By Husain Mansoor Hallaj
As students of knowledge, we come across various narrations that exemplify the merits of deeds. From one perspective, deeds are performed for the merits rewarded and on the other hand, it is about seeing the sacrifices needed.
During the period of ignorance, the early Arabs lived without the concept of Monotheism (concept of One God) and they lived in a time of idolatry (shirk). People worshiped many idols and usually the reason for worship is for grant of wealth and power, e.g. for good harvest, good trade, greater status, etc. Almost all their supplications were for the love of worldly pleasures. Regardless of how much money, cattle or property one possesses, one must keep it within his vicinity for fear of losing it due to robbery or mischief. To
safeguard themselves, they form strong relations, so that one can trade as a tribe to establish power. The greater the tribe, the greater the status, wealth and security. So in a nutshell, lives revolved around worldly possessions, even their many Gods were means
to preserve their wealth and status for generations.
In those days, travelling was a trauma. Today, if we were to travel, we carry our wealth. We have our ATM cards and cheques, we can sell off easily and buy easily without any worry. But in those days, if one possesses a house, a farm of 50 poultry and 10 cattle, they will be in a dilemma to travel. Even if they were to sell them for dinar, they are heavy and would need to be carried in large bags or boxes, which will be easier targets for bandits. So wealth and possessions were so great that losing it is akin to losing the sole purpose of one’s life. When the blessed Prophet (peace be upon him) revealed Islam, a majority of the rich felt that they were being robbed of their wealth and their life away from them due to the emphasis on charity in Islam. The poor flocked into Islam. The righteous ones were ready to sacrifice their life for Islam, what more of mere wealth! They saw the real wealth i.e. spiritual gains in Islam.
The blessed hijrah (migration) came, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) asked the Muslims to leave Makkah and it was a time of great tribulation. People had to travel in secrecy with as little as possible; they left their homes, their wealth, their security (their tribes), the place they grew up all their life – the place they have bonded. They left for the sake of one man’s word, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)! They left for the command of Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He). These are the Emigrants (Muhajirun). They hold so high a status for the sacrifices they made.
They early Muslims gave up everything for Islam. They saw the rewards in deeds not by the surface, instead they saw it as rewards for their sacrifice. They forsook everything they had for the rewards in Islam. To the emigrants, it is not how much rewards they will get for the deeds performed but rather to gauge the measure of sacrifice needed. Their belief in the promise of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is their comfort. Sacrifices they make pales in front of the spiritual gains they receive.As students of knowledge, when we see narrations telling us the virtues and merits, we should realise that the Creator (Glorified and Exalted be He) is showing its weight in
comparison to what we should forsake. Learn to love the Comforter, the One who is telling us what He has for us.
“Oh One Who bestows infinite Mercy on His slaves!
Oh One Who bestows infinite blessings and favors on His slaves!
Oh Our Creator we seek refuge in You!”