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CURES FOR WEAK FAITH - II

AVOID ENVIRONMENTS OF SIN We live in a world where immorality lurks all around us in forms to which many of us have become desensitized. Day by day, it is becoming easier to gratify the self by violating boundaries of righteousness. With the self and its pleasure taking precedence, right values are ignored. Evils take on an attractive hue. Listening to songs whose lyrics etch away at our values of truth, watching movies that violate our sense of shame, watching pornographic images that cloak themselves as artistic, violating others rights by gossiping and backbiting, taking undue interest in the lives of celebrities and scandals involving them, are some of the many activities that many indulge in without feeling any remorse or guilt. We can preserve our values and sense of righteousness by making a conscious effort of distancing ourselves from such environments. To guard our faith and keep it strong, we need to nurture it in the company of the righteous and surround ourselves with good sources of knowledge. Our faith can be strengthened in an environment where people have the courage to distinguish between right from wrong. This practice gradually sets our life on Islamic principles. Al-Hasan al-Basri (R.A.A.) said: "Our brothers are dearer to us than our families, for our families remind us of this world, but our brothers remind us of the Hereafter." FREEING THE HEART FROM THE OBSESSIONS OF THIS LIFE Preoccupation with this world is quite apparent around us, with increasing material greed and the desire to acquire more and more. The Prophet (Sallellahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: "Allah, may He be glorified, says: ?We have sent down wealth for the establishment of prayer and the payment of zakat, but if the son of Adam has one valley, he will wish that he had a second, and if he had two valleys, he would wish that he had a third. The stomach of the son of Adam will be filled only with dust (i.e., he is never satisfied) then Allah will accept the repentance of the one who repents." (Reported by Ahmad, 5/219;Saheeh al-Jaami?, 1781). The world and one?s preoccupation with it, is to be seen in the right perspective ? a means to lead life and maintain relationships as per the guidance provided in the Quran. Allah says: *?And know that your possessions and children are but a trial and that surely with Allah is a mighty reward.?* [Surah al-Anfaal 8:28] Such verses are meant to set our priorities. Due love and care of one?s family within the bounds of what Islam teaches us is a man?s duty, but it should not make him selfish and miserly ignoring the needs of other deserving servants of Allah and also at the expense of remembrance of Allah.
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About wealth, the Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said: "Every nation has its fitnah (trial or temptation), and the fitnah of my ummah is wealth." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 2336; Saheeh al-Jaami?, 2148). The Prophet (S.A.W.S.) thus urged Muslims to be content with just what is sufficient. He (S.A.W.S.) warned those who want to accumulate wealth, with no intention of giving in charity: "Woe to those who want to accumulate wealth, except for the one who says with his wealth, ?Here! Here! Here!?" (i.e., giving it away) "to one on his right, one on his left, one in front of him and one behind him," (reported by Ibn Maajah, no. 4129; Saheeh al-Jaami?, 7137) The Prophet (S.A.W.S.) also said: "All that is sufficient for any one of you in this world is the supply of the traveller." (Reported by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 4/78; Saheeh al-Jaami?, 2384) Islamic-Hub
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