Our Near & Dear Ones

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is from a discussion by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

Islam recognises the fact that human beings are social creatures, and are in need of each other as members of the human family.  Allah (s.w.t.) Tells us about this in the Qur’an in the following verse: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنعَام

وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا طَـٰٓٮِٕرٍ۬ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيۡهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمۡثَالُكُم‌ۚ مَّا فَرَّطۡنَا فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ مِن شَىۡءٍ۬‌ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّہِمۡ يُحۡشَرُونَ (٣٨) 

There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you.  Nothing have We omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be Gathered to their Lord in the end. (Surah al-An’am:38) 

Communities are of different categories.  The first is the immediate family and then the extended one.  In this connection, Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ النّحل

وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَزۡوَٲجً۬ا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِڪُم بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةً۬ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ‌ۚ ... (٧٢) 

And Allah has Made for you mates (and companions) of your own nature.  And Made for you out of them, sons and daughters and grandchildren, and provided for you sustenance of the best … (Surah an-Nahl:72) 

Part of the mission of every individual is to pass on the legacy of Islam which he or she inherited from the Muslim ancestors and the build upon it in the face of the growth of knowledge.  A challenge for all believers is to ensure that their family members know, understand and practice Islam as best as they can in their daily lives.  When this is done their near and dear ones will be exposed to the teachings of Islam and the life style presented in the form of Islamic culture.  This is necessary as Allah (s.w.t.) Tells us, in the Qur’an, the following: 

سُوۡرَةُ التّحْریم

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَأَهۡلِيكُمۡ نَارً۬ا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلۡحِجَارَةُ ... (٦) 

O you who believe!  Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones... (Surah at-Tahrim:6) 

It is unfortunate that in spite of this Command from the Lord of the Worlds to mankind, there are many Muslim leaders and scholars whose children are far from the Straight Path.  Some of them are even involved in serious crimes.  While we cannot blame anyone for the deeds of another, parents and elders should take the necessary care and patience to spend some quality time with their children and other members of their immediate family to help them acquire something of Islamic culture and life style. 

Islamic values are precious and need to be cultivated, so, everyone must be mindful of the Qur’anic instruction to save ourselves and our families from the fire.  May Allah (s.w.t.) Help us achieve this goal.