Working for Allah
There are those in this world who say they are working for Allah. By that they mean they are totally dedicated to and engaged in taking the Qur’an to every home and heart in the world.
Which, again, means they are using every means, power, ability and resource available to them to convey the message of Allah to every man, woman and child in the world.
Which again means they have made a serious commitment to serve, protect and help all of humanity – Muslim, non-Muslim, all – in every possible way.
And not just human beings but also all other creation of God in whatever form or shape it may exist on land, in water and in air.
Using Nothing but the Most Beautiful Means
And that they shall do so using the most beautiful, loving, caring, kind, gentle and honorable methods – of the kind the God of Mercy uses and has imposed upon himself.
And of the kind God then taught the Prophet of Mercy, Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, to use in his dealings with those he was sent to teach and invite to Allah.
And that includes their worst enemies – God’s and the Prophet’s, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam.
God still feeds and clothes those who not only reject him but also mock, insult and abuse him, does he not?
Not once did Prophet, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, say or show that he was disgusted or fed up with those who did everything in their power to insult, abuse and attack him.
What Preposterous Thought
So, how does it then occur to any of these self-appointed workers for Allah to feel in their hearts, or to say openly and in public with their mouth, that they are disgusted with the people they have the opportunity – and the very, very special privilege and honor – to invite to Allah? An honor bestowed upon them by Allah Almighty himself.
What a preposterous thought!
It is like biting the hand that feeds us.
It is like making holes in the boat that is taking us safety in a stormy sea. For, these people are, I mean the people we are supposed to invite to Allah, are our pathway to Paradise – if that is where we want to go. If that is where we think we are headed.
Right Is What Right Does
For, it is based on the work we do with them – the sincerity and dedication we show toward them; and the patience and perseverance we bring to bear on our work with them – that Allah will decide to send us to Heaven or to Hell, when our records are presented to him on the Day of Judgment.
Even though, the Most Merciful, Almighty God needs neither a reason nor a justification for doing what he does. For, all God Almighty’s actions are right and fair and just to begin with.
That is what makes him God – the one who can do no wrong! And right is what Right does.
People Will Be People
But then we are all people.
And people will always be people – frail; impatient; quick to anger; slow to forgive; small of heart and mind.
And almost always, they will be altogether more concerned about themselves than the flock that Allah put in their charge.
But that is what makes them people: mostly selfish and narrow-minded.
God’s Shepherds All
But at the same time, all of us are also shepherds – God’s shepherds on earth. And to each of us God has given a flock to tend. And he has put us in charge of our flocks.
These are people with regard to whom God has placed special responsibilities on our shoulders: our families; relatives; fellow-workers; neighbors; fellow-citizens; governments; the whole world.
Our People: Yaa Qawumee!
As God’s Shepherds on earth, we are responsible for all them, in one way or another, and to one degree or another.
And here is the catch: These people are not just people, they are “Our People.” They are what the Qur’an calls Our Qawum.
We have no choice but to work with them; put up with their ways; and, if necessary, suffer at their hands. The Hadith is crystal clear on this subject.
Social Responsibility: What A Hadith!
Paraphrase of that Hadith Sharif:
Those who mix with people; those who work with them; and those who put up with all the suffering the people inflict upon them; and then cheerfully continue to work with them are better than those who don’t.
Story of Nuh, Alaihis Salam, in the Qur’an
True, Hazrat Nuh, Alaihis Salam, was greatly annoyed with them – his Qawum, his people. And he launched a most serious, sweeping, deadly and devastating complaint in Allah’s court against them.
He told Allah – my paraphrase:
“Lord Almighty, Destroy them all!
And don’t spare a single household of theirs on earth!”
But this was when?
The Qur’an tells us, Hazrat Nuh, Alaihis Salam, did this after toiling mightily day and night for over 900 years – close to a millennium.
Would you say anyone who puts his head down and works patiently for that long, and receives nothing in return but rejection, insults and abuse, would have earned some kind of a right to turn to Headquarters and complain?
I should think so.
Story of Yunus, Alaihis Salam, in the Qur’an
And then there was Hazrat Yoonus, Alaihis Salam.
He got annoyed with his people – his Qawum – and left town. But that was unauthorized departure. He tried to get out without getting permission first and without getting proper clearance and authorization from Headquarters.
From God Almighty!
Result? He ended up in the belly of the fish.
The Qur’an tells us that that is exactly where he would have stayed until Doom’s Day, if he had not turned to repentance and Tasbih.
Read Up These Stories in the Qur’an
Read up Surah Nuh, from beginning to end, and what a powerful Surah it is, and the relevant Aayaat about Yunus, Alaihis Salam, in the Qur’an, and you will know exactly what I am talking about.
Thank You God Almighty for Making Us the Shepherd of Your Creation!
Thank You World for Letting Us Be Your Shepherd
Thank you God Almighty for conferring this unique honor and privilege upon us! For making us the Shepherd of your creation.
Innee Jaa’ilun Fil Ardwi Khaleefah! Is that not how you put it in your most beautiful book, the Qur’an?
And Thank You, and God Bless You, World, people of the world, and creation of God Almighty in all forms, for allowing us to be your shepherd.
And for letting us try and take care of you, and for worrying about you, no matter how well or badly you treat us!
And no matter how unwilling or ill-prepared we may to do our job.
Rabbighfir Warham, wa Anta Khayirur Raahimeen!
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