Servants of Allah

As-Salaam Alaikum,

“You alone do we serve and You alone do we seek help.”

We continue with Al-Fatiha with the theme of Allah’s double mercy in giving and rewarding as the Lord of all systems of knowledge.

How can man serve Allah if we can’t be of service to each other? The word that we are translating as ‘serve’ also means slave and worship. Because of the corruption of man’s thinking of himself as Lord and provider has brought about perhaps the most inhumane tragedy experienced by humanity. Consequently, it has caused an adverse affect on man’s nature when the ex-slave attempts to render a service to his fellow man. For it is clocked into man’s nature that success is not based upon how much wealth you accumulate, but by the contribution you are able to give as a benefit to humanity. Allah is the Lord of ‘all systems of knowledge.’

Not only did slavery within itself cause problems for man, but the method of emancipation also left unhealed psychological damage. To issue a piece of paper or document without adequate forewarning that informs a people of their freedom, who for generations have known nothing except slavery, created a devastating traumatic experience for generations to come. Not that the whole of our social and psychological predicaments stem from slavery, but much have gone unresolved. Whereas, the worst form of mental mutilation that has occurred as a result of slavery is to, ‘tell a man he is free but take away the only tool that he has to exercise his freedom with.’

There is no Qur’anic verse that explicitly emancipates the idea of slavery – a form of forced labor which people are considered to be, or treated as, property of others. The process was gradual that is left no scars. If a person were to contract himself into indentured servitude, the employer must feed, clothe, house, etc., the servant the same as he eats, sleeps, etc., and he must educate the servant the same as he would educate his own son. Whereas, the only difference between the servant and the family member is that the servant does not inherit.

The American experience of forced labor and persecution became so unbearable and insufferable that the slave, in many cases a former Muslim, would cry out, “When will come the help of Allah.” Another sad tragedy placed on the soul of the former slave is that Allah has sent His help -- “The Opening” -- physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually to the supplicant, and it appears as though the African American has forgotten its Lord.

This verse of Al-Fatiha should be the most precious verse read by the African American. This verse should bring tears to the eyes, more so, than its rhythmic pronunciations.

Whatever we do as an employer or employee, businessman, industrialist, technologist, etc…, whatever man does on this earth as an occupation or vocation he is rendering a service to another man. The more excellent you are as a servant to Allah, the greater advantage it gives in rendering a service in any endeavor. Whatever purposeful, industrious, or conscientious activity you pursue, engage it with excellence, and seek Allah’s help and guidance.

To be continued.

Thank you for your time in reading this article.

Salim MuMin, Director
M.A.L.I. (Muslim American Logic Institute)
muslimamericanlogic.blogspot.com
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