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ONE LIFE, TWO RESPONSIBILITIES <\/b><\/p>\n
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Once I met an educated Muslim who spoke with visible dissatisfaction. He said that modern people have become nothing more than \u201cearning animals\u201d: they study, acquire degrees, secure jobs, and spend their lives making money. His remark contained a valid concern, but it did not reflect the whole picture of human responsibility.<\/p>\n
In reality, there are two meaningful ways of living. One is what may be called\u202fone man, one mission. In this case, a person devotes his entire life to a higher purpose and treats material needs as minimal. The other is\u202fone man, two missions. Here, a person divides his life between earning a lawful livelihood and pursuing the real purpose of his existence. Both ways are valid, and both can lead to success if adopted with sincerity.<\/p>\n
The truth is that every human being needs a clearly thought-out purpose in life. Without purpose, activity becomes mechanical and exhausting. The\u202fQuran\u202fdraws attention to this balance when it says that God has made people stewards on the earth (6:165). Stewardship requires responsibility, not withdrawal from life.<\/p>\n
Earning a livelihood is not opposed to higher purpose. It is a necessity of human life. The Prophet Muhammad stated that it is better for a person to earn with his own hands than to depend on others (Bukhari). This shows that earning is not inferior; it is honourable when kept within limits.<\/p>\n
At the same time, material activity cannot be allowed to consume the whole of life. The Quran reminds us: \u201cSeek the Hereafter through what God has given you, but do not forget your share of the world.\u201d (28:77) This verse presents a complete philosophy of life: neither neglect of the world nor enslavement to it.<\/p>\n
Every person lives between two demands: the needs of his family and the demands of his true life purpose. If he chooses only one and ignores the other, imbalance results. Practical wisdom lies in allocating time consciously\u2014some for earning, some for serving a higher cause.<\/p>\n
This balanced approach,\u202fone man, two missions, allows a person to live responsibly, grow spiritually, and succeed in the true sense: with a peaceful conscience and a meaningful life.<\/p>\n
\nThe Prophet Muhammad stated that it is better for a person to earn with his own hands than to depend on others (Bukhari).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/i><\/p>\n\nIf you want to take, you should try to give. It is only in giving to others that we can have our share too.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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PERSONAL EXPERIENCES<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/span><\/div>\nIn <\/span>Srinagar, many of my companions have initiated a series of activities dedicated to social welfare and public service. One such endeavour is the establishment of a blood bank, an initiative of profound humanitarian value, which I have been invited to inaugurate. I pray to God to grant success to these philanthropic ventures, to strengthen all those who are engaged in them, and to bless their noble efforts with sincerity, continuity, and lasting benefit for humanity.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhile I was preparing to leave for Srinagar, I happened to meet a gentleman who enquired about the purpose of my journey. I informed him that a blood donation camp was being organized and that I had been requested to inaugurate it. This gentleman, however, held rather conservative views. He asked me whether it was lawful in Islam to give one\u2019s own blood to another person. I chose not to respond to him directly at that moment, yet the question lingered in my mind long afterwards. I found myself deeply astonished at the degeneration of the present Muslim mindset. Many today appear preoccupied with questioning the permissibility or impermissibility of matters that were, in reality, settled centuries ago. Instead of addressing the real challenges facing humanity, they remain entangled in doubts that arise from a misunderstanding of religion itself. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIt must be clearly borne in mind that Islam took a revolutionary step in the seventh century AD. During the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, an event of extraordinary intellectual and civilizational significance took place\u2014an event that changed the very course of human history. The question posed by that gentleman, and many similar doubts that trouble people today, are directly related to this incident from the life of the Prophet. Because we are largely unaware of its true meaning and implications, we find ourselves burdened with unnecessary confusion and hesitation in matters of social good. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThis incident occurred after the Prophet\u2019s migration from Makkah to Madinah. One day, while he was passing through the outskirts of the city, the Prophet noticed a group of men engaged in an activity atop the branches of date palm trees. They appeared deeply absorbed in their work. Makkah, the Prophet\u2019s hometown, was a mountainous region, largely unsuitable for agriculture, and thus unfamiliar with such practices. Madinah, by contrast, was agriculturally fertile, and dates formed a central component of the local diet. Observing the people of Madinah engaged in what seemed to be a technical process, the Prophet enquired, \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d They replied, \u201cWe are transferring pollen from the male part to the female part of the tree.\u201d This practice is known in Arabic as\u202fta\u2019bir al-nakhl, and in modern terminology as pollination. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIt is a well-established fact that just as animals reproduce through biological processes, plants too have mechanisms for generating new life. One such mechanism is pollination, in which the male and female components of a plant interact. Pollination refers to the transfer of pollen grains from the anther\u2014the male part of the flower\u2014to the stigma, the female part. This process leads to fertilization and ultimately results in the formation of fruit. In nature, pollination is often carried out by insects, birds, and the wind. However, human beings can also assist this process through manual pollination. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the Prophet observed the people of Madinah performing this agricultural practice, he remarked, \u201cIf you did not do this, it might make no difference.\u201d Taking this statement to be a directive, the local farmers abandoned the practice. As a result, the yield of dates declined drastically in the following season. When the Prophet later passed by them again and enquired about the reduced harvest, they explained that pollination was a practice they had followed for generations, and that abandoning it had harmed their produce. Upon hearing this, the Prophet permitted them to resume their work and stated a principle of timeless importance: \u201cYou have better knowledge of your worldly affairs.\u201d (Sahih Muslim) <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThis statement was neither an admission of ignorance nor merely an expression of humility. Rather, it was the proclamation of a profound and far-reaching truth. Through this single sentence, the Prophet established a clear distinction between matters of revelation and matters of empirical knowledge. He affirmed that religious belief should not interfere with scientific investigation and worldly expertise. For thousands of years prior to this, religion and science had remained entangled. As a result, any scientific discovery that appeared to contradict prevailing religious interpretations was often met with hostility and suppression. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHistory bears tragic witness to this confusion. In ancient Greece, the philosopher Socrates was condemned to death by the religious and political establishment for ideas deemed threatening to accepted beliefs. Four centuries before Christ, Socrates was one of the greatest intellectual figures of his time, yet he was forced to drink poison on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth. From Socrates to later figures such as Bruno and Galileo, countless scholars pursued research in astronomy, botany, mathematics, and other disciplines, only to face persecution because their findings challenged entrenched dogma. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIt is narrated that when the Romans conquered Greece, a renowned scientist and mathematician was found deeply engrossed in solving a mathematical problem. A Roman soldier, fearing that the scholar might arrive at conclusions contrary to Roman religious beliefs, killed him on the spot without trial. Such incidents illustrate how independent thinking\u2014so essential for intellectual and scientific progress\u2014was systematically repressed. In an atmosphere devoid of freedom, the sciences could not flourish. <\/span><\/p>\nEven when remarkable discoveries were made, they often failed to gain recognition due to religious rigidity. The concept of zero, for instance, was developed in India as early as the fifth century AD. This numeral system, which revolutionized mathematics by allowing numbers such as 10, 100, and 1000, remained confined until it reached the Abbasid world in the eighth century AD. Through translation, refinement, and further development, Muslim scholars transmitted this knowledge to Europe, paving the way for the modern scientific age. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFor the first time in human history, the Prophet Muhammad articulated a principle that liberated scientific inquiry from theological constraint. His declaration\u2014\u201cYou have better knowledge of your worldly affairs\u201d\u2014laid the foundation for intellectual freedom. Islam thus recognized two distinct domains: the domain of revelation and the domain of human investigation. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMessengers of God are sent to guide humanity concerning realities beyond sensory perception\u2014realities of the unseen world and the life to come. They inform us about the Hereafter, accountability, and moral purpose, matters that cannot be accessed through experimentation or observation. The Quran repeatedly emphasises this unseen dimension (al-ghayb) as the proper subject of divine guidance (2:3). At the same time, it encourages reflection, observation, and the use of reason in worldly matters: \u201cAsk the people of knowledge if you do not know\u201d (16:43), and \u201cHe has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.\u201d (45:13) <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFields that can be explored through observation, experimentation, and research have been deliberately left to human beings. This is why Islam places such great emphasis on knowledge and learning, beginning with the very first revelation: \u201cRead in the name of your Lord who created.\u201d (96:1) Similarly, the preservation of human life is declared a supreme value: \u201cWhoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of mankind.\u201d (5:32) From this perspective, acts such as blood donation are not merely permissible; they are expressions of moral responsibility and compassion. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe tragedy of earlier civilizations lay in their inability to separate religion from science. Galileo\u2019s theory that the earth revolved around the sun was rejected not because it lacked evidence, but because it appeared to threaten a theological assumption prevalent in medieval Christianity. To preserve the symbolic centrality of the earth as the birthplace of Jesus, scientific truth was denied, and Galileo was persecuted. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIslam, through the Prophet\u2019s clear guidance, closed the door to such confusion. It freed religion from scientific speculation and science from theological interference. If Muslims today were to rediscover this prophetic principle, many of their doubts would dissolve, and they would once again become active contributors to human welfare. Initiatives such as blood donation, medical research, and social service would then be seen not as matters of suspicion, but as fulfilments of faith in action\u2014faith that harmonizes belief with reason and worship with service to humanity. <\/span><\/p>\n\nThe Prophet established a clear distinction between matters of revelation and matters of empirical knowledge. He affirmed that religious belief should not interfere with scientific investigation and worldly expertise.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nIslam freed religion from scientific speculation and science from theological interference. If Muslims today were to rediscover this prophetic principle, many of their doubts would dissolve, and they would once again become active contributors to human welfare.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”THE PATH TO PARADISE ” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n
JOURNEY TOWARDS GOD-REALIZATION<\/strong><\/p>\nSpiritual Refinement <\/i><\/p>\n
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Pa<\/span>radise is not merely a destination reached after death; it is first a reality that begins to take shape within the human soul. Heavenly conduct produces inner consequences. It brings a kind of spiritual verdure to the heart, a freshness that signals life and growth within. A person may appear active and busy, yet if his actions do not benefit him spiritually, they remain empty and worthless. True virtuous action is that which awakens divine consciousness, makes the heart beat in harmony with higher realities, and opens a window onto the unseen world. When action fails to stir the soul, it leaves no lasting imprint. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhat truly matters in the life to come is not how much one does, but what one becomes through what one does. A person may possess a long list of achievements and be constantly engaged in activity, yet remain inwardly untouched. Such action is like wind that carries no oxygen, water that does not quench thirst, food that does not nourish, or a sun that gives no light. If things are stripped of their essential properties, their existence serves no purpose. In the same way, deeds devoid of inner transformation are spiritually barren. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nA person unfit for Paradise speaks words that do not echo within his own being. He acts, but his actions fail to reach his inner self. There is a disconnect between his outward life and his inward reality. In contrast, the actions of a spiritual person are spiritual experiences. His deeds nourish his soul, and his external conduct deeply affects his inner world. Each act refines him, softens him, and draws him closer to God. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThose who taste heavenly conduct in this world will taste the delights of Paradise in the next. Paradise is meant for those who rely more on God\u2019s unseen support than on the visible props of this world; who love and fear God above all else; who obey the Prophet in all circumstances; and for whom eternity is more significant than temporary worldly gain. They value truth over pride, even when accepting the truth wounds their ego. They find greater satisfaction in tears shed for God\u2019s sake than in heedless laughter. Forgiveness gives them more joy than revenge, fairness pleases them more than the usurpation of rights, and humility is dearer to them than self-assertion. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSuch people strive to restrain negative emotions before they turn into action. They suppress envy and contempt when these feelings arise, preferring inner discipline over emotional release. They do not rush to form bad opinions about others, but choose to think well of people. Their concern is not self-justification, but self-purification. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nGod requires people of excellence to inhabit Paradise. To guide human beings toward this excellence, He has placed signs throughout the universe. The cosmos itself serves as a moral classroom. Iron teaches firmness and resolve. Water flowing from hard rocks exemplifies gentleness and compassion. The unchanging laws of nature show the importance of keeping one\u2019s promises. The fragrance, beauty, and harmony of the material world inspire fairness and balance in human dealings. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nBillions of stars move in precise orbits without colliding; man, too, is required to function within his own limits, avoiding unnecessary conflict. Trees absorb harmful carbon dioxide and return life-giving oxygen; in the same way, human beings are expected to return good for evil. Mountains and upright forms cast their shadows on the ground as if in prostration, reminding man that humility is the posture befitting greatness. Pride and domination have no place in the character of one who seeks God\u2019s pleasure. <\/span><\/p>\nWhoever wishes to partake in God\u2019s eternal blessings must learn to live in harmony with the divine order. He should be pleased only with what pleases God and obey Him as the cosmos obeys Him. Paradise is prepared for those whose inner world already reflects its light. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”AT THE THRESHOLD OF ETERNITY ” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n
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LIVING TODAY WITH THE GRAVE IN VIEW<\/p>\n
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E<\/span>veryone is on a journey, and every journey ends in death. There is no exception to this rule. Death is the great divider: for some it opens the door to eternal bliss, while for others it becomes the gateway to eternal regret. Blessed indeed are those who, at the moment of death, find themselves standing at the threshold of Paradise. For them, there will be eternal peace, free from fear and sorrow. But how immeasurable is the misfortune of those whom death delivers to the edge of Hell, where they will be confined forever in a realm of fire, regret, and despair. <\/span><\/p>\nThose who acknowledge the greatness of God, bow before Him in humility, remain faithful to truth, and treat others with justice and kindness are the ones destined for Paradise. Their lives are shaped by moral awareness, and their actions are guided by responsibility toward both God and fellow human beings. In contrast, those who deny God\u2019s greatness, who deal unjustly with others, who are cruel, arrogant, and intoxicated by pride, preparing for sorrow, regret, and punishment through their conduct. <\/span><\/p>\nIn reality, Heaven is meant for those who cultivate a heavenly character while living in this world. The Hereafter merely reveals what a person has already become inwardly. Death does not change one\u2019s reality; it only unveils it. <\/span><\/p>\nMan spends his life chasing wealth, honour, power, and progeny. He exhausts his energies to secure these things, believing that they will bring fulfilment. Yet death exposes the great illusion of worldly desire. This transient world cannot satisfy the deepest longings of the human soul. What man seeks endlessly here is something that belongs to another world altogether. <\/span><\/p>\nOne needs only to reflect: what is the meaning of acquiring something that must be left behind within days or years? If a person were content with his rightful share in this world, much of the exploitation, greed, and plunder that afflict human society would disappear. There is, in truth, little difference between gaining something and not gaining it at all, when the final outcome is loss. What value does an acquisition hold if it is destined to slip away almost immediately? Man struggles tirelessly to obtain what he desires, only to lose it the next moment. Life inevitably ends in death, and death strips man of everything he once clung to. <\/span><\/p>\nMan lives absorbed in the present and forgets the future that awaits him. He builds his own house by destroying the houses of others, even though he knows that tomorrow he will enter the grave with empty hands. He drags others into human courts, fabricating false cases and arguments, forgetting that angels are recording his deeds and that he will soon stand before the divine court. He looks down upon others, imagining himself secure in his wealth, status, and power, unaware that all this worldly greatness is fragile and fleeting. <\/span><\/p>\nSoon, the structures of pride will collapse, and no trace of worldly superiority will remain. On that Day, neither wealth nor power will offer protection. Only truthfulness, humility, justice, and God-consciousness will carry weight. Death reminds man that life is not meant for self-glorification, but for moral preparation. Wise is the one who remembers the grave while walking on the earth, and fortunate is the one who lives in such a way that death becomes not a terror, but a passage into eternal peace. <\/span><\/p>\n\nOne needs only to reflect: what is the meaning of acquiring something that must be left behind within days or years? If a person were content with his rightful share in this world, much of the exploitation, greed, and plunder that afflict human society would disappear.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/i><\/p>\n\nPeople live in fear of life, though it is death they ought to be mindful of.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A SACRED RESPONSIBILITY<\/p>\n
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Hu<\/span>man life generally passes through three stages: childhood, youth, and old age. Childhood is a period of dependence, when a person lacks the ability to plan his life. Often, parents too are unable to nurture their children with foresight and balance. Sometimes, excessive pampering weakens the very purpose for which the Creator has brought human beings into existence: that they should become responsible and meaningful contributors to life. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nYouth is the most decisive stage. It is the time when physical energy, mental capacity, and opportunities come together. Yet, this is also the stage most frequently wasted. Without guidance and self-discipline, a person allows distractions to consume his time. Opportunities knock quietly, but an unplanned life fails to recognize them. Thus, many people move forward without direction, only to realize later that their most valuable years have slipped away. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nOld age is the stage of reflection. It is here that one assesses what was gained and what was lost. Regret often replaces hope, not because opportunities were absent, but because they were neglected. The\u202fQuran\u202fdraws attention to this loss when it speaks of those who will say, \u201cIf only we had listened or used our reason.\u201d (67:10) This statement reflects not ignorance, but wasted potential. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLife is not self-created. It is a trust given by the Lord of the universe. Since a human being cannot create life, he has no moral right to waste it. The Prophet Muhammad said that on the Day of Judgement, a person will be asked about his life and how he spent it (Tirmidhi). This questioning shows that life is meant for conscious use, not careless passing. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe wise person, therefore, treats life as a divine opportunity. He plans, reflects, and disciplines himself. He protects his time as he would protect a valuable possession. To waste life is to betray a trust; to use it well is an act of gratitude to God. Such gratitude transforms existence into purposeful living and prepares the soul for eternity.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”LIFE IS A TEST ” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n
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TRIALS AND RESPONSE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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Wh<\/span>en a person opens an account on the internet, he is often asked to pass a CAPTCHA test. This simple challenge exists to confirm that the user is a real human being and not an automated programme. Only after responding correctly is access granted. Without passing this test, entry remains blocked, regardless of the user\u2019s intentions. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThis familiar experience offers a powerful key to understanding human life. Life, too, operates on the principle of challenge and response. The difficulties, pressures, and unexpected hardships that confront a person are not meaningless disturbances. They are tests designed to reveal the quality of one\u2019s inner response. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe\u202fQuran\u202freminds us that God has created life and death to test who among human beings is best in conduct. (67: 2) This verse explains that trials are not signs of rejection but opportunities for moral growth. Every challenge asks a silent question: how will you respond? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nA superficial person reacts with complaint, anger, or despair. A serious person pauses, reflects, and learns. He recognizes that patience is not passive endurance but conscious self-control. The Prophet Muhammad said that no fatigue, illness, anxiety, or grief afflicts a believer except that God uses it to remove his shortcomings (Bukhari; Muslim). Thus hardship becomes a means of inner purification. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLife\u2019s tests are meant to awaken dormant human qualities. Through hardship, a person develops patience, humility, resilience, and wisdom. Intellectual growth is born when one rethinks assumptions and replans life with clarity. Spiritual growth occurs when adversity deepens awareness of God rather than distancing the heart from Him. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nJust as a CAPTCHA must be completed to proceed, life\u2019s challenges must be answered positively to move forward. One who fails the test remains stuck, while one who responds with reflection advances. The successful person does not ask why difficulties come; he asks what they demand from him. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn this way, every trial becomes a doorway. When met with patience, reflection, and trust in God, the journey toward God-realization continues uninterrupted, transforming life into a meaningful and purposeful passage toward eternity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\nLife\u2019s tests are meant to awaken dormant human qualities. Through hardship, a person develops patience, humility, resilience, and wisdom.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/i><\/p>\n\nDeath\u00a0 <\/span>may spare man from facing human judges, but it will immediately set him before his Maker, the greatest Divine Judge, which will be a much more terrifying experience.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n