Exiting the Circle of Frustration and Hardness of the Heart

O beloved, many of us care about our nation in a negative way that hardens our hearts. He no longer preserves joy in obedience as he did at first, nor has he saved his nation. Here are focused recommendations so that we do not get stuck in the middle like this: 1. Submit to the decree of Allah sincerely and not passively: - When concern for the nation's affairs leads to despair and contempt for acts of worship, it is often a cover for anger at destiny! Remember that: (Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it). But does this mean we should not strive to change reality under the pretext that it is predestined? Certainly not. Rather, that our sorrow should not be mixed with rejection of Allah's decree and doubt in His wisdom! - Be pleased with the decree of Allah, then be angry with yourself if you fall short in reforming the reality of the Muslims and be pleased with yourself if you obey. 2. Know the goal? A great mistake is to make the ultimate goal the empowerment of Muslims on earth, then judge every action that does not lead to it—as you see it—as valueless! Rather, the goal is to obey Allah the Most High: (Those who, if We establish them in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong). The goal is worship in its comprehensive sense: (And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me). And the empowerment and the establishment of the Muslim state and the lifting of injustice from the Muslims is to protect obedience and worship. Yes, we may differ in determining the best and most rewarding obedience, but we should not belittle an act of worship on the grounds that it "does not lead to the goal"! For it is in itself a goal. This is what distinguishes Islamic call, which Allah's Messenger was rebuked for being preoccupied with the blindness of Quraysh over the blind man, saying to him: (Nay, it is a reminder () whoever wills may remember). The answer to the blind man's question was greater in Allah's sight than the attempt to remove injustice from the Muslims by convincing the decision-makers in Mecca. And when the Jewish boy embraced Islam then died, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was pleased with him, for Allah had saved him from the Fire by him, even though his Islam before his death did not contribute to empowerment. We do not want to become like the callers of worldly calls, making empowerment the ultimate goal and then judging our actions as success or failure based on it! For this is an earthly view, even if we think it is purely heavenly! The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: (Do not belittle any good deed)...anything, no matter how small in your eyes, and whoever belittles his acts of worship and the acts of worship of others, he opposes the prohibition of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and thereby adds disobedience to the disobedience of neglecting the Muslims that troubles him! A man removed a thorn from the path of the Muslims and entered Paradise, and a woman gave water to a dog and entered Paradise, and you should not belittle matters that Allah the Most High has magnified! Teaching people purity, teaching them hadith, purifying a servant's heart from doubt, your humility in prayer, your striving for your family...all of this leads to the greatest goal: (Obedience to Allah). So it is not permissible to blame or belittle them. Look at partial acts of worship as part of your effort to make people worship their Lord and the rise of your nation, so whenever you see a good word and a good deed, consider it a foundation to rely on for building love for Allah in the hearts of the servants and part of His project for the rise of the nation, and then you will not belittle any good deed. And what is blameworthy is your claim that these acts of worship exempt you from supporting the Muslims and confronting the disbelievers and hypocrites. So do not blame your acts of worship at that time, but rather blame the lack of completion with the other obligations. And the difference between the two is very important. What is blameworthy is what the scholars of the systems do, who divert people from the duty of supporting the Muslims and striving for the empowerment of the religion by occupying them with some acts of worship and recommended acts. We must turn this back on them and make these acts of worship a prelude and foundation for launching into the rest of the nation's issues and its rise. Draw strength from the joy of your obedience to overcome your shortcomings, and beware that your shortcomings make you belittle your obedience, or that the shortcomings of others make you belittle their acts of worship. We do not speak of belittling in the sense of minimizing the work in the sight of Allah, glorifying Him, but of the feeling of insignificance and futility of these acts of worship! For belittling good deeds is a sin added to the shortcomings in supporting the nation! (Indeed, one of you may speak a word pleasing to Allah that you think does not reach what it has reached, and Allah writes for you thereby His pleasure until the Day you meet Him) So by what right do you belittle it when it was the cause of eternal, everlasting pleasure?! By what right do you despair of your work or the work of your brothers without what Allah has decreed to despair of work? The shortcoming in supporting the religion is a sin, but from where do you have the right to say that it nullifies the work until you say: (It does not benefit) or (it is in vain)!? And you know that the most just of judges has said: (And We will set the scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be wronged even if it were the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and We are sufficient as reckoners) So that your heart does not become hard after righteousness, submit to the decree of Allah in a non-passive way, and know that the goal is the obedience and worship of Allah. 3. Know what is required of you: Responsibility in Islam is individual: (You are responsible for yourselves), (Do not burden yourself except with what you can bear and encourage the believers). And from that, of course, is the command of good and the prohibition of evil so that you are not held accountable for the mistakes of others. But do not let their mistakes discourage you. Allah the Most High will hold you accountable for your work, not the results, such as saving the nation...this gives you reassurance, as you are reassured by what you exert, not by what is achieved on the ground. Yes, we must review ourselves as to why the results were not achieved, and whether we were negligent so that we can correct the deficiency and address the mistakes? But you also remember at the same time that your success is not contingent on changing reality, but it goes with you step by step with your good following of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). You will say: This is what troubles me! That I do not know the way of the Prophet to follow him amid these methodological differences. I tell you first: Remember that the matter is not zero or one hundred percent, (And there are degrees of what they have done). Your mastery of the acts of worship that you are responsible for qualifies you for Allah to enlighten your insight to the way of the Prophet and the best acts of worship. (And Allah increases those who are guided in guidance) The gradual achievements qualify you for selection for great tasks, and for not falling back after selection. How many people neglected their hearts and their diseases, so when they confronted the nation's support, their diseases overcame them, and they added to the nation's burden while they thought they were doing well! Know that the one who lacks something does not give it, so whoever does not rule the building of himself will not save his nation. Take care of the light of your heart so that you can then radiate light to others. And this requires an open heart... You take care of your humility and your supplications, you rejoice at the laughter of your children, you find comfort in your family and brothers, you excel in your studies and work. The makers of the nation's glory have fathers who ruled their inner building, so Allah blessed their "personal" works, and they had a share in the general good thereafter. And Allah the Most High knows best, and peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.