Humanitarian Service, Islam and Sufism
Islam,
Service to Humanity and Methods for Serving Humanity
Main Points:
1.
Every
religion and belief system places high importance on love, compassion, and
assisting those in need.
2.
According
to Islam, human service is a meaningful kind of prayer and etiquette.
3.
The
spirit and beliefs of Islam demand that we serve others. A good Muslim is
someone who acts in ways that are beneficial to other people.
4.
The
Sufis won over the hearts of the population by adhering to the Holy Prophet's
teachings, which served as a model for them in carrying out humanitarian
activities.
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By
Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
3
September 2022
Every
religion and belief system places high importance on love, compassion, and
assisting those in need. Most significantly, according to Islam, human service
is a meaningful kind of prayer and etiquette, in addition to these behaviours.
These special abilities serve as human characteristics and contribute to the beauty
of the cosmos.
The
prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instilled in humanity the value of service
and compassion for one another. He exhorted the wealthy to help the poor and
the powerful to show pity to the helpless. He placed a high value on assisting
the underprivileged and the impoverished as well as caring for orphans, the in
need, and the oppressed.
“The
person who helps others is the best part of you.” (Kanzul-Ummaal, Volume: 8,
Hadith Number: 42154)
There
is a need to serve humanity in the current situation. This is also one of the
greatest displays of submission. To share in a person's suffering is the way to
paradise. Applying a salve of love and compassion to a wounded heart can please
Allah. Cooperating with the debtor is one of the key ways to earn Allah's
favour and rewards. The Prophet's Sunnah requires Muslims to visit the
sick. It is clear that providing food
for the needy is a huge act of goodness and faith.
The
Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, "Whoever feeds
and gives water to one of his brothers to the fullness, Allah will remove him
from the Fire (of Hell) at a distance of seven trenches, and the distance
between two trenches is five hundred (500) years," (Hakim al-Mustadrik,
Volume: 2, Hadith: 7172)
The
spirit and beliefs of Islam demand that we serve others. A good Muslim is
someone who acts in ways that are beneficial to other people. One gains not
only respect and honour from others but also standing in the sight of Allah,
the Most High, through performing this deed. Therefore, a righteous man must
possess excellent traits in order to succeed in this world and the next. These
qualities include compassion and love, mercy and kindness, compassion,
forgiveness, mercy, good behaviour, aid and service to humanity.
Methods
for Serving Humanity
Human
service can take many different forms and is not confined to anyone. Some
examples include: encouraging good and prohibiting bad in a loving manner;
giving someone sound advice, caring for a patient, assisting someone in need
financially and materially, arranging marriages for the underprivileged and
orphans, and giving a needy person a loan with no interest, educating people,
covering the naked body with clothing, planting trees for the benefit of humans
and animals, offering food and water to the hungry and the thirsty, aiding an
injured person, aiding a passenger, finding solutions for others, escorting
someone home, upholding the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims, removing
offensive things from the way, etc. There are countless additional methods for
serving humanity.
Humanitarian
service is a spiritual spirit that can move without a leader. A real man never
gets bored or tired of taking care of the critters. The best method to quiet
the heart is to devote most of our lives to serving others. The virtue that
disperses the flowers of harmony and serenity is service to others.
Islam
encourages Muslims to do humanitarian service. According to Islam, every
creature is a member of Allah's people.
However, other people think that treating people well and providing for
their needs should wait until they have accepted Islam. This is not accurate.
The reason for this is that Allah Almighty has authority over the matter of
faith. Anyone who possesses honesty and a sincere desire is given the riches of
faith by Allah Almighty. So, if you want to do humanitarian service, do so just
for Allah's pleasure.
The
Sufis won over the hearts of the population by adhering to the Holy Prophet's
teachings, which served as a model for them in carrying out humanitarian
activities. They gained admirers from
other ethnicities and religious backgrounds thanks to their politeness. We
might be able to halt the market of hatred that still prevails in our society
today if we adhere to these Sufi ideals of serving humanity.
Hazrat
Sheikh Khawaja Usman Haruni says, "When someone gives water to a thirsty
person, all his sins are forgiven and it is as if he has just left his mother's
womb. He will then find the rank of a
martyr.” He continued, "Whoever feeds the hungry, Allah will fulfil a
thousand of his desires, free him from the fires of Hell, and create a place
for him in Paradise." (Annesul Arwaah, Majlis 10, Mashmoola Hasht Behesht)
Hazrat
Sheikh Sharafuddin Yahya Muniri says in his Maktoobat-e-Sadi, “
“Serving
others has many benefits and is a manifestation of submission to the
All-Powerful God. The benefits of humanitarian activity cannot be attained
through other forms of obedience. One is the passing away of the rebellious
self (nafs), which formerly enjoyed living under the control of the mind. Humility
and modesty come into play. Morality, decorum, and civility start to show. It
includes both the Sunnah and Tareeqah. Man's mental and exterior
representations both get clearer and more enlightened. Access to these
advantages is only available through the humanitarian service programme.”
The
book also discusses how many methods there are to approach God. Someone
questioned a revered saint. He believed that every particle in the universe
functions as a doorway to God. Delivering comfort to God's creatures is the
only strategy that is closer or more effective, and we have reached our goal by
following this path and passing it on to our offspring. According to the
saints, even if the Sufi society engages in unfathomable words, acts, and
worship, there is no obedience greater or more meaningful than that of helping
others. (Maktoobat-e-Sadi, Discourse 71)
When it
comes to Sufism and Tareeqah, Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti (may
Allah have mercy on him) states, "Darweshi signifies that one who
comes to it should not be deprived. He should be fed if he is hungry, and
clothed if he is unclothed. In no way should he be sent back empty-handed.
Instead, one should reassure him by getting his health information. (Dalilul
Aarifin)
These
are but a few examples. There are innumerable other instructions that educate
us on how to behave properly and perform good things in addition to this.
Regrettably, we must acknowledge that the propensity to serve humanity is
waning. Those who hold opposing religious views think it is improper to assist
adherents of other faiths. The great Islamic gurus known as Sufis, on the other
hand, surely made a humanitarian effort that serves as a lighthouse for us and
a wake-up call for the heart that has fallen asleep.
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Kaniz
Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/humanitarian-service-sufism-/d/127868
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