Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 556 [Read full issue]
Human Effort
Ali ibn Abi Talib said, "One night Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) came to me and Fatimah and asked, 'Won't you pray (at night)?' I said, 'O Allah's Messenger! Our souls are in the hands of Allah and if He wants us to get up He will make us get up.' When I said that, he left us without saying anything, and I heard him hitting his thigh and saying, 'But man is more quarrelsome than anything.' (Quran 18:54)" [Bukhari]
This hadith brings out the following important points:
1) Justifying a failure of human effort by referring it to the Will of Allah is a false argument and is therefore unacceptable.
2) All forms of worship require a strong will and a firm determination, so that one can effectively dispense with physical needs, such as sleep, etc.
3) Supplication must be accompanied by human effort and endeavour of a congenial nature. Supplication denotes love, and true love relishes vigil, staying awake, and dispensing with physical comforts like sleep and rest.
4) A true believer looks after his household and brings up his children in accordance with these higher values.
5) Education is by persuasion not by compulsion. We see how the many Quranic verses recited by the Prophet, peace be upon him, to this effect seeped down into the depths of human souls. They will continue to do so, insha Allah, and guide and lend strength to all believing men and women until the very end of time.
Compiled From:
"Freedom and Responsibility in Quranic Perspective" - Hasan Al-Anani, pp. 202, 203