Haaroon Ar-Rasheed, may Allah have mercy upon him, once stood looking at the sky when he saw a cloud passing by. He addressed it saying, “Rain wherever you wish, for your fruit will certainly come to me anyway.” This means that the cloud would have rained either on an Islamic land or on a non-Islamic one. In the first case, Muslims would have benefited from this rainwater in agriculture and in drinking; in the second case, Muslims would have also benefited from this rainwater in the form of Jizyah (a tax) that would be paid to them by non-Muslims. This example shows the state of glory, which the Muslims reached in the past when they applied their religion and worked for it. Nowadays, Muslims are certainly required to pursue the means of glory.
Glory here refers to power, victory, high standing and invincibility. It is a word which denotes that a person cannot be overcome or humiliated. Ibn Al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Some of the scholars of Tafseer (Qur’anic exegesis) said, “In the Qur’an, glory is used in three different senses.
It is used to signify might, as in the verse (which means):
l {“By the might of Pharaoh, indeed it is we who are predominant.”} [Qur’an 26:44]
l {By Your might, I will surely mislead them all} [Qur’an 38:82]
It is also used to signify honour, as in the verse (which means): {Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah entirely.} [Qur’an 4:139]
Finally, it is used to signify dispraised pride as in the verse (which means):
l {And when it is said to him, “Fear Allah ,” pride in the sin takes hold of him.} [Qur’an 2:206]
l {But those who disbelieve are in pride and dissension.} [Qur’an 38:2]
From the above, it is noticed that there is praised glory and dispraised glory. Praised glory is that which pertains to Allah The Almighty, to His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) and to the believers. This is real and permanent glory since it is from and with the support of Allah The Almighty who cannot be defeated or resisted. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And to Allah belongs [all] Honour and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.} [Qur’an 63:8].
On the other hand, the glory of the disbelievers is, in fact, humiliation and disgrace. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And they have taken besides Allah [false] deities that they would be for them [a source of] honour. No! Those “gods” will deny their worship of them and will be against them opponents [on the Day of Judgment].} [Qur’an 19:81-82].
Many people pursued the wrong way to glory, victory and enablement. Some of them pursued it through money and forgot that money is only a Fitnah (trial) and a loss if one does not give the right that Allah The Almighty has to it. Moreover, this money might be a means of humiliation. Al-Hasan may Allah have mercy upon him said, “By Allah, Allah The Almighty humiliates whoever glorifies money.” Indeed, we have seen a many examples of that in life.
Other people seek glory through their positions and prestige. This may enable them to achieve temporary glory. However, if this is not established on justice and good reputation, then it certainly will not last. Indeed, many a leader and president were enjoying glory and then became captives in prisons, and their glory turned into humiliation.
What is even more dangerous is when a person seeks glory through the disbelievers, i.e. by allying himself with them, even if this is against the Muslims’ interests. This is no more than an illusion. In fact, it is an instant humiliation, and the first people to turn against such people would be his ‘allies’ from the disbelievers. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment - Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honour [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah entirely.} [Qur’an 4:138-139] Consequently, throwing one’s self in the arms of the disbelievers is the shortest way to dishonor and humiliation because these disbelievers would not accept from us anything less than disbelief. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion.} [Qur’an 2:120].
Other people still seek glory through their ancestors and tribes, even if they were misguided. In a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu Rayhaanah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “If a person attributes himself to nine of his disbelieving forefathers, seeking through them glory and pride, he will be their tenth in Hell.”
Hence, the unquestionable truth is that a person who seeks glory must demand it from Allah The Almighty through obeying Him and avoiding disobedience. ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, summarised this wonderful meaning in a few words; He said, “We were the most humiliated people, but Allah The Almighty has honoured us with Islam. If we demand honor through any means other than Islam, Allah The Almighty will humiliate us.”
Ibraaheem ibn Shaybaan, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Honour lies in modesty, glory lies in piety, and freedom lies in contentment.” When a Muslim lives in obedience to Allah The Almighty, he lives in honor and dignity. He may be afflicted, but nevertheless he has a strong sense of honor. This appeared clearly in the life of the righteous predecessors, may Allah be pleased with them, even in the darkest moments and in the severest and hardest situations.
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
