The opposite direction

You occupy quite an important post. There are many people working under you. You may take actions and sanctions against those who do not follow your guidelines. That is why the people who work under you are afraid of you and they execute your orders. They do not want to have any problems with you. Sometimes you can also explode with anger if they make blunders. Despite all what you can do, did you ever realise that your capacity is limited? There is much more that you will not be able to do despite your willingness to do it. Thus, you are incapable at various levels and your capacity is very restricted and limited. Despite all this, your employees are afraid of you. And that is what happens in all sectors and departments.

Have you ever contemplated that just as you are a boss for your employees, likewise you also have a boss who is not only your boss, but the boss of all ministers, prime ministers, presidents, kings, queens and the boss of all those who exist? He is the true boss and that’s Allah Ta'ala. If we believe that we have the right to be angry and punish our employees if they do not follow our instructions, then Allah Ta'ala also is angry when we do not obey Him and He can punish us. And He has more right than we have over our employees because He is our Creator and He is the one who provides us with all our needs. We owe Him gratitude for all that which we are and for what we have. We should not forget that Allah Ta'ala has capacity over all things. Thus, He can inflict whatever penalty He wants and when He wants. There is nothing which can stop Him or prevent Him. If we do not obey Him, then how can we expect that our wives and children obey us? How can we expect everything to go smoothly?  How can we expect that all works be in order? According to a Hadith, it is Allah Ta'ala Himself who organises the work of a person who lives for the Aakhirah. And living for Aakhirah is living in the obedience of Allah Ta'ala. So the solution lies in only one thing: it is living in the obedience of Allah Ta'ala.

To inculcate the will to live in the obedience of Allah Ta'ala, it suffices to bear in mind that the aim which one wants to achieve by transgressing the commands of Allah Ta'ala, can be attained more easily and more effectively by following the commands of Allah Ta'ala. In fact whatever one receives by transgressing the commands of Allah Ta'ala is devoid of blessings and Barakah. If one contracted an interest transaction to make an air-conditioned room, it does not mean that one has received comfort and peace. Tranquillity is something else which is not found anywhere. It is not found in the material effects/worldly things. It is something that Allah Ta'ala has kept in His obedience. In seeking it by transgressing the command of Allah Ta'ala, we are taking the opposite direction to our destination.

[English version of "Direction opposée" – Al Jamiat – Vol.7 No.8]