Nafsiya Reflections: Why Do We Do It All?

Welcome to Nafsiya Reflections: Why Do We Do It All?

This is a question that is important to think about when we make choices in our lives.  It can be cooking dinner or getting married, we should always ask ourselves why we do it? You see, when we make a choice or act in a certain way we usually have a reason behind it. When we pray, when we hold our tongue in an argument, when we fast during Ramadan; the question that has to come to mind is why do we do it? Is there something we gain? Who are we doing it for? Is it for ourselves or something much bigger?

These days, we hear many people giving a reason behind what we do; saying that Islam told us to think and to use our minds, which isn’t wrong. It is good to think and to understand the world around us; and to understand ourselves. But, is there a limit? Now, let us take a step back and understand why we do what we do. We have to understand where it all comes from; we must take a look at where it all starts. We see that it comes from who we are, and we as a whole are Muslims, meaning we believe in Islam. It is believing that there is No God but Allah and Muhammad (saw) is His messenger. We understand that Allah (swt) is the one who created this earth and created a Messenger to give us guidance on how to live, The Quran! So, we look into the life of the Messenger (saw) and the Sahabah (ra), and look at how the Ahkam al Shai’a were implemented. We need to know how to use Islam from Quran and Sunnah, as well as Ijma’ al Sahabah. So, when we fully understand and know what we believe in, the Aqeedah, then when we come to the Ahkam, it all becomes a piece of cake. Only then would we know the reason behind why we do it all. The reason is because Allah (swt) wants us to do it that way. He wants us to pray five times a day, that’s why we do it. He wants us to fast during Ramadan, that’s why we do it. He wants us to enjoin good and forbid evil, and that’s why we do it because He (swt) wants us to! No other reason!

Here is what some may find tricky. When it comes to the Ahkam, many want more detail behind why a Hukum is what it is, and ever since science came along, we found so many benefits in what Allah (swt) has told us to do. Subhan Allah! For example, with pork, it is said that there is a germ within it... some people start to say “Subhan Allah, that’s why Allah said not to eat it!” Astaghfur Allah... and I say Astaghfur Allah for a reason. Allah (swt) didn’t tell us that it is the reason behind it. He didn’t say that was why we don’t eat it. He just told us not too... therefore, there is no other reason behind why we don’t eat it.

Allah (swt) sent down a Hukum and the Sahabah believed with no questions; no doubt in their hearts, because they believed in the Aqeedah. They believed that whatever al Khabeer (The All Wise) (swt) sent down. They knew that whatever was asked of them was to be done, no questions asked! But don’t get me wrong, there are some things we know the reason behind... and the way we know is because Allah the All-Mighty told us. If Allah (swt) didn’t tell us why, then it is not our place to put a reason. A reason why something is Haram, and Allah didn’t say why is a great sin when we start to assume why! Who are we to say why something is Haram while the One who put the Ahkam into place didn’t? It’s not our place! We have to know the basic Aqeedah, and then the rest falls into place!

So, what do we think about then? Well, there are many things to think about; for example, to study Tafseer of the Quran and Hadith, learn more about Islam and to study it! But the Ahkam is the limit. There is a limit to our thinking. When Allah says something is forbidden, then we must have our trust in Him and faith in Him and do as he says. No reason behind following our Deen other than believing in it! Now, when we do what Allah (swt) says, what do we gain? We gain the akhira. We gain the pleasure of Allah the Merciful. We gain the love of our Lord (Aza wa Jal). We gain so much more than Dunya can offer. And when someone asks why we do what we do, our answer isn’t because of the benefits that come with the Ibadat, it is simply because Allah (swt) said. Our answer is because we are Muslim and this is what Allah (swt) has asked of us. This is the test of this dunya, to show we believe. No questions asked! So go, learn ask about Islam, but know that there is a limit when think about things. There are things only the Lord of the World will know and it just isn’t our place to speak on. It is the unseen and at the end of the day, Allah is al-khabeer! And al-Wakeel!

Jazak Allahu Khayran for joining us!

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