Prescription for Islaah
Submitted by Mohammed Gilani on
One should look at those lower than one with regards to worldly
matters. This includes wealth, status and beauty. One should
never look at those who have more or better worldly
possessions. This is an amazing prescription of islâh which
Rasulullâh (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has granted the ummah. It is obvious that all
humans are not the same. Allâh Ta'ala has granted some virtue over
others. Those having less will feel dejected.
However, their gaze
does not go to the great amounts of Allâh Ta'ala ’s bounties over them.
They fall prey to ingratitude, loss of hope, and an inferiority
complex.
May our lives be sacrificed for Rasulullâh (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) who gave us such
wonderful prescriptions so that we can be saved from these
spiritual sicknesses! When a person feels low when seeing someone’s wealth, position or form, then immediately he should turn
his gaze to those who possess less than him – and definitely such people are present.
Automatically, he will become grateful to
Allâh Ta'ala. If a person’s gaze is towards those above him, then he
will definitely become ungrateful, and depressed. Normally, to
look upwards is difficult. It is far easier to look down. So look to
those below you, not above. You will be grateful to Allâh Ta'ala for His
innumerable favours.
Rasulullâh (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “If anyone of you
looked at a person who was made superior to him in property and
(in good) appearance, then he should also look at the one who is
inferior to him.”
A person’s gaze will naturally fall on other’s things. Here
it means to become impressed with other people’s bounties. At
this time, a person should look towards those who are lower in
status. He will become happy and pleased with whatever he
possesses.
As for our religious and spiritual condition, we should at all times
keep our gazes fixed to those who excel us.
However, we do
everything upside down. Allâh Ta'ala has taken responsibility for our
sustenance, and we have been commanded to worship Allâh Ta'ala.
However, we pay no attention to actions, but worry about our
sustenance. In this hadith, we are commanded to look at those
inferior to us in worldly matters, but we look at those above us.
As far as our dîn is concerned, we then look at those below us, whereas we were supposed to look at those above us.
A person
sees another who only performs Jumuah. He feels happy that he
is performing two or three salâhs a day. He was supposed to have
looked at the person who performs tahajjud as well, so that he
could progress and become a better Muslim.
(Hazrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Saab Daamat Barakaatuh)