Needs and Desires

Excerpt from Abdur Rahman’s speeches and my notes.

“Allah has created Paradise as a place for all desires to be fulfilled. Allah has placed in a human being desires that have no limits. On the other hand, Allah has placed needs that have limits.

Every human being has these two present; desires and needs. Allah has promised to fulfill these two. Needs will be fulfilled in this world and desires will be fulfilled in heaven in the hereafter.

So why in this world has desires been placed in the human being? These desires in this world have not been placed so they aught to be fulfilled but instead they are to be relinquished.

Wherever there is commandment of Allah, it will be in conflict with one’s desire. We have been asked to sacrifice that ‘desire’. When that ‘desire’ is sacrificed so the commandment of Allah is upheld, that individual will be granted the light of guidance. When oil is burnt in a lantern, light emanates. Similarly when one sacrifices their desire when its in conflict with order of Allah, it enables him/her to receive the light of guidance.

We know from sayings of Prophet (saw) a person is walking and saw something impermissable, lowered his/her gaze to protect oneself from the impermissable and to fulfill commandment of Allah. That individual will be granted the sweetness of faith that will be experienced in his heart.

Abdullah bin Masood (rad) reported Prophet (saw) saying “Certainly [an evil glance] is poisoned arrow from devil. Whosoever leaves it out of fear for me I will replace him with such faith whose sweetness he will find in his heart.” (Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Weak, Scholars differ on use of weak hadith)”

Life’s Essence, Wealth & 4 Types of People

Excerpt from Abdur Rahman’s speeches.

The means and conditions of this world are not there to decide whether someone is a success or failure. Rather they serve purpose of being a test. Despite what one possesses or the condition one is in, the test is whether is he going to follow the order of Allah or follow his desire. Thus, the means and conditions are created by Allah to test the human being. For one to become successful, Allah sent revelation so guidance is provided on how one can be successful. To elaborate, its mentioned in books of hadith Allah has created 4 kinds of people in this world.

(1) First type has wealth destined for him. Wealth is the outcome of neither effort nor intelligence. This is not true that someone is very hardworking that’s why he is wealthy. This is not true someone is very intelligent that’s why he is wealthy.  Instead wealth is in relation to Allah’s distribution. Allah has written in one man’s destiny wealth due to which he is now wealthy. Man has to make effort to bring religion ie to follow Allah’s commandments into his life. Why is effort instead of wealth being mentioned? Because wealth is not required much to bring religion into one’s life but what’s more required than wealth is one’s time and effort.

This is why even if a wealthy man financially supports Islamic institution such as a madrasah. But he has not taken time to sit down and learn Surah Fatiha then he will not be able to recite Surah Fatiha that is considered essential for prayers.  Thus, to bring religion into one’s life, man has to expend time and effort more than his wealth. Through gaining knowledge he will know areas where he should expend his time and wealth to attain Allah’s pleasure. So he expends in areas for example demands of religion, in spreading this religion and being of service to Allah’s creation.

(2) Second type is person to whom wealth is not destined and he is poor. This is not a sign that Allah is upset with him. Rather its due to Allah’s knowledge and wisdom as to why someone is given more or less. This individual utilizes some of his time and makes effort to incorporate religion into his life as a person need not be wealthy to do so. Despite his poor state, he will learn he has opportunity to attain high station with Allah. Given he is religious, he would wish if I had wealth I would spend similar to wealthy who are pious and in those areas that gain pleasure of Allah. On account of his sincere intention, Prophet (saw) said second person will be rewarded & honored same as first person.

(3) Third type is person who has been granted wealth but he has not made any effort with regards to religion and it’s of no concern. As he is not religious, he is heedless of where he spends his money. Now he will spend his wealth in areas that anger Allah. He will spend on oppressing people, to control people, not fulfill rights, works of opulence, unlawful pleasures; all those areas that displease Allah.

(4) Fourth is person to whom wealth is not destined and he is poor. This individual also doesn’t make any effort towards the religion. Due to him not practicing, he remains ignorant as to how despite being poor he can be successful according to religion. That’s why when he sees the third person who is rich and not practicing living in opulence, luxury and experiencing unlawful pleasures he will begrudge him. He would constantly look at him in coveting what he possesses, he would wish to his detriment if I had wealth like not practicing rich I would also spend in similar areas like him. Due to this, Prophet (saw) said sin will be recorded for the fourth person same as the third person. Punishment that will come on not practicing wealthy will then be same on the not practicing poor.

Abu Kabshah reported: Prophet (saw) said, “Verily, the world only has four kinds of people. There is one whom Allah has granted wealth and knowledge, so he fears his Lord in them, upholds family ties, and fulfills the rights of Allah over him. He is be in the best position. There is one whom Allah has granted knowledge without wealth. He has a sincere intention, and he says: If I had wealth, I would have acted like this person. If that is his intention, he will have the same reward as the other. There is one whom Allah has granted wealth without knowledge. He squanders his wealth in ignorance, he does not fear Allah in it, he does not fulfill his duties to his family, and he does not fulfill the rights of Allah over him. He will be in the worst position. There is one whom Allah has granted neither wealth nor knowledge, and he says: If I had wealth, I would have acted like this person. If that is his intention, he will have the same sin as the other.” (Tirmidhi 2325)

Through this, it has been explained the essence of life is not whether someone is rich or poor rather it is how much he/she is practicing their religion irrespective of their means or condition they are in.