Security and safety in the application of the Shari`ah of the Most Gracious

Security is a great blessing and a huge favor but whoever is deprived of shall not live happily even if he owns the entire world, and whoever finds security shall own the world even if he is the poorest of all. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whosoever begins the day feeling family security, having good health, and possessing provision for his day, as though he possessed the whole world."

Shall I guide you brothers to something if we do, security and safety shall prevail in the society, your heart shall feel comfort, and you shall be secure in this world and in the Hereafter? It is the application of the Shari`ah! Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allâh), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided." [Surat Al An`am: 82].

Allah says: "Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allâh: verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest." [Surat Ar-Ra`d: 28].

He says: "(It will be said to the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism): My worshippers! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve, * (You) who believed in Our Ayât (proofs, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and were Muslims (i.e. who submit totally to Allâh's Will, and believe in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism)." [Surat Az-Zukhruf: 68 - 69].

Do you want an economic prosperity, growth and advancement, and a blessing in livelihood?

You have to apply the Shari`ah of the Most Gracious. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwâ (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth." [Surat Al A`raf: 96].

He said: "And if only the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) had believed (in Muhammad peace be upon him) and warded off evil (sin, ascribing partners to Allâh) and had become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious), We would indeed have expiated from them their sins and admitted them to Gardens of pleasure (in Paradise). * And if only they had acted according to the Taurât (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord (the Qur'ân), they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 65 - 66].

Do you want to be safe, protect yourself and blood, and no one raises a weapon in your face not even a piece of iron, even if it is for fun?

That lies in the application of the Shari`ah of the Compassionate. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "A faithful believer remains at liberty regarding his religion as long as he does not kill anyone unlawfully." He also said: "Whoever carries arms against us does not belong to us." He said: "None of you should point out towards his Muslim brother with a weapon, for he does not know, Satan may tempt him to hit him and thus he will fall into the pit of Fire." He said: "He who points at his (Muslim) brother with a weapon is cursed by the angels until he leaves it even if the other person is his real brother."

O People of the Scriptures, do you want to live secure and get your complete rights even without asking for them?

That lies in the application of the Shari`ah of the Compassionate. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever kills a person having a treaty with Muslims, shall not smell the odor of Paradise though its smell is perceived from a distance of forty years." He said: "But anyone who oppresses a person from among the People of the Covenant, diminishes his right, puts a responsibility on him which is beyond his strength, or takes from him anything without his consent, I shall plead for him on the Day of Recompense."

Dear father, do you want that young people respect you? O young ones, do you want elder to show mercy to you? That lies in the application of the Shari`ah of the Compassionate. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He is not one of us who shows no mercy to younger ones and does not respect our elders." Dear women, do you want that someone takes care for you, honors you, and deals with you respectfully?

That lies in the application of the Shari`ah of the Compassionate. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Fear Allah concerning women!" He said: "O Allah, I declare inviolable the rights of two weak ones: the orphans and women." He said:

"The best among you is the one who treats his family good, and I am the best among you to my family."

O citizen, do you dream of a country where a wrong doer is held accountable for his mistakes whether he is poor or rich, low or noble, even if he is the son of a ruler?

That lies in the application of the Shari`ah of the Compassionate. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "What destroyed the nations preceding you was that if a noble amongst them stole, they would forgive him, and if a poor person amongst them stole, they would inflict Allah's Legal punishment on him. By Allah, if Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad (peace be upon him) stole, I would cut off her hand."

Do you want a ruler that is questioned: Wherefrom do you get this and that? Do you want a ruler who maintains the properties and treasures of the country?

That lies in the application of the Shari`ah of the Compassionate.

Garments were sent to `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) to distribute them, and every man of us took a garment. Then he climbed the pulpit while wearing two garments, then said: O people, listen and obey? Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We will not listen or obey. `Umar said: Why is that Abu `Abdullah? He said: You distribute garments on us [one for each] while you are wearing two garments.

He said: O Abu `Abdullah, do not rush things. Then he called upon `Abdullah but no one answered. He said: O `Abdullah ibn `Umar. He said: "At your service, O Emir of the believers."

He said: Is the garment which I wear yours?

He said: By Allah, this is true.

Salman said: Now, say and we listen and obey.

One of `Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz's agents entered upon him, and after he had told him about the conditions of Muslims in his country, the man asked him about his condition and family. Thereupon, `Umar blew out a candle that was enlightening the room. The man wondered. So, `Umar said to him: O `Abdullah, the candle which you have seen me putting off belongs to Muslims and I was asking you about their conditions and needs and the candle was then used in Muslims' affairs, but when you asked about my condition and my family, I should have put it off because it belongs to them.

I conclude with a dialogue between Al Fudayl ibn `Iyad and Harun Ar-Rasidy in which he explains some of rulers' qualities:

Al Fudayl said to Harun: When `Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz assumed caliphate, he called Salim ibn `Abdullah, Muhammad ibn Ka`b, and Raja' ibn Hayawah and said to them: I have been afflicted by this affliction, so advise me.

He counted caliphate an adversity, whereas you and your friends counted it as a blessing.

Salim said to him: If you want salvation, abstain from the world and only seek the Hereafter.

Ibn Ka`b said to him: If you want salvation from Allah's torment, let elder Muslims be your fathers, their middle ones be your brothers, and their younger be your children. So, respect your father, honor your brother, and show mercy to your children.

Raja' said to him: If you want salvation from Allah's torment, love for Muslims what you love for yourself, hate for them what you hate for yourself, then die peacefully.

I say to you the same, and I fear for you a day in which feet will slip [in hell], so do you have someone to advise you with this?

Thereupon, Harun wept until he passed out.