al-Jīlānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. He was renowned for inviting towards good and forbidding evil. One day, as he was heading towards the masjid, he saw a few workers of the ruler of the time carrying jars of wine. His faith-inspired sentiments could not tolerate this, so in righteous anger, he smashed these jars. News reached the ruler, who became furious and shouted: “Bring Mūsā before me immediately!”

When this message reached him, he went to the ruler, who thundered, “Who do you think you are, to destroy the hard work of my workers?”

With complete calmness, he replied, “I am a muḥtasib (one appointed to promote good and forbid evil), and I have fulfilled my duty.”

The ruler roared, “And who appointed you as muḥtasib?”

He replied: “The very Lord who granted you your throne and crown has appointed me as this.”

Hearing this, the ruler lowered his head in regret and said, “O noble one! From today, I, too, officially appoint you as muḥtasib.”

Sayyidunā Mūsā Jangī Dost رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه declared, “When this station has already been granted to me by Allah Almighty, why should I accept this from anyone else?” Saying this, he departed.^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers! Did you hear? When someone truly realizes in their heart that their real status and true identity is nothing else but this, that according to their strength, with wisdom and planning, they must uphold the commands of Allah Almighty upon the Earth; then no matter where they are, no matter what position, rank, or place they hold, their focus will always remain on their own reformation and that of others.

We too must awaken this realization within ourselves. We must accept wholeheartedly that, regardless of what we become in this world, be it doctor, businessman, or anything else within lawful means, we must never forget our identity. This responsibility is something we must carry with us at every moment of our lives.