WHAT’S YOUR SCORE ???

Moulana Imran Khamissa
Sent by: Munzir Al Manzar

In today’s world of entertainment, games, media, etc., people become paralyzed and transfixed to their television screens and transistors. It happens most when they conscientiously following the Cricket Tournaments like World Cup, as if their very existence depended on the result.

Has it ever occurred to you that the game of cricket can be compared to our lives in this temporary abode?

In Cricket, the batsman does his utmost to protect his stumps from the bowler’s delivery. Whether the ball that he has to face is an inswinger, an outswinger, a bouncer, a full toss or a creeper, the batsman has to adjust his strokes and maneuvers accordingly. Armed with his bat he has to strike the ball in such a manner so as to accumulate runs without being caught by any of the fielders.

In a similar manner, in real life, it is imperative for us to do whatever we can to safeguard our Imaan, from the attack of bowler Shaitaan, who has promised that he will muster his forces and concentrate his efforts in bowling down our Imaan. The Quraan in Soorah Al ‘Araaf (Soorah 7 Verse 17) bears testimony to this:

“Then I will approach from before them, from behind them, from their right and from their left.”

In Cricket the bowler varies his pace, length and delivery in order to outsmart the batsman. Bowler Shaitaan does the same. Let’s take a look at a typical over.

1. Ball number one may come in the form of making you neglect your Salaah
   
2. Ball number two may be instigation towards becoming vulgar and abusive
   
3. Ball number three may be a suggestion to cheat and be fraudulent
   
4. Ball number four may be an impulse to disobey ones parents
   
5. Ball number five may be a temptation towards wrong use of eyesight
   
6. Ball number six may be a real googly - just when you feel you are treading the right path, Shaitaan inspires you with righteous pride and contempt for those you perceive as being less pious.  
   

The true Muslim needs to deflect and strike Shaitaan with the bat of Islam. Like a true professional you need to be alert and quick on your feet. Don’t get caught on the back foot.

Just like the World Cup, man is playing a match of limited overs. You just don’t know how many overs you are going to last. Will you see the innings through or will you be run out, resulting in a departure earlier than you expected. In a similar manner some of us are destined to leave this world through ill-health, some through accidents and others through fatal shootings, resulting in a departure earlier than we expect.

The only runs that count are those that you make during the game. When the batsman returns to the pavilion after being given out he reflects and contemplates on how he should have played. After death, when man sees the reality of the Aakhirah his plight is the same. He reflects on how he should have lived his life. He will beg Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) for a second chance, pleading:

“O my Lord! Send me back that I may do a (single) good deed” (Soorah 23 Verse 98-99)

The Prophet Mohammad (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) informed his companions of a sinner from the previous Ummah, who had murdered ninety-nine people. In a state of remorse he approached someone asking him whether he could be forgiven. The answer that he got was that he was doomed. This caused this murderer to kill this man too. (He knocked up his century.)

The sinner again remorseful was directed to a learned person some distance away. The sinner set out anxious to find a way of being forgiven. En-route to his destination death overtook him. The angel of mercy and the angel of punishment both came to claim him, disputing why each had a right over his soul. The angel of punishment argued that the man was destined for hell due to his murder record. The angel of mercy argued that death had overcome him whilst he was in a state of repentance.

A third angel arrived to arbitrate saying that the distances should be measured from the place of death to both the home of the sinner and the home of the learned person to whom the sinner was headed. If the sinner was found to be nearer to his home (the place of the crime) he would be punished, while if he was closer to his destination he would be forgiven. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), the Merciful, stretched the distance to his destination so that the sinner was saved by a hand span. He was forgiven. He actually made it to his “crease”.

During the game the batsmen is safe only when he is positioned within his crease. So too is a Muslim safe when he is positioned within the Shari’ah, within the boundaries demarcated by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and His Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam).

How often have we left the safety of the crease, the protection of the Shari’ah, and indulged in sin. What would our position be if “Malak ul Mout” (Angel of Death) were to remove our soul at a place we would rather not be seen at with company we would rather not be seen with?

Many a cricketer aspires to be, as agile in the field as Jonty Rhodes, bowl like Waseem and Malinga, and have the batting prowess of Inzimaamul Haqq and Ricky Ponting. How often have we aspired to emulate the Sadaaqat (Truthfulness) of Hadhrat Abu Bakr, the ‘Adaalat (Justice) of Hadhrat ‘Umar, the Sakhaawat (Generosity) of Hadhrat Uthmaan, the Shujaa’at of Hadhrat ‘Ali, the passion for Sulh (Compromise for Peace) like Hadhrat Hasan, the Qurbani (Sacrifice) of Hadhrat Husain, the Muhabbat (Love) of Hadhrat Bilal, the Siyaasat (political wisdom) of Hadhrat Mu’aawiyah, the Zuhd (Contentment) of Hadhrat Abu Zarr and the Istiqaamat (Steadfastness) of Hadhrat Khabbaab?

Just as a single catch could cost a match and a single strike could mean the difference between victory and defeat, a single act of kindness and a single urge to succumb to the will of Shaitaan may determine eternal success or eternal doom.

Remember the game of life has no second innings !!!!