Knowledge Sharing:
An Informative Piece by Our
CFP Member Qaiser Abbas
For a Muslim, success is holistic and eternal, but they are forbidden from engaging in Satanic behaviors and actions, as outlined in the Quran and demonstrated through the practices of Prophet Muhammad (SAWW). Like any other human, a Muslim can live an ordinary, outwardly focused life, but they will remain troubled, restless, and surrounded by issues. The root cause of this is their deviation from their philosophy of life.A Muslim’s most valuable assets — the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) and the Holy Quran—are what guide them. Turning away from these will lead to failure and disgrace in this world and the world after it. It is strange and bitter, but true: Muslims today want to lead lives filled with ease, luxury, and self-indulgence, much like the greedy, cunning, or foolish people of this world. However, the philosophy of life in the ‘Sunnah’ and the ‘Quran’ is exactly the opposite. When a priceless guide is directing you in one direction, but your fear, greed, or foolishness pulls you the other way, it only leads to your humiliation and downfall in this world. This is precisely why a Muslim who walks against these principles fails due to a double standard, and unlike other nations, they do not appear outwardly prosperous, successful, or comfortable— and indeed, they cannot.
This does not imply that true and sincere Muslims are deprived of worldly wealth by Allah. Rather, wealth is not for their personal gain; it is to be used for the establishment and preservation of Islam’s dominance. This is why a Muslim is never truly poor—it is a chosen poverty, which becomes an asset and a practice of the Prophet (SAWW). It is clear that when one’s outward actions and inner self are not aligned toward the same direction, they will appear as failures —fearful, confused, and directionless. In this regard, the blessed Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) identifies the greatest problem of Muslims in the end times, even though they will be numerous.
Narrated Thawban:
The Prophet (SAWW) said: The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite others to share their dish. Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last enervation into your hearts. Someone asked: What is Wahn (enervation). Messenger of Allah (SAWW): He replied: Love of the world and dislike of death. (Sunan Abi Dawud 4297)
This Hadith clearly indicates that despite their large numbers, the ailment plaguing present-day Muslims is enervation (Wahn) —an attachment to the world and a fear of death. The most significant aspect of this problem is that the love of the world and the fear of death perfectly apply to Muslims in every walk of life.
Today, Muslims are involved in many fields of life, almost all of which are built on the rules and regulations set by non-Muslims. These rules, whether they pertain to governance, law and justice, education and training, public service, social ethics and relationships, technical organizations, or individual and communal leisure, all trace their origin and philosophy back to non-Muslims or non- Muslim nations. When Muslims adopt ethics, values, and philosophies from non-Muslims, they inevitably become a subjugated nation, passing on certain characteristics from generation to generation. These characteristics include a defeated philosophy of life, a sense of inferiority, and rebellion, among others. The impact of an inferior philosophy of life is so profound that even the most absurd things from others are considered a source of pride, while one’s own superior values are regarded as outdated and meaningless. This issue does not stop here; it drags the nation into future generations, who become the laughingstock of the world due to the double standards between their outward appearance and inner beliefs.
For a Muslim, embracing an inferior philosophy of life means trampling over their own miraculous guide—the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAWW). When Muslims do this, they place themselves on the weakest possible philosophical footing, both nationally and religiously, while simultaneously positioning their opponents’ inferior philosophy as superior. In this way, while non-Muslims are engrossed in their love for the material world, trying to acquire, build, and refine it, Muslims become even more attached to this world and, as a result, develop a deep fear of death and an anxiety about leaving this world. This is why, in this condition, Muslims have lost the fear they once instilled in other nations by abandoning their own philosophy of life. Despite their vast numbers, they are weak, lacking understanding, courage, dignity, and honor. They now fear the dominant non- Muslim nations, rely on them for decisions, and have essentially sold their honor and dignity into their hands.
This situation should not be difficult for Muslims to understand because they are currently living through these very circumstances. In their pursuit of worldly gains, Muslims have forgotten the distinction between what is lawful and unlawful, and how to apply this understanding in the worldly life. When one amasses wealth tied to a specific time and place, they develop both a fear and a hatred of leaving that time and place. Conversely, their greed for the world’s worthless and meaningless things pushes them deeper into decline. It is important to remember that rebellion against one’s philosophy of life leads to sinking into decline, after which the journey of recovery begins, and from darkness, one moves toward light. Therefore, if Muslims believe they can redirect themselves toward light without hitting rock bottom, they are going against the law of the universe, and this will not happen. The first step in emerging from decline is acknowledging that one is submerged in it. This realization will inspire the next generation to seek their true essence, and their search will become a guiding light for future generations, transforming the journey from darkness to light. Muslims today must understand that their issue is not about acquiring worldly resources, getting higher education, owning large corporations, or lifting their people out of poverty. Instead, the first step is to admit that they are subjugated, and other nations dominate them at every level. I, who was made a custodian of the earth even before becoming a Muslim, and after embracing Islam, I have the religion of Allah, the book that holds the solutions to the problems of this universe, and the greatest person to ever exist as my guide — my next step must be to find my identity. This path is long, but Muslims will walk it and once again become dominant. Each of us must individually reflect on whether we have any role in helping our nation become dominant again. Have I been able to light a candle of hope in this dark era of my nation? Each of us can make the prayer of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S), whose lineage produced Prophet Muhammad (SAWW), and our future generations may become part of the group that joins Imam Mahdi (A.S).