If You Look Above Then Look Below

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When one of you looks at one who stands at a higher level than you in regard to wealth and physical structure he should also see one who stands at a lower level than you in regard to these things.” [Muslim]

Comparing ourselves to people whom Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has given better looks to, more money to, nicer possessions to, better education to, higher status to, etc., is a common cause for our showing ingratitude to Allah. We then automatically discard the blessings that Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has bestowed on us and can think of only that which we are lacking and someone else has. There will always be something more that we could have.

However, Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) is the Originator of all Good/Khair. Nothing comes from Him that is not good. Therefore, we should not have the attitude, that when we see ourselves having the blessings of this world we say, "Rabbi akraman" (Allah has blessed/honoured me) and when we face anything lacking in our lives we say, "Rabbi ahanun" (Allah has humiliated me). A believer always says "Rabbi akraman" only, since in his or her every affair Allah is honouring them.

Human beings are greedy and ungrateful by nature. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told us that even if we were given two valleys full of gold we would wish for a third and there would be no end to our greed till we died. Therefore, the advice of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) makes perfect sense that whenever we get to see people who have more or better than what we have, we should immediately look at those people too who have less or worse than what we have. Only then will we be able to remain thankful to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ahmed's White Palace

“Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) addressed the people asking three times, ‘Yaum al-khalas, and what is yaum al-khalas. Yaum al-khalas, and what is yaum al-khalas.’ Somebody asked, ‘What is this yaum al-khalas?’ The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, ‘Dajjal will come and climb Mount Uhud. Then he will say to his friends, ‘Do you see that white palace (qasre abyad)? That is Ahmed’s masjid.’ Then he will come towards Madina Munawwara but on every path he takes he will encounter an angel with an unsheathed sword. Then he will go towards Sabghatul Jarf and will strike his camp and Madina Munawwara will be jolted thrice as a result of which every munafiq (hypocrite) man and woman and fasiq (habitually sinning) man and woman will leave Madina and go with him. In this way Madina will be purified of sinners and this is yaum al-khalas (the day of relief).’” [Hakim in Mustadrak] This hadith is Sahih on the conditions of Imam Muslim. Imam Dhahabi has corrobora
Read more

Ridiculing Allah’s Commands

Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “It was said to the children of Israel, ‘Enter the gate (of the town), prostrate (in humility) and say: Hittatun (repentance) i.e., O Allah! Forgive our sins.’ But they entered by dragging themselves on their buttocks, so they did something different (from what they had been ordered to do) and said, ‘Hittatun,’ but added, ‘A grain in a hair.’” [Sahih Bukhari] The Bani Israil have distinguished themselves in history as the most disobedient and rebellious of people. They have, however, already met with the consequences of their behaviour. So then why are their stories narrated to us in the Quran and hadith in such a large number? This is because Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) knew that we, the last nation, would insist on following in their footsteps. Thus, He made clear to us with their examples which actions earn Allah’s wrath and punishment and which actions are worth emulating. This incident is
Read more

Up to a Third

In the year of Hajjatul-Wada, Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) paid a Sahabah a visit while he was suffering from an ailment that had brought him to the verge of death. He said, “O Allah's Apostle! My sickness has reduced me to the (bad) state that you see, and I am a rich man, but have no heirs except one daughter. Shall I give 2/3 of my property in charity?” The Prophet replied, “No.” The Sahabah said, “Then 1/2 of it?” The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Even 1/3 is too much, for, to leave your inheritors wealthy is better than to leave them in poverty, begging from people. And (know that) whatever you spend in Allah's Cause, you will get reward for it, even for the morsel of food which you put in your wife's mouth.” [Bukhari] From this hadith we learn that we may will away a maximum of a third of our wealth. The other two thirds must be distributed according to the rules of inheritance laid down by Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Another thing we learn
Read more