GUEST POST BY: AMMAR KHAN
“O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the next day, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”
[59:18]
Have you ever observed how scared children get when they are caught in the act of doing something they know to be wrong? This inherent fear is sparked by a subconscious realization of a list of possible consequences that entail their act. However an adult would view the situation from a bird’s eye and conclude that such great fear of these consequences is not really justified; as the child would not be put under any extortionately unbearable penalty. The analogy of this commonly observed example can be extrapolated to enhance our understanding of what our mental status should be when we are in the midst of committing a sin. True believers are characterized to always be mindful of their deeds and to maintain the fear and consciousness of Allah i.e. Taqwa.
Unfortunately, the situation for a great majority of us is quite the opposite. We “Muslims” tend to indulge in great sins despite our being warned against the horrific punishments to which they lead. Do we really find ourselves capable of bearing punishments that are beyond the realms of human imagination? So how can we unrelentingly continue treading on this pathway to our destruction while fully aware of the inevitable day when each one of us will be standing trial to the tiniest of deeds? Look into the mirror and picture yourself anxiously awaiting your final verdict in a fifty thousand year-long stand, where you would not amount to more than a speck in front of the scores of people from the different nations and times. Do you imagine yourself waiting patiently with your book of deeds in your right hand, or do you see a worried face with your book of deeds clenched between the fingers of your left hand?
My brothers and sisters, Allah the Most Merciful has given us the opportunity to reflect over what we have done with our time, health and wealth. The temporary pleasures of this life are not worth throwing away our place in the final abode of paradise. Let us turn to the Oft Forgiving Allah with our hands raised in prayer (dua) and vow to try our best to avoid all sins from this moment onwards.
The kuffaar constantly challenge Allah’s authority by their continuous disobedience and in submission; let us be ones to differ and stay under the shades of mercy of the One and Only true Lord – Allah.