SERVICE IS NOT TOTAL RELIGION

4:0:55

2023-08-22

1572

The basis of Islam rests on belief and good acts. All acts of goodness are not of equal significance. Some acts are of higher significance while some are of lesser value. Some acts are the pillars of religion; some are approved to be desirable, and some enjoy a degree of justification. In the parlance of 'Fiqh' (jurisprudence), they have been termed as 'Farz', 'Wajib', 'Mandoob', 'Mustahab ', and 'Mubah '. The order maintained by Sharia, according to the degree of significance attached to the act, is very important, otherwise the whole structure of Sharia would collapse.

Service to humanity has been accorded great significance by Sharia but it is not the sum total of the religion.

It is said about some people that service was their religion. May be the purpose was to highlight the importance of service, and the statement certainly contained an element of exaggeration. It diminishes the value of the other important business of religion. Such statements sometimes eclipse the other aspects of these service-minded people. We find this imbalanced approach in other religions also. For them service is the spirit of religion. This tendency was found in the polytheists of Mecca. They were in charge of Ka'ba and supply of water to the pilgrims, and considered this service to be the act of virtue. They were very proud of these acts and it is for this reason they considered themselves to be the trustees of Ka'ba. Islam never permits any imbalance and gives everything its due place in life. Therefore Qur'an warns that their acts of service could never match with the noble ads like belief in Allah and the Hereafter, prayer and charity, fear of Allah, struggle to establish His religion, sacrifice in His way, migration and fighting for His cause. Those who are vested with these virtues would be the real trustees of Ka'ba.

The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, and fear none (at all) except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance. Do you make the giving of drink to pilgrims, or the maintenance of the sacred Mosque, equal to (the pious service of) those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive with might and main in the cause of Allah? They are not comparable in the sight of Allah: and Allah guides not those who do wrong. Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with might and main, in Allah's cause, with their goods and their persons have the highest rank in the sight of Allah: they are the people who will achieve (salvation) their Lord doth give them glad tidings of Mercy from Himself, of His good pleasure, and of Gardens for them, wherein are delights that endure. They will dwell therein forever. Verily in Allah's presence is a reward, the greatest (of all). [Al Tawbah 18-22] (Q39)

In truth, there are many demands of religion on man and one of them is to serve the people. By serving others he could not be absolved of his other religious responsibilities. He has to meet all the demands of religion.