Islam Does Not Need You
Peace be upon you and the mercy of God.
Brothers, sometimes while we serve the religion of God Almighty, we may feel that we are performing a great task that no one else does in our time, place of work, or country. Therefore, we may feel that we will not go astray with our sins, nor will we be prevented from performing our role, nor will we die before completing this task; because all of this will deprive others of our good. That is, we feel that people need us, and that Islam also needs us.
The Feeling of Responsibility Between Positivity and Danger
This feeling is positively commendable to the extent that it drives us to take responsibility, so that we do not succumb to the world and leave our beneficial missionary role for humanity. It is a useful feeling to the extent that we remember with it the saying of the poet:
"I was prepared for a matter, if I had realized it... So beware of yourself lest you neglect it with negligence."
However, this feeling can sometimes become dangerous; it becomes dangerous if it leads us to neglect the matter of God Almighty and to belittle our sins, reassured that God will not punish us for that by changing our hearts or stopping the good work we are engaged in, because we see ourselves as a tool of God in benefiting and guiding His creation, and we see that our loss is a loss for them.
The Quranic Truth: We Are the Poor to God
Therefore, the divine explanation comes that God Almighty does not need anyone, but rather we are the ones who need Him, glorified be He:
"And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be like you." [Quran 38:38]
Even the most beloved of people to God, Muhammad, peace be upon him, his Lord, God Almighty, said to him:
"And had it not been for [your] steadfastness, you would almost have inclined to them a little. Then We would have made you taste a double portion of life and a double portion of death, and you would not have found for yourself against Us any helper." [Quran 17:74-75]
That is, God would have made you taste double torment in this world and in the Hereafter.
The Sunnah of Replacement and Empowerment
I have known people in my life who I thought God would not take them before they completed their mission, but they died young, and God bound others to His religion. In the hadith that Al-Albani graded as good, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"God will continue to plant in this religion new plants, whom He will employ in His obedience."
Therefore, my brother and sister, ask God to employ you in His obedience, for God Almighty does not need anyone, but rather we are the ones who need Him, glorified be He:
"O mankind, you are the poor to Allah, and Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy. If He wills, He can do away with you and bring forth [in your place] a new creation. And that for Allah is not difficult." [Quran 35:15-17]
Conclusion
Islam is victorious with you and without you, and God will manifest His light even if the disbelievers dislike it. Rather, we are the ones who need the support of the religion of God to be saved and to attain honor.
"And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be like you."
Peace be upon you and the mercy of God.