By Afroz Ali
In any kind of investment, amongst the first things you will learn is that investment for profit requires a tried and tested step-by-step process. For example, property investment has a 6-step process for successful returns. And, in each of these portfolios for investment, accurate knowledge is number one priority on the list of steps.
Spiritual investment – investment for the Hereafter – is no different. There are tried and tested sequences for the journey to the Hereafter wherein one meets their Lord, and learning and practising upon the Sacred Knowledge is priority number one. This Knowledge is the basis for personal transformation in order to make the right investment for the right returns. This tried and tested method was exemplified as well as exhorted by the Beloved Messenger of Allah The All-Knowing, upon whom be peace and blessings of Allah, and its principle revealed by Allah the Exalted Himself. In The Qur’an Allah lets it be known:
Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.
[Qur’an 13:11]
And:
There are these limits of Allah, which He makes plain for the people who have knowledge.
[Qur’an 2:230]
[The Condition for Change]
The condition we ought to change to get things right can only occur through appropriate knowledge; otherwise one’s effort in investing will be futile and no return will eventuate. Similarly, Allah has placed limits which the servant of Allah must be aware of, otherwise one’s investment will only lead to ruin.
The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace and blessings of Allah, said, “Allah will not seize Sacred Knowledge by removing it from people, but will seize it by removing the People of Knowledge until there remains no person of Knowledge and people will appoint ignorant people as their leaders. When asked, they will give rulings without knowledge. Thus, they will be misguided themselves and will misguide others.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
In another Prophetic Tradition he said, “Soon will come a time upon people when nothing of Islam will remain but its name and nothing of the Qur’an will remain but its script (in both cases, in other words, there will be no knowledge remaining). These people’s Mosques will be in fine decoration and also full but it will be empty of true guidance. Their preachers will be the worst of people beneath the sky: from them corruption will emerge and into them it will return.” [Bayhaqi]
[Two Things Needed]
Two things arise from these Divine and Prophetic Guidance: firstly the access, preservation, learning and practice of the Sacred Knowledge is paramount and the first step towards right investment. And secondly, if social institutions are built where there is a lack of Sacred Knowledge, the investment in their glitter will amount to nothing.
No amount of investment into social institutions will ever be successful, unless there is at least the equal investment into institutions that provide access to learning the Sacred Knowledge.
It may be popular and exciting to look at investing and developing Islamic art galleries, museums, libraries, youth social activity centres, etc, but none will find ultimate success until and unless there is an educated sector of society that knows the Sacred Knowledge.
Social institutions are a result, not the impetus (nor a replacement for Sacred Knowledge institutions) to a society of safety, wellbeing and benefit.
If the equation for such development was reversed in Muslim communities around the world, you will find the social institutions to then be successful and sustainable, otherwise all the social institutions will do is turn into a commercial venture that thinks it educates, but really does nothing more than be a speck in the landscape of buildings.
To invest right, one must prioritise investing in Centres of Learning which nurture the seekers of such knowledge to act on such Knowledge. Only then will there be right returns to the investment, manifested in the goodness in this world, and realised in the closeness to one’s Lord in the Hereafter.
To support SeekersHub, please contact Dr. Bano Murtuja (Managing Director, SeekersHub, bano@SeekersHub.org)
Imam Afroz Ali is the director of Al-Ghazzali Centre (Australia) and managing director & instructor at SeekersGuidance.
Spiritual investment – investment for the Hereafter – is no different. There are tried and tested sequences for the journey to the Hereafter wherein one meets their Lord, and learning and practising upon the Sacred Knowledge is priority number one. This Knowledge is the basis for personal transformation in order to make the right investment for the right returns. This tried and tested method was exemplified as well as exhorted by the Beloved Messenger of Allah The All-Knowing, upon whom be peace and blessings of Allah, and its principle revealed by Allah the Exalted Himself. In The Qur’an Allah lets it be known:
Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.
[Qur’an 13:11]
And:
There are these limits of Allah, which He makes plain for the people who have knowledge.
[Qur’an 2:230]
[The Condition for Change]
The condition we ought to change to get things right can only occur through appropriate knowledge; otherwise one’s effort in investing will be futile and no return will eventuate. Similarly, Allah has placed limits which the servant of Allah must be aware of, otherwise one’s investment will only lead to ruin.
The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace and blessings of Allah, said, “Allah will not seize Sacred Knowledge by removing it from people, but will seize it by removing the People of Knowledge until there remains no person of Knowledge and people will appoint ignorant people as their leaders. When asked, they will give rulings without knowledge. Thus, they will be misguided themselves and will misguide others.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
In another Prophetic Tradition he said, “Soon will come a time upon people when nothing of Islam will remain but its name and nothing of the Qur’an will remain but its script (in both cases, in other words, there will be no knowledge remaining). These people’s Mosques will be in fine decoration and also full but it will be empty of true guidance. Their preachers will be the worst of people beneath the sky: from them corruption will emerge and into them it will return.” [Bayhaqi]
[Two Things Needed]
Two things arise from these Divine and Prophetic Guidance: firstly the access, preservation, learning and practice of the Sacred Knowledge is paramount and the first step towards right investment. And secondly, if social institutions are built where there is a lack of Sacred Knowledge, the investment in their glitter will amount to nothing.
No amount of investment into social institutions will ever be successful, unless there is at least the equal investment into institutions that provide access to learning the Sacred Knowledge.
It may be popular and exciting to look at investing and developing Islamic art galleries, museums, libraries, youth social activity centres, etc, but none will find ultimate success until and unless there is an educated sector of society that knows the Sacred Knowledge.
Social institutions are a result, not the impetus (nor a replacement for Sacred Knowledge institutions) to a society of safety, wellbeing and benefit.
If the equation for such development was reversed in Muslim communities around the world, you will find the social institutions to then be successful and sustainable, otherwise all the social institutions will do is turn into a commercial venture that thinks it educates, but really does nothing more than be a speck in the landscape of buildings.
To invest right, one must prioritise investing in Centres of Learning which nurture the seekers of such knowledge to act on such Knowledge. Only then will there be right returns to the investment, manifested in the goodness in this world, and realised in the closeness to one’s Lord in the Hereafter.
To support SeekersHub, please contact Dr. Bano Murtuja (Managing Director, SeekersHub, bano@SeekersHub.org)
Imam Afroz Ali is the director of Al-Ghazzali Centre (Australia) and managing director & instructor at SeekersGuidance.
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