RESPONSIBILITY IN ISLAM

Shaykh Abdur-Rahmaan As-Sudays

Be conscious of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) as regards yourselves and in your responsibilities; for the fear of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) is the glory and contentedness as well as appropriateness.

Elements of revival and glory building for nations and societies lie in the attention they give to the most important matter that is regarded as the foundation of civilization and social reform. Whoever ponders over the contemporary situation of the Ummah will be terrified by the life which most people of the world of today live of anarchy, carelessness, deceptions and a lot of contradictions in spite of availability of potentialities that the modern technology provides. The true Muslim, however, always looks for the way to reform in order to recover the past glory of the Ummah after it has been weakened by crises and confronted by challenges. This all important matter is responsibility.

Every moment of the Muslims life is full of responsibility be it on the basis of individuals, societies and organisations. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam) said, “Everyone of you is a shepherd and everyone of you shall be held responsible for his flock. The leader is a shepherd and he shall be held responsible for his flock. Man is a shepherd over his family and shall be held responsible for his flock. The woman is a shepherd over the house of her husband and shall be held responsible for that; the servant is shepherd over the property of his master and shall be held responsible for that. So, everyone of you is a shepherd and everyone of you shall be held responsible for his flock.”

Responsibility in Islam means that the Muslim is held accountable for all that the Islamic Law makes binding on him in any form either individually or collectively.

As for personal responsibility, that is what is binding on every person pertaining to his own self, his body, soul, intellect, knowledge, acts of worship, interactions, wealth, etc. Nobody shares with him this responsibility. If he does it, he gets rewarded and if not, he gets punished.

The Prophet (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam) said, “The feet of man shall not move on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked of his life as to how he spent it, of his knowledge as to how he used it, of his wealth as to where he got it and where he spent it and as to his body as to how he used it.” (At-Tirmizi)

Man is also held responsible for all that he utters and all that he harbours in his heart. Allah says:

“Verily, the hearing and the sight and the heart, of each of those one shall be questioned (by Allah)” (Al-Israa 17:36)

As for collective responsibility, it firstly includes the highest authority that is vested with the power of implementing the law of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) on the earth and ensuring justice among people with Allah-consciousness in every matter. It also includes protection of the wealth and public properties. Positions of responsibility are not therefore meant for personal benefit. The positions should be given only to the competent, and the traitors among the members of the society should be stopped from their vicious deeds and trust should be well established.

It is in the context of collective responsibility that the role of home and family comes up. Children should be given the correct Islamic education. Educational institutions also have a role to play in giving good education to the growing generation. The mass media also have a role in refining the conduct and teaching good morals to the youth.

The responsibility of educating the youth is great. Muslims, individually and collectively should pay utmost attention with all that they possess, to this responsibility. Our children are parts of us so we must endeavour to educate them and make sure that those who are entrusted with their education are the competent ones so that the required goals will be achieved and this should be done under our pure Islamic identity in the light of the Quraan and Sunnah.

The home is the major point and hence has the greatest role to play in building individuals. On the home rests the responsibility of giving children the required personality and constructing their religious, intellectual, spiritual, and moral foundations. So nurture your children on the belief in Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and let them know the real meanings of the Kalimah, so that their faith can be built on certainty and deep understanding of the reality of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Lordship and His sole rights to be worshipped. Many families, however, do not care about giving their children sound Islamic beliefs claiming that, that is naturally known and therefore, does not need any additional attention. This claim is a result of lack of understanding and its consequence i.e. the weakening of the fundamentals of sound Islamic belief in the hearts of many children. The house is not built but upon pillars and pillar cannot be found if stakes are not firmly rooted. The home should try to correct its children’s behaviour and engross in their hearts the noble Islamic teachings. Let the parents be good examples for their children so that there may not be any contradiction in what they teach the children and what they themselves do.

It is highly important that parents should build their children’s personality on the sound foundations of Islamic belief. They should impress in their hearts the love for their religious principles and the heritage of their nation amid eemaan, guidance, righteousness and virtues; so that they can have the strength to face the always changing challenges and face ideological trends.

Fear Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) as regards your children. Be good models for them and never allow your maids and house-servants to mix with your children; what to talk of helping in the education of your children for that is very dangerous. Keep your children away from bad companies and supervise them in all that they do with love and affection. Beware, lest evil and destructive thoughts and behaviours should enter your homes and destroy all good things that you have laboured for.

Family responsibility also includes selecting good spouse on the foundation of religion, honesty and good conduct.

The Prophet (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam) said: “When he, whom you are pleased with his religiosity comes to you, (asking for the hand of your daughter in marriage) marry him. If you do not, there will be Fitnah on the land and a great corruption.” (Tirmizi)

It is by this good selection that righteous generation will arise; those who will actualise sincere devotion to Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa).

Family responsibility also required good relations between spouses, carrying our one’s duties and cooperation in nurturing children. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:

“O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire whose fuel is men and stone.” (At-Tahreem 66:6)

How can a father enjoy life when he hears this severe threat?

Let those who are guardians over women also fear Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). Let them give their women good Islamic education, and make them stay at home and use Hijaab so that they may not be tempted and subsequently destroy what had been built. It is actually a great act of treachery to be negligent in matters of woman as regards her Hijaab, chastity, her mingling with men and running after fashions without supervision. Among the aspects of family responsibility also is to facilitate marriage for youths and lack of demanding expensive dower. Muslims should also shun expensive marriage parties and unhealthy things that usually occur in wedding parties, for all this is a manifestation of treachery.

There is a major responsibility that falls on the Muslim society. That is establishing and maintaining good relationship between individuals through mutual love, affection, brotherhood and mutual understanding, based on eemaan and not on worldly interests. Islam gives great attention to strong building of the society and its fortification against destructive ideologies and thoughts. Let the Muslims then admonish one another in the worship of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) alone, on the propagation of Islam, enjoining all that is good, forbidding all that is evil and stopping the reckless people from committing further sins. For keeping silent while sins are being committed is greater than the sin. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:

“You (true Muslims) are the best of peoples ever raised for mankind; you enjoin all that is good, forbid all that is evil and you believe in Allah.” (Aale ‘Imraan 3:110)

All these are what Muslims should know to realize the reality of Islam and its value and in order to make them eligible to lead, for they are the best community ever raised up for mankind: 

“that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion) and His Messenger in the unseen. Verily Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty” (Al-Hadeed 57:25)

As for the mass media, it shoulders one of the greatest responsibilities. So, let the educators make good use of it to serve Islam. It is however saddening that this important tool is used improperly in a way that expose the growing generation to danger. The mass media should work toward refining the conduct of the youths and impress in them values that serves the goals of Islam and the Muslim society. Let those who control the mass media fear Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and let them remember that each and every one of them is a shepherd and he shall be held accountable for his flock. Let them present to people all that encourages good and virtues and let them rescue the Muslim youth from ideological disturbances and immorality that reflect on their day to day life.

The mass media is the mirror of the society. The journalists should therefore do their work with responsibility, honesty, objectivity and transparency. Know that, it is by Islamic principles and belief that the Muslim mass media is distinguished from others. All calamities and crimes that are widespread all over the world are but consequences of men’s negligence in their responsibilities.

Among the major responsibilities of the Ummah is to defend Islam and face the vicious war that is being waged against this religion, the Muslims and their holy places. Let us face this war resolutely and at the same time stick to our civilization and values. Let us confront the Zionists who are usurping our holy places in Palestine with the help of worldly super powers, as well as those who persecute Muslims in Kashmir and Chechnya. Every one of us mans a strategic place for Islam, so let him not allow Islam to be attacked through his place. Let Muslims help the cause of Islam with all potentialities that they possess. Let all media channels, homes, schools, Masjids and peoples join hands in carrying out these responsibilities. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:

“O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger nor betray knowing the things entrusted to you.” (Al-Anfaal 8:27)

The responsibility of all in these days of summer vacation rests on how to spend the free time in what is beneficial for the youth and their society.

There are many ways to spend free time especially for young boys and girls. Let us take to the good and lawful activities and let us beware of wasting time in forbidden and ambiguous things. The best things which one can spend one’s time is reading the Quraan, learning its meanings, memorizing it and putting it into practice. Likewise reading Islamic books, participating in useful courses, da‘awah as well as other activities that bring benefit.

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