FRUSTRAED? LOOKING FOR PEACE?
THE REMEDY FOR FRUSTRATION
The Shari’at aims to eliminate frustration. In every condition the Shari’at endeavours that man is at peace. Whether it be in sorrow or in happiness, it is the Shari’ats aim that one should be in the state of peace, not of frustration. The Shari’at teaches the way of lightening grief and sorrow. Its teachings regarding peace augment the factors of peace so that these are not destroyed. If the correct principles are adopted, no one will become frustrated. There is no frustration in the Deen whether it be in the realm of Ahkaam-e-Zaahirah (the external laws) or Ahkaam-e-Baatinah (the internal laws) pertaining to the soul.
OKAY!...., SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE SHARI'AT???
THE FIVE BRANCHES OF THE SHARIAT
The Shari’at (The laws of Islam) consists of five branches or parts:
Aqaa-id, A’maal, Muamalaat, Akhlaaq, Husn-e-Muaasharat.
AQAA-ID (Beliefs), e.g. beliefs on the Oneness of Allah Ta’ala and the Risaalat (Prophet hood) of Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
A’MAAL (Righteous deeds) e.g. Salaat (prayer), Saum (fasting)
MUAMALAAT (Transactions, Contracts) e.g. trade and commerce.
AKHLAAQ (Moral character ) e.g. humility, generosity, etc.
HUSN-E-MUAASHARAT (Beautiful social conduct) i.e. good relationship with people, e.g. abstention from acts which cause others inconvenience, such as disturbing a person in his sleep.
The above mentioned five departments are collectively known as the Shari at. It is essential for Muslims to adopt all five departments of the Shari at. But, in the present age people have abbreviated the Shari at. Some have taken only Aqaa-id, believing that only the proclamation of La ilaaha il lallaah suffices for the immediate entry into Jannat (paradise). Such persons, while they believe Salaat, Saum, etc., are Fardh, they do not obtain the good fortune of practically executing these acts of worship. Others again, along with Aqaa’id observe Salaat, Saum etc., as well. However, they have discarded Muamalaat. In their transactional dealings they are not concerned with the Deen(religion), whether their acts are lawful or not. They are indifferent to the question of halaal and haraam (permissible or not permissible) regarding their earnings and dealings. Then there are those who maintain their Muamalaat on a healthy footing, but are unconcerned with the reformation of their moral character. Those who are concerned about Akhlaaq are exceptionally few. In fact there are even such persons who spend considerable time to reform others while others are inconvenienced and annoyed by their behaviour and attitude. They remain unaware of the difficulty they are causing others by their actions and behaviour. They are completely uncaring about their own detestable condition. There are numerous such persons who will not venture to offer Salaam to a poor Muslim along the road. On the contrary they wait in expectation of the Salaam to be initiated by the poor.
Some people, along with Aqaa’id, A’maal and Muamalaat are concerned about the reformation of Akhlaaq; hence they adopt ways and measures for the treatment of their morals. But, they have discarded Husn-e-Muaasharat. In fact, they have excised it from the Deen. They assert that there is no relationship between the Shari’ah and social conduct with people.
They therefore behave as they please, thinking that the Shari’ah has no say in such matters. Many people are pious with good qualities such as humility, but in Muaashrat they are lacking. They are not concerned whether they annoy and inconvenience others by their behaviour. In most insignificant things they bring about difficulty and inconvenience to others. Their attention is totally diverted from little things which cause difficulty to others while in the Hadith there are numerous incidents narrated which show that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) cared for the little things just as much as he cared for important matters.
