UNITY WITH GOD WHILE AMONG OTHERS

“The believer who mixes with people and bears the troubles they cause has greater reward than the one who does not.”
(Ibn Maja, Fitan, 23; Tirmidhi, Qiyama, 55)
This world has a few different faces; one of them is the material or “worldly” face, which is transitory. It throws at us a hundred blows in return for a small bounty. This transitory aspect of the world is a diversion, a deceit. It is this transi-tory face of world that is sought after and adored by those who solely run after worldly concerns; a believer is expected to be well aware of this hideous face behind the mask.
We are supposed to form a sense of balance between this world and the Hereafter by keeping this perspective in mind; we need to remember that the world is transitional while the Hereafter is eternal. The Prophet never turned his back on this world, yet he was also with the Creator at all times, even in the midst of crowd.
We can see this in the hadith we have mentioned at the beginning. This is how humans should approach others; if they do, then rivers of peace will flow where once there were heaps of false words and actions. Just like how teachers with their students are patient with regards to some of the spiritual hardships and difficulties faced; and demonstrate great self–sacrifice.
Devotion to spiritual prosperity means finding the path to true wisdom and piety, and this in turn will result in affection and closeness with the Creator. This path of true guidance will become our way of life; our only aim in the world will be to convey and represent the sublime realities of faith and to behave with great devotion, just like the Prophet did when he chose not to be captivated by the attractions of Paradise during the Ascension and returned to his followers.
Those with true awareness of the passing attractions that this life offers will never be deceived or become captivated by the transience and negative aspects of the universe. They will remain within their communities with a constant spiritual connection with the Creator.
Throughout his life the Prophet never considered the offers of the world; his arrival in the world was no different to his departure… he was wrapped in a cloth and placed in a crib on his arrival and he departed from this world again wrapped in a shroud.
The Prophet spent his lifetime striving to establish a balance between this world and the Hereafter and to convey faith, spirituality and the universal principles through his teachings, to many civilizations without any concessions. Never deceived by the pleasures of the universe, he lived in total peace and confidence, submitting his soul and his all to God. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, departed after having devoted his entire life to the rescue of humankind and for the gain of His Creator’s pleasure.
One day Umar ibn al-Khattab entered the home of bliss and saw the holy Prophet lying on a straw mat; he began to weep with a deep sense of care. When the Prophet asked why he was crying Umar replied: “While Caesar and Chosroes live a life of luxury, you are the Messenger of God and you live in such destitution.” The Prophet explained in a way that will always remain in the minds and hearts of all: “Don’t you agree that the luxuries of the world should be theirs, and that those of the Hereafter should be ours?”
The Prophet never neglected the beauties of the world; he was fully aware and appreciative of the wisdom of the creation within the universe and he portrayed this to others. He strove alongside his Companions to transmit such manifest beauties and the realities of life through Islamic teachings to the entire world. Thus, considering all his achievements over a period that only spans twenty-three years, we can confidently claim that his message and practice have provided a breakthrough in the overall progress of humanity since ancient times.
Once again, it is necessary to repeat that the holy Prophet never neglected or underestimated the life of this world; he knew the limits as to its value and importance. From the believer’s standpoint, there is the positive face of the world, like the fertile ground, which views the world as bedrock wherein the good seeds for the hereafter can be grown. It was this value and significance that the holy Prophet guided his followers towards.
The human person’s willpower is directly proportional to the level of patience they have. Patience is the muscle of resistance and tolerance given to humanity, a great virtue that brings forth a hidden spiritual strength from within. There are innumerable doses of wisdom, prophetic, saintly and scholarly legacies and countless reasons for why and how patience can be the means to reach perfection and to progress in life as a conscious and genuine member of a community.
The first aspect of patience is steadfastness in worship. The second and most important aspect of patience, particularly for youth is to have patience against defiance and malice. This kind of patience is the greatest way to protect oneself, especially in contemporary times where indecency, vice and corruption are continuously on the rise. This form of patience is the second stepping stone towards human spiritual development, a great way toward the peak of one’s given potential.
The third form of patience can be arguably the greatest of all; that during the times of disaster or grave troubles, times which God has sent for many universal and comprehensive points of wisdom the particular focus to awaken one’s resignation to Divine decree.
The fourth aspect is patience against the pomp and vanities of this world which can strongly appeal to the carnal self. Once again the practice of which can be a means of dramatic spiritual growth.
The fifth facet is to show diligence and leave aside all kinds of material and for that matter even spiritual expectations and or rewards for the sake of His Glory. This level of fervent love and quest for pleasing the Almighty can only be achieved and for that matter attempted by those who have reached a level of deep maturity in their faith.