You must not be relaxed in the ordering of your time; doing at any moment whatever chances to present itself as it presents itself. Rather you must keep strict revision of yourself and regulate your occupations and activities throughout the day and night, having something fixed to occupy every hour and neither doing anything outside it’s fixed time nor doing anything else in that time. In this way the blessing on your time will be evident.
If however, you have uselessly neglected yourself as the animals do; not knowing what to do each hour, then, most of your time will be elapsed fruitlessly, and your life will have slipped from you. For your life is your capital and the basis of your net worth; by it you may attain to the joy of the eternal mansion where God most high is near. Every breath you draw is a jewel of inestimable worth, which nothing can replace it. Once it has passed, it cannot come back.
Do not be like the poor deluded fools who are delighted every day at the increase of their wealth and the decrease of their days. What good is there in increase of wealth when life is decreasing? Delight only in increase of knowledge and of good works, for they are friends who will continue to be with you in the tomb when your family, your wealth ,your children, and your friends are all left behind.

By Syed Shoaib

Islam as a way of life. Foremost of thinking about Islam as a way of life comes the notion of submission, the notion of pure submission to Allah SWT in the spirit of Abraham (as) and all the Prophets (may peace and mercy of Allah SWT be upon all of them immensely). Secondly what grasps my heart is the nature of creation of Allah SWT, and especially that of man.

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said: “Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?” He said: “I know what ye know not.” (Surah Baqara, Verse 30).

What angels would have been perhaps unable to comprehend in themselves would have been the notion of love. The notion of love essentially applies to man, for it is man who has the option to hate/neglect as well.

It is the understanding of this nature of creation of man which grasps the heart. Love is put as a state and foremost comes the love of Allah as the Creator. The state of love embodies compassion in the human heart at every level, tender softness and its value accompanied with the notion of justice, righteousness, sincerity, responsibility and happiness ensuing from these. This state of love is thoroughly reasoned in the heart (in terms of priorities and ways which keep this way of love from romantic zealousness) with the inclination towards taqwa.

By the striking remembrance of these two notions as “Islam as a way of life” is questioned I do not mean to negate or diminish the important aspects of iman, i simply took them under the notion of submission to Allah SWT.

One of the most important things about contemporary activities and dialogues in Islamic realm is the presentation of Islam as an outward discourse. While Islam on the other hand is an experience for everyone who persevers this path. I think this discrepancy from the reality is an important spirit of this question. (As much I remember one of the articles in the POD, where writer has questioned Islam as a way of life)

While many people are out there setting outward discourses to what Islam as a way of life is, the inherent spirit of Islam as a way of life much depends on their inward discourse.

It is important to recognize in the same spirit that every Muslim is on a learning curve, from the novice to the sheikh. And this learning curve is best in its opulence when it is open to learning in all its sincerity in the spirit of taqwa. Mistakes, Repentance, and seeking of forgiveness thus are part of everyone’s learning curve and its the course made for human creation. It is an essential part of course in which the human self understands its servitude to Allah SWT.

The last words before the end are essential for the spirit  of this question. These embody the words of hate, pointing of fingers, slandering and mockery on the part of who’s who (who is a right muslim, who is not, who is a sufi, who is a this or that, and whos what not). These only tend to negate the plurality (which is also a soveriegnity (forgive my spellings please)) of human thought.

In one of his essays, Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad points to the sacrament at the root of Islamic life:

“Islam is non-sacramental; or rather, we acknowledge that the remembrance of our Lord is the only sacrament necessary. And the natural order, as the Qur’an richly documents, is a world of signs which point to its source, and to ours. Hence the fitra of our kind, discernable we may say through consistent patterns maintained in homo sapiens across the globe and the generations, cannot be displeasing to Allah subhanahu wa ta‘ala.”
-Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad: Boys will be Boys

The movie is based upon the life of a young girl, Samantha, who has lost her parents. She does remember them both, but fortunately her uncle and Grandmother dearly love her. Samantha also develops a very intimate relationship with her friend, Nelly.

However, now her uncle has found a bride for herself and he wants to take Samantha along with him to New York. Her uncle marries her chosen bride in the country place and takes Samantha along with him. Unluckily, Nelly loses her father while Samantha is in New York. Nelly has two sisters. All three sisters are sent to an orphanage in New York city. Samantha, due to awkward conditions there manages to bring these three quietly to her house and keeps them from anyone’s sight until winter.

Later on Christmas her uncle and aunt agree to adopt all these four girls and accept them as their own children.

One should note that the love, trust, cooperation and self-sacrifice shown in the film not only by the elders but also by young children is a unique example and is not commonly to be found in our societies. Such unity and cooperation can only be found in a society where religious morality prevails. Though the film does not show, dominance of religious morality, but in truth, only the fear and love of God can enable people to get over the instincts of self love. In a materialistic society where self love is considered to be a virtue (lassies-fire system), expectation of such exemplary human qualities would be banal.

In Quran Allah calls Muslims to love one another, to give charity, to care for each other and to have good and exemplary human qualities. The love which Samantha has for her friends and the sacrifice which she performs for them are exemplary actions of love, piety and brotherhood among humans. Even, the kind of marital life which Samantha’s uncle and aunt have is exemplary. In a selfish societies an individual would rather prefer to live in solace with her bride, when newly married, would consider fulfilling his own dreams instead of caring for someone else’s child. But instead of displaying their fancies they up bring the children in most humble and mature manner. They encourage her to do well in school, play music, visit her friends in the orphanage and display their trust in her while she was accused of theft. They reflected patience even after knowing that Samantha had secretly kept her friends on the top-floor. And that is not all, knowing their pitiful condition, the uncle and aunt agree to adopt the three sisters.

Such patience, mercy, compassion, peace and happiness can not come from materialistic ideologies. They can come only from trust in God and love for his creations. True believers always display such humane qualities and seek blessings from God for their noble actions. They always spread love, peace and serenity wherever they go. Their hearts are full of contentment and merriness as a result of the mercy from God and their humane conduct.

On the contrary, when we see the plight of poor children working is factories as depicted in the movie, we see the behavior of the profit-oriented factory owner totally different. Children were kept in conditions worst than those meant for keeping animals. They were worked continuously from day to night. There were no human values present there, nor there seemed any peace and serenity in the factory owner’s brutal conduct.

However again we see children acting in most mature and responsible manner. This again is a reflection of mercy and blessings from God. Or one would have expected Samantha to enjoy the material bounties at her uncle’s place instead of risking her own self while secretly keeping her friends on the top floor. However we see none doing such a irresponsible thing.

Conclusion: We all want to live in an environment full of peace, love and brotherhood. We want to live in a community where we don’t get to see half-naked poor people and hungry children. We all want to live in a society free from crime and all brutality. Such a peaceful and exemplary society can only be built when good people sincerely attempt to do so. We see so many hungry people on one side and we see hoardings of wealth made by rich people on the other. However Allah commands people to put their trust in him, love and charitate for their brethren and always seek for his mercy. People who follow in such manner the command of God, get to have God’s mercy, peace and serenity in themselves and in the places they live. They always spread love and glad tidings wherever they go. However, people who are always concerned about their self interests and wish to exhaust all their pleasures in this world, remain far away from such peace and tranquility which God has made for believers. Instead they always seem to have their interest in defeating others, in envy as a result of their irresistible greed arising from pure self-interest. So such people remain discontent in this world and thoughtless of the hell-fire which awaits them after their death. Allah tells us about the metaphor of the life of this world as follows:

The likeness of the life of the present is as the rain which We send down from the skies: by its mingling arises the produce of the earth- which provides food for men and animals: (It grows) till the earth is clad with its golden ornaments and is decked out (in beauty): the people to whom it belongs think they have all powers of disposal over it: There reaches it Our command by night or by day, and We make it like a harvest clean-mown, as if it had not flourished only the day before! thus do We explain the Signs in detail for those who reflect. – Surah Yunus, Ch-10, Verse 24

The life is transitory and short, it has an inevitable end. However believers are sent good, both in this life and in the world hereafter, Allah has utmost love and concern for his sincere servants. Allah informs us of this in the Quran:

They said: “Art thou indeed Joseph?” He said, “I am Joseph, and this is my brother: Allah has indeed been gracious to us (all): behold, he that is righteous and patient,- never will Allah suffer the reward to be lost, of those who do right.” Surah Yusuf, Ch-12, Verse 90

Allah’s mercy is certain for those who reflect of his grace and blessings and who ponder over his signs. Putting trust in God is the most secure way of living life as Allah is always in control of his affair

The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him! The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: “Make his stay (among us) honorable: may be he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son.” Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of stories (and events). And Allah hath full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not.- Surah Yusuf, Ch -12, Verse 20-21

It is Allah’s promise to the believers that he would make the path easy for those who sincerely reflect upon the blessings and mercy from Allah and strive in his way. Allah also tells us that it is his plan to establish such people as successors in the land, for they sincerely fulfill Allah’s command.

Allah has promised those of you who have iman and do right actions that he will make them successors in the land as He made those before them successors, and will firmly establish for them their deen with which He is pleased and give them, in place of their fear, security. ‘They worship me, not associating anything with me.’… – Surah An-Noor, Ch-24, Verse 55

The movie, though different from the subject is but an indirect example of how good and responsible conduct, a reflection of trust in God can bring peace, love, brotherhood and serenity in society. The job of sincere believers in now to reflect upon the morality God as prescribed to them, to make the society better for all humankind and to seek the eternal abode of hereafter from God, by patient perseverance.