Teachings of discipline in Islam

The spirit and reality of the disciplines of Islam dictate that every individual must take the rules, regulations and convention of laws that he follows, which are related to both the individual and the society, from the divine source. In addition, individulas must thoroughly satiate themselves with these laws and must follow the one thought (the laws of Allah) which are much more superior and higher than all other thoughts and ideologies. Why do we say this? We know that the legislations and Islamic commandments that have to be followed must be brought by one who first and foremost recognizes and understands the human being. Therefore, such a legislator must know all of the secrets, hidden issues and finer points of the human and his soul. There must not remain a single atom of ambiguity in the life of mankind that a law has not been prescribed for. In addition to this, such a legislator must also be free from all types of sins and errors and there cannot be any type of interest or benefit for him in the society such that this benefit would lead him to formulate laws that suit his own self. Just as we know, there is not a single person who has these characteristics except for the Creator of the Universe. It is Alimghty Allah alone who has complete knowledge of both our inner and outer thoughts. It is the Almighty Allah alone who is free from all sin and error and who derives no benefit from the society. Therefore, everyone must have true faith in such an entity and the Islamic disciplines that Allah sends down. They must not consider their own interests or wishes above that of what has been decided by Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and they must take inspiration from Allah alone. If we give up such Islamic disciplines and solely rely on our wishes and desires to formulate laws and regulations, then the sphere of our lives would resemble an army with multiple leaders. Even if such an army was fully equipped and ready to fight a battle, they would definitely fall into confusion and disorder since they are being led by various leaders and commanders, and after a short period of time, they would fall to the prowess of the enemy thus being destroyed.

A true Muslim is one who submits entirely to Allah (Glorified and exalted he is) whether it entails benefit or loss for him/her, if it is according to what his/her own soul desires, or if it goes against his own desires and wishes. Such a person (who is a true Muslim) submits to Allah (Glorified and Exalted he is) in order to earn his pleasure.

The stage that we live our life upon is just like the battle-front and the wishes and desires of each person, each stratum of people or each group are similar to having multiple commanders for an army. If there was to be any difference of opinion within the commanders, then this would lead the people into great conflicts and would drag them into confusion and disorder which would ultimately result in the disregard of justice amongst one another. A great number of the faithful believers have followed the primary rule of obeying the One who has legislated the laws for humanity, and if the Islamic verdict was not found for a particular issue, then they would not act upon it nor would they express their own opinion (on that issue). However, by exercising and using their own judgement and conclusions, these same people have given precedence to their own desires over those of the Heavenly rulings – the rulings of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and Prophet Mohammad (SAW).It is possible that sometimes by people acting upon that which is a figment of their own imagination or due to being under the pressures of their environment; they resort to acting on their own thoughts and personal judgements which go against the laws that have been explicitly mentioned in the religion. Thus, they have given their own ideas the colour of sanctity and placed these above the Heavenly commandments . The problem with the Muslims (of Sunday) is mostly within this sphere – meaning that we place our own ideas ahead of those of the religion, such that we are not ready to accept the truth and reality for what it truly is. Even now, we can bring forward examples in which the Muslims are trying to place their own opinions and ideas – which in reality is equivalent to placing their own beliefs above the shining commandments of the religion: above those of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and Prophet Mohammad (SAW). Sometimes, due to the fear of being classified as open sinners or disbelievers in the faith amongst the people, they hide their opinions (though they still keep such ideas in their hearts). Thus, a true Muslim is one who submits entirely to Allah (Glorified and exalted he is) whether it entails benefit or loss for him/her, if it is according to what his/her own soul desires, or if it goes against his own desires and wishes. Such a person (who is a true Muslim) submits to Allah (Glorified and Exalted he is) in order to earn his pleasure.