Faqeer

faqeerThere are two types of existence. The first one is one whose existence is eternal. There is neither a beginning nor an end. He exists by Himself. Nothing brought Him into existence. This is Allah Ta'ala.

The second type of existence is everything else besides Allah that came into existence through Allah Ta'ala.

Every atom of the universe depends totally on Allah Ta'ala to exist. There is nothing that does not depend on Allah Ta'ala at any time. Nothing can be constituted, perish or be reconstituted by itself. At each level and stage of its transformation, its development depends entirely on Allah Ta'ala. Nothing is independent of the Divine will.

A true Faqeer is not what we term as a poor person. Instead, he is someone who feels deep within himself, that he is in need of Allah Ta'ala in every moment; be it in the current state he is in and in the future state that he wants to be in. In this aspect, qualifying as a Faqeer is in fact a praiseworthy and an appreciable quality of a servant. It is neither a disgrace nor something blameworthy. It is a quality and a state of mind that a servant must inculcate and develop in order to be a good Muslim.

We will come to appreciate a thing even though it may cause us much pain or disgust as we are in need of it and we have confidence that our well-being depends on it.Take for example, an injection that causes us to suffer a lot or a very bitter medicine that is very difficult to swallow. We have used the example of a painful and a disgusting item to illustrate what role do need and necessity play in our life and in our behaviour. The way we behave towards each other depends on how important that person is in rendering our lives pleasant. We do not care about someone who does not play any role in our well-being. On the other hand, we will search for a thousand and one ways to reconcile with the person whom we had a problem with earlier, if we consider him indispensable or beneficial for us in the future. Normally, this scenario can be seen in the world of politics. It turns the enemy into a friend, and the friend into an enemy.

If all this is true, then why would Allah Ta'ala not be our main goal when nothing moves without His Command? All of the reasons that make us love someone, run behind someone, beg from someone, become humble towards someone, risk our lives for someone, and accept all kinds of difficulties for someone should all the more be found for Allah Ta'ala. Health, honour, dignity, wealth and well-being in general, without exception, are in the hands of Allah Ta'ala. Whatever is required is in the hands of Allah Ta'ala. It is Allah Ta'ala alone who has the capacity to grant us our needs and satisfy our needs. The greatest king in the world also needs Allah Ta'ala regardless of his circumstances. In this aspect, no one is self-sufficient. We are in need of Allah even for the most trivial of things. That is why everything that a person thinks he can do for someone whom he feels can help him, should be done more for Allah Ta'ala.

A person will never displease someone who renders him many services. In the same way, a person should not displease Allah Ta'ala when he knows that he owes Allah Ta'ala for everything. Not to displease Allah Ta'ala means not to break any command of Allah Ta'ala. This depends on how dependent on Allah Ta’ala he feels, because the more a person feels dependent on Allah Ta'ala, the closer he becomes to Allah Ta'ala. And the closer he is, the more he will respect the commands of Allah Ta'ala.

[English version of “Faqeer” - Al Jamiat Vol.8 No.4]