford to forget our responsibility
towards our deen for fear of our desires.

Whereas we may strive to have Islam in our personal lives, the system around us will still
continue to be Kufr. Therefore we must work to bring back the Islamic system to truly
obey Allah ‫ سبحانه وتعالى‬in all matters in life.

‫َأَفُتْؤ ِم ُنوَن ِبَبْع ِض اْلِكَتاِب َو َتْكُفُروَن ِبَبْع ٍضۚ َفَم ا َج َز اُء َم ْن َيْفَع ُل َٰذ ِلَك ِم ْنُك ْم ِإاَّل‬
‫ِخ ْز ٌي ِفي اْلَح َياِة الُّد ْنَياۖ َو َيْو َم اْلِقَياَم ِة ُيَر ُّد وَن ِإَلٰى َأَشِّد اْلَع َذ اِبۗ َو َم ا ُهَّللا ِبَغ اِفٍل َع َّم ا‬
‫َتْع َم ُلوَن‬
"Then is it only a part of the Book that you believe in, and do you reject the rest? But
what is the reward for those among you who behave like this but disgrace in this life?
and on the Day of Judgment they shall be consigned to the most grievous penalty For
Allah is not unmindful of what ye do." (Al-Baqarah; 85)

Muslims globally need to build their community to seek the higher values of Islam, and
not allow our fear of friends, family or even government to stray from Allah ‫سبحانه وتعالى‬
deen. Instead we must remain as one unified Ummah, which would be an example to the
rest of the world.

Whilst at the same time working towards building a Khilafah State upon this philosophy
of Islam which will be a beacon for the world; a state that will stand up to the excesses of
capitalism and show mankind a system of life where individualism, materialism and
consumerism are shunned and the higher values of Islam are conveyed to the world.