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I want to tell you the formula by use of which an
insignificant person assumes the status of Ashraf-ul-makhlooqat ['best of the
creation’] and steps into the kingship of Allah the Exalted, and with the
continual practice of which he attains the position of it member in Allah's
kingship.
Have you ever wondered what Allah the Exalted does?
Allah, as a Creator, is at all times and at each moment
busy in the service of His creation. As we span life from birth till death, it
can be seen that, in the mother's womb, in infancy and childhood, in youth and
adulthood, and in old age, Allah the Exalted provides all the means which are
necessary for a person. May it be air, or
light of the sun, or light from the moon, or the earth's ability to produce
resources, each based on a centre and according to a law, is responsible for
the service of mankind. This continual service is established and maintained
according to a specific system and law of Allah Almighty—a law which Allah the
Exalted has set up Himself, and which He continues Himself.
It in an observed fact that when we want nearness to
someone, we adopt their habits and behaviour. If you want to befriend someone
who is punctual in offering salaat ['Muslim form of prayer'],
you start offering salaat with him, whereas, if you want to befriend someone
who likes to play cards, you start playing cards with him. The point is that if
we want the company of Satan, we start liking
the traits of `Satan, whereas, if we want the nearness of Rahmaan [‘Allah the
gracious’] we take on the habits and traits of Rahmaan. And the habit of Rahman
is that He is at all times engaged in the service of His creation.
Hence, if you wish to gain familiarity with Allah, your
Creator, and if you wish to rule the universe by virtue of your nearness to
Him, then make the service of Allah's creatures your way of life. Indeed, those
who have love for Allah's creatures are friends of Allah, and a friend always
showers his friend with favours and graciousness.
"That is Allah's grace; He bestows it upon
whomsoever He
pleases; and Allah is the Lord of immense
grace."
[The Holy Quran]
In relation to history, an important aspect of all the
cultural progress that humanity has made up until now is the assessment of the
present and the identification of the future. All fields of knowledge that are
in practice today, in one way or the other, are doing their part in the
struggle to improve the present and to guarantee a secure future, for mankind.
It is said that the study of history is the most significant area of knowledge.
Today, we know that many civilizations, much more advanced
than ours, lived on this earth and then became extinct, and only their traces
remain. It is not just the research on prehistoric times that mentions these
destroyed nations; rather, the consistent and continuous history of humanity is
full of countless such examples.
When we investigate the factors responsible for the
complete destruction of these nations, it becomes apparent that the nations
whose relationship grew strong with the world and weak with their Spirit were
eventually overpowered by greed. Worldly want becomes the purpose of life for
such nations, and the entire society in such nations
is trapped in an unending race of greed from which there can be no escape.
Decency and nobility, righteousness and purity, all lose their significance;
and the one who has the greatest accumulation of wealth, and the one who has
the most items of comfort and luxury, whether necessary or not, is seen with
respect and esteem in the society, whereas, not a single individual can deny
that this is all temporary and imaginary and, in the end all such material
goods must be left behind. None of the things goes along with the person, and
the one thing that does go along which he can use to live with
person, and the one thing that does go along, which he can use to live with
peace and comfort in the next world he
goes without. Those people who have no interference to take along to the next
world are surrounded by trials and tribulations in this world in such a way
that life becomes difficult. Sorrow and misery attacks them in horrible forms
and turns them into the walking dead. When
this situation moves from the individual level to the society as a whole,
nation are either destroyed or the faces of their citizens appear damaged
beyond recognition.
Love this world turns them into cowards. They become
afraid of the real life that is death. Narcissistic, aimless, disorderly,
injustice making, cruel and unjust behavior becomes common. Other nations entangle
them in many kinds of conspiracies, trapping them with enticements of wealth,
and eventually driving these weak-hearted nations
to extinction.
KHWAJA SHAMS-UD-DEEN AZEEMI
Science has made immense progress, yet many believe that, even with all of the modern tools at our disposal, human beings function at no more than 10% of their mental capacity. This leads to the question of what exactly it is that comprises the remaining 90%. Yet another question that arises is this: If it has taken man four and a half billion years to be able to apply only 10% of his ability, how long will it take for him to make use of the remaining 90%?