Neither throne nor crown

Honour is not what people think of you because people can praise you for something that is not right at all. For example, you may get the applause of the public because you know how to sing and dance. Or you may be qualified as a beauty queen or something similar to that in a beauty contest. But as a Muslim, we have always known that these things are not right. An applause for something that is not right cannot be something honourable. It is like getting the honorific title of "greatest thief" due to surpassing one's fellows in the field. One may consider it as praise but in reality it is a very detestable offense. Often, one may hear a youngster praising himself excessively for having had many girlfriends in his life while his friends did not experience the same. It is a stage where one can say that the heart is dead and must be revived with the Nur of Imaan. It is a truly catastrophic situation when a vice becomes a virtue and vice versa. This is the same situation we find ourselves living in today. People see themselves beautiful in making a lot of grimaces in the hair, on the face and on the whole body. There is no consideration for the Deen. Influenced by others, our mind tells us that we should neglect Deen somewhere to look nicer. And yet real beauty lies solely in the manner advocated and approved by the Deen. Great ideas and themes are being elaborated and debated in conferences, meetings and forums where people are giving great speeches and where resolutions are being made. But this is like not seeing the elephant in front of us and seeing the ant on the mountain!

People have developed theories and ideas but they have failed to understand that they have a Rabb and that they must know how to live according to what He wants. They failed to understand that the perfect model is our Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). The infallible way and the certain principle is the Sunnah of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). If true honour, dignity and prestige exist anywhere, then they are found only in the Sunnah of our Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). Once crowned, you will never be dethroned because your dignity does not depend on the weak shoulders of the public who constantly change colour and tendency. It is a gift from Allah Ta'ala. Who can extinguish a lamp that was lit by Allah Ta'ala!

Allah Ta'ala gives Izzah (honour). He gives Izzah to those who are faithful to him. Fidelity to Allah Ta'ala is in living one’s life according to His commandments. How can a person claim to be faithful to Allah Ta'ala and his Rasul (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) when everything indicates otherwise! How can one claim to love someone when one has another loved one?

How can one be sincere to Allah Ta'ala when one has another in one's heart? We will not be able to prove our sincerity, our love and our fidelity to Allah Ta'ala until we do not become for Him with our physical body and heart. And this is achievable in only one way which is by following His commandments and following the noble principle and the Sunnah of our Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). True dignity lies in it and that is how a person becomes truly worthy and honourable. It is a prestige that needs neither throne nor crown.

[English version of "Ni trône ni couronne" – Al Jamiat – Vol.7 No.6]