Doing the "Right" Thing

Every man born in this world, is born free. But this freedom is not from obligations, irrespective of the birth society and ancestral religion. A child born is a son/daughter, will have sibblings, will have a spouse and kids, has friends and neighbours, has employers. To each of the different relations, he owes some rights and responsibilities and he demands some rights and responsibilities.

Without these specific rights over one another, the relationship does not stand. For example, a wife who does not give her husband his right over her, she is only her wife on paper and nothing more. Similarly, a son who does not give his father his rights over him, he does not see him as his father but only as a person who earns for him and supports him until he himself gets old enough to support his own self. How can two people call each other friends when they are not happy at each other's success or assist each other in times of need?

The fact is, that we all call people around us through many terminologies tieing a relationship bond amongst ourselves; friends, mothers, neighbours, sisters, fathers, sons, brothers, employees etc; but we do not realize what these terms mean to us, what responsibilities do they bring and what rights do they owe. Only if we truly understand what does the word "mother" mean, what rights does that word give to the old woman over me and what responsibilities does it put on my shoulders, only then will I be able to fullfil the right of that word. Elsewise, we are only being unjust to ourselves as well as to the relationship.

I have no rights over any of the girls in my office/university/social-circle. But once i sign the Nikahnaama with her acknowledgement and we both mutually agree to tie the knot, that woman will become my wife. If i do not support her, provide for her, satisfy her, she still remains my wife until the divorce is pronounced. SImilarly, if she does not obey me and does not act to please me, she will remain my wife, albeit on paper. Although i will call this woman my wife, i will not see her as one until i giver her, her rights. And as long as i refrain from giving her, her rights, I will be one of the unjust and the usurpers (of rights). 

Allah confirms those who believe with the sure word in this world's life and in
the hereafter, and Allah causes the unjust to go astray, and Allah does what He pleases.
Quran [14:27]

The right thing is to accept the facts which are independant of our feelings an opinions. Whether i like it or not, the woman who i signed the Nikah with is my wife, the woman who gave birth to me is my mother, the child born to my wife is my son/daughter. If i do not give them their rights, i will become one of the unjusts and Allah does not like the unjust.

It is very important to understand what is injustice and who are the unjust. Continuing with the example of the spouse, a man having a sexual relationship with his wife is giving her, her rights, where as a man having the same outside a marital bond, is one of the unjust and becomes an adulter. We can see that because the man gave a woman (who was not his wife), a right which did not belong to her, but only to his wife, thus he became one of the unjust. It works both ways. It is unjust to give some one something which does not "Rightfully" belong to them. Similarly, it is unjust to keep away something from some one, which "Rightfully" belongs to them.

Whether we like it or not, we exist because our creator willed it and the greatest relationship which we have is with Allah, a relationship which existed before we were sent in this world, that between a God and his creation, a master and his slave. Our relationship with our creator has given him all rights over us, and some responsibilities to us.

And We did not do them injustice, but they were unjust to themselves, so their
gods whom they called upon besides Allah did not avail them aught when the decree of your Lord came to pass; and they added but to their ruin.
Quran [11:101]

It is the right of Allah, to demand obedience and worship from us. It is his right that he should be feared from us. It is his Haqq that he be glorified day and night. Being on the lower part of the relationship, it is our responsibility to give him his right and be careful of our duty to him. If we do not give him his rights, we are of the unjust. Similarly, if we give his rights to some one else (pseudo-Gods), who does not have that right to be worshipped etc, we are again of the unjust.

O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah with the care which is due
to Him, and do not die unless you are Muslims.
Quran [3:102]

Today, we are Muslims. We pray and we fast, maybe because we were brought up doing so. The truth is, Allah did not enforce his rights over us and gave us the choice, to either give him his rights and fullfil our responsibilites out of our free will and be of the Muslims, or ignore the fact that he is our creator and we are his servants, thus being one of the unjust.

It is misfortunate that our attitude in becoming Muslims is as if we are the chosen people and Paradise is our right. That is why our prayers and worship leads us to arrogance and insensitivity towards mankind.

Say: If the future abode with Allah is specially for you to the exclusion of the people, then invoke death if you are truthful.
Quran [2:94]

We lie to our own souls, we have opinions about everything which are baseless. In our eyes, we are the best of the Muslims and paradise is our right. Allah has challenged the people who believe that paradise is theirs, to invoke death for themselves if their belief in their own faith is as real as their existence in this world.

And there are some among men who take for themselves objects of worship
besides Allah, whom they love as they love Allah, and those who believe are stronger in love for Allah and O, that those who are unjust had seen, when they see the chastisement, that the power is wholly Allah's and that Allah is severe in requiting (evil).
Quran [2:165]

Unfortunate is he who gives the rights of Allah, to some other creation, and unfortunate is he, who is not careful of his duty to Allah.

It is the right of Rasool (SAW) to be obeyed, followed, loved and revered, for following him (SAW) is the only way to follow Allah himself. It is his (SAW) right that we approach him (SAW) and ask for our forgiveness through him (SAW).

And We did not send any messenger but that he should be obeyed by Allah's
permission; and had they (hypocrites), when they were unjust to themselves, come to you (O Muhammad) and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had (also) asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful.
Quran [4:64]

It is the right of the message of Rasool (SAW) to be followed as it was delivered without any changes based on our personal thinking. As muslims, it is our responsibility to give Muhammad (SAW) his blessed rights for that is justice.

"O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Salah upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are the Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.''

The rights of the Progeny of Muhammad (SAW), the Ahlulbayt (AS) and those of his (SAW) followers, the Sahabas (RA) are one of the controversial issues in Islam. Let us put it this way that the controvery is not in Islam but in the minds of Muslims.

Yazid b. Hayyan reported, .........  One day Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) stood up to deliver sermon at a watering place known as Khumm situated between Mecca and Medina. He praised Allah, extolled Him and delivered the sermon and. exhorted (us) and said: Now to our purpose. O people, I am a human being. I am about to receive a messenger (the angel of death) from my Lord and I, in response to Allah's call, (would bid good-bye to you), but I am leaving among you two weighty things: the one being the Book of Allah in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it. He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said: The second are the members of my household I remind you (of your duties) to the members of my family......
Sahih Muslim Book 031, Number 5920

In his (SAW) last sermon, Rasool (SAW) reminds all Muslims, who were present then, and who will come till Qayamah, to be careful of their duties towards the members of His (SAW) family, the Ahlulbayt (AS). The blessed Progeny of Rasool (SAW), his Aal (AS), the children of Fatima (AS) and Ali (AS), on who all Muslims send their durood after every Salaat, demand some duties from us. They have some rights over us and these rights have been highlighted by Rasool (SAW) in his last sermon at Khumm.

His progeny (AS) has been purified from rijs, selected as the truthful ones and his (SAW) closes associates at Mubahila, were born Muslims and worshippers of Allah alone, are to be loved unconditionally. What are the duties we owe to the household members of Rasool (SAW)?

Rasool (SAW) clearly highlights the rights of his own self (SAW) and that of Mawla Ali (AS) at Khumm;

As the Prophet pulled up his reins, the whole entourage came to a halt. Those who had gone ahead were summoned back. The pebbles and thorns were brushed aside and a makeshift pulpit of saddles was set up. People clustered round, the Prophet bent down and lifted Ali in his hands, and showing him to the crowds on all sides of the pulpit and proclaimed,  "Allah is my Mawla, Of whomsoever I am the Mawla, This Ali is his Mawla. Whoever obeys 'Ali, obeys me, whoever obeys me, obeys Allah, whoever disobeys 'Ali disobeys me, whoever disobeys me, disobeys Allah"
Kanz ul Ummal, hadith numbers 32973-32976
Mustadrak al Hakim Volume 3 page 123
Riyadh ul Nadira Volume 3 page 110

Click below for scanned page:
The Ghadir Declaration, by Dr Muhammad Tahir ul Qadri, page 49

Any one who considers Muhammad (SAW) as his mawla, and gives him (SAW) all rights over themselves, ie to judge and accept his (SAW) judgement, to follow him (SAW), to accept his (SAW) decisions surrendering ones own free will; must consider Ali (AS) to be their mawla too and in this acceptance lies the right of acceptance of Mawlayiat of Muhammad (SAW) himself.

It is our duty towards the family of Prophet (SAW), and their right, to be loved and followed. It is our responsibility to find the Sunnah and Shariah of Muhammad (SAW) from amongst his chosen ones, the ones who we owe our duties to which has been reminded by Rasool (SAW) time after time, and explicitly at Khumm.

The Ahlulbayt (AS) are the chosen ones and that is why we are ordered to send our durood on them alongwith the Prophet (SAW) himself.

Do the followers of Rasool (SAW), the Sahabas, the Muslims today, have rights over one another other than the rights of Islamic brotherhood? Why do then we give them the rights which do not belong to them? Why do we want to be of the unjust? Why do we associate the Sahabas with Rasool (SAW) himself or his Ahlulbayt (AS) when the Sahabas themselves were sinful pagans before they were guided and decided to follow Rasool (SAW)? When the Sahabas also sent their durood on Muhammad (SAW) and his Progey (AS), when they were also reminded of their duties towards the Ahlulbayt (AS) of Muhammad (SAW), why then do we forget the rights of the Ahlulbayt (AS) and put unneccessary emphasis on the rights of Sahabas (RA)? Is this not injustice?

Why do we leave the masters (Rasool (SAW) and his Ahlulbayt (AS)) and go to the slaves and servants (Sahabas, Qalanders, saints)? Did Allah choose Lal Shahbaz Qalander as our Wali? Did the Imam (AS) choose the Ayatullahs as his representatives? Did Allah choose all companions of Rasool (SAW) as our guides, Walis, mentors and masters? If not then why are we lieing to ourselves? Why are we giving them the rights which do not belong to them? Why are we labelling our own souls as unjust by taking away some one else's rights and giving it to these offices (of Scholars, companions, qalanders etc).

The flag at Khayber was the right of Ali (AS). The heroics of Khandaq was the right of Ali (AS). Being the leader of women of paradise is the right of Fatima (AS). Being the princes of paradise, the hearts of Muhammad (SAW), are the rights of Imam Hasan (AS) and Hussain (AS). It is the right of Kerbala to be remembered. It is the right of the true followers of Rasool (SAW) to be respected. It is the right of the enemies of Allah, his Rasool (SAW), his Ahlulbayt (AS), his religion, to be discociated from.

• Is it not unjust, to take away the right of Ali (AS) of being the sole gateway to the city of knowledge, and adding unjustly the likes of normal people who themselves followed the advice of Imam Ali (AS), as the ceilings, walls and windows of the city of knowledge (even when common sense tells us that a city does not have walls, roofs and windows).
• Is it not unjust, to take away the right of Khadija (RA) as being the most loved wife of Rasool (SAW) and installing other wives at her place?
• Is it not unjust, to claim that Ayesha was one of the chosen woman of paradise and the best woman of all time, when the Quran itself warns Ayesha to mend her ways or be replaced with "better" wives?
• Is it not unjust to side with Ali (AS) as well as Mawiya at the same time, when Rasool (SAW) had clearly told that the truth will always be with Ali (AS) and that Ammar bin Yasir (RA) will be killed by a rebel group?
• Is it not unjust to reduce the merits of the Ahlulbayt (AS) and increase those of the companions (RA), to bring both at the same level?
• Is it not unjust to label superiority to the first three caliphs when their stature, relationship to Rasool (SAW) and closeness, knowledge, bravery, nobility, chivalry and status as the Ahlulbayt (AS) is incomparable to that of Ali (AS).
• Is it not unjust to go to the shrines of Qalanders and saints, attributing Godly stories to them, labelling them as saviours and the means of approach to Allah, when their true historical existence is covered in the books of history. Why bother when the Rasool (SAW) and his Progeny (AS) are still with us?
• Is it not unjust to follow the scholars, muftis, mullahs and ayatullahs of our schools of thoughts blindly, when that right of being followed only belongs to the infallable Prophets and Imams?

What is more unjust than lieing on the name of Prophet (SAW) and promoting fabricated traditions and ahadith, without verifying them, pondering over them and analyzing them through the Quran and common sense?

Are we giving the rights to the right people, in our judgements and opinions?

• Was Fadak the rightful property of Fatima (AS)? Either accept her to be the purified-from-all-rijs daughter of Muhammad (SAW), the Kauther, the one taken to Mubahila to curse the liars, and call her opponents the liar, or call Abu Bakr the siddiq and label Fatima (AS) a liar (God Forbid).
• Was caliphate the right of Abu Bakr based on his contributions to Islam, his relation with the Prophet (SAW), his merits and attributes as compared to Ali (AS)? If it was the right of Ali (AS) in context with the announcement at Gadeer, his relation with Rasool (SAW) and his moral excellence to lead the muslims, then give his right to him (AS).
• Is it the right of Mawiya to be called (RA) and pray to Allah to be pleased with him for what he did, ie, curse Ali (AS) from the pulpit of Friday sermons, fight Ali (AS), break his treaty with Imam Hassan (AS)?
• Is it the right of All companions of Rasool (SAW) to be followed by us in all that we do?

The truth is, we do not have the courage to accept the right things. We are not sincere with our own intentions and in our blindness, we take away the rights from the people it belongs to, and give it to those who might not be worthy of it.

Man has made his own Gods, own prophets, own means of nearness to God, own leaders and own religion. Man is careless about his rights and responsibilities he owes to God, all down the way to his own servant.

O people! be careful of (your duty to) your Lord, Who created you from a single
being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many men and
women; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship; surely Allah ever watches over you.
Quran [4:1]

To imagine what it means to have rights over others, and to have responsibilities and duties to be careful of, Man will be accountable before God on the day of judgement, even about the responsibilities he owed to the animal he kept under his care. Credit to Man, he is so brave and fearless (of what he will be facing at Qayamah), that he pays no heed to his duties he owes to his old parents, his sibblings, his spouse, his neighbours, his brothers in faith.

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The Précis

Giving the rights to the rightful is one of the toughest thing to do. In nearly all areas of life, one sees people who are not worthy of their position and have taken the office on the basis of illegal methods. We must understand what rights belong to who, and what are our responsibilites. Yes, the right thing to do is the toughest thing to do.