Translation Of Idhoh an-Nasyi’in

MUKADIMAH

 

Brothers and sisters of the younger generation!

These are very useful pieces of advice. It is like a glittering pearl. You will all see them neatly arranged in a beautiful order, and their benefits are numerous. It is expressed in words full of wisdom, can guide to the straight path in a wise manner. It will lead those who practice it to the right path.

 

I present this useful advice, based on sincerity and conviction. It consists of a wide range of topics and discussions, relating to social and moral issues. In addition, it also contains various ethical and philosophical issues and wisdom.

 

These exhortations are full of lessons and advice that can be used by the younger generation to defend themselves from the onslaught of forces that cause weakness and decline and to resist the dangers of social ills and the negative influences of the times.

 

O young generation, hold fast to these exhortations. For they will be a bulwark that saves you when you are young and will be a precious deposit when you are old. May salvation be granted to those who hear, understand and practice the contents of these exhortations.

 

 

I: DARE TO COME FORWARD

 

Allah swt. created mankind so that they would work to earn something to support their livelihoods, so that they would strive in all corners of the earth, searching for the ‘fruits’ (wealth) of the earth whose benefits would return to themselves and to the entire Ummah. None of this will be achieved except through courage and sacrifice.

 

Indeed, the good people of the past did not achieve great glory, conquer difficult obstacles and reach a level that made everyone admire them, except with courage and a noble aspiration.

 

While people living today seem to be lagging behind, unable to achieve the degree of those who preceded them because they are not brave enough to move forward and do not dare to make good and useful efforts and are reluctant to face challenges in order to achieve their desires.

 

Indeed, all nations have risen and succeeded in reaching the peak of all ideals. Whereas it was previously a despised and disgraced nation, scattered like scattered dust, like meaningless gossip. While we, Muslims, are still in a state of deep sleep and are in a position that is too far behind them. We used to be an advanced nation and a pioneer of progress.

 

Therefore, revive the majesty that has been destroyed and re-establish the glory that has fallen down and revive the glory that has been buried. Do not make the glory that has disappeared, something that should be left behind. If all of you do not rise up (to work hard to regain that glory), then indeed I have seen the shroud already spread and the grave already dug. If that happens, then that is where we await death, then we will no longer find a helper nor will we find anyone who wants to save us.

 

So, rise up all of you with a vigor that can shake the solid mountains and stop the summary of wild horses, before a terrible calamity comes upon us and before we hear the deafening cry of the nation. At the same time, we are awaiting our own demise and have nothing to look forward to except…various disasters and crises in various fields.

 

In fact, it is in your hands that the affairs of this ummah rest. Their lives lie in your courage. Hence, come forward with vigor and courage, like a fierce tiger. Rise up (with all vigor and strength) like a camel carrying a load to the accompaniment of the uplifting sound of the clapper, surely this ummah will live.

 

Allah is the helper of you all. He is the one who rewards those who dare to come forward.

II: PATIENCE

 

Indeed, a person of perfect intelligence is one who is patient with all kinds of difficulties, and is also able to face them with a steadfast and resolute heart. A person of perfect intelligence is not one who is easily confused when facing difficulties and is always restless.

 

The soul of an astute person must have in it the traits or ‘atak of calm and patience, He tries to be calm in thinking about the disaster that befalls him and is not confused in preventing the disaster.

 

As for the souls of ignorant people, they are always confused whenever they face difficulties, even if they are very small. This is because he is convinced that he is unable to face it and unable to resist it. He feels that he cannot free himself from the problems he faces. That is the difference between the two human souls.

 

O, young generation, be you people of ingenuity and patience. This can be achieved by making a habit of doing good things and avoiding bad things, adorning oneself with perfect human traits and being manly. It is easy for a person who has been guided by Allah to delight in glory, so that he puts off all the clothes and attributes of humiliation, does not indulge in the desires of his foolish soul and will appeal to the ideals of his noble soul.

 

Thus, he or she will be able to break out of the cycle of an animal-like lifestyle, into a normal moral life environment.

 

Allah, the Almighty, will reward those who are patient in educating their souls and will raise their status to that of those who receive idayah and save them from their uncertain position.

 

I urge you all to be patient in educating your souls. For, indeed, it leads to happiness in this world and the Hereafter.

 

 

 

 

III: HYPOCRISY

 

 

I do not see any vice that has become worse and worse among the many vices and vices, which runs through the body of the Ummah, like electricity runs through the body, than the vice of nifak or hypocrisy.

 

Such a severe and life-threatening disease (nifak) is more dangerous to the Ummah than the sworn enemies who are always looking for opportunities to destroy the Ummah and undermine their state.

 

Indeed, the enemies who attack, if known to the Ummah, then the Ummah must be prepared to fend off their harassment, to prevent their attacks with their defensive equipment and weapons, to attack what they have. If the Ummah is not able to eradicate the evil of the enemy entirely, then it will certainly do its utmost to repel the attacks of the enemy.

 

As for the hypocrite, he is the enemy of the Ummah who sneaks in among them. They do not know how to combat them, nor do they know who to eradicate. The hypocrite weakens the true strength of the Ummah and can hinder the rise of the Ummah which brings good hope and blessings. The Ummah is actually confused because of a disease that afflicts it, the nature and source of which they do not know.

 

If the Ummah remains in that state, without analyzing it carefully and not conducting careful research, in order to find out the dangerous virus, and then try to eradicate it and find out the nature of the disease it is suffering from, and then treat it with an effective medicine, it will experience disunity and moral depravity. That is where the great destruction that erases the existence of the ummah from the world comes in: Then it is buried with the nations that have perished.

 

O young people, I seek Allah’s protection for all of you, so that you will not be among the hypocrites.

 

Beware, lest the efforts of the hypocrites influence your hearts and minds, so that you fall into the fire of evil, which is a fire that consumes all fresh and dry plants, and finally consumes the homeland, where they live.

 

Make every effort – may Allah protect you all – to introduce the ummah to the hypocrites and warn them against their tricks. Then, you will all be part of the good people.

 

Allah swt. always strives with those who try to fend off the tricks of the hypocrites, so that this ummah can reach the peak of glory.

 

 

 

 

IV: AL-IKHLAS

 

The deeds are like the body. While the spirit is in the form of sincerity.

When the body is left with its spirit, which is the reason why the body can stand up and live, then the body becomes dead, unable to move and no benefit can be expected from it. The same applies to deeds, which have been left by the spirit in the form of sincerity.

 

How often we see people struggling. But we have not seen the good impression (benefits) of their struggling efforts, in fact most of them fail, unable to achieve what they aspire to. Like a person entering the sea, he only reaches the edge. Even if he can enter the water, it is only at the shallowest place. He has not yet succeeded in entering the bottom of the ocean, then retreats, returning empty, losing energy and treasure.

 

The problem of your failure above, is because sincerity is not .they make the foundation of the struggle. They fight only for temporary gain, which is not commendable and false honor.

 

Actually, there is one secret to remember in the struggle, which is sincerity. Indeed, a person who fights with a sincere heart, purely for the benefit of his nation and country, people will certainly tend and sympathize with him. They give encouragement, praise and help. So, with this support he becomes more enthusiastic and active in his struggle and increases the seriousness and patience in his struggle.

 

As for the person who struggles insincerely, even if he hides it, surely his disgrace or reproach will be revealed. So that the people who originally helped, will leave him. Those who originally supported him will leave him alone, and they will even criticize his struggle. Because of this, his spirit becomes weak and his will becomes slack, and he is forced to abandon his struggle by force. As a result, he suffers material and moral losses and lives a life of uncertainty.

 

Such examples are numerous.

How many organizations we have witnessed that were established, but soon ceased to exist,

 

Enumerating such incidents would require several pages, which this book cannot possibly contain.

 

O, young generation, be you sincere in your struggle, you can surely reach the peak of your aspirations. Beware of selling or exchanging your struggle for gold. For, such a thing is the nature of the hypocrites, who used to exchange religion for the luxuries of the world and exchange truth for falsehood.

I seek refuge with Allah,. so that you do not become an insincere person.

V: PUTUS ASA

 

Not when despair comes upon a people does it paralyze them and not when it comes upon the hearts of a people does it weaken them.

 

How crippling weakness of the heart is. In fact, it is a disease more painful than physical ailments and more ugly in its scars than the blow of a sharp sword.

 

As for the weakness that is the result of the many effects of despair, it can make a person live like an animal. He does not understand the meaning of this life, except as animals understand it by instinct, which is to eat good food and drink good drinks and enjoy other pleasures.

 

Allah swt. has coupled despair and poverty, in His words:

 

“Let not all of you despair of the mercy of Allah. For, indeed, no one likes to despair of mercy. Allah, but the disbelievers.”

 

Notice how great the sin of the one who despairs is.

 

This sin not only torments the perpetrator in the hereafter. But it also hinders him in his life in this world. This is because if a person who has been afflicted with the disease of despair is given some task that he has to work hard on, and the results do not appear immediately, then you will see him turn away or retreat, like the retreat of a timid person in the face of brave people, whereas if he would be diligent in doing it, diligent in expelling the feelings that prevent him from completing the work and would be resolute in the face of various difficulties that exist and try to subdue these obstacles with real seriousness, with a burning spirit and a sharp mind, of course the matter can be completed perfectly, and he will get the results he wants.

 

However, he was desperate. Despair is a trait that destroys ideals and tears down the joints of the struggle.

 

If you try to confront most of the people in our society who, in our view, are capable of doing great work, the benefits of which go back to the nation and the state, to take care of a worthwhile matter, then they refuse to do so for reasons that are vague and unreasonable.

 

What are the excuses of people who despair of the success of their work and the difficulty of achieving success? They are not really excuses. They are not true at all.

 

But, yes, only out of desperation. May Allah remove despair from our chests. May Allah also forgive those who habitually despair and elevate them with lofty ideals and guide them to good deeds.

 

Indeed, despair has infected all but a few human hearts, and has been coiled around the souls of all people, except those who have been guarded by Allah with the light of hope, so that they can understand the consequences, then try to improve the situation, so that they can reap the results of the struggle in the future.

 

O, young generation, do not all of you become hopeless, lazy and backward people.

 

Despair is only a death (helplessness) in life Despair is a miserable disaster after death. Get rid of despair and establish vigor and cheerfulness, you will surely become a victorious and happy person.

 

 

 

 

VI: HOPE

 

 

If there was no hope in life, no one would strive to achieve their goals. There would be no one to encourage the spirit of nationalism, the spirit of fighting for one’s homeland, and life would be narrower than a lizard’s hole and heavier than carrying an iron chain around one’s neck.

 

I have never seen anyone working except for someone who is certain that the work he or she is doing will have a good effect and can be expected to benefit him or her, either for himself or herself in particular or for the general public, and that the good effects will be felt by the people of his or her country.

 

However, there is still a very important issue.

 

The problem is that there is a group of people who really do not want to do anything unless they are certain that their efforts will definitely bear fruit. If there is the slightest doubt about the success of their efforts, even if it is as thin as a spider’s web, then they retreat and do not want to dispel that doubt. Such an attitude is not that of the staunch-hearted and is not the temperament or character of a true warrior.

 

The factor that caused them to retreat was none other than the lack of hope or optimism in their souls. The weakness of hope (roja’) is one of the mental illnesses that must be treated immediately by expelling feelings of despair. This is because hopelessness is a mental illness that infects the wider community and is a virus that endangers the continuity of development.

 

Losing the trait of Roja’ or hope is a disease in itself, which is widespread in the body of every member of our society. Hence, we have seen that the number of people who work are few and those who succeed in life are also rare. If they had understood and realized this, they would have immediately discarded this despicable trait and clung to the trait of roja” or optimism and worked hard, just like those who believe that despair is a disease. While in roja or Optimism there is an antidote or repentance.

 

Then there was a group of people who didn’t care how far they wanted to go. They feel as if there is no barrier between them and what they aspire to. They fought to defend their principles and beliefs, just as a judge defends his verdict. They continue to move forward, like a flood that continues to flow. They remain consistent, not shifting from their ideals in the slightest. They are the true group of people and it is because of them that this people or nation will live.

 

The group of people who work with enthusiasm truly understands that the hope of successful work (optimism) is the main driver for progress and is the cause of achieving success. They can actually never be made idle by the weakness of wishful thinking and the dimness of the light of ideals.

 

The above group of people are firmly convinced without the slightest doubt or confusion, that life with despair is death. They always say: How narrow this life would be, if there were no wishful thinking or broad hopes.

 

O, young generation, make roja’ (optimism) your shiar and wishful thinking your shirt. Abandon procrastination and ignore all the temptations that deflect you from what you have all aspired to. Be the kind of people who have high hopes, lofty aspirations, love to strive and work hard. Allah is your helper.

 

 

 

 

VII: CUNNING

 

I have researched human nature, and I have found no trait among the many that is closer to dishonor, reproach and death in life than cunning.

 

Cunning does not take hold in the soul of a people, except to make them despicable. It makes them despicable, backward, and destroyed, lala dead.

 

When the Ummah is suddenly attacked by the enemy, if they are afraid to ward off the enemy’s attacks, and do not dare to resist them because fear has spread to all personnel of the Ummah, then the enemy will easily infiltrate the layers of the Ummah, enter their homes by making various damages, control the country and enslave the entire Ummah, without anyone having the courage to defend and oppose the evil of the enemy.

 

If the situation continues like this, it will be controlled by a group of evil people. They will freely destroy rice fields and kill the children of the nation. They treat the people as animals that cannot speak. If the Ummah had not been afflicted with cunning, they would have driven the enemies far away, so that they would have suffered losses. Had there been no cunning in this Ummah, they would have been beaten back, so that they would not have dared to return.

 

Silence, allowing the actions of those who intend harm to the Ummah, is the behavior of cowards. Whereas opposing and eradicating the wrongdoers is part of the signs of the existence of a pleasant life for the Ummah.

 

Indeed, the life of a developed and honorable nation depends on courageous people.

 

It is ugly, by the Lord of the Ka’bah, that ignorant people appear in our midst as scholars, cheaters as clean people, frozen people as advanced and clever people, weak people unable to fight as capable people and people who should be dead carcasses, but dress as if they are still alive and strong.

 

What is worse than this is our own attitude of leaving all sorts of problems to a group of people like those mentioned above in a hypocritical way, for the sake of personal gain or because of our own weakness of spirit and moral decay.

 

The worst of all…is our defending and defending the position of the wrongdoers, those who like to usurp the rights of the common people and like to use power for personal gain and those who have evil intentions towards the ummah. It is even worse if we consider these wrongdoers to be good people, with good intentions and honest or professional work.

 

Indeed, such an attitude or temperament, the source of which is cunning, cowardice and timidity, is an act of deception and destruction against the ummah. This is because to do so is to hand over ‘the ummah’ to someone who will ruin their lives, destroy their social fabric and undermine their norms and morals.

 

O young people, I ask Allah to protect you all from being cowardly, ignorant and despicable. Indeed, cunning or cowardice is the mother of all ills of the ummah.

 

Familiarize yourselves with courage, you will surely become people who can maintain or defend their self-esteem, be honest in speaking and succeed in fighting.

 

In fact, cunning or cowardice really harms the ummah and can even make it despicable. This is because they live under the rule of oppressors, are abused by the ignorant and deceived by the deceitful. If the state of the Ummah remains as it is, then their future is doomed.

 

Let not all of you fear reproach in your efforts to establish the truth and let not the power of the unjust deter you. For indeed in fear is destruction. Whereas in courage lies a promising life.

 

You will all be fathers one day. Therefore, be good role models for your children. If you can do that, then this Ummah will live like a happy people.

 

 

 

VIII: ACTING WITHOUT CALCULATION

 

If cunning or cowardice are despicable traits and a great handicap for those who are infected with them, then thoughtlessness is no less despicable than cunning, because both behaviors are directly harmful to humanity.

 

Cunning in all work leads to failure, while carelessness in doing work before careful consideration is also a cause of failure.

 

We have witnessed a group of eager people working hard on various issues, only to return shortly afterwards with no results (loss). They fail at the work they have been mindlessly doing. Before long, their ideals froze.

 

What is the secret behind all that?

 

Indeed, the secret of all these events is clear and apparent to everyone who thinks. In fact, each of the various jobs, some of which are likely to achieve success and some of which are not. A reasonable person is one who considers the work to be done, before tackling it. If he sees that the work is likely to be successful, then he focuses his attention on it and starts working on it with enthusiasm. However, if he considers that the work he is about to undertake will not be fruitful, he will not waste his time in doing it.

 

Carelessness is harmful. It is like cunning. Both are unprofitable (they are the cause of failure).

 

If you see a person who has strayed from the right course, and is following an unrighteous path, and you are late in instructing him or afraid to start advising him, then he is bound to remain in error. Likewise, if you want to advise him harshly or discourage him harshly, then he will not listen to your warnings. In fact, he may even become stubborn and transgress further. (If this happens), then the good that you desire and the results that you seek will disappear.

 

Carelessness (working without calculation) is one of the great secrets of failure in all work. It is on this trait of carelessness that the main causes of the loss of the fruits of our labor and the loss of success from our hands are centered.

 

O young generation, avoid carelessness, for it is a cause of failure. Abstain from working in a way that is not accompanied by careful calculation, for it results in falling and failing.

 

Be, you are among those who are moderate in spirit, surely you will be part of those who are happy in this world and the hereafter.

 

 

 

 

IX: COURAGE

 

The main basis for the success of various works lies in the executor himself, namely the low level of courage in the executor’s soul that encourages him to continue working. He will not retreat after successfully getting something he aspires to.

 

Workers (warriors) cannot succeed without this noble trait or temperament. Courage can make the person who possesses this trait master various important issues and all difficulties can be overcome.

 

Courage is the line that mediates between two traits: cowardice and carelessness. In cowardice there is recklessness and in carelessness there is safety, while in courage there is safety.

 

Courage, which is the act of moving forward with determination and retreating with steadfastness.

 

There are two parts to courage: moral and material courage. Both are part of life.

 

Material courage, which is a person’s defense of his country and himself from self-inflicted harm, and winning over enemies in order to glorify the ummah. He continues this endeavor until Allah does what needs to be done (victory for himself and destruction of his enemies). If he wins, then he has succeeded.

 

If he has not been able to achieve what he aspires to, then he still gets the reward of people who work sincerely.

 

As for moral courage, it is the courage to rebuke or prevent the injustice of the unjust ruler and prevent the misguidance of the scattered people, to guide the people with good advice, towards a straight and bright path.

 

If this kind of courage is lost, then the wrongdoer will continue to commit injustice, the misguidance of the misguided will increase and the ummah will walk on the wrong path. The result of all this will be the total destruction of the ummah.

 

When such courage is lost, the country is like a divided booty. The country loses everything from the smallest, to the most precious. The people cry out, but no one pays attention. The destructive and plundering factions continue to commit crimes, but no one prevents them. If this is the case, then the state is truly in grave danger, which makes every citizen a helpless slave who must obey the commanding stick of the ruler. Then, a great calamity arises that erases the characteristics of the ummah and destroys its freedom and liberty, and makes this ummah disappear or perish.

 

Such is the state of the people, when they are infected with fear, and have no moral or material courage.

 

If the Ummah acts rashly and struggles to cope with the situation, then there is a very high chance of disaster, just as they feel when they are in a state of fear, because the Ummah if they act impulsively, before making plans and preparations, then the results are bad too.

 

When asked if one has to choose between two things, viz: Acting recklessly before making calculations or being apathetic and fearful. Which of these two attitudes is better for the people?

 

The answer is that there is no good in apathy, fear and cowardice. On the other hand, acting without calculation (tahawwur) may or may not lead to success.

 

But what can best save the Ummah from the above dangers is the cultivation of courage in every Ummah. Courage is a strong fortress and a safe haven.

 

O, young generation, be brave. Hold firm, do not let the disease of fear and the temptation to act rashly lodge in your hearts. Indeed, cunning is foolishness and rashness is arrogance, whereas courage is the temperament of the believers.

 

 

 

 

X: BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE

 

A people from the countryside came to Caliph Hisham bin Abdul Malik and said:

 

“O Amirul Mukminin, we have been in famine for three consecutive years. The first year has melted the fat, the second year has held the flesh and the third year has sucked the marrow out of the bones, (meaning that for three consecutive years the people have been in a state of suffering or economic crisis). Meanwhile, you have a lot of excess wealth. If the surplus wealth is for Allah, then distribute it to His servants. If it is for the people, then why not give it to them and if it is for you, then give it in charity. Verily, Allah loves those who give in charity.”

 

Caliph Hisham bin Abdul Malik said: “Hi, Arabi: (rural person), do you have any other needs?” The Arabi replied: “I have come to you from a distant place, exposed to the scorching heat of the sun and the chill of the dark night, not at all for my own benefit, but for the benefit of the people.”

 

Caliph Hisham bin Abdul Malik ordered that treasures be taken to be distributed to the people, and he ordered that the Arabi be given treasures that could be distributed to his tribe.

 

O, young generation, indeed the Arabi, this rural man, had a great soul, healthy feelings and great jealousy towards his own people and others. That is why he had no desire to monopolize profits, other than for the public. He knew full well that a life of personal luxury, while his people lived in a state of misery, was despicable, disgraceful and a wretched life.

 

How is it possible for a reasonable person to be happy in a life of luxury, while those around him are living in a state of misery?

 

How can he not be disturbed by the misery that has engulfed all levels of the ummah. While he is indifferent to the sufferings of the Ummah, and he does not share their pain?

 

Indeed, such an attitude (living happily without caring about the people who are living in misery) is part of the weakness of feelings and is the death of feelings and moral depravity. Indeed, the one who is happy with the life of the weak, while the Ummah is suffering, and does not feel for the Ummah, is an animal, who does not understand the meaning of life, except to have fun, eat and drink.

 

There are others who are more animalistic than those mentioned and more destructive to social life, namely the one who seeks personal gain in the name of the interests of the ummah, is he aware that such is harmful and detrimental to the interests of the people (like an arrow through the heart) and is a crushing blow to the life of the ummah.

 

Indeed, such people (with interests) are a heavy burden on society and are a very dangerous disease that is lodged in the body of society.

 

Don’t such people realize that their actions will bring harm to themselves?

 

Doesn’t he realize that he is one of the members of society who is trying to make them miserable?

 

Does he not understand that the calamity that has befallen this society has its consequences for each individual? Or does he think that he will be safe from his evil deeds and free from the bad consequences?

 

If the person who does such a thing thinks that he will be saved, then his assumption is very wrong, because we have never seen a person who endangers (sacrifices) the ummah in order to seek his own personal benefit, but the harm of his actions must return (to) himself. Such examples are numerous and countless.

 

Remember, there is a group of people between whom Allah has put a barrier and the truth, and from the outside it appears that there is mercy in it, but inside it is only torment (suffering). This is because they are actually trying to break the ummah, weaken its strength, deprive it of its rights and leave it in a state of weakness and humiliation. Their evil deeds and attitudes do not benefit them at all and do not bring them any benefit except the praise of the ruler. The sweet and sympathetic face of the ruler is only for a moment in their presence. If they gain any material benefit, it will neither fatten them nor relieve their hunger (they are not very brave). Their actions are nothing but hypocrisy and showing off.

 

It is this hypocrisy and showing off (riya) that leads people like the above group of people to praise the deeds of the selfish people, and they even consider the selfish people (the rulers) to have worked and done their best. Yet they are fully aware that they are mutually doing things that lead to the downfall of the ummah, seeking to weaken the ummah and taking actions that destroy the ummah. They are misguided and misleading; they are the worst and most evil of creatures.

 

O, young generation, keep yourselves away from the deeds that they do. Save yourselves from the ugliness of their deeds. Do not be like the followers of Abu Firas AlHamdani who said:

 

Be you like the followers of Abu Al-‘A’la Al-Ma’arry who called out:

 

“May it not fall on me and not drench my earth with heavy rain, if it cannot prosper the land of my blood.”

 

Of course you will all be guided to the straight path.

 

“Why should I attribute my deeds, when death will surely come to me: When I die of thirst, will any raindrops fall?”

 

 

 

 

XI: GLORY

 

I have made observations on the behavior or temperament of mankind and conducted research on their souls, until I came to the conclusion that there is not a single .who does not recognize himself as noble.

 

Ask the clever and the foolish. Ask the good and the bad, and ask the sincere and the hypocritical. Ask every person who behaves in a praiseworthy or bad manner, and every one of them will answer that he is a noble person.

 

Everyone can claim to be noble, it’s just that not everyone takes these claims at face value until they are proven to be true by careful research. Otherwise, the real issue becomes muddled or unclear.

 

Many people think that this glory lies in the wealth that a person has, in terms of how much or how little he has. He is self-centered, proud and arrogant. Underestimating the weak and disrespecting the poor.

 

Surprisingly, a person of false nobility can find loyal supporters. Some of them are upstanding, while others are contemptibly bowing down and prostrating themselves at his feet. Sometimes, by paying such homage, they do not gain anything that can close and improve their lives. What they do is only out of hypocrisy and humiliation. It is only due to the error (corruption) in educating them, in addition to the disease (depravity) in their morals.

 

If the person who claims to be noble because of his wealth knew that he can be completely changed by the times, so that he becomes poor after being rich and becomes poor after experiencing sufficiency. If he knew that he could be completely changed by the times, so that he would become poor after being rich and poor after experiencing plenty, then the people who used to honor him would turn to despise him, and the people who used to approach him would turn to hurt him, then he would have given up his arrogance and he would no longer behave in the manner described above.

 

There is also another group of people who think that glory .is in the form of physical strength in a person or think like this, it is easy to underestimate weak people, even though – they (strong people) have extraordinary minds (intelligence) and can achieve high ideals, as high as the Orion star.

 

If the person who made such an assumption knew that the tiger is braver and stronger than him, and that the camel is stronger and sturdier in body and bones, and is bigger and more formidable than him, then he would have withdrawn his assumption, and would have felt inferior and would not have favored himself with his strength.

 

Another group of people thought that glory lies in one’s health when the Ummah is sick, in one’s stability when the Ummah is suffering, in one’s strength when the Ummah is weak, in one’s progress when the Ummah is in decline, in one’s honor when the Ummah is despised, and in one’s honor when the Ummah is humiliated.

 

If the group of people whose notion of nobility is like this would think a little, they would know (realize) that such a notion is wrong, mistaken and feel that they are still deceived by lust and the devil. A noble person is one who is noble because of the nobility of the ummah; he lives well because of the prosperity of the ummah. If the Ummah is despised, then he is despised and if the Ummah is destroyed, then he is also destroyed.

 

True glory and honor belong only to a person who is truly perfect and strong, clean in spirit, has sufficient faith and gives encouragement to those who call for seeking knowledge. Whoever is able to do this will be one of those who are kind and good in the eyes of the people.

 

It is impossible to be noble if one is ignorant, dismissive of those who are clever and ignorant of those who are of sound mind, who does not embrace the scholars, and who does not like to see the Muslim Ummah advancing in all fields.

 

In no way can one be considered noble who deprives the people of their freedom, monopolizes their wealth, belittles them and seeks to destroy them, for the sake of his own personal interests.

 

A noble person is one who serves his country in the true sense, upholding his country. He is willing to be humiliated for the sake of the glory of his country and is willing to die for the survival of his country.

 

O young generation, that is true glory. Hold fast to that trait of true glory, for it is the strong link between you and Allah. Take refuge in the fortress of noble character traits, for it is the firm fortress of Allah.

 

Indeed the country has called you all to serve it, to be good. Therefore, fulfill that call. And verily, the people have stretched out their hands to hold out help to you, so help them with whatever causes them to rise and help them with the strength that is in you, surely you can live well and can reach a high level.

 

 

XII: LET DOWN OUR GUARD AND BE VIGILANT

 

The state of the ummah or nation is the same as that of the individual, both of whom are careless and vigilant. Sometimes heedlessness prevails over the people, leaving them frozen and backward. But sometimes the trait of vigilance is more prominent and makes them energetic, so that they are always aware and vigilant. These two traits are constantly competing and jockeying for position. They cannot and will not come together in one person and there is no relief between them. That is because they are opposites and two opposites cannot come together in one body.

 

The victory that these two qualities achieve has several causes. These causes may differ in appearance, but their essence is the same. For, these causes result in the victory of one Narijah, which is the arising of awareness and vigilance in the Ummah or the naivety and stagnation of awareness, or the naivety differs in strength and weakness, according to the difference in the causes affecting each person of the Ummah who has contracted that trait.

 

The factors that cause the Ummah to become frozen, backward, retrograde and fall are many.

 

Among the causes that have made this Ummah frozen and backward, is the frozen thinking of most of the religious leaders and the attitude that hinders the flow of the Ummah’s strong desire to progress to become a nation and be influential. Some of these religious leaders (ulama) have used religion as a means to achieve their own ends and as a confession to prevent the thinking of the people, to label (not to give) support to the reformers and not to follow the ideas of scholars and experts in social, economic and political sciences, who want immediate reforms in all fields for the sake of the glory of the ummah.

 

Such scholars do not hesitate to disbelieve and deem as unbelievers those who do not agree with them, and to legalize the unlawful and forbid the lawful, and sometimes even consider lawful the blood of good people. All of this is a result of their lack of knowledge (ignorance), because they are deceived by their own lust or weakness of character, if they are willing to understand it.

 

Among the causes of the people’s decline is the dictatorial attitude of the leaders and influential people, as well as their injustice and intimidation of those who intend to rise up with the people to free themselves from the shackles of degradation, ignorance and backwardness to become a noble, knowledgeable and aware and vigilant nation.

 

There are other causes, in addition to those mentioned above, which it is not possible to mention in this short book. These other causes, like the ones already described, can lead to the decline and stagnation of the ummah and lead it to humiliation and backwardness.

 

That is the state of the Ummah when it is in a state of ignorance or unawareness. It is their unawareness that keeps them in the bondage of a despicable ruler.

 

As for the state of the ummah when it is aware and vigilant, it is certainly not the same as what has been mentioned above. For, the people who are in awareness and vigilance, that is when they become an honorable ummah (nation), high in position, respected, strong, and weighty (taken into account) voice and vast power.

 

A people or nation cannot be in such a state unless it is preceded by causes that can lead them to the goal (glory) described above.

 

The reasons for the ummah’s triumph are many.

 

Among these causes is the emergence of people of great spirit among the ummah itself, who feel hurt or saddened to see the ummah in ignorance, backwardness and decline. These people then rose up to instill in the ummah the value of lofty ideals and ways of freeing themselves from harmful things, reviving their spirits in preparing themselves, and striving to reach a lofty position. When the time comes that they are ready, they can encourage or pressure the rulers, officials and important people who act arbitrarily, to change the corrupt state of society for the better. It is in this way that the obstacles facing the progress of the ummah can be removed.

 

When the purpose was accomplished (ending the dictatorship of the rulers), then these great souls realized that what they had just managed to get through was still nothing compared to the obstacles that would confront them in their struggle to improve the ummah. This is because getting rid of injustice, arbitrariness and social and political reform is not enough to raise the status of the Ummah if they are still ignorant and backward. In fact getting rid of the ignorance of the ummah is a more serious matter than getting rid of the tyranny of the government and in fact the backwardness and stagnation of the ummah is also a serious obstacle in the way of making them live honorable and respected lives. This second obstacle is more difficult to deal with than dictatorial rulers and ignorant religious leaders.

 

When these prominent people (who are fighting for the Ummah) know the obstacles they will have to face then they should think about ways of removing the dullness and ignorance of the Ummah. The most suitable means for this is none other than by preaching a moral revolution that can eradicate the corrupt morals of the rulers and the harmful rules and customs.

The most effective way of doing this is the distribution of truthful, free and honest newspapers that do not aim at selling honor and dignity in exchange for the meager wages that the owners of these newspapers receive through dishonorable and fraudulent means. In addition to this, the distribution of useful books should also be encouraged at all levels of society or the ummah. It is possible that the influence of these books is greater than that of the newspapers.

 

Therefore, it is incumbent upon the scholars to write and distribute useful books that will arouse the feelings of the people and awaken them from their ignorance. These scholars should support honest national newspapers and useful magazines with their writings. This is to encourage the Ummah to patronize them in order to increase their readership. In this way the Ummah will continue on its path to glory and happiness.

 

O, young generation, wake up all of you. Do not be among those who are backward and backward. Read newspapers that have strong nationalism and read books that have strong language, you will surely become successful people.

 

 

 

 

XIII: CULTURAL REVOLUTION

 

People or nations that are afflicted with a social disease, then they really need healing. The people’s need for the repair of their broken minds and the correction of their bad culture is more urgent than the sick person’s need for medicine.

 

Whenever someone was sick, his family and friends would go to a doctor whom they trusted (to cure him). The doctor would then examine the sick person and prescribe medicine that was deemed suitable for the sick person.

 

Sometimes an entire nation or people are afflicted with a disease, except for those who have God’s mercy. But they are apparently reluctant to go to a doctor who specializes in social diseases, to ask him for help, to treat their illness, relieve their pain and cure them of the disease that afflicts them.

 

The reluctance of people who are sick to seek treatment from a doctor who specializes in social diseases stems from two things: Firstly, perhaps they do not know about their illness at all, so that those who are in a coma due to the illness that is hurting them, consider themselves not sick and free from all diseases. Secondly, perhaps they really know that they are sick and know the medicines they need, but they just do not have confidence and stability in the existence of a doctor who can cure them or they are reluctant to think (try) to find a doctor.

 

There are many who send their children to medical schools, so that after they graduate, they can treat the sick bodies of their people or nation. However, almost none but a very few of the Ummah send their children to educational institutions that teach morals and social sciences, so that they can later educate the morals of their Ummah and improve their social system. Such a sorry state of affairs is due in no small part to the corruption of the psyche of the members of the Ummah, who are more concerned with material needs than moral ones.

 

The people do need both classes of scholars (doctors). But their need for scholars who are experts in the field of social issues and experts in moral sciences is greater than their need for doctors who are experts in the treatment of prominent diseases.

 

When the ummah has been afflicted with an epidemic of a disease, it does not press for casualties except for about ten percent of the total number of the ummah. Then the cure for the disease is determined. But when the Ummah is afflicted with a social disease or moral crisis, the casualties can reach ninety-nine percent of the Ummah. Yet, you all must understand, O young generation, that destroying the life of an individual is easier than destroying the life of the ummah.

 

Then you will understand that it is not possible for an ummah or a nation to move and rise unless there are people among them who are active in improving the morals of the nation, encouraging it to move forward, raising its consciousness and spurring it on to achieve greatness.

 

The level of awareness of the people or their decline depends on the skill of the people who are trying to treat (correct) them.

 

No people or nation can rise except by improving their good morals, which is preceded by eradicating the roots of their bad morals (habits) and improving their social life system. If these matters are properly addressed, then other issues, such as reforming the political, economic and development systems, will be easily resolved.

 

Efforts to improve the morals of the nation and correct the depravity of the order in society cannot succeed, without carrying out massive changes in the moral field that need to be stirred up in the soul of the entire people by reformers from among the scholars of social and moral sciences little by little, so that the roots of moral depravity can be broken down, then replaced with good morals or habits.

 

The morality movement is in the form of the appearance of individuals of the ummah who are good in behavior, clean (sincere) in heart and clear in their purpose, which is to change the social and moral conditions of the ummah. It is they who must mobilize the Ummah to abandon bad habits and disreputable behavior. They must be constantly engaged in motivating the ummah with all their efforts, tirelessly, until they can achieve what they aspire to.

 

The main condition for the success of the morality movement is that it should be started in accordance with the conditions, so that when the ummah is ready to be taken forward, the pioneers of this movement should bring forth righteous thoughts and ideas that are appropriate and suitable for the consideration of the ummah. If the morality movement is not carried out in this way, then it is more likely to leave the people in a worse state than they were in before.

 

The steps taken by the pioneers of this morality movement should be similar to the steps taken by physical doctors in giving prescriptions to their patients.

 

A doctor will not give food to his patient, except in accordance with the development of his health. So that when he is completely healthy, then the doctor will allow him to eat food that is not harmful to health, such steps should be considered by the pioneers of the morality movement in their efforts to change the morals of the people.

 

The entire Ummah at this time is in dire need of a morality movement, to improve their lot and alleviate them from moral decadence.

 

O, young generation, you are the doctors of this social disease. You are the ones who are expected to be the pioneers of this morality movement. In your hands are all the affairs of the ummah. You are the ones who will be charged with the responsibility of changing the thinking of the people and spreading noble moral values among them.

 

Therefore, be prepared from now on to be persistent and strong-willed people. Assume that you are the same, that you will be doctors, counselors and guides of the ummah who are sincere and true counselors, who can put their advice into practice. If so, then you will be respected by the ummah.

 

 

 

XIV: THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT

 

The business at hand is the same as that of the individual. A person who relies on others for everything – to fulfill his needs – is fallen, despised and weak. Similarly, an ummah that cannot take care of its own affairs and is unwilling to put in the effort to attain glory. Such an Ummah is backward, backward, despised and not a free or independent Ummah. In fact they are a people shackled to the value of slavery.

 

That government wants the Ummah to be in control of its affairs. It does not want to deviate from the line set by the Ummah by an inch. If any community takes refuge in the government and seeks its help in any of its affairs, then that community has bound itself to the government’s cords and they must be in line with the government in social or intellectual life, according to the will of the government. There is no doubt that the government must have formed or appointed people who it thought were suitable and loyal and could fulfill its wishes, rather than forming or appointing people who could take care of the people’s needs.

 

If you see people working for the benefit of the Ummah in government schools or government institutions, which is very rare, then they are people who have learned how to live in society and the state from their surroundings, and not at all from their teachers or from the curriculum books prescribed in their education.

 

If we want to be a good and advanced ummah, then we must try to advance the ummah through the ummah itself, not through the government, by devoting all our energy and ideals, in order to create an advanced ummah. As is the state of the developed ummah today. They have been able to establish schools, institutions and factories without asking for help from their governments. If they had asked the government for help, they would have been backward, like we are.

 

Any Ummah or nation that depends on the government for the success of its aims has entered the government’s family and is bound by its bonds. When it is bound to and in need of the Jains, it is not a free people. If that is the case, then from where can they progress? How can they rise up?

 

The government is part of the Ummah with specific and particular jobs. It always seeks the help of the Ummah to strengthen its strength and must rely on the Ummah in all matters. This is because the few must depend on the many. We never hear of a large group depending on a small group, unless the large group (ummah) is weak, backward and cowardly.

 

If the Ummah wants to have a good and progressive government, then the Ummah itself must first improve itself and try to find the path to progress and happiness. Thus, when the Ummah is good and advanced, the government will also be good and advanced, because the small part follows the big part. Also, because the government must be the image and mirror of the ummah. Therefore, if the people are good, the government is good and vice versa, if the people are not good, the government is not good. If we suppose that there is a good government and the people or ummah are corrupt, then surely the government will soon become corrupt as well. If there is a good Ummah and the government is corrupt, then it will not be long before the government becomes good and follows the course of the Ummah.

 

To summarize, the government basically follows or depends on the state of the people in terms of their intelligence and ignorance, progress, decline, intelligence and ignorance, and goodness and corruption. Hence, we should not depend on anything but ourselves, and we should not wish for anything but the utmost sincerity and seriousness if we want to be a good nation and have a good government.

 

O, young generation, it is to you that we look up, should you all make it your goal to serve the ummah in truth. Strive to achieve success and progress for the ummah, until their former glory and honor returns. After that, an advanced government will be formed, whether in social, scientific, economic or developmental fields. With such efforts, you will become a true nationalist.

 

May Allah realize the hopes of all of you. May you all always be under the protection and help of Allah. Verily, Allah is the Hearer of all prayers.

 

 

 

 

XV: DECEIVED BY ONE’S OWN FEELINGS

 

The weak-minded generally do not see themselves in the same way that others see them. The weak-minded always see themselves as great and noble, even though they do not have the causes that make them noble.

 

They consider themselves to be clever people, but ignorance still surrounds them, like a thick cloud in the day that always envelops the earth and covers the entire surface of the sky.

 

They consider themselves to be human beings. But animalistic traits have taken control of the reins of their souls, controlled their hearts, dominated their dispositions, allowed their lusts to corrupt their intellect and shred their humanity. They are always confused in misguidance and are constantly in the darkness of wickedness and disobedience (kebatilan).

 

All this is because they have been deceived by their own feelings (ghurur) and by their lust for falsehood. This is a despicable trait that destroys the noble qualities of the soul, eradicates the hope of happiness, and removes the last vestiges of glory from the souls of those who are sensible.

 

One of the saddest things is that a group of young people, who are actually the pillars of the nation, the backbone of their lives and the pillars of the nation’s future prosperity, have even awakened to this trait of ghurur (being deceived by one’s own feelings). They have habituated themselves to this habit (according to the lusts that always deceive them) until it has become their nature, which is difficult to get rid of, because it has permeated their souls and its roots have sunk into their hearts. As a result, the people shunned them because of their own behavior. Those who were close to them avoided them and those who had friendships with them turned against them.

 

Sometimes one of these young men has only studied a few minor issues in a particular discipline, and has not gone into enough depth to really understand it. But he already shows himself to be a scholar of his time and a thinker of his era.

 

Sometimes he has only read a small part of literature, but he has established himself as a great literary figure or poet.

 

Sometimes one of these ghurur-afflicted youths composes a speech in poetry, or writes some articles that are published in some newspaper, but in the composition of his poetry there is absolutely no weight and in his writings there is absolutely no message that appeals to the heart. Most of these expressions, which he calls poems or scientific works, are full of errors, either in meaning or in pronunciation, or even in meaning and pronunciation. Despite this, he claimed without shame to be a talented writer and a famous poet of his time, who was unrivaled.

 

Occasionally a group of such youths would come forward at public meetings and special gatherings. They speak on various themes and wander through every valley. One moment you see them as if ascending into the sky (as astronauts), another moment you see them as diving to the bottom of the sea (as sailors). Sometimes they talk about the past and current historical events of nations. Then they go on to talk about literature and its history, and then they discuss religious sciences and all kinds of things. Then they move on to philosophy and all kinds of things. They are rash and unaware in their actions. They are like blind camels walking in the darkness of the night. They do all this just to be regarded by the public as scholars.

 

You will again see a group of selfish people, their feet in the water and their noses in the sky. They are the dregs of the ignorant. They are arrogant like princes. Being rude like executioners. Sitting like kisses and walking like emperors. Yet they, those selfish people, are nothing in the eyes of the ummah. Like in a battle, they are not members of the army and not members of the infantry.

 

If you ask one of those selfish people about the factors that lead them to be arrogant, he will answer: This is part of Al-Iba’, my reluctance to do something that is considered low and despicable. But what exactly is Al-Iba’, if they understand? The real Al-Iba’ is to purify oneself from all forms of impurities lodged in the heart, to cleanse oneself from all impurities and to push the soul to achieve nobility, to be willing to reject injustice, not to pursue bad deeds, not to delight in humiliation and not to be inclined to despicable deeds. On the contrary, he should adhere to good deeds and follow the path leading to noble character.

 

Indeed, the actions of this selfish group of people are not part of Al-/ba’: But this indicates that they are weak-minded, ill-tempered, ill-informed and poorly educated. They are only holding on to their fantasies.

 

O young people, I ask Allah to protect us all from ghurur, being deceived by our own feelings. This is because ghurur pushes one to the despicable deeds mentioned above and embellishes despicable deeds so that they appear good to you, and it also pushes you to commit disgraceful acts.

 

Recognize your limitations and strive to rise above them, by putting all your efforts into gaining glory. Allah will surely have mercy on anyone who truly knows the limits of his position and abilities, then stops (recognizing) his limitations. ..:

 

May Allah guide you, remove the veil that covers your heart and may He guide you to the straightest path.

 

 

 

 

XVI: UPDATE

 

Renewal is life. It is a natural law that God has ordained to apply in the life of all things.

 

All living things must undergo renewal (change) at any given time. Those parts (cells) that are not suitable to be sustained, will naturally break down, and then others will grow in their place, which can sustain life. If there were no such renewal or rejuvenation, a living being would not be able to survive for ten years. After that, it would cease to exist.

 

Indeed, death is bound to come to every living being. It is death that hinders the renewal or rejuvenation of the creature. The virus of death is sometimes weak. It reacts to inhibit the rejuvenation of the body gradually, so that when the virus that attacks the body becomes defeated, it means that it has reached its goal, which is to kill the creature that was originally alive. Sometimes the virus of death is strong, causing sudden death, which means it has inhibited rejuvenation in the body very quickly.

 

This situation (of slow and quick rejuvenation and death) also applies to plants. This is because plants are living creatures. A garden that is tended with proper agricultural tools and cared for by a skilled gardener, who frequently plows the soil, waters the plants, arranges the branches of the garden and clears the soil of pesky insects and destructive grasses, means that the garden has undergone a process of rejuvenation. The garden eventually produces abundant and perfect fruits and provides its owner with the most delicious and best fruits.

 

But if the gardener leaves his garden uncultivated, does not water it, does not care for it, does not remove the animals or grass that could damage it, and does not use his sickle to clear it, then the soil will be diseased, the plants will not be fertile, the trees will be weak and unstable, and the branches will wither and not be able to change properly.

 

All this is because there is no rejuvenation in the plant. Renewal or rejuvenation is the secret of eternal life.

 

The people are like trees living in a garden or park, while their leader or guide is like the one who tills the garden. If the leaders do not pay attention to the upbringing of the Ummah, ignore their educational problems, do not improve their mindset (intelligence), do not want to educate their morals, do not want to remove corrupt and morally destructive habits from the environment of the Ummah, do not want to take care of the Ummah in new ways, so that it is not boring and with means that can make the Ummah alive and do not want to call the Ummah to rise and live happily and honorably, then the Ummah becomes frozen, does not develop, withers and dries up, then is eliminated from the arena of life (dead).

 

Renewal is as applicable in the abstract as it is in the concrete realm.

 

If the living thing requires renewal – in order to sustain life – then the spirit of the ummah must be renewed, in accordance with the development of its needs.

 

As for a garden that is well cared for by its cultivator – with maximum care -, surely among the good plants will grow destructive grass and annoying animals. The same applies to morals and customs, which must be continuously maintained. They should not be exposed to disturbances that could interfere with or damage the good behavior and habits.

 

The gardener must not allow destructive plants to grow and must not allow animals to eat the plants, so as not to destroy all the plants.

 

The ummah should always be on the lookout for behaviors that should be rejected and on the lookout for customs that should be discarded, and try to eradicate them, so that the danger does not spread and corrupt the morals of the people who are accustomed to their good customs.

 

Renewal is the law of God enacted in life in this realm. Hence, Allah swt. sent several messengers, one after another, one being replaced by another. The new messenger who replaces the old one updates the teachings brought by the old messenger with some additions in accordance with the demands of the situation and the needs of the people. Such an issue has been outlined in the hadith:

 

“God sends at the beginning of every hundred years (a century), one who is charged with reforming the ummah in its religious matters.”

 

When the spirit of renewal has spread to the Ummah, the Ummah will automatically realize and move to eradicate bad behavior and break down the broken order of the Ummah and the fragile customs. Thus, the Ummah will be vibrant, back to its youthful perfection.

 

O young generation, the Ummah is in dire need of reform in all fields. For, in the Ummah, their behavior, rules, laws, language and all important matters, are nowadays fragile and decayed.

 

Rise up – may Allah watch over you and grant you: help and breathe the spirit of renewal among the people. For, renewal is the ultimate secret of survival.

 

 

XVII: LUXURY (EXTRAVAGANCE)

 

Luxury, once it has found its way freely into the soul of the ummah, will only corrupt it. It can make a mockery of its glory, tear apart its wealth, bring down its honor and destroy the fruits of the ummah’s development.

 

People who live in luxury usually have depraved morals. This is because they have many things that support luxury and there are means available that encourage them to commit wickedness and violate the laws of Allah.

 

Luxury leads to extravagance and extravagance leads to bankruptcy. Those who love luxury are weak in mind, weak in body, weak in aspiration and backward in thinking. They do not understand the meaning of life, except to indulge in the whims of their animal lusts and chase after delights, such as those of animals (e.g. eating, sleeping and having sex). They are reluctant to try to do anything beneficial for the people and reluctant to think about the progress of the country. They consider good things to be bad. They consider evil to be normal and good to be buried. Meanwhile, they spread disobedience.

 

When you call upon them to alleviate the suffering of those affected by calamities, dry the tears of the poor (for crying out of want), and sacrifice wealth for the continuation of the education of the ignorant, then their throats feel tight, unable to swallow, turning their necks and shaking their heads. However, if they are asked to contribute money for events that are not praiseworthy (in the eyes of religion and common sense), they will rush to fulfill the invitation and call of the person who invites them quickly. They are like arrows that fly out of a bow and like a verdict that is issued, which must be carried out.

 

There is no corruption that is rampant in the midst of the ummah or society, unless those who love luxury are the source of it. There is no calamity that strikes the people, but they are the cause or the virus and there is no violation of Allah’s law that occurs among the people, but they are the people who like luxury and spree as the masterminds and pioneers.

 

Basically, the human heart is inclined to love pleasure, so that pleasure controls the human heart. Pleasure (lust) never leaves an opening to the heart, but immediately enters it and does not leave a wide opportunity, unless it fills it. It always tries to subdue the human heart. The pleasure of indulging in lust is nothing but the pleasure of living a luxurious life. This is because the desire to live a luxurious life always encourages a person to freely enjoy the things that feel good and to indulge in what is the pleasure of his lusts and fulfill his desires. When a people becomes accustomed to indulging its lusts and is preoccupied with its pleasures, disregarding the interests of the people and forgetting the things that sustain its life, it will not be long before the people are corrupted, beset by various calamities that never cease to envelop them.

 

Look at the nations of the past, and you will find that it was their penchant for extravagant living that destroyed them, so as to serve as a lesson to the generations that came after them not to indulge in extravagant living.

 

Consider the Romans, Persians and Arabs, who once reached the pinnacle of glory, fell because of their fondness for the luxuries of life and collapsed because they always indulged their lustful desires. Granted, it is possible that this cause was mixed with other causes, which led to destruction. However, the most important cause behind these other causes is none other than indulgence in luxury and extravagance.

 

Compare the previous people with these three nations and investigate, and you will find that the disease of living in luxury was the seed of all the diseases that destroyed them.

 

Now, compare the manners of the people of the countryside with those of the city. Compare the bodies of the villagers with the bodies of the city dwellers, then look at the nobility of spirit, loyalty, courage, nobility, bravery and various noble behaviors of the rural people with the attitudes and behaviors of the urban people. The difference must be stark. After that, what is the cause of this difference, it is the penchant for luxurious living alone that causes the moral depravity and fragility of the bodies of urban people.

 

With the above, we are not calling on you to live like the people of the countryside or the countryside. Rather, we are calling on you to have the morals of the people of the countryside. We are calling on you, as a human being, to avoid disrespectful customs and traditions, to avoid foolish behavior, and to abandon your penchant for luxury and extravagance. It is this penchant for extravagant living that removes noble behavior and bequeaths despicable behavior. We should be moderate (neither too generous nor too frugal), so as not to become miserly.

 

O, young generation, beware all of you of the pleasures and luxuries that always tempt your hearts. Cue the wolf that is ready to pounce on your body. Do not have the character of those who like to live in luxury and extravagance and do not act like the behavior of those who go beyond the limit, so that you will not be recorded as among those who have fallen. This description contains some valuable lessons for all of you, if you are willing to pay attention.

 

 

 

XVIII: AGAMA

 

“Surely nobility belongs to a clean soul;

far from the soul are filthy words and lies.

 

A knowledgeable and fortified soul:

with religion, it is the pillar of his glory.

 

Religion, if there is no religion, is definitely not broken;

the bunks of this natural rope.

 

(If there was no religion, the darkness of this ummah would have been perpetuated).

 

And it won’t be hard, the crookedness of their problems:

Their formidable crookedness cannot be straightened out.

 

And they must have stayed in dark Najed:

and they would have remained in Tihanah far from guidance.”

 

The true religion is like a lamp that illuminates people walking towards progress. While practicing the teachings of religion is a guiding path for all mankind.

 

Religion is a creation of Allah, so it would be strange to common sense if Allah were to command His servants to do something that would cause them to sit idly by, not try to do good deeds, and that would prevent them from achieving a decent life and the pleasure of Allah.

 

Good and righteous progress is the very essence of a great religious soul. Even if it cannot be said that they are identical, then they are two brothers, that is, a father and a mother. His father is the right (truth) and his mother is the essence (reality).

 

There is nothing that can make people happy except religion and nothing that can harm them except ignoring religion or holding on to the outside (skin) of religion and leaving its core teachings.

 

Religion is like a double-edged sword (both sides are equally sharp). If there are people who claim to be religious, trying to improve their practice (practicing well, using it properly), then religion becomes a helper in facing all difficulties and becomes a guide when in a state of confusion (like a person lost in the desert) and religion is like a lantern that shines in the darkness. If the person who claims to be religious is wrong (not good) in carrying out (the teachings), then nature brings disaster (danger) to himself and others.

 

What we see of the misery of most religious people is due only to their own ignorance of the teachings of religion and only because they are away from the pearl of its pure teachings, free from all impurities, free from the thoughts infiltrated by those who want to destroy the purity of religion and free from the deeds of those who do not know religion, It is free from the aims of those who make religion a game, to fulfill desires and as a game, to fulfill desires and as a means (vehicle) to achieve their despicable goals.

 

Religion in this day and age is like a lifeless specter or ghost and the meaning of its teachings are taken for granted by many people. It is used by people who wear religious clothing as a tool to influence the minds of ordinary people, in order to glorify them and to fill their pockets (suitcases) with money from them. Those who use it for this purpose are not religious people at all, but what they do is severe ignorance, bad manners, a despicable personality, far from good deeds and deviating far from the true purpose of religion. People who use religion for these purposes are generally people who are fond of delusion, fanatical adherents of taklid and slaves to lust.

 

In fact, the common people are not to blame if they believe in something for which there is no source in religion. It is those who call themselves the elite who are to blame; it is they who instill in the minds of the common people a notion or teaching that is not in accordance with the Shaniat; it is they who spread falsehoods or lies in what they call the advancement of knowledge; and it is they who continue to widen the gap of discord (division) among the sons (inhabitants) of a united country.

 

The threat (corruption) of religion arises from two kinds of people (the first kind of people) are:

 

“People who think that the religion of Allah requires shunning the world;

and he thought that turning away from her was very useful.

 

But, suppose he is brought a thousand dirhams;

immediately relinquish his piety and divorce his temperance.

 

He was not a true zuhud person and shunned the treasures of the world:

but earnestness (effort) is considered bone crushing.

 

So he was afraid to try (work) that could make his feet bleed:

he only takes breaks that he deems necessary.

 

It is not called zuhud in one’s world:

who dresses in rough cloth and likes to wear patches.

 

Verily the true zuhud person is just a person:

who can restrain himself (from a life of pleasure) and is reluctant to become a lowly person.”

 

The second type of person who is a threat to the destruction of religion is the one who advocates falsehood under the guise of religion, disbelieves others, considers bid’ah and fasik against others, so that people judge him, that he is a religious person, when he is actually a person who is far from religion, like the distance between heaven and earth.

 

Beware, good youth, of these two kinds of people, for they are a dangerous threat to religion.

 

Religion is a light, while the actions of these two kinds of people are darkness. Religion is the right of truth, while the actions of these two kinds of people are false. Religion is the teaching of progress or development, whereas what is called for by these two kinds of people results in destruction.

 

“Do not think of religion as something that is dictated by the whims of the passions:

The religion of Allah does not contain such innovations.

 

Religion is a bright, shining light;

The whole of nature becomes bright, when religion radiates light.

 

The noble ethic emanates from the religion that dispels darkness until light dawns.”

 

O youth, fight firmly for your religion. Do not allow people to do things in the name of religion that religion does not teach, so that you may attain the twofold happiness and good of this world and the Hereafter.

XIX: CIVILIZATION

 

True civilization is a behavior that can make a civilized person healthy physically and intellectually and wrap him in clothes that make him look beautiful dazzling among his family, class and society and will make him happy in this world and the hereafter.

 

Anyone who wears the clothes of civilization and tries to live up to the true meaning of civilization deserves to be called a civilized person. On the other hand, whoever understands the meaning of civilization not as it should be -wearing a civilization that is not like the original, then he is among those who are perverted (closed-minded): A barrier has been erected between them and the happiness they wish to achieve, which cannot be broken through by the impulses of the ideal. In fact, the aspirations for success are blurred and weakened, leading to despair.

 

Civilization is nothing but praiseworthy morals, which can lead to harmony among individuals and unity among groups. It is the efforts and deeds that bring about the progress of the state and improve social conditions, intensive efforts to purify the soul from unworthy traits, to attain nobility, to refrain from actions that harm people, to avoid bad manners, and it is the maximum effort to alleviate the suffering of the difficult and efforts to build schools (educational institutions).

 

The Eastern (Asian) nations were once famous for having a very high civilization and having the power to strengthen its joints. Then, the times changed and what happened to the civilization of the eastern nation, so that the prosperity it had achieved was destroyed and its progress was torn apart. That is the Sunatullah, which He has decreed for people (nations) who do not practice social norms and they no longer walk on the right rails of civilization. Finally, their treasures of science and civilization (eastern nations) turned to a nation that understood the virtues of civilization (western nations). They placed it on a high pedestal: expanded its chest to develop that civilization, and improved it based on the demands of progress and needs, so that they could achieve extraordinary perfection in the field of civilization, they continued to progress rapidly and managed to dominate the nations that retreated and controlled them.

 

However, their (western) civilization was also not devoid of flaws and shortcomings, which are found in every nation that expands its prosperity and develops its civilization rapidly. Although they are not happy about the obstacles that have befallen them beyond their awareness. However, you see them trying to remove their wheels and blemishes and trying to lower their civilization.

 

Today’s eastern nations have begun to wake up from their slumber and imitate the progress of western civilization. Just as the west imitated the civilization of the east, it is just that the journey is slow and the effort is slow. Most of the people who emulate the civilization of the west are only limited to the side or skin and ignore the real core. What they learned were only theories that could not fatten them up and relieve their hunger. Knowledge has to be practiced, but they do not want to practice what they (westerners) practice. The benefit of cosmological science (modern science) is to achieve what the west has been able to achieve, which is to create jobs and factories that pour abundant wealth into the country, reduce poverty and eliminate unemployment.

 

Among the easterners there is another group of people who claim to emulate the westerners, but they do not follow them in the study of useful knowledge nor do they emulate them in their useful endeavors. Rather, they only imitate the corrupt and morally depraved behavior of the westerners, who do not know anything about civilization other than indulging in pleasure, committing sins, dressing in various fashions of clothing, indulging in despicable customs and squandering money to do despicable and lewd acts.

 

Beware, young man, of an understanding of civilization that is not in accordance with the essence of civilization, so as to cause you loss in this world and the next, your body is sick and your mind is corrupted.

 

Know that the true civilization is what I have described above. Hold fast to it, practice its requirements, then your thinking souls will be able to reach the goal, which in turn can attain the happiness you desire.

 

 

 

 

XX: NATIONALISM

 

I have never been more astonished than I am at a person who claims to be a nationalist and claims to have sacrificed his blood and treasure for the country: Yet, that person goes to great lengths to undermine the country’s strongholds by various acts of arbitrariness.

 

Not everyone who advocates the spirit of nationalism is a true nationalist. Before you see it, he has done work that can bring life to the country by sacrificing all his precious and insignificant possessions for the sake of the country’s progress and is willing to strive together with others to uphold the dignity of the country and work hard with comrades in defense of his country.

 

As for the person who tries to do something that can weaken the strength of the state and break its joints, then he is still far from being called a nationalist, even though he has shouted in a voice that can be heard throughout the country and repeatedly declares: “I am a genuine nationalist”.

 

True nationalism is the love of striving for the good of the country and working for its interests, while a genuine nationalist is one who is willing to die for the establishment of the country and is willing to be sick for the good of his people.

 

Remember that the state has certain rights that its citizens must fulfill. A son is only considered a true son when he has fulfilled his obligations towards his father. Similarly, a son of the nation cannot be called a good son unless he is willing to rise up and shoulder the burden and responsibility of serving the country, defending it from provocateurs and stemming the efforts of traitors or false fighters.

 

Among the obligations to be fulfilled by every son of the nation is to increase the number of educated people of high morals and virtue, who have firmly planted in their bosoms the famous aphorism, viz:

 

“Love of country is part of faith”.

 

The effort to increase the number of educated people will not be realized except by sacrificing one’s wealth for the sake of the public good, devoting one’s energy and mind to establishing educational institutions that can breathe nationalism into the souls of students, that can foster noble ideas and good deeds in their souls and that can awaken them – when they become adults – to serve the interests of the country that is on the verge of collapse due to the actions of irresponsible sons of the state whose crimes exceed those of the real enemies.

 

From these growing educated people will come ideas and efforts that can uphold the life of this Ummah, a Ummah that is on the verge of disappearing – due to its ignorance and humiliation – into the records of extinct nations.

 

When the educated people who have been educated with the right education grow up and begin to involve themselves in social life, then among them there must be those who make great surprises, which have never been seen by the eyes, never heard by the ears, and never even imagined in the minds of human beings before.

 

Right education is the spirit (soul) of life and science is the fresh blood of a country. It is impossible to live happily without the right education, and education encourages effort and work, while knowledge points to the path of happiness.

 

We are in dire need of national industries and enterprises and nationally-run trade, so that the country can achieve economic independence and be free from dependence on foreigners. Anyone who seeks to liberate the country and free it from begging for help from foreigners is a genuine nationalist who is respected by everyone.

 

Every endeavor has its preliminaries, and the prelude to independence is to improve the education and teaching of the younger generation, so that they become the hands (officials) of the country who want to work, become its strong spirit and become the blood that flows into all parts of the veins of the country. Therefore, improve the education of children, and the country will prosper.

 

Love for one’s homeland is the nature or instinct of every person, which no one denies, except liars and the anxious. The only thing that turns a person away from patriotism is an education that has an irregularity in the way his brain thinks or the presence of foreign blood. It is this kind of person who provokes the natives to enter the country where he was born, raised and enjoys the products of the earth. It is the foreign blood that makes him suddenly yearn for a homeland he has never known.

 

Our homeland is none other than the birthplace of his father and ancestors. It is that foreign blood that makes him yearn for a group of people with whom he has never known customs, has not understood their language and has never had any contact. He behaves this way only because he feels that he belongs to that nation. Such a person should be content with his longing, and should not try to vilify and damage the country that gave him shelter and protection, especially after the country he longs for no longer considers his ancestors important, and has even thrown him away like a fruit seed, and the person of foreign blood does not need to obstruct or thwart any efforts of the natives to revive the country.

 

O, young generation, all the hopes of the nation are pinned on you, so rise up, study hard – may Allah swt. protect you – and fight with the character and manners of the ancients, because the country has called you and you are the one who is awaited.

 

Beware of the traitors of the struggle, beware of their traps and be aware of their crimes or treasonous deeds. Remember that nothing causes the country to fall into disarray and be reluctant to make efforts to improve it, except those traitors and false fighters, who are the most evil enemies and the most dangerous disease.

 

Be thou like a fierce disaster, a malignant disease, a terrible death and a watcher who keeps a close eye on them. Be careful not to be tempted by position before you are ready to fight for the target, and do not stop monitoring those who want to do harm.

 

Realize your dreams, and your country and nation will prosper with you.

 

 

 

 

XXI: FREEDOM

 

 

Indeed, every nation has a death, and the death of every Ummah is the day of the disappearance (loss) of the freedom of the Ummah or nation itself.

 

Freedom is a gift from God, the Creator, to His creatures, which the creatures are expected to make good use of for themselves and others.

 

Hurriyyah (freedom) in language, means “discussion” of all bonds. Al-Hurru (the free one) is the opposite of Al-‘Ahdu (the slave), because he (Al-Hurru) is free from the bonds of slavery. Al-Hurru also means “choice”. It can also mean “good”, when combined with the word Ath-Thin or Ar-Ramlu. Ramlatun Hurrun means: “Good sand for planting”, Ardhum Hurrun means “good soil”.

 

From this description of the meaning of the word Al-Hurriyyah, you understand that the word Al-Hurriyyah (freedom) indicates the meaning of purity, cleanliness, goodness and purity of something from things that defile and tarnish it.

 

A free person – in the new and correct sense – is one who is pure in his upbringing, clean in his soul, holds fast to praiseworthy qualities, abstains from reprehensible qualities, breaks free from all forms of bondage and performs the obligations that are his.

 

Indeed, man was not created by Allah swt. to be a slave or servant of others. Man was not created by Allah swt. to be a ball to be kicked around at will, to be played with by the hands of the rulers, to be played according to the whims and fancies of the rulers; rather, man was created by Allah swt. to work and do good, either individually or collectively, according to Allah’s law, which is freedom or liberty.

 

This great gift of freedom will not be taken away by Allah – from mankind – except because of the damage done to their souls and mentality by the oppressors. The oppressors did not allow them (the nation to be colonized) to pour out their hearts with knowledge. Because they know very well that true knowledge will show them their rights. True knowledge is like a spark that ignites aspirations (to free themselves) in their souls and makes reasonable people sensitive, when manipulated by arbitrary power.

 

Caliph Umar bin Al-Khaththab r.a. asked ‘Amer bin Al-‘Ash. the governor of Egypt, when his son dared to hit an Egyptian.

 

“Since when have you enslaved people who were born by their mothers in a state of freedom (liberty).”

 

Remember, a person cannot be considered free unless his soul has received a perfect education, there is a strong will in his heart, he has a lot of knowledge, then he dares to free himself from the grip and confinement of those who control him by force and coercion. Anyone who has not done so is far from being a free person, and the distance between him and freedom or independence is still blocked by the haunting expanse of the jungle.

 

One cannot be called a free man who uses freedom as an opportunity to commit despicable acts and a path to corruption, or uses it as a sword to remove the garment of iffah, or uses it as a spear to pierce the virtues, or uses it as an arrow to tear people’s honor.

 

It is not freedom to act in a way that causes harm to oneself and others, such as wasting one’s wealth, abusing one’s humanity, turning one’s back on evil deeds, destroying the social order with actions that hurt people, backbiting, gossiping, making enemies and other actions that are not in line with noble morals.

 

In fact, there are many people who claim to be free, but wear the clothes of slaves; they are captives of their lusts, slaves to their leaders or rulers, and slaves to their angry passions, which, when they are prompted to do harm, they obediently do. If it tickles him to slander and threaten others, he is quick to comply. However, if his reason urges him to do things that will bring him to life, and a sharp-minded person advises him to do something that will raise his status, and if the warriors urge him to rise up with the people and support them. So, he pretends not to have heard the call, or he even takes the path of polemicizing with those who call for it. Then he claims to be a free man. Humanity and freedom are nothing but the two main factors of prosperity and the two essential elements of a harmonious society.

 

Any nation that wants to reach the pinnacle of high civilization and equitable prosperity, it must work hard to educate the individuals of the nation, understand the true meaning of freedom and independence, must nourish its sons with clean and pure national noble values.

 

O, young generation, rise up to fight for true independence, which is free from the interference of hypocrites and traitors, because pure independence is the only way to achieve glory. True independence is the path to a happy life.

 

 

 

XXII: KINDS OF FREEDOM OR LIBERTY

 

 

There are several kinds of independence or freedom, including: Individual, organizational, economic and political freedom. A nation cannot exist without freedom in these four areas.

 

Individual freedom, also called personal freedom, is a very important issue. With this individual freedom, organizational freedom can be created, because the organization consists of many individuals. Therefore, the freedom of the organization will not be realized unless there is freedom of the individuals in the organization. Therefore, a people or nation that wants to be independent must strive hard to educate each individual with independent education, so that an independent, independent group is formed from these individuals.

 

Individual freedom includes the freedom to speak, write, print and express ideas or opinions openly, without any supervision, control or demands, provided that they do not interfere with or tarnish the freedom of others.

 

Everyone is free to adopt any ideology he wishes, whether religious, scientific, political or social. He is also free to propagate them, so long as they do not cause divisions among the people, and to spend or utilize wealth in the form of money, land, buildings and so on, provided that his actions do not lead to foolish extravagance. If he leads to foolish actions, then he must be declared as Mahjur “alaihi, that is, prohibited from spending his property.

 

The conclusion of the discussion on individual freedom is that individual freedom is a freedom that should not clash with the freedom of others. Therefore, each person (individual) is obliged to protect the freedom of others, just as he protects his own personal freedom.

 

Freedom of organization means that every group has the right to hold a meeting or meeting anywhere and anytime, unless it is armed, then it must be prohibited, because the actions of groups or organizations that hold meetings with weapons may lead to actions that violate the meaning of true freedom. In addition, every group has the right to establish various organizations with different visions, whether they are scientific, artistic, religious, industrial, social or political, provided that their rules and laws are in accordance with the rules and laws outlined by the People’s Consultative Assembly.

 

Therefore, the people who sit in the assembly must consist of people who are known to be independent, knowledgeable, honest, good in their opinions, and sound in their minds, so that they do not enact laws that shackle the freedom or independence of the people and are contrary to their interests.

 

Economic freedom. Freedom in the economic field is the life of the people in the material field. If the people are not given freedom in the fields of trade, agriculture, the establishment of factories and the exploration of mines to utilize the economic resources contained in the earth, then the lives of these people are the same as those of a captive whose neck is tied with a rope, while the two ends of the rope are held by two strong, burly men who always frighten him that they will pull the two ends of the rope until they strangle him and the two men also threaten him with death. Thus, the prisoner could only await his death at any moment.

 

Indeed, the Europeans can control the source of wealth or the economy, after they succeed in removing the shackles that bind economic freedom and independence, in addition to freedoms in other fields, Today, the economy of the eastern nations is in their hands, the Europeans. If the Europeans want to kill the eastern nations, it seems not difficult, they just need to stop exporting their goods to the eastern countries and withdraw the money or capital they have invested in the eastern nations.

 

Actually, our country is rich, a lot of natural resources, it’s just poor human resources or personnel who are able to manage this wealth, to meet the needs of the people is not sufficient.

 

These foreigners come to our country and buy or lease our lands for their produce, or perhaps they get special privileges or permission to manage (from the government). Then they develop certain areas of our country and explore the mines in the bowels of the earth, producing billions of gold and silver. Meanwhile, we are still ignorant, unconcerned, indulging in our lusts and fighting with each other to break the bonds of unity.

 

Political independence means that each nation is free to determine its own affairs without any ties or pressure from other nations. This means that it is the people who have full say in setting the rules and laws that suit them, are free to make any treaty with any nation, set taxes or excise duties on incoming goods from foreign countries and are free to make the expansion and increase in production in the agricultural sector, economy, national industry and others, which are necessary as a sovereign nation.

 

This political freedom cannot be fully exercised if the nation concerned has not agreed to establish the three kinds of freedom or freedom mentioned earlier (namely individual, organizational and economic freedom). If this is not the case, then the nation’s journey towards progress will be slow, because it will experience a limp, while it is impossible for a lame person to catch up with a strong person.

 

If a nation wants to live, it must do its utmost to instill these four kinds of freedom in the souls of all its citizens. Indeed, a nation that loses its independence – which is its lifeblood – is closer to destruction than it is to survival.

 

O, young generation, work with great enthusiasm, learn all the lessons and issues related to independence correctly. Be vigilant not to have an understanding of independence, like that of people who do not understand the theories of independence. Then, try to socialize the meaning of independence to your nation. Fight to free your country from the shackles of bad traditions and depraved morals. Work hard to release all forms of slavery that are wrapped around the nation, hopefully you will succeed in freeing the nation from the shackles of slavery, so that with the success of your efforts, the nation will become independent and able to survive to keep up with the progress of other nations in the world.

 

Remember, every nation is doomed, and every nation is doomed when it loses its independence.

 

 

 

 

XXIII: WILL

 

I have never seen a person who made up his mind to achieve something, but achieved it. Nor has there been anyone who put his mind to something and achieved it.

 

This is the case, because the will itself is a desire for something, followed by an effort to achieve it, devoting all abilities to realize it, preparing tools or means that can help realize it and continuing to work tirelessly. There is no doubt that something that is desired can be realized, when the methods mentioned above are all fulfilled by the person who has the desire.

 

The scholars of Sufism expressed the above meaning of volition in their own language:

 

“Verily, Allah has many servants, and if they will anything, Allah wills it.”

 

At first glance, it seems that the scholars of Sufism have made the will of Allah swt. follow the will of the servant who has a desire. But the scholars of Sufism do not interpret the above sentence except in the way we have described it. This is because the result depends on the causes. Allah, the Almighty, has decreed that the attainment of the desired things depends on the sincerity of the will.

 

In the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) it is stated:

 

“All actions are according to intention. “

 

There is no doubt that whoever has the right resolve, the right intention, the right will, and the will to go ahead and strive for what he wants with a willing heart, will achieve what he aspires for, and get what he wants, because the success of the desired thing can be realized if there is a cause, and that cause is the will.

 

Willpower is the training of the soul, so that it is firm and forward in doing work that can be done, so that it becomes an inherent disposition of the soul. Willpower is an incomparable happiness for the person who possesses it. With willpower, people want to work and improve their standard of living. With it, he will abandon harmful habits and reprehensible morals, and he will be able to control or lead his desires. It is also because of the will that a person becomes a perfect human being. A truly perfect human being is one who does not want to be hindered by anyone in his efforts to achieve his goals and does not want to be stopped by the pleasures of his lusts, in order to achieve what he wants.

 

The prophets, philosophers and prominent figures could not have succeeded in spreading their goals, ideologies and teachings, nor could they have succeeded in carrying out their desired projects, as recorded in the pages of history, except through willpower. Their success was due to their indomitable will. The most important part of their will is their determination and resolve to continue working and succeed, even if in the midst of their endeavors they were struck by a great calamity, capable of tearing down mountains and breaking iron.

 

What we see about the failure of people to work is actually the result of not paying attention to the education of building willpower in their souls. They are unable to persevere and are vague about what they are doing, and they even tend to retreat when they first face trials, even though the real patience is to be steadfast when facing the beginning of calamity.

 

It requires patience, not hesitating and taking for granted the obstacles that stand in the way of fruitful endeavors. It is such things that are the main cause of successful work.

 

When the will has permeated a person’s soul, his mind becomes wiser and his passions fall away (do not play a role), while his human being becomes perfect. Because the will that permeates the soul really sticks and imprints on the noble soul, so that the soul becomes good, clean and happy.

 

If a nation has a large number of people whose souls are based on strong will, then the nation will speed up its development and progress quite admirably. Whereas any nation that has fragile joints of greatness and collapsed pillars of glory, it is because it lacks strong-willed people.

 

Remember that whoever has a weak will is dwarfed and inferior. He is easily swayed by his lusts and toyed with by the whims of small people, moreover big people, so that he is like a ball that is kicked here and there, according to the will of those who play with it. He is not like the target of an arrow. If someone comes to him with an issue, and he urges him to acknowledge the goodness of the issue, he complies.

 

However, if someone else comes to him later on and influences him to recognize the wrongness of the matter, then he will be influenced. Such a person is one who has no conviction and is easily swayed by the whims of others and is played by his own lusts. This is because there is no power in his soul to counter falsehood with truth, and he does not have the intellect to distinguish between what is good and what is bad. Such a person is clearly not a perfect human being.

 

If a nation wants to live a decent and happy life, then they must teach their children to instill willpower in their souls. This is because willpower is the key to happiness (success).

 

O, young generation, you are the pillars of the nation, the pillars of greatness and the leaders of the nation in the future. Therefore, make it a habit from now on to be a strong-willed person, not caring about the obstacles that prevent you from achieving your goals. Being strong-willed is the base of praiseworthy morals. The willpower is like the eye of morality that is observant and is the heart that can think.

 

Concentrate on willpower, then what you want is easy to achieve. Remember, words:

 

“Verily Allah swt. has servants who, if they have a will, Allah grants it.”

 

 

 

XXIV: LEADERSHIP

 

The law of Allah (Sunatullah) has determined that in every form of creature created by Allah, there must be a leader and a leader. There are those who govern and those who are governed. This is so that thoughts do not overlap and desires do not diverge, resulting in a rift of harmony, broken affection, faded unity and discord.

 

Any group that does not have a leader to whom they can complain about their difficulties, is like riding a wild, unruly horse on a pitch-black night (in a state of panic and confusion over the difficulties they face).

 

If the spirit serves as the constancy (life) of feeling, then the leaders of each nation are the spirit of their unity in the life of the community and state. If the leaders are corrupt, the people or nation will be corrupt, and if they are good, the people or nation will be good. Because, the ummah will stand tall, strong and prosperous, when the leaders of the ummah move it. If they (the people) are sluggish, then they straighten them when they are crooked, pull their hands when they (the people) fall and guide them when they are going astray.

 

The leader cannot be considered a true leader unless he has fulfilled the conditions of leadership, namely being intelligent, broad-minded, opinionated, self-controlled, strong, clean or sincere, good behavior, generous, providing a lot of financial assistance for the welfare of the people and actively spreading knowledge to all corners of the people’s residence. Anyone whose path is such and who is able to shoulder the heavy responsibilities mentioned above can only be called a “true leader”. If there is someone who does not fulfill these conditions to become a leader, then that person is an ignorant usurper who claims to be smart and wants to become a leader because he is crazy about rank.

 

There are so many people whose minds are scrambling to become leaders, even though they do not fulfill the requirements of being a leader at all. They do not realize that the leader of the nation is actually the spokesperson who voices the conscience of the people, their thinker, the people’s place of complaint when they face difficulties and their protector when in danger, a place to ask for help when hit by a crisis and as a place for the people to rely on when they face big problems.

 

Every ummah has periods during which they are not led except by sincere leaders, good leaders and reformers. Then, times change and the period of leadership also changes, and things improve. Then, the times change and the period of leadership also changes, and things improve. The ummah ends up being led by the wicked, the lowly, the ignorant, the foolish and the followers of the devil.

 

Remember, the times are turning, the people or nation (east) has woken up from its slumber and has awakened. Realizing their negligence, they are not willing to continue to be captives of those who seek to destroy and enslave them. They do not want to recognize leaders, except those with reformist and good souls, who are willing to die for the life of the ummah, happy or difficult for the ability of the ummah and willing to live miserably for the happiness of the ummah.

 

Go forth, O youth, to perfect knowledge, hold fast to noble morals and be diligent in doing righteous deeds with the guidance of a sound mind, so that you may one day be the leader of your nation and the head of your family.

 

Beware of the whispers of your heart to be ambitious to hold a leadership position or the seduction that seduces you with the pleasure of holding a leadership position. While you are not fit to occupy it, you will actually plunge your people into the abyss of misery and you yourself become despicable.

 

A nation cannot do well without leaders;

and there is no use for leaders if fools emerge as leaders.

A house cannot exist without pillars:

and there is no meaning to a pillar that stands without a foundation.

If complete the base and pillars:

then one day the people arrive at what is expected.

 

 

XXV: PEOPLE WITH AMBITIONS TO BECOME LEADERS

 

If there is a nation that does not have a leader who can give direction to them, then that nation is like a caravan walking in a sahara field full of hills, which are almost the same, the roads are very scary, so wide that there are no visible boundaries and it seems as if the color of the land is the color of the sky. Now, if a nation has people who are ambitious to be leaders, and the number of such people continues to grow, then the nation is more chaotic, more disorderly and more dangerous and corrupt.

 

The love of leadership (ambition to become a leader) is a very dangerous disease of eastern nations, while competing to become a leader is a chronic disease of easterners. In the same way, every time a new leader emerges, jealousy of him arises in the hearts of the people, and the resentment in their souls intensifies. So, they fight against him, demonize him, do everything in their power to bring him down, openly oppose him and blaspheme him.

 

If the leader is a true leader, then he does not care about these attacks and ignores them. Instead, he is more determined to continue with what he plans to do, which is to create prosperity for his people, regardless of the obstacles, upheavals and difficulties and does not want to gather the masses to show his strength. On the other hand, if the leader is shaken at the first challenge, then he is a person who is weak in will and spirit. Such a person should not be made the leader of his nation.

 

I have never seen someone whose heart does not desire to be a leader. Yet there are very few people who are truly qualified to hold leadership positions. Leadership positions are not like goods that can be bought and not like clothes, which if someone wears, then that person has got it, then he is considered a leader.

 

Indeed, the leader is the spirit of the people or nation, is there a nation that is willing if the leader is someone they do not know, whose father is unknown, a person whose path is misguided, the son of a corrupt person, an ignorant person, a descendant of an ignorant person, a wicked person or the son of a person who likes to sin?

 

Any nation that is led by people who are not clear about their stance, whose government is controlled by ignorant people and whose leaders are made up of people of low and despicable character, then that nation is positively dilapidated, chaotic and eventually destroyed.

 

A true leader is not someone who likes to share money and embrace figures, whose only goal is for people to like and support his leadership. Rather, a true leader is one whose leadership reflects his noble character. Such leadership will not be realized except in a person who is known for his noble qualities, does not act negatively, is pure in his ideas, firm in his heart, high in his ideals, clean in his promises (without wanting reciprocity), intelligent in mind, physically strong, friendly, clean in personality, clear in morals, clean in lineage from moral defects, responsive to the demands of the people, and works hard for their interests and progress. If a person possesses the qualities and personality described above, he will lead and rule the people, and his words and advice will be listened to and obeyed by the people, and he will have authority and a high position among them.

 

It amazes me and truly astonishes me that a group of people who have never fought, let alone fought in defense of their country, are desperately trying to influence the people to appoint them as leaders. This group of people is more despicable than the most despicable. They have absolutely no merit or distinction that could lead them to the leadership position they seek. People like this usually like to gossip and provoke the people, in order to do and undermine the leaders of the people who are actually good and defame those leaders, so that there is a crisis of confidence, which eventually happens to the vacuum. Such a situation is used by the group as a way to achieve what they intend, namely taking over power and leadership, so that they can become leaders. Yet they do not realize that what they are doing is actually exposing their own defects and crimes, which in the end the people stay away from them, do not pay attention to them, and even hate and are angry with them.

 

There is another group of people who, if they fail in their efforts (to fulfill their ambitions) to seize power (from a good leader), which they want, then they start to provoke the people in the name of religion, even though this group is actually the most disobedient to religion. They easily label others as infidels, atheists, heretics and wicked.

 

In order to fulfill their misguided desires, they resort to despicable and vile means, inciting the ummah or the people not to support the leaders who are in power (who are actually good) and have carried out their duties. They influence the people to turn their backs on the existing leaders and to submit their problems to them (i.e. to those who use religion to achieve their ambitions). Generally, those who buy into the propaganda of this group are the primitive common people who are shallow in their religious knowledge. However, the majority of the people do not pay any attention to them and do not pay any heed to their calls which are full of lies and misleading falsehoods.

 

O young people, I ask you to seek refuge with Allah, so that you do not seize leadership positions through the accursed means mentioned above. This is because such means will cause your relationship as a leader with the people to be severed, the people will stay away from you and you yourself will be far from being noble (become dishonorable).

 

You should never be ambitious to be a leader, unless the position comes to you or the people force you to be a leader, because they see you as someone who is willing to do good work, who is clean and of good character and noble character.

 

Be aware that if there is a leader among you who is capable and has the talent to lead, and your heart is firmly set on him, then you should never be jealous of him, which would lead you to try to bring him down and try to influence people to turn away from him. Instead, try to help and support what the capable leader is doing and support his programs. Be his helping hands and loyal supporters. If you do that, then you are among those who are doing good for the sake of your people or nation.

XXVI: LIES AND TRUTH

 

The truth and falsehood that we are referring to in this discussion is not what everyone is familiar with, namely lying and truthfulness in speech, because such things are obvious and even small children understand. But what we mean by truth and lies in this title is truth and lies in action, because the existence and non-existence of an action is actually the result of false or true speech.

 

Do not say (start) to someone that you are the truthful one or the lying one, before you know whether he is truthful or lying in his practical deeds (i.e. whether he is practicing or not). Do not judge whether a speech is true or false before you know the effect (practice) of that speech. This is because what is said will be of greater or lesser value depending on its practice, and what is said will be considered true if it is proven by practice.

 

The truth (honesty) of action is the ‘work of people who have a strong will. They cannot be hindered by anyone in realizing what they say.

 

You often see many people, including those in high positions, saying things that they do not practice. When you demand that they carry out their words and fulfill their promises, they always make excuses. They bring up all sorts of topics that have become part of their nature, namely self-defense and hypocrisy, and they always stall for time to market their excuses. This is only possible because their willpower is very weak and because they have not been trained to speak the truth and back it up with action.

 

If the person (who has made a statement or promise) when demanded to fulfill it says no or can fulfill it, then no one will scoff at him. In fact, refusing the demand is better than a promise that is not kept. Even worse is the person who says or promises to do something, then he backs down (disappears) and does not keep his promise. Reneging on a promise is not the habit of people of good character, and lying is the habit and behavior of the despicable.

 

Every person, before promising something to another person, should think deeply. If he is confident that he will be able to fulfill what he has promised, then there is nothing wrong with making a promise, but if he is not able to fulfill it, then he should not make a promise. As for the one who makes a promise before thinking and wondering whether or not he will be able to fulfill his promise, he is a very foolish person.

 

Most people who are foolish, are often thrown by their own foolishness into the valley of destruction, leading to regret for all eternity.

 

After understanding the above, consider the following problem.

 

If you wonder about a problem, then wonder about a group of people who say and promise, while they are certain in their hearts that they will not fulfill their words and promises. What drives them to tell lies and make false promises is none other than their faulty upbringing. If a person makes a habit of something, it becomes his disposition and character, which is difficult to break. The habit remains with him until he enters the grave.

 

If a person is known for never keeping promises and always lying, then people, even his closest colleagues will stay away from him, they no longer want to believe if he says and they do not budge, if he promises, even they consider him like a mirage that appears in the vast field, which a thirsty person thinks is water, but when approached it turns out that there is nothing.

 

This bad character or disposition, once it has taken hold in the souls of a people, will lead to the loss of trust in their children, and the loss of trust is a sign of the disappearance of life.

 

O young generation, avoid the habit of lying, for it causes cracks (defects) in the crown of glory and avoid breaking promises, for it causes people to shun you.

 

If you can keep a promise, promise; if you can do a job, say it. If you can’t, don’t promise and don’t say, lest you be labeled a liar.

 

 

 

XXVII: SIMPLICITY

 

Whoever desires glory, then seek it in moderation.

 

Simplicity applies to thinking, practicing, eating, drinking, dressing, giving and in every concrete or abstract matter. All of these are virtues.

 

Whoever follows the middle path (moderation) will be saved. And both ends of the middle are reprehensible.

 

I’tidal or moderate is modest (middle-of-the-road attitude) in all matters.

 

Ash-shaja’ah (courage) is noble, because it is the middle between two negative attitudes. They are tahawwur (reckless or rash) and jubun (timid).

 

Al-Jud (generosity) is noble, because it is the middle between the two disgraceful attitudes of Israf (extravagance) and Bakhil (miserliness).

 

This is how things are. You are bound to find every praiseworthy attitude or action in simplicity or moderation, which is a middle stance between two despicable attitudes.

 

Intelligence, if it is excessive, can lead to defects in action, can lead to things that are not appropriate for reasonable people to do. But if it is deficient, it leads to ignorance and foolishness.

 

Piety, if it crosses the line, leads to waswas (lack of steadiness), which often leads to abandoning worship and following the deeds of the ungodly.

 

Therefore, the Shari’ah or regulations from the heavens (Islam) prohibit crossing the line in worship and command to be moderate in matters of worship. This is mentioned in the Prophet’s hadith:

 

“Indeed, the one who is separated (from his traveling companions) no longer knows the way to go and there is no comfortable vehicle.”

 

Knowledge, when it becomes more extensive in a person, leads to ignorance (the more knowledge a person has, the more ignorant he feels). Sometimes people who go beyond the limits of their knowledge will become more and more ignorant of their own needs.

 

According to the general rule of thumb, anything that has exceeded its maximum limit is bound to reverse completely. The rule applies to animals, plants, solid objects, and abstract as well as concrete things, relating to social or developmental issues.

 

A reasonable person is one who requires himself to be moderate, simple or middle of the road in all matters, whether economic, social or religious. This is because taking a middle or moderate stance is safe. There is nothing that is most harmful to the ummah, except neglecting the middle or moderate attitude.

 

O young generation, hold fast to moderation. Do not allow the devil to push you to extremes or conservatives. For the best thing is the middle, for therein lies honor, and honor is what is sought by those who desire a noble life.

 

 

 

 

XXVIII: GENEROSITY

 

Wealth, like power, serves as a servant to man when he is pressed with need.

 

If you see someone about to hit you, then you will definitely defend yourself and withstand that person’s blow with the strength you have.

 

If you see someone who is hostile to one of the weak, then the spirit of courage spontaneously drives you to protest against him and defend the weak, helpless person as charity, in the form of strength for the weak person. Your spirit of courage will be louder and fiercer, if you see musyh coming to fight the ummah and destroy the state of a nation.

 

Similarly, if your heart feels the need for something that you will utilize, then you will be able to spend some of your wealth to get what you need.

 

If you come across a poor or weak person, who has no power, then chivalry and compassion must move you. Then you give something according to your willingness to help alleviate the suffering and cover the needs of the poor person.

 

If you see an entire nation in need of help – and you are able to correct their depravity and chaos – then naturally you are more compelled to extend help to them and the feeling of vomiting to meet their needs is stronger.

 

If the nature of cunning can cause people to be reluctant to fight people who want to do harm to themselves or others, so that they are always the target of evil people. Likewise, the trait of being stingy or miserly can also cause people to be reluctant to give something that is needed by others, even if that need is very urgent. Whoever is cunning or afraid to defend himself from harm and miserly in spending money to cover his own needs, then he is certainly more afraid to defend others and more miserly in spending his property, even if it is only a little for the benefit of others.

 

Just as Tahawwur (boldness without calculation) often leads to the waste of the lives of those who want to move forward against all odds, without foresight and calculation itself, so that their courage is completely useless and does not provide benefits, so too is the nature of israf or waste and spending money on unnecessary things, it can lead to the disappearance of wealth, so that the perpetrator will continue to be in a state of difficulty and anxiety.

 

All of the above mistakes are the result of neglecting the attitude of the middle (i’tidal). Therefore, you must adopt the attitude of the middle, medium, moderate or i’tidal.

 

A person who is very rich may spend his wealth on things that have no benefit, either to himself or to the ummah. The result is that he who was wealthy becomes poor, with empty pockets, empty hands and nothing.

 

Miserliness actually leads a person to misery. The miserly person is actually more miserable in seeking wealth (gold), and his miserliness eventually prevents him from living a happy and peaceful life. Wealth is only an intermediary to living well, used to help alleviate the suffering of the poor and heal the grief of the destitute.

 

Similarly, strength without courage is useless, because the one who possesses it may be cowardly or brave, but without calculation. Similarly, wealth without generosity is of no benefit and good, because the owner may be miserly or wasteful.

 

If extravagance causes the wealth to run out, then miserliness (not giving away wealth) forces the person to live in hardship. Extravagance and miserliness lead to destruction and disaster for the person who possesses both traits, namely extravagance and miserliness.

 

Modest or middle-of-the-road, which is being generous. It can bring happiness in the form of wealth. Allah swt. said:

 

“Do not put your own hands around your necks, nor stretch them out to their full extent, for you will sit in disgrace and regret.”

 

Thus, being moderate and taking the middle path in all matters leads to avoiding all calamities. Therefore, one should spend his wealth for the benefit of himself, his family, the needy and projects that benefit the people, neither extravagantly nor lavishly.

 

Please note that charity must be adjusted to the amount of wealth you have. There are many generous people who are considered by others to be miserly when compared to others, and vice versa.

 

There is a group of people – may Allah make them good – who think that stinginess can lead to eternal life in this world, so when you ask them to spend a small portion of their wealth to help alleviate the suffering of the poor or to finance some important projects, they feel as if you are inviting them to take up the spear against the enemy, draw the sword and sacrifice their lives in a battle (trembling, fearful and reluctant to fulfill your request). Some of them are miserly towards themselves and others. This kind of person is the worst. Among them are those who are miserly towards others, but still! splurge on themselves. This kind of person is selfish, weak of feeling and unhealthy of mind. These people have the principle that as long as they live, even if their nation dies, the important thing is that they are happy, even if their nation is miserable.

 

There is another group of people who squander and waste their wealth. If they see an evil event, they are quick to respond and support it; if they hear that there is a party in some place, they fly to the place and contribute a lot of money, gold and silver, in order to enliven the party. However, when they are invited to do social activities, they pretend not to know and do not listen. This group of people are the third worst and they are the ones who go beyond the limits.

 

O good generation, stay away from such people. Imitate the footsteps of the noble benefactors, for the footsteps of the benefactors are a clear and straight path. Indeed, generosity is moderation in spending one’s wealth, and it is the place where one’s requests for help are heaped up, and it is the trait that everyone desires and the field of deeds of the noble ones.

 

Cling to the virtue of generosity. Take refuge in the fortress of generosity, if you do so, then you and your people will live happily.

 

 

 

XXIX: JOY

 

Thinkers never seem to disagree about the interpretation of a matter, just as they differ about the interpretation of the word happiness.

 

This is because happiness is relative and complementary. Happiness is not something good that everyone agrees on. However, it is something that is good according to someone who sees it as good.

 

Perhaps Zayd sees good in something, and he considers it (according to his feelings) to be a happy thing, and considers the one who receives it to be a happy person. But Amar sees the thing and considers it a disaster, and considers the one who receives it a wretch.

 

Happiness is the same as beauty. There are many opinions and understandings about it and their interpretations differ, because everyone’s inclinations are different. The certainty of thought returns to the feelings and inclinations of each individual. The various differences in assessing happiness arise solely from the various feelings and inclinations.

 

Some people think that happiness lies in the freedom to eat, drink, pleasure, dress, spend time on recreation and have fun. Others think that happiness lies in earning money and keeping it in a box. There are those who think that happiness lies in reading books, studying important sciences and talking or discussing the meanings contained in some literary works. There are others who say that happiness lies in being alone in a quiet place, away from the crowds, away from luxurious life and everything. Some of the people mentioned above think that happiness lies in being in power, in being able to freely choose who should be appointed as officials and who should be removed from office, so that they will be loyal to him and obey his wishes.

 

People who attain happiness are those who see things with their minds, then they set a middle line as the way to go in reaching various problems. This middle way is called i’tidal, which means being moderate, while I’tidal (the middle way) in everything is what causes happiness to be achieved.

 

Moderation in eating and drinking is the key to physical safety from diseases and disorders.

 

Engaging in recreation and seeking entertainment causes joy and vigor to grow in the soul and can relieve fatigue from the body. If there is no recreation and entertainment at all, then the soul becomes discouraged. On the other hand, excessive (too frequent) recreation and entertainment will lead to laziness, fatigue and a tendency to do things that are harmful to morals.

 

Being moderate or modest in earning money and spending it, can point to a good way of working (earning money) and encourage leaving greed in collecting halal and non-halal assets. Meanwhile, the simplicity of work can point to ways of spending wealth, in accordance with religious law, so that the person concerned does not become a miser and not wasteful. But he can live with happiness and sufficiency.

 

Being engaged in the study and study of knowledge, can cause the heart to feel happy and can drive away boredom and boredom.

 

Seeking the necessities of life in the world and seeking knowledge and charity for the sake of religion (hereafter), along with paying attention to things that nourish the body and clear the mind, is the way to achieve happiness in this world and the hereafter.

 

As for suppressing the heart so that it is far away from disgraceful traits and clean from the traits of pride, this is a praiseworthy height of self-esteem, which causes the soul to become noble and majestic. This is because he does not want to be humiliated and always guards himself against becoming an object of contempt, insulting others or being selfish and monopolizing the rights of others.

 

All that is explained above, in the form of information relating to moderate attitudes in various matters, can lead to happiness for people who have a moderate attitude or behave modestly, which happiness makes their lives peaceful and their lives happy.

 

Whoever wants to feel happiness in himself, his family, wealth, children, friends and all his endeavors, must take the middle or moderate path. To take this middle or moderate path, one must rely on religious teachings, reason and emotion. These three things are the best benchmarks in taking a middle stance.

 

O noble youth, verily the path to happiness lies before you. Seek happiness in knowledge and good deeds and praiseworthy morals. Be a person who always takes a middle or moderate attitude in all matters, surely you will be a happy person.

 

 

 

XXX: CARRY OUT OBLIGATIONS

 

If all people would fulfill the obligations that have been imposed on them, they would be like being in an eternal paradise, even though they are still in this world.

 

At first, each person knows exactly what his duties and obligations are. Then carry them out properly.

 

Knowing obligations is a big deal, but performing obligations is an even bigger and more important issue.

 

If there are many people who do not know what their duties are, there are even more people who know their duties and obligations, but they are reluctant to fulfill them. One who knows something is true and then deviates from the truth is worse and more blameworthy than one who deviates from the truth because he does not understand that it is true.

 

I wonder about some people who want others to fulfill their obligations towards them, but they themselves do not care about their obligations towards others (they want their rights fulfilled, but they do not want to fulfill the rights of others).

 

There are two kinds of causes for negligence in fulfilling obligations: Selfishness and lack of willpower.

 

Selfishness leads to insulting or harassing others and monopolizing all interests. Because of this selfishness he does not fulfill his obligations towards others and his obligations towards society and does not want to work for the good of society, as he works for his own good and interests.

 

Weak willpower is an obstacle that prevents a person from doing the obligations that have been assigned to him. If he suddenly feels the urge to do his duty, then his wrong upbringing, which he received as a child, prevents him from doing it (and as a result he does not do any duty).

 

Carrying out obligations can bring general and equitable benefits. These benefits do not only go back to the person concerned, but also back to others. This is because if you do what you owe to others, then they will do their best to reciprocate by doing what you do, and they will fulfill their obligations towards you. When you have done your duty towards the ummah, and you call upon others to do their duty towards the ummah, then the ummah will be good and happy. The happiness of the Ummah is also the happiness of each member of the Ummah, of which you are one.

 

Fulfill your obligations towards your parents. They will undoubtedly fulfill their parental obligations to you. Thus, you will obtain the happiness you aspire to.

 

Do your duty towards your teachers, by being kind, attentive to their lessons and trying your best to fulfill your obligations to the school, and they will love you more than they love their own children.

 

Do your duty towards your friends by helping them when they are in distress, by showing them joy when they are happy, by being ready to die for them when they are in danger of death, by being willing to live as long as they live, by trying to save them when they are in danger, and by helping them when they need help. If you can do all of this, then you will have many helpers when you face difficulties and danger.

 

Fulfill your obligations to your relatives by showing affection to the poor and providing for their needs. If you do this, then they will be willing to risk their lives to defend you and sacrifice everything they have, to elevate your status and position.

 

Do your duty towards your children, by giving them a good education, and striving for them to have noble character, which will enable them to attain the rank of a noble person, then they (children) will do their duty towards you, will raise your rank and will help in serving you, when you reach old age, that is, when you will have no one to help you, except your educated children, whom you worked hard for as a child.

 

Fulfill your obligations towards your wife by treating her in the way that religion dictates: in a loving, cheerful and friendly manner, giving her moral education and teaching her the things that are her duties. If you do that, then your wife will be very obedient to you, fulfill everything that is her duty to you as a husband and will be your loyal friend, both in good and bad times.

 

Fulfill your obligations to your trade, profession and all your work, by not committing forgery, fraud, not selling defective goods and not covering up defects, then you will see that many people are inclined and pleased with you and many people are happy to subscribe to you. All that is only because you are trustworthy. Being trustworthy is a great and very important matter, and there can be no trust except by fulfilling obligations.

 

The government must fulfill its obligations towards its people by respecting their language, literature, customs, characteristics, rights in the arts, literature and law, and other rights. If the government carries out the above obligations, then the people will be ready to support it wholeheartedly and actively fulfill their responsibilities and obligations towards the government.

 

The implementation of obligations by each party (the government and the people) is reciprocal, it is an incomparable happiness and glory in life (society and state).

 

O young people, you must fulfill your obligations, because fulfilling obligations is the spirit of every item in this world. It is the secret of the prosperity of life as a source of noble morals.

 

Be fair to others, they will be fair to you.

 

Do your duty to others, and others will do their duty to you.

 

 

 

 

XXXI: TRUSTWORTHY

 

If the trait of tsiqah (trustworthiness) is absent, then these people will live their entire lives in a state of anxiety and fear. When trustworthiness disappears, it is a sign of the loss of a happy life.

 

The trait of tsiqah is the spirit of all actions and the beauty (flower) of all ideals.

 

When tsiqah (trust) has disappeared from the human soul: then this human attitude towards his fellow man becomes more savage and ferocious, each one reluctant to see the other, and ready to attack and pounce on each other.

 

There is no trust between each other, especially in wealth, and there will never be honesty in anything.

 

Trade is the center of economic activity, which is built on mutual trust between the trade participants. If in this world of trade there is no mutual trust among its actors, then there will be recessions and work stoppages. From this comes the misery of life and the narrowing of hope for survival. This is selfish, because would any reasonable person want to hand over their money or property to someone who cannot be trusted? If someone is willing to hand over their property to someone who is known to be untrustworthy, then it is a severe form of insanity.

 

Just as the loss of tsiqah (trustworthiness) in the material sphere leads to the disintegration and destruction of property and life, so it is the same in the moral sphere.

 

When you meet someone, you suddenly understand that he is not trustworthy, because he has sold you for a plate of food or less. Or that person gossips about you with people he knows who gossip about you, or that person is clearly reluctant to prevent abuse being directed at you when you are away. If that person is afraid of defending you, or if that person is secretly trying to steal your wealth through trickery, or if that person is prying into your secrets and revealing them to the public, then it is definitely not good to be friends with him, and you certainly do not want to strengthen your friendship with him. If you still maintain friendship with such a person, then you are deceived, foolish, timid and lacking in willpower.

 

A person who commits fraud in his business will lose people’s trust in him, they will not be interested in his wares, they will not be interested in his work and they will be indifferent or not care about his work.

 

Those who are cheaters, show-offs, hypocrites, liars, gluttons, betrayers and selfish, all need to be avoided and removed, because they no longer have the trait of tsiqah (trustworthiness).

 

The deceiver seeks to cause you to become unkind and fall into destitution, without you realizing it. The deceiver always shows love for you and wishes you well. But when you learn of his deceit and treachery, move away from him immediately, for he is no longer trustworthy.

 

The one who shows off (riya) always shows you the opposite of what he really is. He is actually a wicked and despicable person, but appears to you as a good and high-minded person. He is actually a despicable and lowly person, but appears to you as a noble person with a strong work ethic. He is an unrighteous keeper of people’s wealth, but he appears to you as an honest man, able to take care of every asset entrusted to him. The one who shows off always shows himself to you inappropriately. When you learn of his bad character and habits, you should discard him as you would a date palm, for you have no confidence in him.

 

The hypocrite is like the one who shows off (riya), both of them hide the opposite of what they show, except that the morals of the hypocrite are lower than the morals of the riya. This is because the consequences of the hypocrite’s behavior are not limited to himself and the hypocrite. The riya (pretentious) person only shows you what he shows, so that you are pleased with him and so that you believe in him. But the hypocrite tries to conceal his religious ideology, social views and political views. Then he tells the adherents of the different sects and schools that he is the same as them and that his ideology is the same as theirs.

 

Sometimes the hypocrite does not subscribe to the ideology of any of these sects, and sometimes he is inclined toward a sect, even though he knows that its followers are misguided. Then he praises the leaders and members of this group, and does not hesitate to regard the followers of this sect as people of high status and honor. He does this solely for material gain that will make him rich. But when this person’s hypocrisy becomes known to the public, he will soon be cast out by the community, because they no longer trust him.

 

People who lie, sometimes out of fear of something they do not like or to get something they want. Lying for whatever reason causes people to lose trust in him, because of his own words and causes all his words to be believed by the community to be lies, even though he is actually telling the truth.

 

A greedy person always tries to get more than what is rightfully his and always seriously tries to take other people’s rights for his own. So, a greedy person cannot be trusted, especially in matters of property rights and he cannot be entrusted with a mandate, so how can people trust him?

 

The absence of tsiah in the traitor is more certain than its absence in any other group, and the traitor is more shunned by society, because the traitor is a combination of deception, jealousy, hypocrisy, lies and greed. This is high treason, and that is what is meant by treason, which is the truth in the discussions about treason.

 

Each of these attributes is a betrayal, because someone who deceives you, pretends to you, hypocrites you, lies to you or greedily takes your rights, is actually betraying you and showing you an attitude that is not true.

 

A selfish person, one who pays no attention to anything other than his own interests, is actually deceived by himself, so he is compelled to speak about himself in ways that are not in line with reality. The person who is deceived by himself is notorious for praising himself too much and deviating from the right path. If he speaks about himself, it will not be believed and his words will not be heeded.

 

Keep in mind that the axis of trust is in each individual member of the ummah. If the level of honesty and nobility of spirit in the community is great, then the trust between them is also great. And if the level of these two noble qualities is low, then the trust among them is also very low and the work order becomes complicated. All this can disturb the peace and happiness of the community.

 

Mutual trust between members of a society is the cord that binds social, economic and political relations. Just as mutual trust between people is necessary, mutual trust between groups is even more necessary. Even more important is mutual trust between one nation and another and between one country and another. If that trust fades, then relationships will be severed and eventually the fabric of society will fall apart.

 

O, young generation, make it a habit to be honest (truthful) in speech and deeds. Force yourself to fulfill your promises, you will gain trust and if you have gained the trust of the community, then you are among the happy ones. Be careful not to underestimate tsiqah or trust, because it is with the capital of trust that you can live.

 

 

XXXII: ENVY AND JEALOUSY

 

People with a great soul cannot have envy or jealousy (hasud), because hasud is part of a stunted soul, weak will and an evil disposition. A person with a great soul, who is reluctant to do evil, is one whose distance between himself and this evil character or behavior (hasud) is very far.

 

There is an Arabic proverb:

“A person with envy will never be able to rule.”

 

The saying -if you knew- is very great and important. It contains great meaning and understanding. Although this sentence is quite short, its meaning and content are great.

 

A person who is resentful is narrow in his morals, unbending in his heart and muddled in his mind. When he sees someone who has received favors or witnesses someone gaining a high position in society, which is appropriate, he hopes that the favors received by that person will be transferred to him and his position will be transferred to him, even if he has to struggle to get it from the person who has the favors and position.

 

Wishful thinking, as they say, is the capital of the bankrupt. How can one who has no will, no self-respect and no noble soul attain an honorable position or achieve the favors of those who are honored. He will not be able to take over something that Allah has given to His servant, nor will he be able to usurp someone else’s position and dominate it. However, the person who is covetous will remain in his state, which is rarely granted favors, low in position, low in soul and low in rank. Is it possible for such a person to hold glory or enter the arena of glory? Indeed, he will not be able to become a ruler even if he remains envious throughout his life.

 

As for the person with a great soul, when he sees another person being praised for doing something good, or when he sees another person occupying a position that is in high demand, his heart does not move in the slightest to envy that person, nor does he try to bring that person down from his position. Rather, he strives to attain the same favors that the other person has attained and strives to attain the same position that the other person has attained, even if he can surpass it.

 

The lowliness of the soul leads one to wish that the pleasures of others be taken away from him and transferred to him, while the highness of the soul leads one to strive to get the good and pleasures that he desires, with no desire to cause harm to others while he gets the good. The difference between these two traits is very great (the first trait is called hasud, while the second trait is called ghibthah).

 

You have already agreed with what we have said about the meaning of the word wisdom:

 

(A spiteful person cannot be a leader). Because the attributes of a spiteful person or hasud are weak will, stunted soul, timid and do not have the courage to work hard, like the work of the people of honor. it is appropriate that people who are like the above should not become leaders. Because leadership (a trait that must be fulfilled by someone who becomes a leader) and the traits mentioned above are very opposite.

 

It is astonishing when someone hopes for something that cannot be achieved except through hard work and perseverance, while he is lazy, unwilling to put in effort and idle. That person is actually hoping for something that will result in loss and damage (because he has hopes without effort). That is the nature of those who have hasud or envy in their hearts. Therefore, be careful, O young generation, lest you become among the ignorant.

 

The flames of the envy of the one who is envious sometimes reach a point where he is driven to harm or harass the one he has envied, to try to make the one he has envied miserable and to do all he can to inflict evil on him. The envious person does this to the envied person simply because he is indulging in his despicable impulses, thinking that his actions will extinguish the embers of his despicable and despicable nature.

 

When malice reaches this level, the spiteful person turns into a beast or predatory animal and becomes a snake whose fangs contain a very dangerous poison. However, it is often the case that the danger of envy returns to the person himself, eventually being observed because of his own anger and irritation and being burned by the aptness of his envy.

 

It should be remembered that envy (hasud) in ancient times was the most serious disease, which could undermine our greatness and destroy our progress and civilization. In my opinion, envy today is a disease or plague that is widespread in our society.

 

If you see someone doing something for the benefit of the country and the good of the ummah, then you are bound to find a number of people who oppose that person out of malice, envy and opposition to the truth. If we do not immediately abandon this despicable trait, then do not expect to get good and there will be no more path to happiness.

 

O young people, avoid envy, jealousy or resentment, because envy is part of the character of the lowly and is one of the traits of the ignorant. When you see someone upholding the truth, support him and make his way easy. When you see a favor or pleasure bestowed by Allah on one of His servants, then strive to attain such a favor, with a clean heart and a clear mind. With Allah’s permission you will be able to achieve it.

 

Be careful not to be driven by envy to antagonize those who are enjoying themselves, because with envy you will not be able to get what you want from them. In fact, you may be ensnared by the trawl of your own envy.

 

How good and just is God’s decision. Because the envy, as soon as it arises, immediately torments the heart of the envious person himself, then kills him.

 

 

 

 

XXXIII: HELP

 

Be willing to help others, surely others will help you too. Like to do good to others, of course others will also like to do good to you. Helping others is one of the things that everyone should do reciprocally. There are very few people who would not want you to be happy, and there are very few people who would not help you, if they knew that you are happy when you see others happy and that you are quick to help others, except for those who are depraved in their morals and poorly educated. Such people are among those who do not know how to return the favor to others who have done good for them. Hence, the community will not be willing to help or assist such people and will not look upon them as people worthy of respect.

 

Often this group of people (those who do not know how to repay the kindness of others) is motivated by the depravity of their morals, so that they are willing to repay kindness with evil, exchanging something that is despicable to them for something good that belongs to someone else. Anyone who has such bad manners is one of those who should always be watched out for, and warned against:

 

“Beware of the evil of those who have received good.”

 

The lowest level of helping is to give help to others, so that others will help you, when you need help. The highest and most praiseworthy level of helping is to help others, without expecting anything in return from the person you are helping. Rather, you give help only when you see that helping others is a noble act that brings honor to the soul and has a good effect on people, so that they will emulate it, so that helping becomes a culture among the people of a nation. Behind the culture of helping comes unity, harmony, and a common vision and perception.

 

In fact, by doing good to another person, you have engraved love into his heart, which cannot be erased unless you do evil to him. But a person with a noble heart and good character is unlikely to do evil after he has done good.

 

If you do good to the entire Ummah, then you are like a person who builds a monument and a platform for love in every day of every member of the Ummah that cannot be forgotten as long as the Ummah exists. This means that your kindness or good deeds to the community will be remembered by them forever, as long as they live.

 

Every person or citizen of a community must help each other. If all members of the Ummah (community) are willing to work together (help each other), the strong help the weak, the rich relieve the suffering of the poor, the clever teach the ignorant, those who know the way of guidance tell the misguided, and love others as much as they love themselves, then there will be an even distribution of happiness, an awakening from their decline, and a realization of their negligence and decline.

 

Helping is not limited to material or materialistic issues, but it is general and includes moral issues as well, and helping in moral matters is even more important.

 

If you see someone who is confused about their problems, then help them by giving them your good ideas or by explaining how to solve them.

 

If you see someone who is sad, then lighten his sadness, by giving suggestions that can comfort him, saying words that can cause his heart to calm down and please him, so that his suffering and stress of sadness can disappear.

 

If you come across someone who has strayed from the path of righteousness, who is despicable, and who is confused in his misguidance, then you should strive to guide him through kind words, good advice, and kind and sweet words, so that what you do will make him realize that he is on the straight path, and that he can consciously adorn himself with noble character.

 

These are the ways that the pious people of the past have traveled and practiced. They took the path of mutual cooperation or help, whether material or moral, so that they could outperform other nations.

 

What made us miserable and the nations before us not Jain was the neglect of the basic pillar of social life, which is mutual help. They (the nations) exchanged this culture of help for a culture of hard hearts, more than stones and despicable attitudes or habits. As a result, one of us is like a scorpion stinging another or like a venomous snake pecking or biting another. Yet we were not commanded to do such things, nor were we created to do such things.

 

O young generation, we have not been created except that we should help each other to eradicate the miseries that afflict us and work hand in hand, whether we are happy or miserable, and work together to eradicate the miseries that afflict the ummah.

 

Verily, this Ummah is in dire need of help, so help them.

 

The people are ignorant, so help them with knowledge.

 

The nation is dilapidated, so help them with reforms.

 

The nation is poor, so provide them with ‘financial aid, to build schools, to create jobs and build factories’.

 

If you do these things, then you will be among the daughters of a good nation and among those who are willing to work. Therefore, work together (help each other) in all these areas, for indeed Allah swt, loves those who help each other.

 

 

 

XXXIV: FLATTERY AND CRITICISM

 

I have seen many people who are happy to hear praise, even if it is false, and are distressed when they hear criticism, even if it is truthful. This arises from a soul that has been deceived by itself and likes to do falsehood.

 

The person who is deceived by himself, must be happy when he is praised, dance when he hears praise and shake his head when he gets praise. Praise for him is like wine which, if it has penetrated his body, then he thinks he has succeeded in owning the earth and everything in it. But he has no right to anything, except to be slapped and punched, if the praiser is honest and just. When someone criticizes his work and tells him what he is really doing, he frowns, makes a face, looks away, is full of pride, gets angry, then shouts and scolds.

 

As for the intelligent and wise person, he does not like to be praised by anyone, because the one who praises him will only mention the good things of the person he praises and will definitely cover up his bad things. In fact, every person is more aware of his own good qualities, so there is no need to emphasize them. In fact, the wise and sensible person is more pleased to see that there are opinions that counter or oppose him through healthy or constructive criticism. This is because the critic always points out the shortcomings of the person being criticized, exposes his mistakes and exposes his errors, so that with this criticism he continues to know his shortcomings, mistakes and errors. As a result, he immediately moves away from his shortcomings and mistakes. Thus he becomes less and less flawed and more and more free from negative traits. If so, then the aphorisms are true:

 

“Your true friend is the one who tells you the truth, not the one who always confirms your words.”

 

 

If there were no criticism, then many people would be confused by their lusts, commit many sins, deviate from the truth and many of them would do whatever their lusts want. Criticism is the straightest path and the strongest evidence (to judge the existence of deviations, violations, mistakes and other negative qualities). With criticism, all truths will become pure, virtues will become apparent, falsehoods will disappear and the seeds of misguidance will vanish.

 

When an ummah has the courage to throw off its clothes of ignorance and free its mind from the shackles of weakness, then work hard to achieve prosperity, until it reaches rapid progress, then the cause is nothing but their courage to convey and accept criticism.

 

On the other hand, if a community is deceived by the sweetness of praise, and is sedated by the morphine of flattery, it will be crushed by the vicissitudes of the times and eventually disintegrate under the weight of various crises.

 

The secret of the life and death of a people or nation depends on criticism. This is because criticism raises aspirations, encourages people to avoid their shortcomings and vices, and forces people to work hard so that they will be praised in the future. It is a person who strives tirelessly to do good deeds that will bring happiness in this world and the next, and will bring benefits and advantages to himself and his people in this world and the next.

 

As for flattery or praise – especially the worst flattery is flattery that contains falsehood – it blows deception into the nostrils of the one who likes praise and insinuates the demon of pride and arrogance in the head of the one who likes praise, so that the person feels that his goodness has reached as high as the sky, exceeding the Orion star. As a result, the person’s aspirations for glory decline and weaken, and his tenacity and resilience in the face of adversity are broken. Finally, his knowledge and influence do not develop, if he is knowledgeable, virtuous. He becomes a foolish and despicable person, like trash, if he is not knowledgeable and virtuous.

 

Meanwhile, there is a group of people who are reluctant to work unless they are sure that people will praise their work and efforts, leading to their progress and courage in their endeavors. There is also a group of people who become more and more enthusiastic about achieving their goals, after hearing that praise has been given to them and who become more and more diligent in completing their tasks. In this case, there is nothing wrong with praising them and the work that they do, so that they will become more advanced and enthusiastic in doing their duty to the people or nation.

 

We do not condemn praise in its entirety, rather what we condemn is the person who seeks the praise of others, whether it is proper praise or not, and feels hurt by others criticizing his actions, even if he has done something that should not be tolerated. Whoever has this attitude is clearly among those who like to be praised inappropriately, and they are people who are in the trap of a despicable character that has led many people to be deceived and perish. So a person who likes to be praised should not be hurt if he is criticized. If praise is regarded as an incentive to do good deeds, then it is criticism that can move the conscience of every person to avoid things that invite negative thoughts or things that make him fall into very dangerous problems.

 

Amar makruf and nahi mungkar, advocating the good and forbidding the bad, is nothing but a form of constructive criticism. If there is no amar ma’ruf and nahi mungkar, then the ignorant and the morally depraved will do whatever they want according to their lusts without regard to the consequences, the more daring they will be to spread falsehood and the bigger their flag or influence.

 

Then among this ummah there is actually one group that uses criticism as a tool for the purpose of bringing down a group of people and to defame them. This group of people do not hesitate to hurl insults, foul words or unkind remarks in the form of gossip at certain people whom they consider to be their rivals. They do not hesitate to terrorize and abuse people (groups) who want to criticize them. In short, you will see such a group of people always directing disgusting and dirty, despicable and low and full of falsehood words to those who want to criticize them. The attitude and words of such a group of people cannot be called criticism. Such an attitude is best described as revenge. Such actions are clearly reprehensible and show the lowliness of character that virtuous people avoid.

 

In fact, the main purpose of criticism is only to turn the person being criticized away from his wrongdoing, whether or not it was done consciously. Thus, a careless and harsh attitude (ignoring gentleness) in expressing criticism may lead to the tendency or bigotry of the criticized person towards what he is doing, even if it is clearly wrong. This is mentioned in one hadith:

 

“Whoever advocates good, let him advocate it well.”

 

So, criticism must be delivered in a good way, in order to bring about the intended results. Allah says:

 

“Good and evil are not alike; repel evil in the best way possible, and suddenly there will be enmity between you and him, as if you had not been very faithful friends. Good qualities are not bestowed except upon the patient, nor are they bestowed except upon those who have great fortune.”

 

O youth, do not be deceived by the words of those who think well of your deeds and do not be deceived by the sweet words of those who praise you. For, most of what they say about you is not true; most of such people only intend to please you or aim to get you to give them a few dollars in charity.

 

Do not go down this bad path, for it will inevitably lead you to tell lies, even though you know how great and ugly the sin of those who tell lies is. Take into account or hold on to the comments of those who want to criticize your actions and want to explain your mistakes, surely you will be guided to the most correct and straight path.

 

If you see in another person something that needs criticism, then straighten out the steps that lead to righteousness and advise him to remove his faults with kind and polite language and speech.

 

Never use harsh words, because harsh words are more piercing than arrows and more painful than sword stabs. Harsh words will not bring any benefit, rather they can make people’s hearts unhappy and hateful.

 

Be gentle in your speech and compassionate to others, and you will succeed in getting what you want.

 

It is mentioned in the word wisdom:

 

“Water, though soft and weak, can cut through stone, though hard”.

 

Allah swt. has clearly preferred smooth and friendly speech. As He said to two of His Prophets, Moses and Aaron in the face of the angry Pharaoh. He said:

 

“Go you two to Pharaoh, verily he has transgressed, so speak to him with gentle words, that he may come to his senses or fear Allah.”

 

 

 

 

XXXV: FANATISM

 

Be fanatical about your nationality, language, religion, social views and political sect. But you should not be hurt if you see others who are fanatical like you. Therefore, let others be fanatical about their ideologies, because you will not be able to control anyone, and everyone has the human right and freedom to embrace the religion he believes to be true, and can even show fanaticism about what he wants.

 

All religions have decided to allow people to be fanatical. Likewise, all the sects or schools of thought that have developed among the people do not forbid it. This is the way in which the nations of today are progressing rapidly, just as your ancestors did in the past.

 

Fanaticism is a good attitude, and the straight path is clear and correct. It is only with such fanaticism that the ummah can preserve its language, rationalism, praiseworthy morals and good customs. It is this fanaticism that makes them a strong, courageous nation that is not easily swayed by outside influences.

 

When this noble character or fanaticism disappears and does not develop, due to the wrong education received by the nation, then the characteristics of the nation are lost, its strength and courage disappear and finally it becomes a weak nation and disappears from the surface of the earth, following in the footsteps of the previous nations. Presumably, the cause of this destruction is only the death of fanaticism, moral depravity and the loss of identity. Indeed, a perfect nation is a cultured and noble nation.

 

Your fanaticism towards your religion will encourage others to protect your honor, while your ignorance towards your religion will cause others not to care about you.

 

The definition of fanaticism towards religion is actively practicing everything that is required by religion, following all instructions, carrying out all commands and avoiding all prohibitions and maintaining noble morals, which is the main goal of religion. Indeed, the main purpose of religion is that the person concerned is encouraged to cultivate ideals towards noble character.

 

It is not true at all that religious fanaticism entails hating those who do not follow your religion, deceiving them to make them miserable, trying hard to blackmail them and harm them. All this is not religious fanaticism. Rather, it is nothing but wild fanaticism, which is harmful to progress, barbaric and a violation of human rights. This is because the act of hating people of different religions and terrorizing them is the act of people who do not know their religion except in name. He is not a true believer of that religion. The teachings of religion and the actions of such people are clearly contradictory.

 

As for the actions of some people who do not understand the teachings of the religion from among those who like to distort the religion for personal gain, then such people are not important people, do not matter for the religion, and they can in no way be a proof or evidence for the religion. Allah has a strong proof that what they say and do does not belong to Allah’s religion in the slightest.

 

In fact, most of the people who claim to be religious fanatics do not want to think and they actually do not know religion. They are religious only because their fathers were religious. They appear to be religious, but in reality they are just following along. When they talk about their religion, they do not understand what they are saying, they rely on something they do not use, and they are angry and hate those who do not share their religion. Nevertheless, they are convinced that this is the way they will be saved and that this is the way they will be close to Allah. Indeed, how ugly is what they are carrying and how ugly is what they are doing.

 

There is another group of people who are not ignorant laypeople, nor are they a certain class of people with high religious knowledge. They claim to be religiously well-versed, but they never uphold the signs of religion, do not adhere to the prescribed teachings of religion, either the Sunnah or the Fard, and call out to people in the name of their religion. This group of people may be empty of faith, even emptier than a drum.

 

Isn’t religious fanaticism, as we have explained, only about behaving in accordance with the moral requirements of religion, practicing what religion commands and avoiding what it forbids. So, what these people who claim to be religious fanatics are doing is actually deceiving ordinary people to mislead them. This group of people cannot be a proof or benchmark for the religion they follow. Because their claim to be religious is only to gain some benefit and their actions terrorize those who do not share their religion, because they want to control or subjugate their minds and to control the souls of the people according to the will of their lusts. Allah swt. is free from such people and their actions.

 

Your fanaticism towards your own nationality and language makes you a person who is respected by other nations and a person of high standing in the eyes of those other nations. On the other hand, your disdain for your own nationality and language makes you an insignificant person in the eyes of those who do not share your language and nationality. This issue is clear and requires no proof.

 

Just as undue religious fanaticism is reprehensible, as you know. Similarly, the interpretation of fanaticism towards nationalities and languages by abusing the languages of people and their nationalities, inflicting terror and oppression on them, is not commendable fanaticism at all and cannot be justified. Therefore, young people, you must respect the languages and nationalities of others, just as you would be happy if others respected your language and nationality.

 

Then, your fanaticism towards what you believe to be true, in the form of political parties, mass organizations and your struggle: defending what you believe to be true, is something that causes you to carry out the obligations required by it. Therefore, fight for what you believe to be true with clear evidence, precise proofs, strong arguments and beneficial dialogue, and then purify yourself. Do not use words that are too unbecoming to be heard in order to achieve your desired goal. Remember that the other person has an opinion that you must respect and that he has. He or she is happy to have his or her views respected, just as you are happy to have your own views respected. If you have the ability to influence or attract others to the sect you belong to, with proper arguments, strong evidence and kind words, then do so. But if you are not able to do so, then leave them alone and let them follow their own opinions and sects, because it is impossible for you to control them.

 

Be careful not to turn fanaticism into a cause for revenge, for this is not the nature of noble people. Do not allow differences of opinion, religion, nationality and language to cause unrest in society, hinder progress and tear apart unity, especially if they occur between people who share one language, one homeland and one political direction.

 

O young people, we call you all to the praiseworthy attitude of fanaticism, because such fanaticism is like an ambassador (carrier) of happiness and a messenger to progress.

 

Be fanatical about what you believe to be true and hold tightly to your religion, your nationality and your language in the way we have described. May you be a victorious people.

 

 

 

 

XXXVI: THE HEIRS OF THE EARTH

 

The one who treats something well is the one who deserves to be in control of it, even if it was not inherited from his father or ancestors. On the other hand, if a person fails to take good care of something and even damages it, then what is in his possession will pass out of his hands and into the hands of someone else who can take good care of it, even if the first person (who did not take good care of what he had) has a deed that establishes that he is the heir of the thing and is supported by fair witnesses.

 

Everything in this world belongs to Allah swt. He manages it according to His will, transferring it from whom He wills to whom He wills. Everything is the right of Allah swt., but even so He links His will to the existence of causes, according to His iradah. Therefore, whoever seeks the causes to attain something that Allah has ordained and enters the doors provided to attain it, then such a person is the most deserving of inheriting a matter rather than one who is unworthy of it.

 

All nations on this earth are servants of Allah swt. and laborers who are commanded to work for the prosperity of the earth. Therefore, whoever devotes himself first, Allah will pave the way for that person to hold power on the surface of the earth. Conversely, whoever is not good in his devotion to the prosperity of the earth, Allah will deprive that person of power by force.

 

If you appoint someone as a helper to do a job, then you will always keep a close eye on him. If you think the person is doing a good job, then you will definitely keep him or her on the job, and if the job gets better, then you will definitely increase his or her wage. On the other hand, if the person you appoint as a helper is bad at his work or even deviates from what you want, then you still tolerate him for the first time by giving him a warning. However, if the person does not heed your warnings (does not try to improve his work) and he can no longer be expected to do good work, then definitely you take the work that the person is doing and you fire him as a helper. By taking the work out of the hands of someone who can do it well and dismissing him as a servant, you are doing the right thing. However, if you are careless, do not pay attention to the servant’s negligence or you do not know about the servant’s poor work, then you will experience your benefit falling apart. Of course, no one wants their business to fall apart, except someone who is not of sound mind.

 

Man is the caliph of Allah who has been entrusted with the task of prospering and developing the earth by Him. If man does good on this earth, organizes it well, builds areas that need to be built, extracts its produce and cultivates its wealth in the best possible way, is fair in all matters, spreads knowledge among the population and does not deviate from the rules that have been outlined by the Creator, namely Allah, then such a man is truly called the khalifah of Allah and all matters of controlling duties are in his hands.

 

On the other hand, if a person behaves badly and does not carry out the tasks assigned to him according to the laws of Allah and forgets what he has been entrusted with, then such a person will be subjected to what has been experienced by people like him. His situation will be completely reversed, from being noble to being despicable. If he was in a high position, he will be in a low position. If he was in power, he will be ruled (lost his power). If he was rich, he becomes poor. What he had (in the form of honor and wealth) was taken away by Allah and passed on to others. The power that is in him is revoked by Him and given to others. This has been explained by Allah in His word:

 

“And indeed We have written in the Zabur after We have written in the Tablet, that this earth shall be inherited by My righteous servants.”

 

What is meant by the words Ash-Shalihun (righteous people) in the verse are people who are able to organize or manage the earth well, organize work perfectly and improve the condition of its inhabitants, by spreading knowledge, upholding justice, being careful to face opponents and creating useful businesses, such as agriculture, industry and trade. So, the word Ash-Shalihun is not at all those who often bow and prostrate themselves, while being reluctant to try to do things that cause them to rule the earth. The issue of worship is a spiritual (religious) matter, which makes it only return to those who do it alone in the hereafter, while the business of managing the earth is a material (worldly) matter that cannot be pursued, except through efforts that have been shown by Allah swt. and intermediaries who are willing to use because of it, can certainly hold or control power on this earth.

 

O young people, your nation today has been hit by a moral crisis that has caused them to be reluctant to do useful work and abandon the efforts that make them worthy of prospering and inheriting the earth. That is why your nation today is afflicted with misery, various disasters, difficulties and is getting worse day by day. It is you who are the source of the nation’s happiness, the foundation of the nation’s hope, able to alleviate the nation’s suffering and the doctors who are able to treat the diseases that plague them.

 

Therefore, improve the condition of your people, straighten their steps, and invite them to work or do good deeds, so that they are worthy of being heirs of the earth and actors in the development of its prosperity, so that your nation will return to its former glory. Enough is enough of what your enemies are doing to exploit the wealth of your nation and enough of what they are doing to destroy the morals, identity and everything that makes your nation great.

 

O, young generation, you are once again all of you, the lamp of hope, the guiding star and the foundation of the nation’s hopes. Therefore, do good for your nation, devote all your abilities to them and ignite the fire of your ideals, then your nation will become a good nation, your life with them will be good and you together with your nation will rise to become a great and advanced nation.

 

 

XXXVII: THE FIRST TRAGEDY

 

Remember the first tragedy or event that occurs, because in that first event there is a graph of up, down, forward, backward, and even death or life.

 

We have seen that there are many people who do not pay attention to the first tragedy or event that occurs, they do not care and take it for granted. If they had understood that the outcome of every matter depends on its beginning, and proceeds according to the course of its beginning, then surely they would have realized and paid attention to the first events that occurred, they would have strived to exert all their strength to prevent the first tragedy from taking place and face it with all their strength to resist the first tragedy, like a sturdy mountain facing every danger that attacks it.

 

The result or end of anything, good or bad, follows the good or bad of its beginning. If the beginning of something is good, then it is certain that the result or end of something is also good. Conversely, if the beginning of something is bad, then the result or outcome of that thing is also bad.

 

There are some people who do business. He carries out his business with great earnestness. When he is actively engaged in his endeavor, he is suddenly struck by a calamity, small or large. Then the person becomes discouraged to continue his business and is afraid to complete his business according to the original plan, becoming lazy and discouraged before he achieves the results he expected. The main cause of such failure is none other than the absence of patience in that person and his lack of courage.

 

In the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) it is stated:

 

“The measure of patience can only be seen at the time of the first tragedy”

 

There is another person who is actively engaged in an endeavor, constantly facing trials and obstacles from all sides. But this person faces it with a firm and steadfast heart, so that he is able to overcome these trials, obstacles and obstacles, and continue to move forward with his efforts, achieving what he wants with tireless enthusiasm, until he finally succeeds in achieving what he hopes for. The success of this person is only because he remained steadfast and patient in the face of the tragedy that initially befell him, always alert to the obstacles that confronted him at the beginning of his efforts and he tried hard to dismiss all whispers of fear and discard all complaints of the heart, He can do so, because he has the courage and habit of patience when first hit by calamity.

 

What we see in the form of failures, the majority of people who undertake many endeavors, are simply due to being easily agitated and complaining when facing obstacles in the early stages of their endeavors. Therefore, always be vigilant and brave in the face of the first tragedy that occurs in the beginning of a business.

 

Silence and indifference to the corruption that first arises in matters relating to the ideology or creed that you believe in, will cause the corruption to spread and spread to other issues.

 

Your fear or lack of courage in defending your legitimate rights causes your opponents to undermine and undermine your other rights.

 

People’s penchant for evil and their habit of doing wrong is only because they have always underestimated the importance of controlling their desires, which always lead to bad deeds when they are first inclined to do harm.

 

The rain was originally a gcrimis, the flames of a fire came from a single spark and the great tree was originally a tiny seed.

 

The disease of alcoholism and drug addiction only begins with a taste of a glass of wine or a tablet of the devil. Similarly, the maddening passion of love in the soul also starts with the arrow of romance that strikes at first sight.

 

The war started with a word that was sometimes very trivial, then developed into tensions in relationships, then ended with a killing that led to death. The beginning of this great and terrible event was also due to a small, insignificant matter.

 

If you act immediately to get rid of every tragedy that arises first, before it paralyzes you and try to resist every obstacle before it hits you, then you will be saved from all kinds of destruction, you will live in peace and quiet and succeed in business and be respected in your community.

 

O young people, one of our ills that prevents us from achieving our goals is our complacency at the first tragedy that befalls us and our impatience at the first trial. Such a character (complaining and impatience), once it has taken hold of the soul of a people or nation, will inevitably lead to its enslavement and humiliation, and its efforts will be in vain, and its deeds will be like dust scattered by a strong wind. The wind that obliterates the fruits of labor is none other than fear and impatience in the face of the first obstacle.

 

Therefore, you – may Allah protect you – must make it a habit to be patient and strengthen your souls when facing the first tragedy in business, then you will definitely find it easy and feel light to face the next tragedy. Furthermore, you will always be successful in all endeavors.

 

 

 

 

XXXVIII: EMBRACE THE MOMENT OF DESTRUCTION

 

The success of a job is if the people who handle it are experts. Conversely, the failure of a job is when the work is left to people who are not experts.

 

We have never known a job out of many, for which the workers were suited and satisfied and which brought satisfactory results, except those workers. Indeed, people who are experts in their field. We have also never witnessed a good endeavor, which the workers failed to realize, unless the workers were not experts, i.e., people who are good at what they do.

 

Indeed, any work that is handed over to people who are not experts, will end up in a mess and the people who handle it, get failure and regret. This issue has been signaled in the Prophet’s hadith:

 

“If a matter is left to those who are not experts, then wait for the time.”

 

The meaning of the word when in the above Hadīth is the time or period of its failure and destruction.

 

When this world is corrupted, because its inhabitants commit various wickedness and disobedience, widening the distance (sharpening) of division after uniting, preferring to commit acts of anarchy or destruction after actively building and disbelieving in the laws of Allah after believing in them, then the symptoms of its destruction begin to appear, getting closer to the end of the world, collisions begin to shake and are followed by various kinds of disasters in a row. At that time, the earth will shake violently, followed by all kinds of tragedies, everyone’s heart will pound with fear and all eyes will be downcast.

 

Such events occurred and shook the world because the dwellers and inhabitants of the earth were not fit and proper to live on it. They had made all kinds of deviations from the rules that Allah had made them to follow. But they transgressed and followed other paths, and indeed Allah still gave them a chance, but did not let them. If there was no hope of returning to the right path, then He immediately tortured those who deviated from His law, as a punishment from the Almighty. He sends them to the place of torture and torments them, according to the sins and wrongs they have committed.

 

All of this is Sunatullah and there is no way anyone can change Sunatullah.

 

No nation has been entrusted with a matter, and they have not been able to organize and select people in the best way possible, but the matter has been withdrawn by the one who entrusted it. Then it is handed over to another nation that is deemed fit and proper. But if affairs are left in the hands of people who cannot manage them well, then wait for the time of their destruction.

 

Success in various jobs, if handed over to the right or appropriate person to handle it.

 

The issue of knowledge, if left to the ignorant, will lead to more ignorance, more power for the ignorant, and more evil and misery as a result.

 

When industry is entrusted to people who cannot run it properly, the result is loss, and all the work falls apart.

 

If ungodly people who are ignorant or have little religious knowledge are given important positions in the field of guidance and outreach to the community, are given teaching duties or are given positions of religious responsibility, then such people are clearly misleading and leading people down the wrong path. In such cases, there may also be an attempt to undermine religion in the eyes of the common people and to tarnish the goodness of religion in the eyes of those who do not know religion.

 

When the tasks of governance are handed over to people who are inexperienced in the field of governance, and they do not even know these tasks, except for the names of the jobs – or are handed over to people who do not look after the interests of the nation and do not heed the covenants, even day and night they do actions that cause the state or government to weaken. They also work day and night only to enrich themselves and their own stomachs, even though their actions lead to destruction, if the state of the government or country is in such a state, then expect its destruction.

 

The issue as mentioned above has actually been hinted at by the Prophet in his hadith:

 

 

“Enlist the help of all of you to assign all the work to people who are skilled and suitable in their fields.”

 

If we ask for help to do any kind of work to people who are experts in their fields, then the work will be a great success. If, on the other hand, we leave the work to those who are not experts in their fields, then we are leaving the work to ruin and throwing it into the abyss of destruction.

 

O young people, we say to you, never hand over any of your many jobs except to those who have expertise in that field of work. If you do not do so, then you will lose out in your endeavors and will experience failure and regret.

 

Be careful not to take on a job that is not your area of expertise, lest you experience deep regret, while the people who handed over the job to you will certainly experience loss. When you experience that misfortune, you and your work will be thrown into the valley of disgrace, reviled and cursed by everyone. So avoid this, and never try to do a job in which you are not skilled. Indeed, we are among those who wish you well.

 

 

 

 

XXXIX: PERFECTING THE WORK WELL

 

Completing a job well, albeit slowly, is better than doing it quickly, but the result is poor and unsatisfactory.

 

If you walk for an hour every day and rest for the rest of the day, until you reach your destination happy and refreshed, that is certainly better than walking for a whole day without rest, until you reach your destination tired and exhausted.

 

A day’s work that you do in a few hours with care and perfection is better than doing it with all your energy for a whole day, only to end up feeling bored and dull. This boredom leads to poor work results, as well as congestion and lack of continuity in work.

 

Worshiping Allah swt. is a good deed and every believer loves to do it. However, if it is done continuously without stopping and the energy is spent on worship alone, then such a thing is actually condemned by religion. This is because overdoing it in worship can lead to unfitness or imperfection, which in turn leads to boredom. In the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) it is mentioned:

 

“Indeed you have a duty to God, you have a duty to yourself and you have a duty to your wife, so fulfill the duty to each of them.”

 

We have seen that many people do a lot of work in a very short time. But when the time comes for the results of that work, the results are very disappointing. That is because most people cannot choose between good work that costs more in a longer period of time and perfunctory work that costs less and is completed in a shorter period of time. If these people take on labor that is perfunctory, then of course they give it a small reward that is commensurate with the quality of the work.

 

We have also seen some people doing a little work for a long time, with the intention that the work done will be better, more perfect and more satisfying. Then when the time to reap the rewards comes, they are able to reap the rewards of their work in large and very satisfying amounts. This is nothing but the result of good and perfect work.

 

Doing work well and perfectly is something that is very important in the world of work and is a must for people who want success in work. The Prophet’s hadith states:

 

 

“Verily, Allah has enjoined upon His servants to do good to all things.”

 

The word ihsan in the hadith means to act well and professionally. Whoever does his work well and professionally will reap results that are known only to those who are accustomed to doing good work. If one does his work poorly, the results will not be visible and will lead to loss and regret.

 

The work is like a garden.

 

If the garden or park is well tended by the gardener and cared for properly, it will yield very pleasant fruit. The same applies to other jobs. 

 

Rushing to finish a job is not what leads to success, but instead leads to slowness and regret. On the contrary, working by thinking about the goodness and perfection of the work is the determining factor for success.

It is mentioned in the hadith:

 

“Verily, the religion of Islam is strong, because it is entered into with kindness, gentleness and discipline (istikamah), do not exasperate yourself in the worship of Allah. For, indeed, the one who is cut off from the group is the one who cannot continue his journey and whose back is not fixed.”

 

O, young generation, be careful, never be hasty in doing work, without taking into account its goodness and perfection. This is because haste, which is not preceded by careful thought, leads to failure and loss. On the other hand, working slowly with the aim that the results will be good will lead to success. Indeed, people, as a poet said, will not be questioned about the speed or slowness of a job, but they will only be questioned about the good and bad deeds of their work.

 

 

 

 

XL: WOMEN

 

In Arabic there is a saying:

 

“Every woman in debt (BH) is an aunt.”

 

The meaning of this Arabic proverb is that one of the duties of every man is to be jealous of every woman, just as he is jealous of his own wife. Because every woman is the mother’s sister in gender. Hence, every woman is automatically the man’s aunt.

 

The situation of women in social life -always- differs according to the differences and changes of time and environment. Some have increased their role and some are still low. Some have gained honor and some are still oppressed. Some have become intellectuals and some are still ignorant. It all follows the progress and decline of the environment, the light and darkness of the times.

 

Women were not created except to be with men. Both can work together in navigating this ark of life. It’s just that each of them has certain jobs or duties, which should not be violated by each type. If likened to a farmer, it is the man who plows the land, plants and sows the seeds. While the woman is in charge of taking care of the seeds and plants by watering them and removing everything that disturbs or damages, which is around the seeds and plants.

 

The farm is like a house inhabited by one family. A man’s duty is nothing but to work to provide for the whole family, so that they can live happily. As for the woman’s duty, it is only to manage the household, educate the children, instill praiseworthy morals in their souls and remove bad habits from their hearts, so that later on, these educated children can be created, a good society, capable of raising the ummah and upholding and defending the country. 

 

If the man neglects his duties and obligations, while the woman exceeds her natural limits or does not fulfill her responsibilities, then the harmony in the household will be broken and the joints of household life will fall apart. Such a household situation has an effect on the ummah and the state. The strength of the ummah fades and the defense of the state is broken, because the goodness of the ummah and the revival of the state depend on the goodness of the families in households.

 

There is no doubt that the happiness of the younger generation, which is the main pillar of the ummah, depends more on mothers (women). This is because if mothers or women want to corrupt their morals, then they will corrupt their morals and if they want to improve their morals, then they, the younger generation, will have good morals. This is so because the control of the education of the younger generation is in the hands of mothers or women. Therefore, women should strive to become respectable women, high in position, educated, educated, good personality, able to manage household life, understand their duties and obligations towards the domestic world.

 

In fact, the majority of women in the eastern world today, and for several hundred years before that, have been abandoned and treated like livestock. The men of that time considered women to be tools to be controlled by men, to be operated as they wished under the mistaken notion that they, the women, were created as bargains or slaves. The men deprived women of their legal and material rights and did not allow women the freedom to study or pursue knowledge. As a result of all this, home life becomes disharmonious, families break down and society fades away, due to the decline of individuals who are the smallest component of society.

 

The eastern world is now truly beginning to realize these weaknesses and shortcomings, and people who have been guided by Allah to the straight path are beginning to rise up. They have begun to make efforts to teach and educate their daughters, because the eastern nations truly believe that women are the solid foundation of social life, and the basis for the rise of a strong ummah. But the awareness of such eastern nations is still very weak. Hopefully such awareness will continue to increase with all of you, O noble young generation. Indeed, the young women have great rights that you must fulfill, because they are your aunts, and aunts are like mothers, even functioning as mothers. Everyone should want their mother to live a happy life.

 

Indeed, the decline of society that you see is a direct result of the backwardness, ignorance and corruption of women’s education. Therefore, pay attention to the education of women’s children, educate them (with the right education), then you will gain the reward of all good deeds.

 

An important thing to remember is that women’s extravagance, exaggeration and deviation from modesty in dress, adornment and so on, have depleted their husbands’ wealth and led to disasters and slander in society. This is because they have not been taught useful sciences and have not received proper education, even though they claim to be educated.

 

O young generation, you are obliged to educate your sons and daughters, when you become heads of households, with the right and noble education. Give them lessons in the form of useful knowledge, which can lead to the rise of the country and the glory of the ummah.

 

 

 

 

XLI: TRYING AND TRUSTING

 

We have never known a person who is so narrow-minded and so weak in reasoning, than one who dares to embark on a course of action before having prepared everything related to it.

 

Yes, there are those who are even more foolish than the aforementioned, and that is the person who goes into a field of work before preparing everything that needs to be prepared, knowing that anyone who does so is bound to end up a failure, a loss and a mess.

 

There is another who is no less foolish than these two, and that is the one who leaves all his affairs completely resigned and dependent on fate and the dictates of takdu, without trying how to bring himself closer to something far away and make a difficult matter easier.

 

Failure to achieve what is sought or created arises from one of two things, both of which do the most damage to any endeavor. They are cunning (jubun) and carelessness (tahawwur).

 

This cunning nature turns people away from trying to move forward, encouraging them to surrender to the provisions of fate. Whereas Allah swt. has made a cause for everything. In other words, everything was created by Allah through a cause, and the cause of success in all affairs is to try or work through the proper doorway.

 

As for carelessness, which is working without calculation, it encourages people to achieve their goals before considering or thinking about the causes that can lead to these goals and not wanting to choose the cause or method that is most likely to achieve their goals. Carelessness or acting rashly often brings bad results, misery and accidents. An Arabic proverb says:

 

 

“Whoever always thinks of the consequences of all actions will be saved from all kinds of disasters.”

 

The way to be saved from these various calamities is not to be hasty in acting, which means not to rush into work unless one knows exactly or close to exactly that he will not fail in the work to be done. This does not mean retreating before acting or retreating because of the first impact of the ordeal, and it does not mean delaying because there is doubt, then using it as an excuse for not working, which is the same as cunning (jubun), in fact it is the essence of cunning.

 

There are also many people who take on big jobs, but fail long afterward. In such cases, of course, there are causes, including neglect of preparation and the absence of supportive causes or intermediaries. An Arabic proverb states:

 

“When two goats clash, the one without horns loses.”

 

The saying itself is for people who take on a job without preparation, which naturally leads to failure.

 

There are so many people who leave problems by just surrendering (tawakal), that the problem has been determined in destiny, Allah has certainly resolved the matter. Whereas what should be, is that he himself first regulates the resolution of his problems, then surrenders or submits to the One who regulates it, namely Allah SWT.

 

A man said to the Prophet:

 

“I just let my camel loose, without tying it up and I surrendered (tawakal). “

Hearing the man’s words, the Prophet immediately said:

 

“Tie up your camel first, then put your trust in it. “

 

An Arabic proverb states: “Coming to a watering hole with water is a sign of an intelligent person.”

 

The meaning of the above saying is that the person who wants to do the work must be steady and confident.

 

Another saying goes:

 

“Buy for yourself and for the people in the market.”

The meaning of the proverb above is that one should always take care of oneself before doing a job, and that one should always ask for advice from people who can be trusted to point one to something good.

 

There are some people who, when they succeed in getting what they want, they are not serious about maintaining and nurturing that success. When it slips out of his hands, he regrets it like Kusa’i. But that regret is completely pointless.

 

It should be noted that such a person is someone who has very little knowledge and does not have an intelligent mind, because the mind does not want to push a person towards disgrace and outrageous submission. A reasonable person is one who is not reluctant to go to a place where there is water, before he really knows the way to go when returning from that place. A reasonable person is one who is able to compare two things that are equally harmful, to take the one with the least risk of harm, because the evil can still be chosen. A reasonable person is not someone who can distinguish between good and bad things. Rather, an intelligent person is one who knows the best of two evils, because evils come in stages, and some evils are less harmful than others.

 

O young generation, this is the advice that is deliberately addressed to you, namely:

 

You should be careful not to take on any work directly before your problem is complete, and never leave any of your many tasks to the fate that will come later. So, a bright-minded person is one who realizes the importance of effort or endeavor, and then tawakal.

 

 

 

XLII: CONFIDENCE

 

There is nothing more harmful to a person than being careless about his own affairs and entrusting them to someone else. This is only if it is absolutely clear that the person whom he has entrusted is always ready to answer his call as quickly as possible and to carry out his orders whenever he is called upon to do so. But if there is any doubt about the trustworthiness of the person entrusted with the matter, then entrusting him with the matter is a form of madness.

An Arabic proverb states:

 

“Your uncle is the place where you take out your provisions”.

The proverb is used for people who leave things to others. The origin of the saying is: One day a man wanted to go with his uncle. Then he said to his family: Make food for me and put it in my bag of provisions (khurjun), so that I can take it when I need it. His family did not want to make food, because his uncle who took him away had food ready. They just said ‘Ammuka khurjuka, meaning just ask the uncle. Just ask your uncle if you want to eat.

 

A person who relies on others for everything must be a person with a weak will, a dull mind and an idiot. If this kind of disease spreads among a nation, the integrity of the nation will fade, the law and order will be broken, so that the nation will become the most backward and backward nation. Relying on others or entrusting one’s affairs to them is a cause of destruction, because it makes one despicable and weak and makes one reluctant to think about anything that could lead to a strong fortress.

 

The little child grows up and depends on his father and mother for all his personal affairs, until he reaches adulthood. He begins to experience a life full of obstacles and difficulties, while he does not yet understand the meaning of independence, because he is not used to being independent in his first years. Everyone has habits. If a person has the habit of depending on others, it will make the nation more miserable and despicable.

 

Therefore, when a child begins to have thoughts, his parents must accustom him to being independent in all his affairs, so that when he reaches adolescence, he will become a person who likes to serve his nation, like the devotion of great and strong people. When the number of young people who are accustomed to living independently increases, a good nation will be formed from them and they will be worthy to inherit the earth.

 

We are in dire need of young people who are trained to think freely, to be independent or to believe in themselves. We could not have regressed to the state we are in today except for the weakening of these two traits, freedom of thought and self-reliance, among us.

 

Western nations will not progress and will not achieve advancement in civilization, outlook and governance unless they educate their youth to think freely and believe in themselves.

 

What we have described above does not mean that children should be taught to think for themselves and to think for themselves without consulting experts and religious scholars. Rather, we mean that they should be taught not to neglect thinking and working on their own in the belief that others are thinking and working. If he sees that the thoughts or ideas of others are more likely to ensure the success of his endeavors, then he follows them and adheres to them. If he does not see that, then he continues to think and work, so that his work takes shape.

 

Young people, make it a habit to be independent, believe in yourself and think freely, in accordance with what we have described, you will certainly become successful people.

 

Be cautious, never follow opinions or thoughts that push you to the brink of failure and do not submit to people who are not certain to lead you to the straight path.

 

Do not follow the orders of the one who assures you of your safety from an alarming matter, when in fact he wants to plunge you into that alarming matter. But follow the orders of the one who frightens (warns) you against the bad consequences of your actions, so that you will be careful. This is because the one who frightens you so that you will be safe is actually more merciful to you than the one who guarantees you safety, but you are always afraid and in danger. An Arabic proverb states:

 

“Obey the command of the one who causes you to weep (for the sake of salvation) and do not listen to the command of the one who causes you to laugh (which ultimately leads you astray)”.

 

Anyone who goes against the above advice will suffer loss. So will anyone who does not follow the advice of a sincere person. An Arabic proverb states:

 

“Whoever opposes the one who advises sincerely, then his food will fall before the wolves (and he will suffer loss).

 

That advice is true and is a reality. So, do not doubt, follow what has been conveyed to you, surely you will be blessed by Allah swt.

 

 

XLIII: EDUCATION

 

Our young children today will be leaders in the future. If they familiarize themselves with good manners, which will elevate their status, and succeed in learning sciences that are beneficial to themselves and beneficial to the country, then these children will have laid a solid foundation for the rise of the ummah. This is something that no one can deny. If, on the other hand, these children have become accustomed to bad manners and are reluctant to study the sciences that are the main reason for nations to live, then they will be a disaster for the ummah and a nuisance to the country in which they live.

 

O young people, in the previous chapters we have explained to you some of what is necessary in terms of good manners and some of what is bad manners. We have also explained to you the morals that you must do and the bad morals that you must avoid. Just as a healthy person avoids a person with scabies, so choose the morals that you find beneficial. We believe that you will not choose anything except what we have shown you to choose, because you understand correctly that we are your trusted advisors.

 

Education is a matter of great importance and value. Imam Al-Ghozali said: The child is a mandate from Allah to his parents. The child’s clean and pure heart is like an expensive jewel, which is clean from all kinds of paintings and images. If the child is accustomed to doing good things and always told about everything that is good, then the child will grow well, happy in this world and the hereafter and his father and mother, teachers and educators, also get the reward of the child’s goodness. On the other hand, if the child is accustomed to doing bad things and neglected, then the child will become a wretched, miserable and disobedient person. If this is the case, then the father and mother and those who care for the child will also bear the guilt and sins committed by the child.

 

Education is an effort to instill praiseworthy morals in the souls of children. The morals that have been planted must continue to be watered with guidance and advice, so that they become dispositions or traits that are inherent in the soul. After that, the fruit of the moral plants will appear in the form of deeds that start and are good and like to work for the good of the country.

 

The child must be educated about courage, progress, generosity, patience, sincerity in charity, prioritizing the public good over personal interests, nobility of soul, self-respect, civilized courage, understanding of religion that is free from khurafat, civilization that is free from corruption, freedom of speech and good actions and love for the homeland.

 

We also have the duty to teach our children about iradah (willpower), which is strong willedness, honesty, giving aid and help to the poor and oppressed, useful projects and training them to do their duties, etc., which are related to noble morals. Of course, it is our duty to keep our children away from habits and manners that are contrary to the above-mentioned praiseworthy habits and manners.

 

But the reality of the situation around us today is not what we have described.

 

Even children who are still in their arms have been frightened by their mothers and fathers with ghosts, gendruwo and wewe gombel, just so that they are not made to move by the screams or cries of the child. Yet they do not realize that the soul of a child is like a soft waxy material that can be carved into any shape, according to the wishes of the carver. It is like a photographic camera that is capable of printing every image captured through its lens.

 

When the child grows up, the pictures and images that his or her fathers and mothers drew in their minds will be repeated to him or her automatically, so that the child will easily make assumptions about what he or she sees. Eventually, the child’s life – due to our mistakes – will be filled with fear, cunning and ugly images.

 

When a child has passed his childhood and is growing up, starting to walk, starting to grow teeth, then entering puberty, while his father and mother are just starting to educate him, then bal is like educating a stupid animal, because it is not uncommon for them to yell at him, and even hit him. When he hears the words of his father and mother, which are harsh, dirty, lying and hypocritical. Abandon and keep such bad manners away from children. In addition, many children’s lives at school are no better than their lives at home. This is especially the case if the teachers and educators are hard-hearted, harsh-tempered and corrupt in their sincerity. If the children are left entirely to such schools, then he is certainly wasting what is the message of everything.

 

When the children (buds of the nation) grow up and mature, the life of the children in the midst of their nation is actually not unlike an enlarged image of their life in the home and school environment. Sometimes the child can create happiness for the life of his nation, if he gets the right and good education and upbringing, both at home and school. It is also possible that the child will one day make life miserable for his people, if he receives the wrong education and upbringing.

 

Therefore, the entire Ummah or nation should take the education of children seriously, so that they will become your helpers and fight with you to lift you out of the valley of humiliation, weakness and ignorance.

 

You, young people, make it a habit to behave according to good manners and continue to study useful knowledge.

 

The job market is right in front of you, so get ready to jump in.

 

Now, prepare to serve the nation, and there later – after childhood – there will be competition You will see who will win. Whoever is earnest in preparation today, will surely succeed tomorrow. Whatever deeds a young man does at this age, he will surely find results in his old age.

 

O, buds of banpsa, if you are asked, what are you preparing today to meet tomorrow? What work are you doing now, so that your nation will be happy in the future?

 

Give me the answer to that question, I have prepared lofty ideals, dexterity, knowledge, noble morals, severity, enthusiasm and love for the motherland.

 

May Allah bless you, realize our aspirations for you It is because of you that the country will prosper and it is because of you that the nation can enjoy a good life.

 

 

 

 

XLIV: COVERAGE

 

May safety and prosperity be bestowed upon you all by Allah, O young generation. As well as His mercy and blessings.

 

Indeed, your friend – the giver of advice – wants to say goodbye, although it is very hard, as a farewell to someone who loves you very much, hopes for your success, in the hope that you will not put aside or forget this book of advice. For the spirit of study is the practice of what has been read. This mortal world is endangered by not practicing what one knows.

 

Indeed this nation has called out to you, so answer them with concrete actions, in the form of doing work that causes the nation to live and making efforts to improve their conditions. Know, that you will not be able to enjoy the happiness of life without the happiness of life, defeat, strength or resilience is the even distribution of prosperity from the magnitude of your nation’s power. Olefi therefore, strengthen your hearts and work hard, because hard work brings happiness in life.

 

If you want to live a noble life:

feared for his power and strong in his inheritance.

So do not expect to be able to do so without perseverance;

that can dull a very sharp sword.

Leaving him with an injury for all time;

which left the doctor at a loss to find the abat.

Hey, young generation, is there a movement that brings you closer:

to an ideal that is far away?

Is there any power from you that can deliver;

at the height of the brilliant stars.

Is there willpower, grit and tenacity;

which is useful for tearing down towering mountains.

We have been in ignorance for a long time;

forgetting the morals that prevent dishonor.

There have been many memorializers..;

but the warning failed to wake them up.

  1. young generation, rise to greatness and walk in search of glory, indeed I;

I knew that the majesty I was looking for was on display:

awaits the seeker at the front of the courtyard.

Hurry to him and abandon slowness;

work like one who knows the way.

Isn’t it surprising that if we keep lying down?

shackled and far from glory.

We are just advising you, and notification;

for a nation that hates dullness and stagnation.

 

Muharram 1421 H.