Good Food and Clothing

Since human dignity depends entirely on Allah^-SWT's Pleasure and Approval, one must submit to His^-SWT Will and Purpose with utmost sincerity. Unlike other ungodly religions, Islam forbids self-imposed taboos. Abstaining from culinary delights or fine apparel is not an act of worship. Islam does not ordain this. When Allah^-SWT, the Almighty; the  Real Owner, has not forbidden human beings from enjoying good food, wearing nice clothes, or living in a comfortable house and possessing decent transport provided all have been acquired through lawful means how can anyone else dare do so?

It is a wrong concept that pious people wear rags, do not eat well and avoid comfortable beds. The preachers who propagate this image support it by examples of the austerity of the Companions'^-RAU in the early days of Islam. Whereas the fact is that when they were impoverished they persevered in the Way of Allaah^-SWT and when victories enriched them, their affluence did not detract them from Allaah^-SWT . The Holy Prophet^-SW himself wore fine clothes including once a cloak worth a thousand dinar.

After the conquest of Persia and Rome the Companions^-RAU had become very rich. When Hadhrat Abu Hurairah^-RAU, often hunger-stricken during the Holy Prophet^-SW's days, became rich due to his share of the booty, owned high pile carpets in which his feet would sink to the ankles and he would address himself: "Abu Hurairah! Do not forget your destitute days". Hadhrat 'Ali^-RAU' too had become very rich while his sons were indeed princely. They had the best of everything: food, clothing and horses. In later times, Imam Abu Hanifah^-RUA always wore fine clothes and so did Imam Malik"^RUA  The latter would don a new attire everyday, out of the three hundred and sixty five outfits presented to him and would give it away in charity that very day. Similarly Hadhrat Abdul Qadir Jilani^-RUA and Hadhrat 'Ubaid Ullah Ahrar^-RUA were famous for their affluence and fine apparel. Today those who pretend to put on patched garments as a symbol of Wilayah are indeed wrong, as the food, the clothing and the means of conveyance of a person must reflect the bounties that Allaah^-SWT has bestowed upon him. Otherwise, it would be an act of sheer ingratitude.

The references to the austerity and simplicity of the Companions^-RAU during the early days of Islam are based on the fact that in those days the believers were not very rich and whatever they had was diverted to the Cause of Allaah^-SWT ’. But once they became affluent, they did wear fine clothes. However, the Sunnah is that one should not be lavish in his living and be content with what he has and thank Allaah^-SWT for it. On the other hand, one should never borrow money for what he cannot afford, nor should he abstain from good standard of living if Allaah^-SWT has blessed him with affluence. He should not opt for cheaper stuff when he can easily afford better. Sometimes the saints restrain the seekers from fine garments and sumptuous food as part of their training in Tazkiyah. Once self restraint is achieved and the seekers are strong enough to resist the forbidden, the restrictions are lifted.

Non believers Enjoy because of the Believers!

Allah^-SWT declares that those worthy of His^-SWT bounties are indeed the believers. Even in this worldly life it is the believer who deserves the best, whereas the infidel enjoys everything only because of him. Indeed the entire cycle of sustenance; the rainfall, the growth of crops and the ripening of fruits goes on because of the believers as the lifeline of this universe is Zikr Allah^-SWT, only practiced by the believers. Deprived of it, the universe will simply fall apart. Thus a believer is the cause for the continuation of these blessings, and deserves to enjoy them. Besides, a believer uses lawful means for earning livelihood and does not usurp the rights of others. On the contrary, the economic system of the non believers revolves around the idea of depriving many to the benefit of the privileged few. Why should these transgressors be considered worthy of enjoying better things than the believers? There is no reason.

Some of the Commentators explain that the worldly blessings that a non believer enjoys in this world only act as a source of increase in his eternal torment. Whereas there is always a risk that the worldly possessions may be lost, it is certain that these will remain behind at death. Compared to this, a believer qualifies for eternal bliss by showing gratitude for what he is blessed with. According to Hadith, when there will not remain on earth a single soul remembering Allah^-SWT, this world will be torn apart. This endorses the very fact discussed above that the facilities of this world exist because of the believers. One must, therefore, avail them according to his status. A deliberate preference for inferior things involves many a sins, of which ingratitude and pretence top the list.

Abstaining from Sin Invites His^-SWT Mercy

Contrary to this mundane life, where Allah^-SWT's general Mercy embracing all mankind is manifested, it will be His^-SWT selective Mercy at display in the Hereafter. It will deprive the non believers of all the blessings and the believers alone would be able to avail them. Everyone shall personally witness the deprived and the blessed ones. The^-SWT ’ Almighty reveals and explains the matter at length for everyone to understand. The Quran out rightly rejects the commonly held idea that to avail the affluence bestowed by Allaah^-SWT ’ is against piety.

Allah^-SWT ’ can be pleased only by abstaining from the forbidden; for instance, all acts of immorality and oppression. All acts of obscenity, whether done in public or in private, discussed with others or brooded over within oneself, are forbidden. Oppression comprises Ithm i.e. those sins which are related to ones own self and Baghye i.e. those which are related to the rights of others. All such acts of excess are emphatically forbidden. Allaah^-SWT ’ forbids imputing any partners to Him^-SWT in terms of His^-SWT Unity or His^-SWT Attributes. This indeed is a very serious transgression. Similarly ascribing such orders to Allaah^-SWT that He^-SWT has never given is also calumnious; for example, to create innovations in religion and to adopt ways never endorsed by Shari'ah, considering them to be acts of merit The polytheists and the ignorant pretend to be pious by donning patched garments and eating sparsely, while they continue to plunder their devotees and also drive them to all sorts of innovations and sinful rituals. Their end would indeed be bleak. It must be remembered that for every nation and community there is respite till a certain time and limit. When that is over, the Divine Punishment can neither be averted nor postponed. Every evil doer shall eventually meet his end.

Devotion to Holy Prophet^-SW only Road to Salvation

O’ mankind! You were clearly told on the Day of the Covenant, while in the Realm of Spirits that Allah^-SWT's Prophets and Messengers^-AS will continue to bring His^-SWT Message unto you through all Ages. None will remain deprived. It was also made clear that whoever would develop a relationship with Allaah^-SWT by obedience will neither fear nor grieve. He would be content with his past and hopeful of his future. Simultaneously it was also clarified that those who would deny the teachings of the Prophets^-AS in self conceit and arrogance shall be eternally condemned to Hell. This is because their crime is indeed grave; as denial of the Prophetic teachings involves, firstly, the out right rejection of Allah^-SWT, by itself a great violence, and secondly, fabrication of a whimsical religion, thereby ascribing falsehood to Allaah^-SWT . This will certainly invoke Allah^-SWT's Wrath; manifested by Hell. However, it is a separate issue that Allaah^-SWT blessed them in this life with provisions, giving them respite and the freedom of choice to opt for either, truth or falsehood. Therefore, if someone opts for falsehood, neither his provisions nor his life is taken away. Yet this outward affluence of the non believers must not beguile the onlookers.

Angels^-AS Speaking to non Believers at Death

When the Angels^-AS of Death approach the non believers, they tell them that their term of action is over and they must now get ready for the reckoning. The angels question them why their deities whom they preferred over Allaah^-SWT are nowhere to be seen. They ought to have been present to requite their worshippers and to help them in this difficult moment. The non believers, in reply, shall remorsefully endorse their own crime, adding that out of sheer waywardness, they had given others the status of worship and adoration only deserved by Allah^-SWT .

And when the Judgement is delivered, the non believing amongst the mankind and the Jinn will be commanded to enter Hell along with their alike precursors. In fact, every non believer will be joined in Hell with the other of the same category. All new entrants would accurse those already admitted for the bad precedent they had set leading to the perdition of their followers. When all the dwellers of Hell would have reached their destined locations, the ones entering in the end would plead before Allaah^-SWT to punish those preceding them twice as much, for their misleading role.

Therefore, the Fire will be intensified and the condemned will be told: "You all are subjected to an ever increasing doom which you will equally share. This is the consequence of your being accomplices in sin and evil, which in fact was the worst enmity." Those admitted to Hell earlier will in turn tell their successors that they too were no less guilty, because they turned away from Allah^-SWT's Commands and adopted the absurd rituals of their ancestors. Therefore, all of them will have an equal share in the horrid consequences. May Allaah^-SWT ’ protect us!