Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah in Zahedan explicated initial verses of the chapter ‘Anfal’ of the noble Qur’an in his latest Friday sermon pointing the secret of Muslims’ real prosperity is in obedience of the Almighty and His last prophet, piety, sincerity, reliance on Allah, establishing prayers and paying Zakah.
Explaining the importance of Taqwa, piety, and its role in success of Muslims, he said, “Mostly, Sourah al-Anfal discusses the vital battle of Badr which took place in the early ages of Islam. In this battle, despite paucity of equipping Muslims won the war; it was the start of Muslims’ conquests. What were the factors behind Muslims’ victory? Allah Almighty stated them in these verses; obeying Allah the Exalted, His messenger and piety are the reasons of Muslims’ victory.”
So Muslims can be successful when they obey Allah the Sublime and His last messenger. If they avoid misdeeds and forbidden acts and things, Allah Almighty will grant them victory. It was the secret of Muslims’ prosperity in the beginning of Islam and it will remain until the last day of this mortal world, the rector of Darululoom Zahedan added more.
Explaining the Qur’anic phrase “وأصلحوا ذات بينکم”, he said it is natural that disagreements between groups and individuals take place. But such differences must be resolved; this is the second point which played key role in the victory of Muslims. As people have various sorts of attitudes and tastes that may make them prone to strife, Allah Almighty underlined this diversity must not cause any conflict. In the Battle of Badr the companions had different ideas regarding some issues like the matter of hostages of the enemy. But they did not take swords to fight because of the various opinions; they respected others views. This is another secret of success.
He further said, “Nowadays Muslims have different opinions about many issues, as there are different ideas in most of the active movements, parties and sects who live together. Such differences can be observed in all human classes; it must not be the cause of dispute and strife. The noble Qur’an calls on Muslims to be tolerant: “فاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ”, (So, fear Allah, and set your relations right, and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you are believers.) If Muslims want to be superior and successful, so they must have tolerance, piety, solidarity and fraternity.”
Pointing out towards the Qur’anic verse: “وَ لَاتَہِنُوۡا وَ لَا تَحۡزَنُوۡا وَ اَنۡتُمُ الۡاَعۡلَوۡنَ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِیۡنَ” (Do not lose heart and do not grieve, and you are the upper-most if you are believers.); [03: 139], he went on saying reliance on Allah is another exigent condition for victory; a true believer has full trust on his creator’s support. Allah says if you are true Muslims, then do not be sad, do not lose hear; you are superior. It is the second verse of al-Anfal chapter: “اِنَّمَا الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ الَّذِیۡنَ اِذَا ذُکِرَ اللّٰہُ وَجِلَتۡ قُلُوۡبُہُمۡ وَ اِذَا تُلِیَتۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ اٰیٰتُہٗ زَادَتۡہُمۡ اِیۡمَانًا وَّ عَلٰی رَبِّہِمۡ یَتَوَکَّلُوۡنَ”, (Certainly, the believers are those whose hearts are filled with awe when (the name of) Allah is mentioned; and when His verses are recited to them, it makes them more developed in faith; and in their Lord they place their trust.) it is the quality of honest Muslims to rely on Allah all the time in any condition.
Reminding qualities of a real believer, Shaikh-ul-Islam said, “A truthful Muslim never relies on armed equipping and tools; although he takes the advantages of them as means and sources, but he never trust on them. Instead, true Muslims put their trust on Allah. They consider prosperity from Allah not worldly tools. In the both conditions; victory or defeat, they trust on Allah. If we want to overcome our crises and problems defeating enemies, reliance on Allah is the only option.”
Alluding to other factors of victory and prosperity, he stated offering prayers and giving donation in the path of Allah work well also; Allah says: “الذین یقیمون الصلاة و مما رزقناهم ینفقون”, ((They are) those who establish Salah, and give away from what We have given to them.) in the start, Allah Almighty mentioned exigency of the faith, piety and reliance on Allah; now He emphasized on the necessity of establishing prayers and paying Zakah. It means for full support of Allah, we must carry out the good deeds of heart and body, intention and action.
The member of the IUMS underlined establishment of Salah is very vital; according to Hadith, unless a Muslim offers prayers, s/he is safe from all diseases by the help of Allah, otherwise there is no any guarantee for his/her protection. Holy Prophet and his companions used to establish Salah constantly even in the battle fields. The above-recited verse and many other Qur’anic verses affirm that after Salah, the most considerable worship is paying Zakah. Giving donation in the cause of Allah and Islam makes donators blessed and prosperous. Sometimes giving donation becomes more important than offering prayers.
He went on to say more, Allah the Almighty says: “یمحق الله الربا و یربی الصدقات”, giving donation on the path of Allah never makes any one poor; rather it develops income of people. On the other hand, interest adds to wealth apparently; but it demolishes all the wealth in fact. Interest incinerates everything while donation extinguishes anger of Allah. Apart from this, donation prolongs age of donators. Thus all Muslims should try to give donations for the sake of Allah.
The rector of the largest Sunni seminary, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hameed, expressed his views regarding the importance of the noble Qur’an putting it the cornerstone of Muslims’ prosperity. He urged, “Briefly, the only remedy is to return to the Qur’an and Sunnah sincerely. Imitation of these sources makes mankind successful. Muslims must be aware of the Qur’an and its brilliant teachings. Muslims must not miss any direction of the Qur’an. This is the book that brings huge changes in the lives of people.