We Must Change !

Man must continuously change for the better. We must be better today than yesterday and better tomorrow than today. If we remain static, in the long run, we will lose.

But, how do we change for the better?

As a slave to Allah, we must follow our Master's orders and guidance.

Change our mind-set

The first thing, among other things, that we must do is to change our mind set, our ways of thinking. This is because our thinking influences what we do. Allah says, that means:

“That is so because Allah will never change a grace which He has bestowed on a people until they change what is in their ownselves. And verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower” (Al Anfal 8:53. Please see Tafsir Fi Zilalil Quran Jilid 7, page 152-153 Pustaka Aman Press 2000 for a beautiful tafsir of this ayat.)

First thing first

In our thinking, the first thing that must be clear is that Allah is the Creator of all things. He creates everything and He owns everything. And that includes us, His slaves.

He rules His creation with compassion and mercy. Nothing happens without His permission. And He does things only up to the level that we can cope.

“Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope.” (Al Baqarah 2:286)

He does things to man for three reasons: punishment and as a lesson so that we may return to His ways, and as a test to make us better if we succeed the test.

He creates man to be His vicegerent on this world. He provides guidance for man to perform his duties as stated in the Al Quran and implemented by Nabi Mohammd saw and his guided caliphs. This guidance ensures man does not go astray and gives him happiness and success.

“Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance he shall neither go astray , nor shall he be distressed.” (Al Tahaa 20:123)

Dangers of ignoring His guidance

If we ignore His guidance, we will be following the ways of the syaitan, leader of non-Muslims, whose aim is to mislead mankind:

“ We made the Syaitan (devils) auliya (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not.” (Al A'raf 7:27)

“(Iblis [Satan] ) said: “ O my Lord!. Because you misled me, l shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) of the earth, and l shall mislead them all.) (Al Hijr 15: 39)

The result of chosing Syaitan's ways is of course hardship and destruction :

“But whosoever turn away from My Reminder ( i.e neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its teachings) verily, for him is a life of hardship....” ( Ta-H:a 124.)

“And when We decide to destroy a town (population) , We (first) send a definite order (to obey Allah and be righteous) to those among them ( or We ( first) increase in number those of its population) who lead a life of luxury . Then they transgress therein, and thus the word (of torment) is justified against it (them). Then We destroy it with complete destruction.” (Al Isra' 17:16)

Man's Freedom To Choose

Allah gives man eyes and ears to collect informations. He also gives man freedom to think and to make a choice: Allah's guidance or syaitan's way. The results of choices made are clear for all to see :

“.... Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayerss) standing, sitting and laying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): “Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! … ) (Ali Imran 3: 191)

The Final Judgement

What man gets in the world is just part of the reward or punishment from Allah, for choices made. The complete reward or punishment is given in the court in akhirat where Allah is the Supreme Judge. And He judges everything that we do, big and small:

“So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom ( or a small ant) shall see it.” ( Al Zalzalah 99:7-8)

Therefore, we must always pray for the correct guidance from Allah and not follow the disbelievers:

“Guide us to the Straight Way, the way of those on whom You have bestowd your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews) , nor of those who went a stray (such as the Christians). (Al Fatihah 1: 6-7)

“But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliya' (suporters and helpers) are Taghut (fasle dieties and false leaders), they bring them out from the light into darkness.” (Al Baqarah 2:257):

Otherwise, in akhirat we will regret. But then that regret is too late and is useless:

“And they will say ' Had we but listen or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire' ( Al Mulk :10)

In short, anyone, be he Einstein, Shakespear etc, who does not use his intelligence to lead himself to Allah, has no intelligence at all!!! And everyone is responsible for himself as Allah has given him the freedom to choose heaven or hell.

These then are the basic principles man needs to make appropritae changes to succeed in this world and in the next.

In future postings, insyaallah, we will analyse events, past and present, according to these basic principles.