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This content has been automatically translated. View original in Arabic
Greetings to you, dear ones,
Many of us care about our nation negatively, hardening our hearts, neither preserving the joy of obedience as we did at first, nor saving our nation. Here are four recommendations to avoid being stuck in the middle like this:
When one's concern for the state of the nation leads to despair and contempt for acts of worship, it often masks discontent with divine decree. Remember: "If your Lord had willed, they would not have done so." But does this mean we should not strive to change reality on the pretext that it is predestined? Certainly not. Rather, it means that our sorrow should not be tinged with rejection of Allah's decree and doubt in His wisdom. Be pleased with the decree of Allah, then be displeased with yourself if you fall short in reforming the reality of the Muslims, and be pleased with yourself if you obey.
A grave mistake is to make the ultimate goal the empowerment of Muslims on earth, then deem any action that does not lead to it, in your view, as valueless. Rather, the ultimate goal is the obedience of Allah the Most High: "Those who, if We establish them in the land, will establish prayer, give zakah, enjoin good, and forbid evil." The goal is worship in its comprehensive sense: "I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me." Empowerment, the establishment of the Muslim state, and the removal of injustice from Muslims are for the preservation of obedience and worship.
Yes, we may differ in determining the most perfect obedience and the greatest reward, but we should not belittle an act of obedience on the grounds that it does not lead to the goal, for it is a goal in itself. This is what distinguishes Islamic preaching, where Allah rebuked His Prophet for being preoccupied with the blindness of Quraysh over a blind man, saying to him: "Nay, but it is a reminder; so whoever wills may remember it," even though his Islam before his death did not contribute to empowerment.
My brothers, let us not become like the adherents of worldly calls, making empowerment the ultimate goal, then judging our actions as successes or failures based on it. This is a purely earthly perspective, even if we try to sanctify it. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Do not belittle any good deed," "Do not belittle any good deed," no matter how small it may seem to you. Whoever belittles his own acts of obedience and the acts of others contradicts the prohibition of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and adds disobedience to the disobedience of neglecting the Muslims that troubles him.
A man removed a branch from the path of the Muslims and entered Paradise, and a woman gave water to a dog and entered Paradise. Do not despise matters that Allah the Most High has magnified: teaching people purity, teaching them a hadith, purifying the heart of a servant from doubts, your humility in prayer, your striving for your dependents—all these contribute to the greatest goal: the obedience of Allah. So, it is not permissible for you to blame or despise them.
Look at your act of obedience as part of your overall effort to make people worship their Lord and revive your nation. Whenever you see a good word and a good deed, consider it a foundation upon which to build the love of Allah in the hearts of the servants, and a part of the project of reviving the nation. Then, you will not belittle any good deed. Rather, what is blameworthy is your claim that these acts of obedience exempt you from supporting the Muslims and confronting the disbelievers and hypocrites. So, do not blame your acts of obedience at that point, but rather blame the failure to complete them with the other obligations. The difference between the two is very important and is the basis for proceeding with the rest of the nation's affairs and its revival.
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 obedience. We are not talking about belittling in the sense of considering the work insignificant before Allah, glorifying Him, but about the feeling of insignificance and futility of these acts of obedience. Thus, belittling good deeds is a sin added to the failure to support the nation.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "One of you may speak a word pleasing to Allah that you think is insignificant, but Allah records it for you until the Day you meet Him." By what right do you then 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 based on what Allah has not decreed to nullify the work? The failure to support the religion is a sin, but from where do you have the right to say that it nullifies the acts of obedience, saying that they are of no benefit or in vain? And you know that the Most Just of Judges, may He be exalted, has said: "And We place the just balances on the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be wronged in anything, even if it be the weight of a grain of mustard seed; We are sufficient as a Reckoner."
Therefore, to care for your nation without hardening your heart: submit to the decree of Allah with non-negative submission, and know that the goal is the obedience of Allah and worship of Him.
Responsibility in Islam is individual: "You are responsible for yourselves," "Do not burden yourself beyond your capacity," "And urge the believers." I tell you, brother, at the outset, that the matter is not zero or one hundred percent, and there are degrees in what they have done. Your mastery of the acts of obedience you undertake qualifies you for Allah to enlighten your insight to the path of the Prophet and the best acts of obedience: "And Allah increases those who are guided in guidance." The intermediate achievements qualify you to complete the great tasks and not regress after completion.
How many people neglected their hearts and their diseases, then when they turned to supporting the nation, their diseases overcame them, so they did harm and added to the burden of the nation, while they thought they were doing good. Know that one who lacks something cannot give it. Whoever does not govern the building of himself will not save his nation. Strive for the light of your heart to radiate light to others afterward, and this requires an open heart that strives for your humility and your supplications, rejoices in the laughter of your children, feels affection for your family and brothers, excels in your studies and work. The makers of the nation's glory have fathers who governed their inner building, so Allah blessed their personal small works, and they had a share in the general good for the nation afterward.
Know that sadness is not praiseworthy nor desired for its own sake, nor does it remove anything from your responsibility, and that joy is not blameworthy but commanded as long as it is joy in obedience: "Say, 'In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy—therefore, in that let them rejoice.'" Rejoice in your obedience, no matter how little it may be, and praise the obedience of others. Turn your concern for the Muslims into a strength with which you reform yourself, raise your aspirations, and occupy yourself with what is beneficial. And we advise in that to review the statement: "Is Islam a religion of sadness in reality?" And Allah knows best. Peace and blessings be upon you.