Exploiting Faculties Properly

                               “We have indeed destined for hell

                                many of the jinn and mankind

                                who have hearts with which they

                                do not use for comprehension,

                                eyes they do not use for sight,

                                and ears they do not use for

                                hearing. They are like cattle, no,

                                even further astray, these are

                                the ones who are entirely heedless”

                                                                           (Qur’an, 7:179)

I think most people in this world wish to live in a world of peace, health and prosperity. All these wonderful wishes can only be realized through social harmonious cooperation and mutual interactions. For this reason, God the Almighty has endowed mankind with different abilities and motivations, and bestowed upon them principle ordinances as a guidance to enable them to achieve their goal successfully. If any misfortune or corruption occurs, it would be because people fail in cooperation or interact with mischief as they ignore God’s ordinances.

God says in the Qur’an: “Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s hands have perpetrated, so that He (= God) makes them taste some of what they did, in order that they may return (to the right way)” (30:41).

It is clear that Islam, as a Religion urges people to undertake their duties earnestly, and reminds them of their being God’s servants. Each person should try his best to fulfill all obligations correctly and responsibly, without wronging others. For this purpose, God sent his messengers to teach and admonish people, and urge them to do good deeds, and warn them of the dangerous upshot of corruption and treachery in the society. And this not only by preaching, but the Qur’an also puts a great responsibility upon the knowledgeable people to use their aptitude in practicing their talents to build an authoritative structure, which can administrate the whole population of any country.

Pointing to that, God says: “It should grow out of you people who invoke to all that is good and enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid to doing of what is wrong: and it is they, who shall be the successful ones” (3:104).

Then how absurd is the idea of those people who think that Religion should not be considered in political affairs, while God’s ordinances encompass all individual and social matters in all domains of life, including politics.

The main source of the Islamic Law is the Qur’an, which shows that God’s ordinances guide individuals on how to prepare themselves to be involved in the society, and guide leaders of the society on how to govern, and to do justice in operating their authoritative functions and positions:

“O you who have attained to faith, be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God, even though it be against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk. Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, God’s claim takes precedence over (the claim of) either of them. Do not, then, follow your own desires lest you swerve from justice: for if you distort (the truth) or refuse to testify, behold, God is indeed aware of all that you do” (4:135).

As articles of law can be used mischievously if one is not sincere, the moral element is absolutely required; God says in the Qur’an: “O you who have attained to faith, be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity, and never let hatred of others lead you away from justice, but adhere to justice, for that is closer to awareness of God. Be mindful of God: God is well aware of all that you do” (5:8).

Those who are unmindful of God, they ignore God’s Law. They are mad of the glitters of the world, they love too much this fleeting life, and they do not think of the life to come: “Behold, they love this fleeting life, and put aside (all thoughts of) a Heavy Day. (Yet) it is We who have created them and We who have strengthened their constitution; and if it will be Our will, We can replace them entirely with others of their kind” (76:27-28).

Those who are unmindful of God, will be interrogated about all their bad actions on the Day of Judgment: “On the Day when their own tongues and hands and feet will bear witness against them concerning what they used to do”

(24:24).

The devoted believers are ordered to accomplish all their actions with precise knowledge, for two important reasons: First because this is the way to get success in this worldly life. Secondly because nobody in the hereafter will escape interrogation, as God already said: “And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge, as indeed the hearing and the sight and the heart – all of them – will be called to account for it (on Judgment Day)” (17:36).

To conclude this reflection, we are certain that it is essential for human beings to exploit the faculties endowed to them by God properly: heart, sight, hearing and all adherent faculties. All of them are made for people so that they may use them properly, and achieve realizing prosperity and justice, and witnessing the truth.