APM: The Fiefdom of I, Serving Good, and Patron Satans

Allah

THE FIEFDOM OF I

As Muslims, when we follow Allah’s dictates and not our whims, our lives open up to unimaginable opportunities and a clarity hitherto unseen.

So, why do we resist surrendering to Allah? Why do we hold on to the pain of our inferior self-willed existence? Do we think that we can design our existence better than Allah can, or that popular culture offers us better guidance than the Quran?

We may think that we are in control. Even in our self-controlling delusion, Allah still presides over us. He is al-Malikul Mulk—The Lord of the Kingdom, the Controller of all affairs, including ours: ‘Say, ‘God, holder of all control, You give power to whomever You will and remove it from whomever You will; You elevate whomever You will and humble whomever You will. All that is good lies in Your hand: You have power over everything. ‘ [3:26].

We can trade a life of misery and uncertainty for one rooted in Divine trust and alignment. One in awe of the Creator, and in which our fear of the creation fades. Where our safety and serenity rest in God’s mercy, beneficence and care.

Let’s exit the fiefdom of I and enter the Kingdom of God, where we can practice humility in the protection of God’s unbounded grace. It is a Kingdom where al-Karim, the Most Generous, awards our best works according to our efforts, not our merits. (16:96-97)

FORMULA: Righteous works + faith (sincere conviction) = a life of goodness and purity crafted by Allah from only our best works.

The Prophet (s)

SERVING GOOD

Allah alone is One. Everything else needs one another.

The Prophet (s) lived this truth in the most complete and integrated manner.

The Prophet’s ummati philosophy, a creed in service of others, first requires a perennial connection with God before symbiotic coexistence can occur.

So, what does ummati (my people) mean?

Here are ten ummati deeds to get you started:

1. To consider all of God’s creation, beginning with humanity.
2. To ensure that my thoughts and actions benefit others.
3. To believe that the lives of others have equal value to mine.
4. To understand that others’ feelings matter.
5. To strive to improve the well-being of others.
6. To serve people who can’t benefit me in the least.
7. To only speak well of others or to remain silent.
8. To uplift people’s hearts.
9. To communicate the truth even if it’s painful, dangerous, or unpopular.
10. For leaders to adopt a servant leadership style.

By no means is this an exhaustive list. So, continue with point 11, and make this ummati checklist your own.

Patron Satans

Those who arrogate unto themselves, unwittingly offer patronage to Satan, the father of arrogance.

But those who humble themselves before God and humanity give homage to the highest knowledge.

“From thinking I was something, I became nothing. From becoming nothing, I gained everything.” Anonymous

Until next week, InshaAllah

Zaahied Sallie

Author of The Beloved Prophet – An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme

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