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Comprehensive Security in Islam
Shaykh Saud Ibn Ibrahim Ash-Shuraym
[(Muharram 1, 1423 (March 16, 2002)]
All praise is
due to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon the Messenger, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims!
Affording oneself a time for self-examination and self-admonition is in
concordant with the saying of the Messenger of Allaah. Indeed, acquainting
oneself of the sayings of the Prophet provides light, gladdens the heart,
makes one have belief in him and follow the light which he brought from
his Lord. One will also find in those sayings clear and unambiguous facts
that the reality of a Muslim, his high position and his pure and stable
life is not based on mere passing enjoyments or avoiding facts perceived
as restrictions.
Whoever
acquaints himself with the sunnah will only find things that make him
happy and show him the way that leads to the highest goal of his life. The
Messenger of Allaah said, “Whoever wakes up in the morning secured in his
home, healthy in his body and possesses his daily bread is like the one
who is given the whole of this world as his possession.”
(At-Tirmidhee
and others)
Allaahu Akbar!
These are just few words full of real meaning of life and its stability.
They give man the true picture of life with all its ups and downs in just
three criteria in which no sane person would imagine a happy worldly life
without any of them. They are simple statements that any man can say but
the Prophet’s saying that they are equivalent to having the whole world in
one’s possession makes one think deeply over the far-reaching meanings of
them.
Brethren in
Islaam! One’s security in his house is a goal that every individual and
every society pursue. A secured life is a topic that is preached over all
pulpits because of a strong relationship between that and societal
stability. If not, what is the benefit of a morsel that man eats, water
that he drinks or of his sleeping and studying knowledge while he is in
fear? Any society that lacks security actually lacks the essence of life
and becomes subjective to usurpers and divided within itself.
It is therefore
because of the importance of security that Islaam enforces it in any
circumstances and fights all kinds of negligence in its implementation
either this negligence comes in form of intermediaries who seek to
undermine it or in form of reluctance to criticise those who claim to be
civilized and accuse others of retrogression. When security becomes weak
in the Muslim society, those who cause that are actually burying the
Muslim heritage of that society and killing the peaceful life of the
present generation and its future. We should therefore, not restrict the
concept of security to an individual or a single meaning only like
restricting it on protection of the society against crimes, or in setting
up police force and patrols alone. Rather, it should be understood that
the comprehensive meaning of security starts with the belief and religion
of the society and its strong relationship with its Lord. Allaah says,
“It is those
who believe and confuse not their belief with wrong (i.e. worshipping
others besides Allaah) for them (only) there is security and they are the
guided.”
(Al-An‘aam
6:82)
Needless to say
is other aspects of security like nutritional, preventive health,
economic, intellectual and media security. The Muslim Ummah should not be
negligent in any of these areas of security and should not betray any of
them in whatever form, for security in all these aspects of life is not
less important than security of life and properties. As there are thieves
who invade houses, there are also thieves who invade hearts, even the
latter are more dangerous.
Having one’s
daily bread is only the next stage after having personal and societal
security, for how can an afraid man have health in his body and ability to
look for his daily bread? That is why we need to give high estimation to
security, so that we may not lose it especially in this time that we see
conflicts in many countries and what we hear and see of occupation and
killings of Muslims that happen in Al-Quds every day while those who
perpetrate that heinous crime claim that they are doing that for security
and to fight terrorism. All these happen while the victims are crying for
help and justice and they get nothing for that except more injustice and
wars. Where are those who talk about terrorism and its dangers? Where are
the sympathisers with innocent people? Where are the claimed fundamental
human rights? Is killing of Muslims and occupying their lands not
terrorism? It seems as if what happens to Al-Quds is a welcome situation
and what happens to others is terrorism. Allaah says,
“And when
they meet you, they say, ‘We believe.’ But when they are alone, they bite
the tips of their fingers at you in rage. Say: ‘Perish in your rage.
Certainly, Allaah knows what is in your breasts.’”
(Aal-‘Imraan
3:119)
However Allaah
warns us of being deceived by the worldly enjoyment of unbelievers and
assures us of happy ending when He says,
“Let not the
free disposal (and affluence) of the disbelievers throughout the land
deceive you. A brief enjoyment; then their ultimate abode is Hell; and
worst indeed is that place for rest. But as for those who fear their Lord,
are Gardens under which rivers flow; therein are they to dwell (for ever),
an entertainment from Allaah; and that which is with Allaah is the best
for the pious and righteous.”
(Aal-‘Imraan
3:196-198)
Fellow Muslims!
The Prophet has mentioned man’s health in his body next to his security in
his home and made health a third of having the whole world at one’s
disposal. This is clear to all, for health is a crown on the head of the
healthy which no one recognises but the sick. Sound health is a quality
that many people get deceived with. The Messenger of Allaah said, “There
are two favours that many people get deceived with: Sound health and spare
time.”
(Al-Bukhaaree)
Safety and good
health are unparalleled favours. Freedom from illness is eventual for a
happy life, for it helps to carry out acts of righteousness and do one’s
duty perfectly not to talk of its impacts on other aspects of life. “The
strong Muslim is better than the weak one, though both are good.” Having
knowledge and sound body are some of the instruments of earning higher
aims. Allaah says about Jaaloot,
“Verily,
Allaah has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in
knowledge and stature.”
(Al-Baqarah
2:247)
Brethren in
Faith! Diseases are disabilities and that is why the sick envies the
healthy. Though diseases are painful and undesirable, Allaah teaches us
through them wisdoms and benefits that are known to some and unknown to
others. Ibn Al-Qayyim has said that he enumerated the benefits of illness
and found that they were more than one hundred. The Messenger of Allaah
said, “There is no Muslim who is afflicted with a disease or the like but
that Allaah removes with it his sins as the tree sheds its leaves.”
This does not
however mean that illness and afflictions are desirable things. A
believing man does not wish for calamities. The Prophet said, “Ask Allaah
for forgiveness and well being, for none is given anything after certainty
of faith, which is better that well-being.”
(An-Nasaaee)
Mutarrif said,
“I prefer to be given well being and be thankful than to be tested with
affliction and be patient.” Either way, health without faith is like air
without water and sickness without patience and contentedness is an
affliction upon affliction. What matters most is religion and faith. Ibn
Mas‘ood said, “You see the unbeliever as the healthiest in body but the
most diseased in heart while you see a believer as most diseased in body
but the healthiest in heart. By Allaah! If you are sick in heart and
healthy in body you will be more worthless than dung beetle in the eyes of
Allaah.” Allaah says,
“Everyone is
going to taste death and we shall make a trial of you with evil and with
good. And to Us you will be returned”
(Al-Anbiyaa
21:35)
Brethren in
Faith! Money in Islaam is a means and not an end. Earning it by lawful
means is recommended and the Prophet when he said his statement: “Whoever
wakes up in the morning secured in his home, healthy in his body and has
his daily bread…” meant by daily bread the moderate money between the
condition of excessively rich people who are weak in religion and those
destitute who prefer laziness and unemployment and then beg others for
their survival. Those who are on these extremes are not on the right path.
As for the destitute who is lazy and would not like to work, the Prophet
said about him, “Seek for Allaah’s protection against poverty,
insufficience and humility”. He also said, “O Allaah, I seek Your refuge
from disbelief and poverty.”
(Ahmed)
About the
excessively rich and negligent of his religious obligations. Allaah says,
“Nay!
Verily, man does transgress (in disbelief and evil deeds). Because he
considers himself self sufficient.”
(Al-‘Alaq
96:6-7)
The best of all
matters is therefore moderation, for poverty is close to disbelief. It
rather makes a person prone to dependence on others. Likewise, excessive
wealth makes a person prone to transgression, earning money from unlawful
means and avoiding payment of zakaat and other obligations. So, whoever
possesses his daily bread will be far from arrogance of the rich and
humiliation of poverty; he then becomes satisfied and healthy and as such
will be like the one who has the whole world in his possession.
Wealth is
commended if spent in good causes while it is condemned when spent in evil
causes. Allaah says,
“As for him
who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allaah and fears Him, and
believes in the reward from Allaah, We will make smooth for him the path
of ease (goodness). But he who is greedy and miser and thinks himself
self-sufficient and belies the reward from Allaah, We will make smooth for
him the path for evil.”
(Al-Lail
92:5-10)
How truthful is
the word of the Prophet when he said, “What a good wealth for a good man.”
We are saying
all this to remind those who are blessed with favours from Allaah and to
remind us all that there are Muslims in many places who do not know their
fate. They live in perpetual anxiety and stress. Among them are innocent
old men, women and children who committed no crime while they are being
persecuted, their homes are being demolished and they are subjected to
different kinds of humiliation.
“Verily,
therein is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he
is heedful.”
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