Actuality Of Being Successful Or Unsuccessful

Arrogance and conceit on preconceived ignorant notions of the family, refusing to budge on stupid customs of ancestors and lust for power, wealth and luxuries are different exhibitions of materialism. They are not only high walls on the way of guidance and moral rehabilitation, also reasons for damaging the great values of justice and equality. They have been the root cause of contemptuous behavior towards mankind and disorder and corruption in the societies. When this type of materialism gets assimilated by entire nations and communities then it takes the whole world in grip. It ravages the peace and spreads restlessness.

If we look far back in the previous history, we find the same materialism working in the people of Nuh (AS) dividing the mankind on the basis of social status and material resources and disdaining those who were economically retarded:
“The chiefs who disbelieved among his (Nuh’s) people said: “We see you but a man like ourselves, and we do not see you followed without thinking, except by those who are the lowest of us. And we do not see in you any merit over us, in fact we think you are liars.” (Hud: 27)

The Prophets of Allah, contrary to covetousness, came to establish a balance between this worldly life and moral and spiritual values, letting not the scale dipped toward mundane life. If the Prophets had bowed to the demands of the materialists to disdain and drive the poor and wronged people away from them, humanity would have long ago been out of breath. So, NuH (AS) replied in a clear and facile way:
“I am not going to drive away those who have believed. Surely, they are going to meet their Lord, but I see that you are a people that are ignorant.” (Hud: 29)

The pagan chiefs of Makka, generally showed their obstinacy and haughtiness, turned deaf ears to the Message, that the Messenger, be peace and blessings upon him, wanted to convey to them only because they were in the marsh of the same materialism. The Call of Islam was odd and unacceptable for them because it was about to make them sit equal to the people whom they thought the lowest amongst them. Sometimes they used to put up some deluding pretences. They said that they, as the chiefs of their clan, felt it their insult to attend Muhammad, while the people of lower status, like Bilal, Suhaib, Ammar, Khabbab and Ibn Masud (May Allah be pleased with all of them) are with him. If they were made slink away from there, then they would be ready to attend what Muhammad, SAW, wanted to say.

This absurd demand, drawing the lines of inequality among the people, all progeny of Adam (AS), was against the nature of Islam, which has only virtue, piety and righteousness a criterion to judge the matter of importance and preeminence of the people. Allah, SWT, cautioned His Prophet saying:
“And do not send away those who call upon their Lord, morning and afternoon, seeking His countenance. You are not accountable for them in anything and they are not accountable for you in anything. You may turn them away and thus become of the unjust.” (Al-Anaam: 52)
“And keep yourself patient (by being) with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desires and whose affair is ever exceeding (the limits of Allah).” (Al-Kahf: 28)

As long as materialistic thinking goes surmounting, despite man still persists thinking about existence of God, the belief in life Hereafter, gets obscured. Sense of being called to account gradually fades and at last disappears. Man starts living in vain hopes of getting more than what has been gained in the earthly life, in case ‘something’ like resurrection happens. We find a fable about a man of two gardens, telling the same fact in Surah Al-Kahf. He did believe in God but about the Day of Resurrection his concept was:
“I think not the Hour will come, and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord, I surely shall find better than this when I return to Him.”

Though he did not show his disbelief in God but his companion, inferior to him in worldly possessions but having a strong Faith, counted the doubt about Akherah his incredulity in God and said:
“Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you as a men?”

The Holy Quran introduces God as Lord of the worlds, (Quran) itself as Guidance for entire mankind (Al-Baqarah: 185) and Muhammad, be peace and blessing upon him, as a giver of glad tidings and warner to all mankind, (Saba: 28) and also mercy and blessing for mankind and all that exists. (Al-Anbiya: 107) But the followers of the religions, obsessed by materialism developed a thinking of self-satisfaction of either being free of standing accountable in front of Allah, as the Jews have vainglorious behavior of being His chosen people. They think God had been at their back in their atrocities in Palestine during last over six decades. Hindu Brahmans being a special class, have the right to humiliate and crush not only the Muslim minority in India but the people of lower classes there also. The Crusaders as the pompous and conceited followers of Christianity, thought God and Jesus on their side in their heinous acts of ruthlessly massacring 40,000 Muslims only in two days when Jerusalem fell to them. Total number of slain then was much above 100 thousand. Why? Because the followers of these religions ‘materialized’ and ‘monopolized’ God, while He is the Creator and Lord of entire mankind and all other creatures.

Materialistic nature of Christianity was obvious and so deeply instilled in the minds of its followers that when in the mediaeval times Church and cruel feudal system were in evil alliance, they readily and happily became subject to the exploitations of both Church and feudal lords. And now for last several centuries Christianity has been supporting the capitalistic system, letting big powers, multi- national companies, organizations and wealthy people to take every unfair advantage and make selfish gains through this system.

Islam favors its followers to get easily accommodating houses to live, suitable conveyances to travel, good and healthy food to eat. It encourages working hardly and honestly for progress in worldly life. It neither dissuades from owning the property nor making savings through fair and Halal means to meet all necessities of life and also keep something for rainy seasons. Yet, Akherah, preferably remains high. Building the worldly life is not to be at the cost of Akherah (Life Hereafter). In a supplication in the Quran (one of the very favorite supplications of our Holy Prophet, SA), we find 2/3 weight goes to Akherah and 1/3 to this material life. Because those who will be losers on the Day of Judgment, in spite of huge of their amassed wealth and properties in this mundane life, will indeed be actual losers. The supplication is:
“Our Lord! Give us in this world which is good and in the Hereafter which is good and save us from the torment of the Fire.” (Al-Baqarah: 201)

We find the actuality of the loss in the light of the Quran:
“…The losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Verily, that will be a manifest loss.” (Az-Zumar: 15)

The Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him, very beautifully explained the same fact when he said: “It is very probable a man in this worldly life relishes the savoury foods and is accustomed to luxuries, when resurrected on the Day of Judgment, he will be hungry and naked, and on the contrary, it is most probable a man facing starvations in this world, when restored to life on the Day of Resurrection, will taste delicious foods. It is most probable, a man, self-deferential and self-respecting here, will rise in disgrace. It is more likely a man, sunk into eases and comforts with the wealth got through whatever was granted to the Prophet, SAW, as booty, and with Allah (on the Day of Resurrection) there will be nothing for him. Be aware! The efforts for gaining Jannah (paradise) are difficult as if mounting the heights and the deeds for Hell, are easy as if descending from a height. Be Aware! Immersing oneself in carnal appetites for only one hour may prove to be the sadness for a long time.” (Al-Beihaqi)