1985-September-27

Muslim Journal

Combatting Un-Islamic Influences In Our Lives

Imam W. Deen Muhammad

Don't leave circumstances to fate. No. The reason why other nationalities and nations are more in power and much better off than African-Americans and Africans is because they do not do what we do. They do not leave cir­cumstances to fate.

What did God give the first man? Responsibility for the environment. That's Islamic.
Allah says in the Qur'an that He rendered into the ser­vice of man whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the Earth. And the Muslim, he has a prayer; when he rides an animal, he uses Qur'an.

"Glory be to our Lord, who has rendered this into our service, made it possible for us to use this. We could not have achieved this without Him."

What is he talking about? He's talking about his means of travel, like the physician who uses the knowledge and the instruments of his field. He gives the same credit to God for bringing that, rendering that into man's service.

So, likewise with every professional person, in every field or profession— if he's Muslim, he gives God the credit for making it possible for him to have access, for him to he able to approach the tools, that knowledge in the tools, for his work. The support, the means for his transport—everything; he gives credit to God.

Now, giving credit to God—what does it mean? It means that God will make all of this approachable, accessible, attainable, if I obey Him and serve Him, and use it as He intends that it should be used.