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. ------- 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. ------ 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 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism