Wisdom Corner - Deen il Haque

By: Muhammad Haris

We find in the Prophet a noble personality, a balanced character, and a beautifully integrated individual. He was a total expression of surrender of his will and purpose of The Lord of creation. He conducted his life the way Allah wanted him to conduct, in all forms and manifestations. If we want earnestly to learn the true meaning and insight of Dee nil Haque, then we must go very deep inside the life of the Prophet. His life is a complete application of the divine principles as enunciated in the signs revealed unto him over a period of time exposing each and every aspect of human life with guidance as to how to live it to the profit.

“Liyuzhirahu aladdeeni kullihi”

means He wills to be expressed in the way of life (Deen) in all its aspects – to be exposed in all forms and manifestations, not a single aspect of human life to remain unexposed, unguided or undefined. So the law of Muhammad declared complete in all respect needing no further messenger revelations. The book is just more than enough for us to seek guidance. We need therefore no further assistance in any matter relating to our day to day operational requirement. Our basic requirement therefore is to learn the contents of the book through renderings by different scholars. We are supposed to apply our own mind and use our own intellect which Allah has bestowed on us by virtue of our creation into Ahsan-e-Taqweem (strong/ good stature) and in the light of ‘Khalaqa fasawwa’ and ‘Qaddara Fahada’.

We have been told by Allah that He has kept us on a certain potential of knowledge and wisdom and capacity and requires us to transform this knowledge and capacity further to our advantage by leading life and treading the path of righteousness on return journey to our Lord of creation from whom we have emanated.

Allah tells us that He has set us on a clear road of His commandments (book) to be followed in letter and spirit and not whims of those who do not know (Ja alnaka ala shariyatin minul amri). The road provided is clear, single, straight, direct and universal leading unto the Divine Unity, the center of fidelity, from many directions. Our job shall be to clear the impediments encountered during the return journey created by the devil inside us.  Allah says

‘We guide those on Our paths who struggle unto Us’

i.e ‘Allazina jahado fina lanah diyannahum subulana’.

The return journey:

We must understand to the best of our ability what we really encounter during the journey and how is the best possible way we can make the journey comfortable and pleasing. It is the human interaction and mutual relationships which matter very much and becomes the primary matter of concern to the Almighty. Allah is much anxious about the human behaviour, his attitude towards life and relationship and also very significantly towards the conduct because the noblest in the sight of Allah is the best in conduct. This was even mentioned in the last sermon of our Prophet. The mutual dealing is supposed to be one of the focal points to be considered while speaking about Deen (the way of life). The importance can very rightly be emphasized by rendering of the celebrated commentator (Razi) of the Holy Quran in general and 11:117 in particular who says explaining the inner meaning of this ayat that ‘God’s chastisement does not afflict any people merely on account of their holding beliefs amounting to shirk and kufr but afflicts them only if they persistently commit evil or act unjustly in their mutual dealings; and deliberately hurt other human beings and act tyrannically (wrongfully, illegitimately, arbitrarily) towards them.

He further goes on to say that those who are learned in divine law hold that man’s obligation towards God rests on the principle of His kindness, mercy, compassion, forgiveness and liberality in giving – the munificence whereas the rights of men are of stringent nature (tight, binding, rigorous) and must always be strictly observed reason bein that God is Almighty needs no defender, whereas man is weak and needs protection.

11:117 Quote: ‘Makana Rabbuka liyuhlikal Qura bizulmin wa ahloha muslihoona’.

There are other signs conveying the same principles such as 6:131, 7:165, 28:59, 46:35

The people interested in theology may study those quoted for their knowledge and better understanding of the spirit of these revelations.

Let us remember that returning good for evil is really justice and not generosity. A remarkable principle of kindness and compassion is being taught to mankind in 3:159.

In case of being hurt or treated wrongly by group of people round about us we should never be stern and fierce of heart in dealing with them. Rather we should pardon them and seek forgiveness for them from God and consult them on matters for resolution. After the matter has been resolved we must put our trust in God because God loves those who put their trust in Him.

13:22 – We are advised to overcome evil by good. For such will be the sequel of the heavenly home.

42:40 – We are told again that by paying back evil by evil is equally evil but if we forgive and amend then Allah will reward. He loves not wrong doers.

41:34 – Again Allah tells us that good and evil deeds are not equal, and advises us to repel evil with good. By doing so, the enemy will turn to be a bosom friend.

God through the prophets counsels mankind to imitate His attributes. Rehmaan and Rahim appear 114 times in The Book indicative of the fact that these attributes are very vital and God loves his creation by the display of His grace, kindness and mercy. We should therefore align our lives in accordance with the principles of understanding the all merciful nature of Allah and behave in His world the way He behaves and operates in His kingdom of heaven. We have similarly been provided our kingdom in miniature to operate on same principles. The flowchart of Allah’s kingdom is perceived to commence from His will passing through the throne then to the chair, the tablet then passes on to the Angels called the mediation of forces and finally further on to the actualities in forms of products in various shapes and colours which we see around. All are surviving and thriving under His shower of blessings.

Here the most vital matter needs to be focused on His command in preceding expressions which is to overcome evil by good and preferably to forgive from which we can derive a corollary that the returning good for evil is really a justice and not generosity and then God goes further to say that His rehmat supercedes his displeasure (Rehmate sabqata ala ghazabe). How then such a munificent creator will be inclined to punish His creatures with all merciful nature within instead of forgiving them? A very big question mark which needs to be addressed with full deliberation and deep studies. The following quote of Rumi is very much relevant to the issue under discussion which I quote:

‘Like the one who recks of naught, I will deliver him and cancel all his trespasses; I will kindle such a fire of grace that the least spark thereof consumes all sins, necessity and free will; I will set fire to the tenements of man and make it’s thorns a bower of roses.’

God tells His slaves not to lose hope of His blessings. Indeed He will forgive all sins because He is The Forgiving, The Merciful. (39:53)

29:40 – It was not Allah who injured and oppressed them, they injured and oppressed themselves. This sign of Allah is the eye opener for mankind if he is really interested in knowing the will of Allah. This can only be known if we endeavour to study and understand Quran for complete guidance and knowing the nature of Allah and His intention to see mankind in peace and harmony understanding the criterion of right and wrong with identification of evil forces within ourselves. Thus we will be able to lead the life as willed by Allah and walk aright.