THE FIFTH WORD

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحٖيمِIn the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الَّذٖينَ اتَّقَوْا وَالَّذٖينَ هُمْ مُحْسِنُونَIndeed, Allah is with those who are mindful of Him and with those who do good. — The Quran 16:128

If you wish to understand to what extent performing the prayer and refraining from major sins are a true duty of the human being, and how natural and fitting they are with regard to the purpose of his creation, then look at and listen to the following parable:

During a military mobilization, two soldiers served in the same battalion. One of them was trained and duty-conscious, while the other was inexperienced and self-centred. The duty-conscious soldier focused on his training and combat, and did not concern himself with his rations and provision. For he knew that it was the task of the state to care for him in illness and to provide for his livelihood, his equipment, and, if necessary, even his smallest needs. He knew that his true duty consisted of training and combat. Besides this, he also helped with other tasks such as cooking, washing dishes, and distributing rations. When he was asked what he was doing, he would say that he was performing fatigue duties for the state. He never said that he was working for his own livelihood.

The other, greedy and inexperienced soldier paid no attention to training and combat. He said that those tasks belonged to the state and did not concern him. He constantly thought about his livelihood and busied himself with it. He left the battalion, went off to the marketplace to earn money.

One day, his experienced friend said to him: “Brother, your true duty consists of training and combat. You were brought here for that. Trust the sultan. He will not let you starve; it is his task to provide you with food. Moreover, you are powerless and needy; you cannot provide for yourself everywhere. Besides, this is a time of combat and mobilization. They will label you a rebel and punish you. There are two tasks that must be carried out. One task belongs to the sultan. It consists of providing for our livelihood, and at times he employs us in that service. The other task belongs to us. It consists of training and combat, in which the sultan assists us with facilities.” You will understand what danger that foolish soldier places himself in if he does not heed what that experienced, courageous soldier says.

Now then, O my lazy nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits.! Know that the turbulent battlefield on which those soldiers find themselves symbolizes this hectic worldly life. The army divided into battalions refers to human society. The battalion in the parable symbolizes the Islamic community of this century. The duty-conscious soldier represents a pious Muslim who knows and fulfils his religious obligations, and who struggles against his nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits. and the devil in order to refrain from sins, especially major sins. The self-centred soldier represents a lost sinner who is so concerned and anxious about his livelihood that it is as though he has no trust in the true Provider of sustenance. He does not fulfil his religious obligations and commits every sin that comes across his path while seeking his livelihood. The training and orders represent acts of worship, especially the prayer. The war refers to the struggle against the nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits., base desires, and the devils among jinnsSpiritual beings created from smokeless fire. and humans, in order to be protected from sins and corruption and to save the heart and soul from eternal damnation. As for the two tasks: one consists of granting and sustaining life. The other consists of praying to the One Who grants and sustains life, and of entrusting everything to Him by showing tawakkulTrust in Allah after making the necessary effort and fulfilling one’s responsibilities..