The theme for the 2022 KZN Juloos, Meelad Un Nabi:
Our relationships with others is so important that it has a bearing on our imaam (faith/belief in Allah). How we treat others amounts to how we treat our Creator. There are lots of teachings along this line in Islam. As an example: it is related in the Hadith that Allah SWT will ask on the Day of Judgment, when I was hungry why did you not feed Me and when they would ask, how so, He would remind them of the beggar they chased away from their door. Then the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, has also said, you will not BELIEVE until you love for others what you would love for yourself.
He has also said that “marriage is half of faith.” Marriage is about being good to each other and if we can be good to one another then this is having faith (Belief in Allah)
As much as the ritual aspects of the five pillars of Islam are important, having faith (belief, the first pillar) is the most important of them all. This would ultimately grant us success in the hereafter. Being good to others is therefore just as important because it is a part of attaining faith.
The first relationship discussed in the Holy Quran is our relationship with Allah’s chosen ones. This relationship is so important that it is embedded in Surah Al Fatiha, which is the essence of the Holy Quraan. We are taught to seek out and follow Allah chosen ones and in Surah Al Baqura, their are plenty narritives of the relationship between Hazrath Moosa AS and his followers so that we could learn valuable lessons in this regard. This is the most important relationship, this is the relationship we should cherish the most. Remember, Allah SWT communicates to humanity by them and therefore our link to Allah SWT is through them.
Everything is created by Allah SWT from His essence and everything reflects His beauty, power and knowledge especially Allah’s chosen ones. Through them, we get to be closest to Allah SWT. Through them we get to see and experience Allah’s greatest attributes in an interactive way. Spiritual guidance has to experienced first hand and therefore one has to meet a current Saint and pledge alliance to him. We need to pray Surah Al Fatiha with understanding and sincerity so that Allah SWT will guide us to His true servants and save us from those that mislead.
The next relationship we are reminded of is our parents and we are reminded of this by this verse: “Safa and the Marwah are certainly the symbols of Allah…” 2:158. The running between these mountains is symbolic of the anguish a mother feels for her child. It’s so important that this act is a part of the fifth pillar of Islam. It is also a part of our second pillar because we pray for our parents in every prayer. We are taught to treasure our parents because they loved and cared for us and by doing this we learn to appreciate.
Then we are encouraged to have good relationships with our spouses. Although marital disputes and divorce is being discussed in Surah Al Baqara, the rules and recommendations are such that if we follow them it would be very difficult to end up divorced. However, by following these guidelines we will more likely end up appreciating and loving our spouses.
Then we are reminded of our duty to our children, to love, care and nurture them in the best possible way. 2:23. The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, has said that the best thing we could give our children is teaching them to have a good character; one of respect, sharing, helping and loving.
So important is our relationships with our neighbours that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, has said that a woman that prays all the time but is bad to her neighbors will end up in hell.
Lastly we are reminded of our duty to the poor and needy in Sura Al Baqura. This too is so important that it is the forth pillar of Islam. Firstly by giving charity and secondly by not indulging in usury (taking advantage of the plight of people to make money). Usury drives society and the world towards poverty.
From the HolyQuran, we learn that Islam is not about ritualistic prayer only but, more importantly, it teaches a way of life for everything we do, focusing on building good, strong, loving relationships in our families and communities (ummah).
In the present times that we live in, we are indoctrinated by the media to follow our passions, to be materialistic and this makes us selfish. Being selfish does not promote good relationships but on the contrary it destroys good relationships. It is because of materialism that countries are at war.
Our Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was not materialistic and he spent his life in the service of others. This, being good to others, is primarily what Islam is all about.
On the flip side shaitaan is to us an open enemy and the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, has said that what he loves the most is to sow discord between people, especially between the husband an wife. So taking care of our relationships is an important teaching.
A verse from this chapter (Sura Al Baqura to sum up.
`….You shall worship none except Allah, and do good to (your) parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the poor (as well), and you shall speak kindly to all people and observe Prayer and present purifying alms.’ 2:83
What we pray for reflects our aims and objects in life. So let our prayers not be for worldly goods but let’s pray to have good relationships with our Spiritual Guides (Surah Al Fatiha), our parents, our siblings, our spouses, our children, our neighbours and all in our community.
Building relationships so as to have faith means being considerate, caring, sharing and sacrificing for others. It’s not easy but we can do it!
NOTE 1: listen to a beautiful naath on this theme: The Light Of Muhammad (PBUH)
NOTE 2: Read our novel, also based on this theme – Doolhun The Bride.