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The Criteria for Action

''Men are tempted by the lure of women and offspring, of hoarded treasures of gold and silver, of splendid horses, cattle and plantations. These are the comforts of this life, but far better is the return to Allah.'' [Al-Imran: 14]

Indeed man is motivated by personal gain. Based upon his viewpoint about life and his understanding of his purpose in it, he defines his interests, builds his relationships, adopts criteria by which this will be achieved, and then embarks upon a path in pursuit of contentment and comfort.

Today the affairs of man are regulated by the decadence of the capitalist creed. A creed whose founders looked upon the beauty of creation and only saw an abundance of wealth but disregard the question of its coming to being. A viewpoint about life, that looked at the wonder and perfect organisation of life and placed no importance on the Organiser nor did it credit the perfection of His (swt) organisation of creation. Rather this erroneous doctrine, built on the concept of compromise, that did not seek to confirm the source of creation and what preceded the life of this world and what will come after it, neither did seek clarity in the relationship that existed between them, regarded the question of the Creator as inconsequential in the way they would govern their affairs and His (swt) worship as trivial. And as a natural consequence of this blatant disregard for Allah (swt) and the Hereafter the focus became the worldly life, its temporary comforts and the measure for action became the whims and desires of man, a selfish and corrupt standard, a criteria of benefit.

Certainly why should the one who places no importance on the Day of Reckoning or his Creator adopt a criteria other than benefit when all he lives for is the life of this world? For this is expected of the disbelievers.

However, what is astonishing and terrifying is when the Muslim whose belief is built upon a firm conviction on the undeniable fact of the existence of Allah (swt), the Prophet-hood of Muhammed (saw) and the torment of Jahanam and the reward of Jannah adopts the criteria of benefit that is adopted by those who disbelieve.

''But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad (saw)) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.'' [ An-Nisa: 65]

In the above ayah Allah (swt) swears by Himself, the greatest entity know to mankind, and questions the belief of those who do not make Muhammed (saw) and all that he brought (i.e. the Quran and the Sunnah) the judge in their affairs. This is clear evidence that the criteria of the Muslim should be halal and haram and not benefit.

For unlike the kafir the Muslim bases his happiness on the pleasure of Allah (swt) and not gratification of whims and desires. And unlike the kafir the Muslim when he looks at creation says 'subhan Allah' at how perfect is its organisation and when he commits an act of disobedience he asks Allah (swt) for forgiveness out fear of His (swt) accountability on the Day of Resurrection, for he has realised that his belief in the relationship of the life of this world and what came before it and what will come after can only be manifested in his actions so how can he adopt a criteria of benefit when he will be accounted by Allah (swt).

How can he adopt the criteria of benefit when Allah (swt) has clearly defined our purpose in life as He (swt) remind in the Holy Quran: ''And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except that they should worship Me (Alone).'' [ Az-Zariyat: 56]