“Islam wants the followers to lead their life as well-wisher to all, ready to help everyone, accepting others’ rights over their own possessions”
Islam is purely a humanitarian religion and it considers serving deprives as a great act of worship. All of its teachings are based on two principles; worship Allah and serve humanity. Without practicing these two basic principles one’s religious duties cannot be fulfilled. Serving humanity is worthwhile in two folds: should Muslims try to please Allah Almighty by worship, and they achieve spiritual progress. Islam wants the followers to lead their life as well-wisher to all, ready to help everyone, accepting others’ rights over their own possessions. Allah defines the person with the noble and righteous attributes as, َ“Righteousness is not that you turn your faces towards the east or the west, but (true) gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveller, those who ask (for help) and for freeing slaves (and who) establishes prayer and gives Zakah (those who) fulfill their promise and (those who) are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. These are the ones who have been true and it is those who are the righteous”. In this verse, we understand that, even when one possesses strong belief in Allah, in His Angels, in His scriptures, and in His Apostles; even when one consistently establishes Salat (prayer), there are additional significant virtues, added to all those mentioned, which a Muslim is expected to carry out. Such additional significant virtues are: Giving out part of one’s wealth (despite liking it much) to their relatives, to the orphans, to the very poor, to travelers and to those who ask (when in need). Islam professes the oneness of Allah in the form of worshipping Him but it also teaches Muslims the ways to live and perform religious obligations in a better way in a society.
“The appropriate implementation of Islam’s concept of social work will lead to the development of effective, flourishing and strong societies. Islam is not just a religion but a way of life, providing a guideline to its follower in every walk of life including politics, economics, natural and social sciences among others”.
Allah has strongly encouraged selflessness and simplify towards all the individuals living in a society; therefore Qur’an becomes its evident as, َ “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveller and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed Allah doesn’t love those who are self-deluding and boastful”. In other words, Allah is reminding Muslims that their worship is incomplete without helping deeds. Therefore a Muslim must translate his Iman (faith) into the actions to serve the fellow beings. Prophet Muhammad (SAW), said: “When you make broth, add more water and give some to your neighbor”. In Another Hadith w Abu Hurairah (R.A) narrated states: “Whosoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him a grief on the Day of Judgment. Whosoever alleviates burden of a destitute (deprived) person, Allah will alleviate his in this world and the next. Whosoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the next. Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother.” People who initiate change in their communities are greatly rewarded, because the effects and benefits of such initiatives remain useful generations after generations. That is why, the Prophet (SAW) said in a Hadith: “Whoever calls to guidance (righteousness), will be rewarded, similarly to the rewards of those who follow him, without any of their rewards been reduced. And whoever calls to deviation, will carry sins, similar to the sins of all those who act upon it (the deviation), without their sins been reduced.” Prophet (SAW) also said: “The best things that a man can leave behind are three: A righteous son who will pray for him, ongoing charity whose reward will reach him, and knowledge which is acted upon after his death.” It highlighted on the fact that, a single favor done to another Muslim will be recognized and be rewarded accordingly, regardless of how huge or tiny it may be perceived. The appropriate implementation of Islam’s concept of social work will lead to the development of effective, flourishing and strong societies. Islam is not just a religion but a way of life, providing a guideline to its follower in every walk of life including politics, economics, natural and social sciences among others.