The Value of a Human

Words from a western thinker,

"I'll get more by giving more of myself and my time".

Words from a Muslim thinker,

"Seorang fasiq (pembuat dosa) yang pemurah (penderma) lebih baik dari seorang abid (ahli ibadah) yang bakhil".

I quote those two because to signify the importance of contributing to the people and its goodness. The value of a human increases as he or she give more contributions to the people. The more beneficial someone is to the people, the greater he or she is. It is important to note that, no matter how brilliant or intelligent or rich someone is, it is nothing if he or she choose to care only about the matter of him or herself, preferring to live life only for his sake.

That's the problem with Muslims today. The fact that Ummah is in terrible condition and needs immediate cure does not open some of the Muslim's hearts to care and work for Islam to develop the Ummah. Instead, many choose to be on their own and not mingling with people while indulging in the business 'yang tak ke mana'. Are not we created to worship Allah? And it is our responsible to also enjoin other people to worship Him.

"The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practise regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His Mercy: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise [9:71]."

"The ayaah which Allah revealed fifteen hundred years ago. It indicates how Allah put women on the highest level of intellectual and social status that any woman or nation or race has ever known. Islam has stated that women are fully human, and are legally competent and independent. (from: Mohamad Ali-Hashimi). "

It shows that being someone beneficial to the ummah and to work for Allah's cause is a responsible work for everyone and that women are not excluded from this. To contribute, does not mean you have to go to the battlefield and fight only, there are other ways that we, especially women can do. For me, the first and important thing that we can do is strengthening the ukhuwwah, the bond among us Muslimah. One of the ways is by attending any gatherings that will lead to 'the remembrance of Allah'. I emphasise this because gatherings can also involved things haraam such as the mixing freely of men and women, and maybe the reason for the gathering should be because of something not allowed by the syariat. The strong ukhuwah is essential as it is one of the aspects that strengthen the ummah besides faith in Allah and material. So, you actually help the ummah if you choose to get closer to your own sisters in Islam by attending such gatherings.

To be someone who bring sunshine to the ummah can also be done through charity work. As we have money, it is wonderful if we can spend some of it for the work of Islam. For example, donating money to the musolla. The amount is not matter, as long as we try our very best to donate. During the time when Prophet Ibrahim was about to be burnt in the fire due to the tyranny of Namrud who ordered those, the birds flew and carried in their beak water to put out the fire. When asked why they did those while it was obvious that was not within the realm of their capabilities to put out the fire with the little amount of water that they can carry in their beak, the birds answered,

"I am afraid that Allah will asked me what am I doing when this happened. At least I know what am I going to answer Him."

See? Even the small birds realised the responsibility to work for Allah's cause. And we, human, who are ordered to do this work should know better and do better.

Living thousands years of life will mean nothing at all if we choose to sit in our cosy house, living in a comfortable circle and enjoying the pleasure of our life without not only just thinking about the sufferings of others (our brothers and sisters in faith) but also works towards the change of it. The value of a human does not lie in how intelligent, rich and beautiful he or she is, but how his existence is necessary to others. We can have lots of great thinkers, but how many actually go outside and walk their talk. You can also be an 'abid' for thousand years, but it is more meaningful and better if your time is also spent to call people towards righteousness.

Rasulullah SAW is the greatest example of individual that reflects the characteristics of one who worked with all his soul and physical capability to develop the ummah. One of the greatest companions, Umar Al-Khatab spent every seconds of his time of his life thinking about the ummah even in his sleep.

Remember that,

"Apakah sebaik-baik amalan itu?"

"Sebaik-baik amalan itu adalah amalan yang membawa manfaat kepada orang lain."

Wallahu'alam