Mutual Rivalry: Our Dilemma

Mutual Rivalry: Our Dilemma

Allaah has honored us, He has bestowed intellect on us, He has perfected our creation, He constantly provides for us, the only thing He is asking from us is to live a life of total conformity with Qur'an based on the Sunnah of His Messenger, Muhammad bin Abdullah (Pbuh).

Nobody knows the creation more than Allaah and He has perfectly described the nature of humans in numerous places in the Glorious Qur'an and one such apt description is:

"The Mutual Rivalry for Piling Up (Materialism) of worldly things diverts you." Q102:1

Ibn Katheer, an intellectual giant in the field of Tafseer said: "Allaah says that all are preoccupied by love of the world, its delights and its adornments, and this distracts you from seeking the Hereafter and desiring it. This delays you until death comes to you and you visit the graves thus becoming its inhabitants."

I cry, and I cry and I continue to cry at the lamentable and pathetic state that we the Muslims of today find ourselves in. It is inconceivable that the Muslims of today especially the youth could stoop so low by mortgaging their modesty and bashfulness for a miserable price of this world. So many vices taking their toll on the Muslim youth but nothing has plagued the Muslim youth today like the evil of social media.

Safe to say that majority of the youth today that are found wanting in terms of moral and spiritual uprightness are victims of the negative slogans of the social media tools we have at our disposal. These tools just like any other tool can be used positively or negatively depending on the aspiration of the user (either aspiring for Jannah or Jahannam).

Islamic culture has two distinctive features: Morality and Simplicity; while our lustful and materialistic civilization has immorality and extravagance.

The most vulnerable generation today is that of the teenagers, they perfect the art of mutual rivalry and this never ending quest for social recognition and fame has duped many of them into adopting a repugnant lifestyle.

The competition in materialism; who appears more beautiful, who wears what, who uses what gadget, who drives what car, who visits where, who knows who and the list is endless. 

Hayah loosely translated as modesty, bashfulness has left our homes hence, the youth compete with one another to gain fame through the display of their nudity. Some you would swear are not Muslims until you hear their names.

Young young girls glorifying nudity and prostitution for stipends. Some in their desperate bid to be recognized outdo one another in immorality. 

Islam is a religion that glorifies shame and modesty. Allaah prohibits not only immorality and shameful deeds but also closes all the avenues that could lead to an immoral atmosphere.

Allaah says: "Come not near shameful deeds, whether open or secret." Surah al-An'am :151

The inherent natural instinct of each individual is to worship Allaah and to be modest in all affairs but when we give in to societal pressures we tend to lose our identity and that is exactly the quagmire we find ourselves in today.

Our innocence as humans must not be allowed to be corrupted because of our blind quest to satisfy our ego. Don't follow the crowd, follow the Sunnah.

Allaah paints the image of the regret of the sinners who kept bad companies as thus: "And remember the Day when the wrongdoer will bite at his hands, he will say: "Oh! would that I had taken a path with the Messenger." Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as an intimate friend." Q25:27-28

Some are introduced to all sorts of vices through their friends. We compete with one another in negative ways and this has blinded us from Jannah.

Once upon a time, the women of this Ummah epitomized modesty and bashfulness, today our women take pride in exposing their bodies on instagram and other social media platforms.

The untamed desire to maintain an elite profile in the society has led many youth to commit the most heinous of deeds. Mutual rivalry has blinded us thus responsible for our lazy attitude towards the worship of Allaah.

Most of us feel deprived if we can't post the type of picture others are posting, if we can't display the type of ring, wristwatch and clothes others are displaying. 

What can we do to deflate our ego and to energize our souls towards healthy competition? Competition is somehow intrinsic to human nature hence Islam didn't come to suppress our innate nature but rather to direct it towards that which pleases Allaah and guarantees entry into the Ultimate Gardens of the Palatial Homes of Paradise. 

Allaah in His inimitable style says: "In good ways compete with one another." Brothers and sisters in Islam, I am a traveller in this world and I guess we all are, what do I stand to gain or to impress you with other than fulfilling my responsibility as a fellow Muslim who aspires for Jannah.

We must be willing to abandon our filthy lifestyle and this can only be a reality if we start sitting in the company of the righteous.

We must impress upon our souls that whatever fame or fortune we gain from this world it is bound to perish, that which is with Allaah abides forever.

If I drive the latest car or use the latest phone what has that got to do with my rating in the Sight of Allaah? Many are out there to encourage us to die on the path of falsehood, they praise us when we disobey Allaah and frown at us when we obey Allaah. Beware!

There is many more to write but I believe this will suffice the seekers of truth.

Allaah loves those servants of His who have sinned and recognized His Clemency and turn to Him for forgiveness and repentance. And who is there besides Allaah that can forgive all sins?

Don't be deluded by this world. I end with this: "You will die the way you lived and be resurrected the way you died." - Hadith