Among the people is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world,” yet he has no share in the Hereafter. And among them is he who says, “Our Lord, give us goodness in this world, and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:200-201)
When it comes to the topic of balance, the question we get asked the most if how do we balance deen and dunya. This is an interesting question because it means different things to different people. Some people think that balance means making equal time for work and worship, so if they work 8 hours a day, they assume that they need to do 8 hours of worship to achieve balance. Others think balance means figuring out the bare minimum worship to do while focusing on Dunya, while some think the opposite. The try to figure out the bare minimum worldly efforts to focus on while prioritizing worship. Some even have a strange idea that balance means having some kind of halal/haram ratio, where their good deeds need to equal or slightly overpower their bad deeds. This last idea is especially incorrect and problematic.
Looking back at the early Muslims and the Quranic message, it is interesting to note that Islam does not push any of the above definitions of balance between Din and Dunya. Instead, there seems to be a constant theme of excelling in both worlds. The Quran calls on us to seek out the best of both worlds. In the famous dua mentioned in Surah al-Baqarah, we are told to ask Allah for the best of both worlds. The scholars differ over what the best of this world means but they all agree we should seek out goodness in this world. Our religion does not encourage us to live like Monks, abandoning this world and focusing only on worship. Instead, we are supposed to lead the world in a way that is pleasing to Allah.
The early Muslims did not excel at Deen but at Dunya as well. Look back at the example of Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf, not only was he one of the blessed ten promised Paradise but he was a millionaire who built his wealth through hard work and excellent. Khalid Ibn Walid was the sword of Allah, and through his sword he excelled at both deen and dunya. The Sahaba excelled so well in both fields that within a few decades they rose up and became a powerful civilization. This is the way of the early Muslims, their hearts were focused on pleasing Allah and earning Paradise but they did so in a way that they still excelled in their worldly goals and aspirations.
Al-Mawardi’s Adab al-Dunya Wa Din
To learn more about what Islam teaches about this topic, I was reading through a classical work Adab al-Dunya Wa Din (Ethics of Dunya and Din) by the classical scholar Abu al-Hasan al-Mawardi. This book was written a thousand years ago during the Abbasid Golden Age by one of its leading political scholars. Al-Mawardi is more commonly known for his masterpiece Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah which focuses on Islamic Political Theory and is perhaps the most important book produced on that topic. Adab al-Dunya Wa Din is one of his lesser-known works, which has recently been translated into English and it focuses on how to achieve balance, happiness, and excellence in both Dunya and Din. This book is full of brilliant timeless principles for pursuing excellence. Today, I just want to share with you the first three principles from the book which I believe are essential today for achieving balance and excellence in both worlds.
Principle #1: Take Care of Your Mind
The first principle is the importance of developing one’s intellect. Al-Mawardi argues that the greatest gift that Allah has given us is our brains. It is through correct usage and development of our intellect that we succeed in both worlds. It is through developing and using our minds that we reflect on the Signs of Allah, learn the Quran and Sunnah, recognize God’s blessings and make good decisions. Good decisions benefit us in both worlds. An intelligent person will succeed in religion because their intellect leads them to recognize Allah’s Blessings and to live a goodly life that is pleasing to Allah.
But it will also benefit him in this world because he will use his mind to make good decisions about family, community, work, and business. This is one of the reasons why the preservation of intellect is one of the five main goals of the Shariah. Losing one’s intellect through not using it or substance abuse leads to bad decisions and ruining one’s life in both worlds. Therefore, all success depends on being sound of mind and using your mind wisely.
Principle #2: Control Your Desires
Linked to this, he mentions in the same chapter the second principle, which is to above following one’s desires. Everyone has moments in their life in which their desires are pulling them in one direction and their brains in the opposite direction. If we develop our minds and control our desires, we will make good decisions in such moments. For example, when a married person is tempted to cheat on their spouse. At that moment, if one’s desires are dominant, a person will make a foolish choice that can ruin their life in this world and the next. Intelligent people know and understand the repercussions of zina and this helps them to make good decisions and stay away from such sins. So he dedicates the entire first chapter of his book to these two principles: nurture and grow and use your intellect while keeping your desires under control is key to success in both Din and Dunya.
Principle #3: Seek Knowledge
The third principle mentioned in this book is the importance of knowledge. Note that in Islam, there is no distinction between religious and secular knowledge. This is a modern division of knowledge that is alien to the Islamic worldview. The early Muslims were polymaths who succeeded in both worlds because they sought and acquired all beneficial knowledge. In Islam, we can divide knowledge into beneficial, trivial and harmful. We must avoid harmful knowledge like learning how to manipulate and con people because such knowledge leads to temptation and sin, and we should avoid trivial knowledge like memorizing the names and lives of western celebrities because such information is useless. However, we must seek beneficial knowledge.
Al-Mawardi argues that to succeed in both Dunya and Din, you need to be a student for life. He says that knowledge is more important than wealth because wealth is a matter of Qadar but knowledge is something you can actively acquire. Furthermore, he says real social status and dignity comes from knowledge and wisdom, not just wealth. So he encourages a life-long pursuit of all beneficial knowledge. Al-Mawardi says that success in Din is dependent on knowledge because we need knowledge to know right from wrong and to know our responsibilities and duties. Likewise success in Dunya is also dependent on knowledge because knowledge opens new doors and helps us excel at every aspect of life.
Principle #4: Prioritize Worship
Finally, a fourth principle he mentions in the book is prioritizing daily ibadah starting with the five daily prayers. A Muslim must prioritize the worship of Allah and build the rest of his life around this. It is through these principles, cultivating the mind, controlling desires, seeking beneficial knowledge, and prioritizing the worship of Allah that we can develop the right mindset and lifestyle to excel at both worlds.
We ask Allah to bless us with the best of this world and the next world and to protect us from the Hellfire.
In the world of business, mentors are
crucial for success. Every good business book recommends getting a mentor to
help you succeed in your field. This is true in Islam as well. Mentorship has
always been an important part of Islamic relationships.
But how does the Islamic concept of
mentorship differ from modern understanding?
In this article, we will explore the
answer to this question through a practical example; the relationship between Ṣalāḥ
ad-Dīn al-Ayūbī and his mentor Nūr ad-Dīn al-Zengī.
Brief Biographies of Ṣalāḥ
ad-Dīn and Nūr ad-Dīn
Nūr ad-Dīn al-Zengī was a commander of
the Seljuk army in Syria during the 12th Century. His father ʿImād
al-Dīn was also the commander of the Seljuk army, and he took over the army
after his father’s death. Nūr ad-Dīn conquered Damascus, liberating it from the
rule of the crusaders’ allies, and unified the greater Syrian region making it
part of the Seljuk Empire. However, he wasn’t able to liberate Jerusalem, which
remained under crusader control. (Alkhateeb, pp. 100-101)
Nūr ad-Dīn was the teacher, commander,
and mentor of Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn al-Ayūbī. In was under his care that Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn
grew into the successful leader that he is renowned across the globe for being.
Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn spent his youth training under Nūr ad-Dīn and developed a very
close relationship with him. (Sallabi, vol. 2 pp. 30-31)
Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn al-Ayūbī is one of the
most famous Muslim leaders in history. He was a commander of the Abbasid army
during the 12th Century. He is most famous for fighting against the
crusader invasion and repelling them from the region. Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn’s legacy can
be summarized in three major accomplishments; liberating Egypt from the Fāṭimids,
liberating Jerusalem from the Crusaders, and establishing the Ayūbī Dynasty in Egypt.
(Alkhateeb, p. 102)
The details about Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn’s life,
and his relationship with Nūr ad-Dīn, in this article, have been extracted
primarily from Dr. Ali Salabi’s three-volume book Salah ad-Deen al-Ayubi.
Firas Alkhateeb’s Lost Islamic History was also consulted for additional
details.
Islamic Mentorship: A
Spiritual Framework
This brief summary of Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn’s
life and accomplishments doesn’t reveal any differences between the Islamic and
modern systems of mentorship. Through effective mentorship, Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn grew
into a confident leader who achieved worldly success and accomplished his
goals. He was even able to accomplish some of the goals that his mentor was
unable to accomplish, like the liberation of Egypt and Palestine.
However, there is a big difference
between the two systems of mentorship that can only be uncovered by digging
deeper. That is what we will focus on now.
While it is true that both modern mentorship and Islamic mentorship are effective in achieving worldly goals, it is important to note that this is not the primary focus of Islamic Mentorship. It is simply a byproduct of it. The focus of Islamic mentorship is on achieving righteousness, eternal salvation, and the life of Barakah.
The achievement of worldly goals, in this context, is considered a matter of destiny. The focus is on pleasing God, achieving closeness to Him, and attaining Barakah in this life. If all of this is accomplished, then worldly success is simply the cherry on top and a matter that is left up to destiny.
How Nūr ad-Dīn prepared Ṣalāḥ
ad-Dīn for true success
Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn started serving Nūr ad-Dīn
at a very young age. Nūr ad-Dīn recognized his potential and developed a close
relationship with him so that he could help him develop his skills. Ṣalāḥ
ad-Dīn was so close to Nūr ad-Dīn that he was like a private secretary to him.
(Sallabi, vol. 2 p. 30) It was in this position that he was able to learn from Nūr
ad-Dīn’s personality.
Dr. Ali Sallabi describes the
relationship between Nūr ad-Dīn and Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn as follows:
Ṣalāḥ
ad-Dīn was influenced by the Sultan Nūr ad-Dīn who gave him a brilliant example
of devotion and a serious sense of religious responsibility; he learned from his
sincerity and self-sacrifice, and how to converse with his lord in private prayer
in his own place of worship, taking from that the spiritual strength to engage
in Jihad. (Sallabi, vol. 2 p. 31)
This quotation summarizes some of the key differences be the Islamic and modern systems of mentorship. Nūr ad-Dīn’s methodology focused primarily on spiritual development. Prayer, sincerity, responsibility to God and devotion were all essential qualities that Nūr ad-Dīn helped Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn develop. This fits in the Islamic Paradigm for success, which teaches us to be God-Centric, Purpose-Driven, Hereafter focused, Sincere, and have a sense of responsibility.
Nūr ad-Dīn taught Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn how to
take spiritual strength from prayer. This is an essential quality that every
Muslim mentor needs to pass on to his/her mentees. A Muslim’s life must revolve
around prayer, and this prayer should provide the necessary spiritual strength
to fuel our productivity.
Nūr ad-Dīn also focused on a serious sense of religious responsibility. This is another important concept. Islamic culture emphasizes the importance of having a sense of responsibility. This sense of responsibility is religious in that God had made us His representatives on earth, and we are responsible to Allah for what we do with our lives. Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn how was taught this sense of responsibility from a very young age, and it guided his focus for his entire life. This is the result of effective Islamic mentorship.
A third crucial quality that Nūr ad-Dīn taught Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn was sincerity. In Islam, sincerity is crucial for success. Without sincerity, there is no reward, no Barakah, and no real success. Everything revolves around sincerity. This is why it is crucial for a Muslim mentor to guide his mentees towards sincerity. Without it, there is no success.
These are three of the most important
things that Nūr ad-Dīn taught Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn. from this relationship, we learn
the proper Islamic method of mentorship, the focus points of such a
relationship, and we can see the fruits in the results.
The effects of successful
mentorship on Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn
This beautiful mentorship led to the Barakah effect in the life of Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn. Let us take a look at some of the blessed accomplishments on Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn’s life.
Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn converted Al-Azhar into a Sunni university. It continues to operate today and is currently the oldest active university in the world. Many of the greatest scholars of every generation since have studied or taught at al-Azhar University. This is the Barakah of sincerely setting up a traditional Islamic University in Egypt.
Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn’s legacy is fondly
remembered by Muslim and Non-Muslim alike. He remains a popular hero renowned
for his justice, forgiveness, and tolerance to other faiths. He is even promoted
as a hero in several movies, TV series and even videogames. How many leaders
can say that Muslim and Non-Muslim alike will still take them as a role model a
thousand years later?
The third aspect of Barakah in his legacy is the Ayūbī and subsequent Mamluk dynasties. Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn’s conquest of Egypt created two amazing dynasties that ruled Egypt for centuries. First were the direct descendants of Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn, the Ayūbīs. Then came the Mamluks, a dynasty of freed slaves who started life as loyal servants of the Ayūbīs. This legacy includes the Mamluks defeating the Mongols at the Battle of ʿAyn Jālūt, similar to how Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn defeated the crusaders in Jerusalem.
All of these are clear examples of the Barakah found in the legacy of Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn which carried on into his successors, and their successors. As long as sincerity remained, the Barakah remained, and it lasted for centuries.
Summary: Muslim mentors
should primarily focus on spiritual success
As Muslims, we believe that success is
in Allah’s Hands. It is a matter of destiny and so we should trust Allah’s plan
for us. It is far more important for us to focus on spiritual development by
improving our relationship with Allah, sincerity and focus on the afterlife.
One of the ways to achieve this is through a strong mentor.
A good Muslim mentor will assist his mentee in changing their perspective from the material towards the spiritual. A good mentor, like Nūr ad-Dīn, would teach their mentee the importance of Salah, Dua, Tawakul, and sincerity.
A relationship like this is blessed and leads to Barakah in one’s efforts and projects. When seeking a mentor, we should seek out righteous mentors who can help us elevate ourselves spiritually, and move our goals in a direction that is pleasing to Allah.
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Note: Dirilis Ertugrul (Resurrection: Ertugrul) is a Turkish Historical Fiction TV Series.
Seasons 1-3 are currently available on Netflix.
This isn’t a review of Ertugrul Season 1. It is a reflection on some lessons that hit me when watching it. It took me a while to get down to watching the show, but after several recommendations, I am glad that I did.
Ertugrul is everything I wished for in a Muslim TV series. It is grounded, realistic, well acted, and portrays Islamic teachings is a practical, non-preachy, manner. I really love the show. Having finished watching Season 1 a few weeks ago, I decided to reflect on it for a while before writing.
I learned a lot watching Ertugrul but here are the four things that really hit me, which many people aren’t talking about:
1. The power of Media (especially TV Series) in shaping our cultures
I always knew that TV Series played an important role in shaping cultures. But until now almost any example I have seen is negative. Over the past two decades, I have seen the cultures of many Muslim homes eroded by Secular TV Series and their (lack of) morals. Slowly, some Muslims became accepting of Zina, Homosexuality, and all kinds of sin. The power of TV to influence the minds of the average person is scary.
Ertugrul is the first true example I have seen of the opposite. Over the past two months, I have been amazed by how many good qualities my friends, family and myself have picked up from this show. Ertugrul is bursting with good examples of everything: parenting, respecting parents and elders, treatment of spouses, honoring guests and so much more. And it really amazes me at how fast people are picking up these good qualities from watching this show.
Just imagine, two months of watching a Muslim TV series influenced some people so positively, imagine a generation raised on such wholesome media!
2. There is room for Historical Fiction in the Muslim world
I love fiction and believe it to be an extremely powerful tool for motivating people. A lot of people’s minds are captured by fictional stories. And they are influenced by these stories, whether they realize it or not.
However, the Muslim world has mixed opinions on fiction. There are Muslims who consider fiction completely Haraam and a waste of time. I know this, because such people gave me a hard time about my latest book ‘Ahmad Climbs A Mountain” which is fictional.
But there are also many others who appreciate a beneficial fictional story and realize there isn’t anything Haraam about it.
Ertugrul is historical fiction. Meaning that although it is based on history, with Ertugrul, Sulaiman Shah, Ibn Arabi, etc. all being real people from our history. The core story-lines are fictional to create an exciting Action-Adventure series.
And despite this, people have been very accepting of the show. In fact, I am yet to find Muslims bashing it for being fictional. This shows that there is room for more historical fiction in the Muslim world. Which gives me courage to finally work on some ideas I’ve been keeping locked away for the past few years. 😉
3. We really need our own media
It has become extremely difficult for Muslims families to find wholesome programs to watch. Almost every modern-day show promotes the liberal agenda and tries to force the LGBT agenda upon viewers. Now, more than ever, we need to invest in Muslim media.
Ertugrul is a great first step in the right direction. It is proof that Muslims can produce high quality exciting TV series that are grounded in Islamic culture and beliefs. Ertugrul clearly shows what we are capable of producing and that there is a demand for such products.
Now we need more companies to follow in its footsteps and produce more awesomeness. We know that the average person’s beliefs and views are shaped by the media they view. So we really need to invest in and produce our own awesome media.
My hope is that this will lead to a generation of Muslims that will grow up on Muslim media. And as a result, they will be proud of their Muslim heritage and culture. Such a generation could really make a different is revitalizing Islam in their countries.
4. Dignity, Honor and Respect are beautiful but forgotten aspects of Muslim culture
We don’t talk about these topics enough, and as a result we live in a time when the Muslim world lacks honor, dignity and respect. This show is proof that the best way to teach these qualities is not through talking, rather it is through demonstrating.
In this show, we see so many beautiful examples of men and women who are honorable, dignified and respectful to each other. When you see characters like Hayme and Ertugrul, you actual feel respect for them because of the way they carry themselves. It is really something that needs to be seen to be understood.
In an era in which people are confused about gender, Ertugrul teaches us that when men are real men, and women are real women, people will love and respect them. There is no need to try to be like the opposite gender. If you want respect, be true to the teachings of Islam.
If for no other reason, I would love for more people to watch this show just to observe the manners, dignity and respect the characters carry themselves with. I hope that through repeated viewings of such beautiful manners, we will all start to mimic their behavior, and revive these Sunnahs in our lives.
Your Thoughts
So there you have it, four things I learned from watching Season 1 of Ertugrul. Share your lessons in the comments below!
From the established Islamic traditions for Fridays is to recite Surah Al-Kahf. Regarding this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, “Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.” (Bayhaqi)
One of the meanings of ‘light’ in such contexts is guidance. This means that Surah Al-Kahf serves as a means of guidance for those who recite and reflect upon it once a week. As part of our weekly reflection on Surah Al-Kahf, here are four Personal Development lessons extracted from the four core stories of Surah Al-Kahf.
1. Focus on what is within your control
A common lesson in personal development is the motto: “Do not allow what is outside your control to stop you from doing what is within your control,” The people of the cave personify this lesson. These were a small group of seven believers in a town that wanted to harm them.
Not many options were available for them, but they focused on the few options they did have. They did have the choice to believe, so they did. They did have the option to leave town, so they went to the cave. And they have the power of dua, so they invested in it and were saved through a miracle.
The lesson is clear: Don’t focus on what you can’t do, focus on what you can do. Allah will take care of the rest.
2. Wealth is not success. It is what you do with it that matters.
The second story of Surah Al-Kahf focuses on the parable of a wealthy farmer who was deluded by his wealth. He began to boast and look down upon others, and eventually he lost everything. This story teaches us that wealth is temporary and is not the true measure of success. Wealthy people can fall and poor people can rise up. These changes in financial situations occur all the time.
As believers, we see wealth not as success but as a tool and resource. It can be used for success if we use our wealth to do good deeds and help others. When we have wealth, we need to do the opposite of this man. We need to stay humble, thank Allah, care for others, and utilize that wealth to benefit the ummah. In this lies the real success.
3. Benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of others
True Personal Development requires us to humble ourselves and learn from others. Whether it is through their books, articles, lectures, workshops or personal mentorship, we learn from others and cannot learn on our own.
In Surah Al-Kahf, we see the example of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) travelling a great distance to meet and learn from the wise Prophet Khidr (peace be upon him).
Prophet Musa’s (peace be upon him) long journey and willingness to learn from others should inspire us to be the same. Whether it is Islamic knowledge or personal development, we rely on those with more knowledge than us to grow. We need to humble ourselves in order to learn from them.
4. True Leadership is about justice
The final story in Surah Al-Kahf is about Dhul Qarnayn. He was a leader and Allah gave him power over many countries. Allah tested him with power and said that he had the ability to treat people kindly or punish them. Dhul Qarnayn passed the test by choosing the middle way: Justice.
Dhul Qarnayn chose to be kind to good citizens and punish the criminals. In doing so, he showed us the true meaning of leadership. Leaders don’t treat everybody the same. They do not treat the criminals and law abiding citizens the same. This is not justice. Justice means protecting those who are good by punishing the criminals.
Islam teaches us to be just, even if it is against our own selves and our own families. This justice is something we all must learn if we wish to succeed in leadership roles. We must not favor people due to family relations or other reasons. Each situation must be viewed objectively and each individual dealt with justly.
Conclusion
Surah Al-Kahf is a powerful Surah full of amazing lessons. The more you reflect on it, the more you learn. Try reflecting on it from new perspectives and you will gain new lessons. Let us try to do this during our Friday recitations.
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