Living According to Islam

©  Umm Mujaheed

     Alhamdulillah, we are able to bring to you another issue of HAWWA.  As promised, this issue covers 'Living Islam.'  But what does it mean to live Islam?  Let us ponder on life itself for a brief moment...
     Proponents of reincarnation argue that it would be a mean god that lets life end when the soul leaves its earthly body.  But, indeed, it would be a mean god that lets life re-live in another earthly body, to continue the endless cycle of birth and death.  What would be the point of rehashing life over and over again?  Surely, at one point, that reincarnated life would want something better?  Surely, there has to be omething better than this world!
There has to be a Hereafter!  Not the type of after life that is promised for an elite few - the 'chosen' people, because of birth and regardless of whether they have earned it or not.  And not the type that is promised for the mass just because they 'believe' in theory but have yet to do anything to earn it.
    The greatest grace that Allah (swt) has bestowed upon humans is that He guides them to His religion.  When the believers realise this, they will feel themselves humbled and tears will flow as they remember how they used to live in ignorance.
     Let me now take you through the story of a woman who lived in ignorance but, by the grace of Allah (swt), changed her life to live it according to Islam...
     Muslimah is a woman who is confused about life.  She feels that there is more to it than working, watching television, listening to music, buying new clothes, decorating her house, acquiring goods, and many more trivial things that consume the majority of her time.  Yet, this is what she does and will continue to do to fill this void inside her heart.
     What makes it worse is that Muslimah cannot find solace within her family or friends.  Just this morning, she had an argument with her husband over a petty incident.  Neither of them could find it in their hearts to concede to the other's needs.  Whether it was due to selfishness, pride or stubbornness, Muslimah could not tell.  Perhaps it was all three.

     As Muslimah steps out and closes the front door, she can still hear her children squabbling over who is to do the dishes and help clean the house as she had asked them to.  Her head pounds harder as the old knowledge reasserts itself that, if it was not her husband that she was arguing with, then it was with her children.

     The only place that Muslimah had always turned to were her friends.  Yet today, she does not feel like going there, for she knows that she will feel worse after she leaves.  Why?  Because they always end up talking about other people and comparing, competing and showing off each other's husbands, children and material goods.

     There has to be somewhere where she can go to find tranquility.  Muslimah then remembers a Muslim neighbour who always seemed peaceful with herself.  But she hesitates as she had never talked to her and feels shy to approach her.  If only she can because she truly wants to discover her neighbour's secret to serenity.

     Taking a deep breath, Muslimah tells herself that the worst that can happen is that her neighbour will either not open the door or slam it in her face.  It is just her pride again, stopping her from doing things that she feels she needs to do, Muslimah thought to herself.  So taking another deep breath, Muslimah walked to her neighbour's door and knocked on it.

     To her surprise and relief, her neighbour opens it with a smile on her tranquil face and welcomesher in.  Her neighbour invites her to tea and soon Muslimah feels that it is as though they had known each other for a long time.  She finds it easy, then, to pour out her problems.

     Her neighbour listens attentively and gives her comforting words.  She tells her about Allah (swt) and the purpose of life.

     Upon hearing this, Muslimah feels that this is what she had been searching for.  It is the knowledge that there is a purpose to life; not the aimless wandering and accumulation that she had been doing.  Great tears of sadness and joy rain down her cheeks.  It is sadness because of her regret for her wasted years and joy  because she had found her way back to Allah (swt) again.

     Her neighbour comforts her and offers a book and some tapes on the morals and manners of a Muslim to read and listen to.  Muslimah thanks her and immediately goes home to read and listen to them.

     As she reads the book her heart quivers because it seems to be addressing her directly.  It knows of her problems and gives her directions to pull herself out of them.

     This book tells her that it is a great grace from Allah (swt) that the person goes back to Him with repentance after he has an emptiness of heart and now he fills it with the love of Allah (swt).  And that after the emptiness of his life, he fills it with good  deeds.

     If Allah (swt) wanted to completed His Grace, He completes it by giving His slave good manners. For the people of faith are those with the best manners and morals.  The Prophet (s) used to supplicate to Allah (swt) in his prayers frequently, asking Him to guide him to the best manners and to keep the bad manners away from him.  For no one can acquire good manners without Allah's Grace.

     When a believer possesses good manners, it helps him to do good deeds and to forsake major and minor sins.  It helps a believer to follow the ways of the Prophet (s) and not to leave it.  It is the best way of making him closer to Allah (swt) and as the Prophet (s) said, 'I was sent to you to perfect your  (good) manners.'  (Ahmad)

     The best thing a person can leave behind this life is good manners since it is the heaviest in the scale
on the Day of Judgement.  The Prophet (s) said, 'Nothing, when put in the scale, is heavier than good
manners.  The person who has good manners will reach the stage of a person who fast and pray alot.' (Tirmidhi)

     On the contrary, a person who possesses bad manners is far from Allah (swt) because Islam is the religion of good manners.

     It touches Muslimah's heart to read this as she knows that this is the answer.  She decides to change her life immediately and prepares herself by attending a halaqah (study circle) with her neighbour.  She begins to practise Islam and soon she covers herself with proper hejab.  Then she prays (especially the night prayer) on time.  But she knows that she has to be sincere to Allah (swt) in whatever she does, because without it, all her ibadah (worship) are useless.

     Several months pass and Muslimah becomes another person.  She is now the pious woman who lives to do all the commands of Allah (swt).  One who purifies herself on the inside as well as the outside.  Inside, she purifies her heart from every associations and hypocracies.  She purifies her heart from hatred to all Muslims including those who treats her badly.  For she knows that forgiveness is something that Allah (swt) likes.  Allah (swt) says,

     She returns in kind to those who do bad to her and she does not doubt other people's intentions. She gives excuses to people's bad character before she judges them.  She is satisfied with what she owns because she knows by reading the Quran that Allah (swt) had already divided the provision for His creatures. She does not worry about where her provision will come in five years time nor does she plan for worldly things.

     To purify her outside, Muslimah does not lie because the truthful will be known for her truthfulness.
The Prophet (s) said, 'There are four things you should worry if you loose it in this life: 1) telling the truth; 2) keeping trust; 3) good manner; and 4) eating lawful food.'  (Ahmad)

     She does not hurt anyone with her tongue nor does she backbite or listen to gossip.  She no longer feels shy to stop those who are gossiping and, just as importantly, she does not reveal the secrets of her household.  That is, what goes on between her husband and herself, she does not tell others.  Nor does she describes her friends to her husband.

     When she visits her friend's house she does not relay the going ons of that house, such as 'That friend's house is so messy!'.  In other words, she keeps everyone's secrets in her heart.  The Prophet (s) said, 'The Muslim is the one whom others are safe from his tongue and his hand.' (Bukhari)  She uses her tongue for what it is created for, that is, remembering Allah (swt), reading the Qur'an, and reminding the people about the Hereafter.  She knows that if she does not tell people about the Graces that Allah (swt) has bestowed upon her, then she will be a mean person.

     If Muslimah finds herself in a situation where there is no need for her to talk then she keeps silent. As the Prophet (s) said, 'Whosoever believe in Allah or the Hereafter, let him say good or keep silent.' (Muslim)  She, therefore, does not talk unnecessarily nor meaninglessly.  When she is angry with her children or anyone, she does not swear or curse them.  Instead, she controls her tongue.  She no longer talks to strange men nor speaks to them in an attractive tone.

      When Muslimah goes out she only goes to places that she needs to go to.  She does not roam around aimlessly and window shop.  She knows that the devils are there to distract her.  She keeps her eyes downcast by not looking at haram things, for example, at another woman wearing short skirt or at men.  Allah says,

     One other habit that she has stopped is that she no longer reads useless magazines full of gossips
and advertising.  With the money saved from this Muslimah gives it as sadaqah (charity).

     Whenever Muslimah is with a group of women, she wears decent clothing covering her 'awrah (the parts that are prohibited as defined by shari'ah).  For instance, she does not wear tight fitting, see-through clothing nor does she exposes certain parts.  She does not over-dress herself in jewelry or make up because she knows that beauty is not in expensive clothing and adorements but it is in being wise, good to people and not harsh or hurtful to them.

     When Muslimah is at home, she does not feel bored since now she spends her day praising Allah
(swt), singing songs which glorify Allah or about Islam, that is, meaningful songs or talk.  Allah says,

     Her house contains only what she needs without excessive decorations.  Most important is that it is
clean which makes it beautiful.

     Muslimah gives to charity often, even when she does not have enough money.  She knows that
Allah (swt) increases a person's wealth through their giving sadaqah (charity):

She gives to charity in secret and only for Allah (swt) not for show.

     When she cooks a big meal, Muslimah gives some of it to her neighbours and other needy people. She plays with her children and knows that the best way to teach them is to be a good example to them.  For she knows that children copy from their parents.

     As for her husband, Muslimah prepares herself for him before he arrives home and when he is home
she greets him with a warm smile.  She knows that in a marriage both need to make concessions for each
other because it is Allah (swt) who puts love in their hearts.

     If she has any problems or feels sad for some reason, she seeks the reward from Allah (swt) because she does not forget that it is a test from Him.  As the Prophet (s) said, 'Everything that hurts the muslims such as hardship, sadness and depression, Allah will forgive that person for it.' (Tirmidhi)  And when she is sick, she does not complain but is patient.

     These are the things, and more, that Muslimah is now doing.  She has completely changed her life to live it according to Islam.  For now she is content with her life and what Allah (swt) has given her, and is continually striving to perfect her iman (faith).