Unconditional Obedience

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is taken from a transcript of a discourse given by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

In the process of establishing the Israelites as the upholders of the true religion, Allah (s.w.t.) Gave them numerous blessings.  For example, He Sent down from the sky their sustenance.  Everything that they would have needed, came from Allah (s.w.t.).  So, they did not have to labour for their wants.  Even though they received so many Blessings from Allah (s.w.t.), they found it difficult to worship Him at least once for the day.  Even when the Torah was Revealed, they complained to Moses (a.s.).  They said it is either they pray or read from the Revealed Book; even though they did not have to do anything.  The same was in the case of Jesus (a.s.).  He invited his people, the Israelites, to the Way of Allah (s.w.t.) and they placed a condition of firstly receiving a table of food from the sky in return for their cooperation. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Says about Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) that we should never think that the du’a of the Prophet (s.a.w.) is like that of an ordinary man.  If he made du’a to Allah (s.w.t.), it would have been Granted immediately.  Even then, when the Quraysh issued the boycott against the early Muslims, they were forced, for more than a year, to live in a valley.  The conditions at that time were so severe that some of the believers ate stones in order to survive.  Even then, they never made conditions with the Messenger of Allah (s.w.t.).  And Prophet (s.a.w.) never prayed to Allah (s.w.t.) for food to fall from the sky for him and his people.  Why?  He wanted to show and demonstrate that if Allah (s.w.t.) Loves us, He will Take Care of us.  Our Prophet (s.a.w.) wanted to establish the understanding that we all Belong to Allah (s.w.t.) and He can Allow or Disallow whatever He wants. 

Thus, Prophet (s.a.w.) and his blessed companions never made conditions and their sacrifice is preserved for us to take pattern from.  And to go a step further, the same obedience and reliance on Allah (s.w.t.) is seen in the fast that we are commanded to keep.  Fasting is one of the Divine Gifts from Allah (s.w.t.) to His servants.  Fasting helps to establish this unconditional obedience to our Creator.  We are denying our baser selves the material desires out of love for Allah (s.w.t.).  And we all try to earn the maximum benefits associated with this great month, so we abstain from vain talk and despicable attitude. 

The Israelites wanted to see Allah (s.w.t.) so Moses (a.s.) took 72 of their priests up the mountain.  For their insolence, Allah (s.w.t.) Caused them to die and Revived them, and still their faith was not developed.  The Muslims on the other hand obeyed; once a Command was Sent Down.  They never issued any prerequisites in exchange for their obedience.  May Allah (s.w.t.) Make this Ramadhan peaceful and tranquil for all the believers.  May He Make the trials easy and bearable for us, and may He Remove most of it in this most special month.  Let us benefit from it, and whatever we do, do it solely for the sake of Allah (s.w.t.).