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We were discussing the importance of
permanence in our acquisitions. At time we turn out to be
losers in the selection of our friends and end up with worldly
friends instead of the Eternal One. The worldly friends are not
trust worthy, are mortals and dependent on others, instead Allah
is eternal and does not let His friends go astray. He says
that, “If some one takes one step towards me, I take ten steps
towards him” Such a friend is better for us than the worldly
friends who can not even defend themselves what to talk of us.
At times we lose such long time friends in a moment. The
worldly friendship is a trade in which you exchange favors. If
the friend is equal to you in status then both of you need each
other, however if the friend has more resources then you are
always looking for his favors. The real eternal friend (Allah)
promises you that if you take one step towards Him, then He will
take ten steps towards you. If we do not respond to such a warm
friendship then we will be rejecting Him due to our stupidity
and no body will call us wise. We better repent and follow the
path of the true friend who does not need anything from us and
if we do things as He wants us to do then He will reward us ten
times of that. He is our protector, friend and creator;
forgiveness is one of His qualities and He does not become angry
at small mistakes. So a wise and visionary person will want Him
to be his friend and prefer Him to others and this is what
rationality should dictate us too. It is up to us then to
choose the kind of friendship we want.
Let us now move on. I referred to verses
144 of “Sura Al Buqra”(2). It contains the significance of
obedience of the prophet (pbuh) and his greatness. The verses
say “O Mohammed I (Allah) could not bear you looking towards the
sky again and again, thus I command you to turn your face along
with your companions towards the sacred mosque (Kaaba) which is
better for you. People of the book are aware of the truth and I
am aware of what they are trying to do”. This exhibits the
greatness of prophet (pbuh) for whom Allah changes the direction
in which Muslims face when praying. Throughout the history, we
cannot find such an example, so it does not suite us to disobey
such a person (pbuh) for whom Allah will change the direction
for praying. We should not pay only lip service to such a great
person rather we should obey him and follow his ways. He is
benefactor of the universe and us, instead of fallow him we
killing humanity and our own brothers as well what type
followers we are?. The prophet (pbuh) served humanity all his
life, even before his prophet hood. We on the other hand we
are cruel to our own folk. He (pbuh) was truthful and honest
while we have adopted dishonesty. He (pbuh) upheld his promise
and we on the other hand are proud to be late for hours after we
promised to be there. He was kind to others while we take pride
in being unkind. We have developed such hypocrisy that I can
give numerous examples. I would myself look in the mirror to
see what I lack, and I would suggest that you also should do
that so that we can become aware of our shortcomings. Only this
self-reflection and correction will make us worthy of His mercy
and prizes that He has promised us. If we can win the favor of
our prophet (pbuh), than Allah will also favor us because his
ways were the chosen ways. Allah will Judge us on how much we
followed His prophet (pbuh). In this example of change of
direction to pray, Allah tested the followers of the prophet (pbuh)
by changing the direction to pray towards Jerusalem before. The
Arabs had prayed facing Kaaba for centuries and here they were
ordered to change their direction. However people who lovingly
followed the prophet (pbuh) obeyed this command. The prophet
knew that this was a test for the people so looked towards the
sky, whenever he prayed, that is when Allah would change this
direction. The prophet (pbuh)was obedient follower of Allah.
Finally the test was over and command to change the direction
towards Kaaba came again. There was a further test in this,
that the command came during his prayer and instantly obeying
the command he changed his direction during the prayer. All the
prophet’s obedient companions follow him in the change of
direction, however the disobedient did not do and they were
failed after achieving the guidance. Some of them didn’t
realize it was a test of obedience again. In the last part of
the verses Allah says, “the people of book know what the truth
is, however if they refute that, the Allah knows what they are
up to”. So, instead of getting into debates we should follow
the prophet (pbuh) without any hesitation and therein lays our
salvation. Here Allah demonstrated that the Kaaba has always
been the direction for prayer. Abraham (pbuh) and his progeny
prayed in this direction as well as the progeny of Isaac used to
come here for pilgrimage. It is only after Solomon (pbuh) built
the Al- Aqsa mosque that the Israelites started praying facing
towards it. By changing the direction towards Kaaba, Allah not
only restored the greatness of Kaaba but also gave Muslims their
uniqueness. In other verses Allah says that “if some body hurts
prophet (pbuh)) he hurts Me “and his place is hell.” |
