ISLAM
That Has No Alternative

Some people think that to live an Islamic life is “restrictive”. Islam however, was revealed as the best way of living that provides balance.

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) created all the humans with what is called “Fitrah” (a natural state). “Fitrah” can be explained as, the inborn or innate nature of mankind to recognise the Truth about the Creator, Allah, (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa); that He is the only one who truly and sincerely deserves to be worshipped.

Islam recognises that within this “Fitrah” there are motivations that influence a man’s role on earth. It is just like a desire for good food and drink or to have security, for example, through a home or a desire for love and belongingness, for example through the marriage. Without some form of control and limit, all of these legitimate motives could prove very dangerous.

So what constitutes the perfect control for the “Fitrah”? It must be a method that provides an organised yet practical demonstration of how to balance all these natural human desires. It cannot be something that goes against the “Fitrah”, by placing on it extra burdens. Likewise, it cannot be something that allows the human desires to run wild without any form of control.

Islam presents the teachings for the perfect control of the “Fitrah”. It provides a divine method that elevates human beings above animals and the rest of creation.

Limited Wisdom
Humans lack perfect knowledge as well as perfect wisdom. No matter how hard we try, we will never attain the perfect way of life by our own thinking and interpretation. This is the reason why Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), being the Most Wise, sent us the Holy scripture, the Quraan and the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam), to show us the best way of life that provides the only practical and organised approach for this world as a transit place to Heavens.

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), being Perfect in His Wisdom and Knowledge, perfected a complete way of life for us. He has set His limitations and rules, all of which are beneficial to mankind, and therefore, do not need changing:

“These are the limits (set) by Allah, so do not go near (the breaking line).” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:1871)

“These are the limits set by Allaah, so do not transgress them………...” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:229)

This is why Islam does not allow celibacy, because it is against the “Fitrah”. Celibacy goes beyond the limits required by humans, and is something that cannot be fulfilled because humans are designed to procreate. As humans we are not expected to fast every single day for the rest of our lives (for most 30 days of the year provides an up-hill struggle). It is also from ignorance to say that ‘I shall never sleep during the night, but rather I shall offer Salaah!’ This is not to say that offering Salaah at night is not important, but if you don’t get enough sleep how are you going to fulfil your other obligations, e.g. going to work in order to provide for your family. The times of Salaah at night have been explained by the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) as being in the last 3rd of the night before the Fajr Salaah.

Humans have not been created by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) to live life in such a manner. There is a balance which must be observed.

The following incident describes the Islamic stance towards such behaviour, Hadhrat Anas reported that some of the Sahabah (Companions) of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) once asked his (the Prophet’s) wives about the acts that he performed in private. Someone among them said: “I will not marry women”; another said: “I will not eat meat”; and someone else said: “I will not lie down in bed”. (On hearing this): The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) praised Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), and glorified Him and said: “What has happened to these people that they say so and so, whereas I offer Salaah and I sleep too. I observe Saum and I break my fast; I marry women also. And he who turns away from my Sunnah (i.e., my example or lifestyle), he has no relation with me” (Saheeh Muslim Vol. 2. p703. no. 32361).

Here, it must be explained that these were the people who were complying the commandments of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) in every respect and they were planning to go beyond the limits. Today, some people quote this Hadeeth when they leave the obligatory Salaah and pass their day and night in collecting the worldly materials and gains. They present this Hadeeth as a justification for their evil deeds.

Islam, on the other hand, does not allow the person to surrender themselves to lust and desire, what we see as an integral part of so-called modern civilisation i.e. western civilization. Islam recognises the love a man has for women, children, gold, silver, and other possessions. But it provides a limit for the amount of this worldly pleasure which we require, and reminds us of the life in the hereafter.

“Beautified for men is the love of things they desire: Women, Children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life, but Allah has the excellent return (Paradise).” (Surah Aale-Imraan 3:141)

The inclinations and desires of the “Fitrah” are not to become the objective in life. Rather they are to be taken in a stabilised manner. The way to deal with them is real. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has given us the detailed descriptions of a levelled approach i.e. Quraan. This gives mankind the perfectly balanced and pleasant lifestyle for this worldly life.

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) sent the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) and revealed Quraan to show us how to attain this balance in a real manner. Life is not a torturous spiritual test, where you are ordered to live in mountains and trees. Observing Saum (Fasting) all year round is not obligatory. Marriage is not only permissible, but people are encouraged to marry. They do not need to beat themselves senseless to purify their souls! Rather as Muslims, we must try to follow the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) and his balanced teachings of life and living. As Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says in the Quraan:

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah, you have a good example to follow..” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:21)

Restrictive Rules
The use of the word “restrictive” often comes from those who think they live a “free-life”. But the fact of the matter is that, wherever you go you will find rules and regulations. For example, in the workplace, in colleges and universities and more obviously on the roads, i.e. the highway and green cross codes. Wherever you are, there are rules and regulations.

People in the west, who are generally critical to these divine rules, are more than willing to obey the man-made rules, because they believe that these rules will protect them. How wrong they are! Rave subculture is a classical example of this. Informal dance floor rules dictate to us “. . . . to drink lots of water, have frequent breaks and don’t take too many pills in one go!” Despite these “recommendations”, young people are still dying. The death of a teenager, Leah Betts, a few years ago in England –South Africa, has shown how such rules work to destroy the very society which forms them.

Western society is obsessed with ‘safe sex’, in order to ‘prevent the risk of catching AIDS’. Despite the wide availability of contraceptives, AIDS is still on the increase, and people are dropping like flies from this killer epidemic.

Do we think of these rules as being restrictive? If anything you would expect them to bring about a sense of control and order, as well as increasing the pleasure. Without realising, people are ready and willing to accept many man-made rules. Rules that are invented by one group of people and to be obeyed by the rest of society. These rules are not perfect because man is imperfect, yet people accept them and hope and believe that they will benefit from them.

A Better Offer!
So when Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, is offering a reward which is high, and the Benefit is eternal, shouldn’t we at least see what’s on offer?

“You desire the good of this world, but Allah desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allah is Almighty, All Wise.” (Surah Al-Anfaal 8:67)

“. . . in a lofty Paradise. Therein will be a running spring. Therein will be thrones raised high. And cups set at hand. And cushions set in rows. And rich carpets (all) spread out.” (Surah Al-Ghaashiyah 88:10-16)

This worldly life has many good things in it. Things that Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has created for us to utilise. But the reality is all of these luxuries and benefits of the world will come to an end. For example, a person’s good looks may do them many favors during their youth, but will it hold them on good ground when they are 60. Such is the reality of old age.

Likewise with wealth. Islam allows you to gain wealth as long as you do not oppress other people, and transgress the limits set by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). An example of this is making people pay back more money than they actually borrow, through usury or interest payments.

However, wealth can not benefit you when you die, as it only passes on to your family as inheritance. Such is the civility of modem society, that many people are even killed, just so that inheritance can be gained sooner rather then later!!

Thus, we should see ourselves as travellers on a journey. A traveller is one who is constantly on the move. He will only take essential provisions, and not all his life’s possessions. Likewise, a person must realise that Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) did not design the luxuries of this world to last forever. They only exist to test our Imaan (Belief) in Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). Out of these, the necessities will take us to the journey’s end, the Hereafter. Being human, we will die one day, and our worldly benefits and luxuries will also perish. The true wealth is indeed with Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) in the next-life. As Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:

“Seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life. There are much more profits and booties with Allah.” (Surah An-Nisaa 4:94)

Man-made restrictions exist in all aspects of human society including western society. Industry, travel and leisure, are just a few of the sectors which are dominated by human restrictions. Humans automatically assume that these restrictions are there to protect them. In part this may be true, but what about the restrictions set by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) which can save the whole of man-kind? Such restrictions come from the One Who is Perfect, and not man, who is imperfect! The so-called ‘freedom’ offered by the ‘modern civilization’, is one which is defined for you, by another human. We are often told what is ‘politically correct’ and what is not. We are told that this is what everybody will be wearing this summer, and that this is the film to watch. Those are the new Hollywood stars to emerge. You shouldn’t be seen ‘dead’ in this dress and you should paint your finger-nails this colour. The list is endless. All of this is then redefined to fit in with the next wave of fashion trends.

Those who do not conform are labelled, bigamist, narrow-min-ded, backward, out-dated and so on.

Modem civilization allows you so much freedom, that you can even waiver the law if you are ‘well connected’. Laws are often defined by a small group of people, with everyone else conforming to what they consider right and wrong. What kind of justice is this? This would be more acceptable to those who accept the concept of man being divine. A concept where men decide what is moral and immoral even if it contradicts what Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has already laid out for us. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has no part to play in such a civilization, because man has adopted the role of god for himself. History bears witness to this as it was the way of the civilizations before the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam), as Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:

“They (Jews & Christians) take their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah).” (9:31)

The true freedom of man is found only in a civilization that has a divine value system. A civilization in which man submits to his Creator alone. A civilization that reacts with the life of this world and links it to the Day of Judgement. On that Day, everyone will be held accountable in front of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), the Creator and the True Master of the universe.

The Purpose
Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) created man and man belongs to Him. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) decreed that one day man shall die and return to Him. The world is just a temporary period. We are born, we live in this world and then we die.

So while we are on this earth, Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has given us the instruction manual to shape our lives according to what He has decreed. This is the meaning of worship. It requires absolute obedience, humility and love for Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), the way He has prescribed it.

We cannot love Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) the way we want to, especially if we do not know what Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) loves or forbids in the first place.

So through Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Perfect Wisdom and Infinite Knowledge, He sent us the Quraan and the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam), and told us how this love is to be expressed:

“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If you really love Allah then follow me (i.e. the Prophet), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Surah Aale-Imraan 3:31)

The Problem with Human Law
Humans by themselves cannot determine what is good and bad for each other for all of the time.

Man-made laws are often defined by a person’s personal motives, emotions, limited intellect, beliefs and prejudices. Thus, they are designed with these built-in flaws. This is why human law has so many loop-holes and deficiencies. It is always requiring change, modification and re-modification, time after time!

So when Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) revealed the Quraan and sent the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) as an example, all the details about good and bad, or right and wrong, were not left for the limited nature of mankind to define for themselves. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:

“And We have sent down to you the Book (Quraan) as an explanation of everything and a guidance, a mercy and glad tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah as Muslims).” (16:89)

So What does Islam say?
The message of Islam fits the “Fitrah” of man. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) created man in the best form. He gave his “Fitrah” the ability to believe in the unseen. Thus, man’s soul and its horizons are broader and more open than that of the rest of creation — like the animals, birds and insects. In nature we can see the signs of Allah:

“Do they not look at the camels, and how they were created? And at the heavens, how it is raised? And at the mountains, how they are rooted and fixed firm? And at the earth, how it is spread out?” (Surah Al-Ghaashiyah 88:17-20)

In ourselves, we can see Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s signs through the diversity of our languages, colors and nationalities.

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and have made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another.” (Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:13)

Having been told this, we must now recognize the Perfect way our Creator has chosen for us to follow, which is:

“Indeed, in the Messenger (Muhammad), you have a good example to follow.” (Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:21)

We have been commanded to worship Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) alone without partners. We must recognize and understand that He is the Only True God who deserves to be worshipped:

“So know (Muhammad), that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah.” (Surah Muhammad 47:19)

To help us do this, Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) sent the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam), to deliver and explain the Final Message of Islam, and to help us recognize and worship our Lord in the best manner. We have been told to shape our lives according to this Message, by following and imitating the Final Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) who is our only guide to worshipping our Lord, Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa).

This is what is meant when we say: Laa-ilaa-ha ilAllaah Muhammadur Rasoolullah. “There is no God worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”