Islamic Society Model of Compassion & Human Excellence

Islamic Society — The True Model of Human Excellence

Allah Almighty created humankind, settled them upon the earth, sent His Prophets and Messengers to guide them to faith, and blessed them with the everlasting divine constitution of life—the noble Quran. He also granted a complete system of worship and obedience. The beauty and wisdom embedded in Islamic teachings are so profound that wherever they are sincerely practised, they transform both individuals and societies into models of perfection and virtue.

It should be well understood that Islamic teachings are not limited to acts of bowing and prostrating. Rather, the message of Islam encompasses the entirety of human life. Just as there are realms beyond the stars, so too are the dimensions of Islam vast. If one examines the commands of Allah Almighty and the teachings of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, it becomes clear that Allah and His Messenger desire that a person not only observes bowing, prostration, fasting, prayer, Hajj, and Zakat, but also makes virtuous deeds an inseparable part of their life. These include fostering noble qualities in society such as peace, security, brotherhood, compassion, goodwill, service to humanity, empathy, tolerance, patience, knowledge, forbearance, tolerance, cleanliness, respect for rights, aid to the poor and orphans, care for the sick, and support for those in need. Islamic teachings not only establish these qualities in society, but also serve as a means for their growth and elevation.

The Blessings of Islamic Teachings

Islam does not make society restrictive or oppressive. Rather, its divine principles, if implemented even in a single household, can transform that home into a household admired throughout the world. If Islam is practically established in a neighbourhood, street, town, city, or an entire country, they would become exemplary and enviable to people everywhere. This is not merely a claim. Here is a brief glimpse of such an unparalleled society.

Allah Almighty states:

لَیْسَ الْبِرَّ اَنْ تُوَلُّوْا وُجُوْهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ لٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ الْیَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ وَ الْمَلٰٓىٕكَةِ وَ الْكِتٰبِ وَ النَّبِیّٖنَۚ-وَ اٰتَى الْمَالَ عَلٰى حُبِّهٖ ذَوِی الْقُرْبٰى وَ الْیَتٰمٰى وَ الْمَسٰكِیْنَ وَ ابْنَ السَّبِیْلِۙ-وَ السَّآىٕلِیْنَ وَ فِی الرِّقَابِۚ-وَ اَقَامَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتَى الزَّكٰوةَۚ-وَ الْمُوْفُوْنَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ اِذَا عٰهَدُوْاۚ-وَ الصّٰبِرِیْنَ فِی الْبَاْسَآءِ وَ الضَّرَّآءِ وَ حِیْنَ الْبَاْسِؕ-اُولٰٓىٕكَ الَّذِیْنَ صَدَقُوْاؕ-وَ اُولٰٓىٕكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُوْنَ(۱۷۷)

Piety is not in turning your faces to the East or the West. Rather, true piety is in those who believe in Allah, the Day of Judgement, the angels, the Book, and the Prophets; who spend wealth—for the love of Allah—on relatives, orphans, the destitute, travellers, beggars, and on freeing slaves; who establish the prayer, give zakat, and fulfil pledges when they make them; and who are patient during calamities, suffering, and [amid] Jihad. It is they who are truthful. And it is they who are the righteous.[1]

In this single verse, after faith, six specific areas for spending wealth are encouraged: relatives, orphans, the needy, travellers, beggars, and spending to free slaves. If the Muslims of a region practically follow this verse, that society will flourish with peace, mutual compassion, and prosperity.

Islam—A Religion of Compassion and Service

When one reflects upon many such verses of the noble Quran and countless sacred Aḥādīth, it becomes evident that some actions, which outwardly do not involve bowing or prostrating, glorification or verbal praise, nor any act that would traditionally be considered formal worship, are still pleasing to Allah Almighty and His Messenger. Why is this so? This is because such acts are, in essence, good deeds; there are many actions that help reform society, bring peace and security to it, and cultivate benevolence and compassion. By performing them, Allah’s creation benefits, people are eased, their needs are met, and justice is facilitated. In this way, tranquillity is established in society, and people find inner peace.  

Actions that embody these qualities are beloved to Allah Almighty. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

اَلْخَلْقُ عِیَالُ اللّٰہِ، فَاَحَبُّ النَّاسِ اِلَی اللَّہِ مَنْ اَحْسَنَ اِلٰی عِیَالِہ

“All creatures are dependent upon Allah, and the most beloved of people to Allah is the one who treats His dependants well.”[2]

As Allah Almighty is the Sustainer of all, His creation is under His care. Just as a person is pleased with someone who treats their servants, maidservants, and children kindly because they are under their care, similarly, whoever does good to Allah’s creation pleases Allah Himself.[3]

The Best Among Mankind

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

خَيْرُ النَّاسِ اَنْفَعُهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ

“The best of people are those who are most beneficial to others.”[4]

This Hadith is general in meaning; whether a Muslim benefits from someone in matters of religion, such as teaching someone the kalimah and bringing them into the fold of Islam, teaching someone Islamic rulings, teaching someone how to recite the noble Quran, making an individual effort to persuade someone to repent from sins, and so on. Or he benefits someone in worldly matters—and this is very broad. It includes benefiting a single individual, such as guiding someone who has lost their way, taking an injured person on the road to the hospital, helping an oppressed person, supporting an elderly person and helping them reach their destination, assisting a blind person to cross the road, fulfilling the need of someone in difficulty, teaching one’s skill to another so they may benefit, making a recommendation for someone in a permissible matter, and removing the distress of a troubled Muslim.

It also includes benefiting society collectively—for example, providing water for a village, settlement, or city; setting up a public water point; keeping the street lit at night so that travellers can walk with ease; arranging food for the poor; or removing harmful objects from the path, such as nails, stones, or bones—deeds from which many Muslims benefit.

Reflect upon the reward and virtue of a few actions that help make society exemplary, adopt them with firm resolve, and encourage others to do the same:

1. Removing Harm from the Path

It is mentioned in a blessed Hadith that there was a man who had never performed any good deed. One day, he removed a thorny branch from the path. Allah Almighty liked his action and forgave him.[5] اللہ اکبر Such immense grace for such a small deed because society benefits through this act, Allah’s creation finds comfort and ease; therefore, the one who performed this action was granted forgiveness.

2. Giving a Loan

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: “Every loan is an act of charity.”[6]

In another Hadith, the reward for giving a loan is described as even greater than giving charity. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

During the Ascension, I saw written upon the gate of Paradise: the reward of charity is tenfold, and the reward of giving a loan is eighteenfold. I asked Jibrīl about the reason for a loan being superior, so he explained, “Charity is sometimes taken by one who is not truly in need, but a person does not ask for a loan unless he is genuinely in need or facing hardship.”[7]

3. The Reward of Iqālah (cancelling a transaction)

If a person purchases something from someone and later realises that he does not need it, or wishes to return the item for another reason and receive his money back, and the seller accepts his request—cancelling the sale and returning the payment—then the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has given beautiful glad tidings for such a person.

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

“Whoever agrees to cancel a sale for his brother (i.e., accepts the return of the item he sold and cancels the sale), Allah will remove his distress on the Day of Judgement.”[8]

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also said:

“Whoever performs Iqālah for a Muslim, Allah will forgive his sins on the Day of Judgement.”[9]

These few examples, taken from the vast ocean of Islamic guidance concerning the welfare, prosperity, and success of society, demonstrate that the message of Islam is one of faith, mercy, goodness, and compassion to humanity. This religion grants the service of people a rank akin to worship, alongside worship of Allah Almighty. A Muslim’s words and actions become truly meaningful and acceptable only when love for the Creator and sincere goodwill for His creation come together in the heart.

Today, the Muslim Ummah faces numerous intellectual and practical crises. Their true remedy lies only in returning to religion, adopting the system of life taught by the Quran and Sunnah, combining service with worship, reflection with remembrance, and righteous action with faith. When believers embody peace, love, justice, and brotherhood through their conduct, then surely that same atmosphere of tranquillity and mercy will prevail on earth which was witnessed in the earliest society of Madinah.

Let us make an intention to make our lives a reflection of the teachings of Allah Almighty and His beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم —spreading ease for the creation, and demonstrating the beauty of Islam through our conduct.

May Allah Almighty enrich us with sincerity, gentleness, goodwill, and the honour of serving His creation.