RELATIONSHIP: THE ISLAMIC INSIGHT

The way you connect, bond and associate with some one, a group of people or the environment you are living in can be described as a relationship.

Relationship can be basically of three ways, the relationship between you and your soul 'Nafsi', Allah says in Quran (74:14) 'Oh, but man is a telling witness against himself', then relationship with your creator God, and lastly relationship with your fellow human beings.

Relationship between man and his creator.
The messenger of Allah Muhammad peace be upon him said in one of his traditions 'Hadith' 'fear Allah any where you are, and let a bad act be followed by a good deed, the later will erase the former, and treat people kindly'.

The fear of Allah 'Taquwa' has many interpretations according to scholars of Islam, it can be referred to as being obedient to the creator 'Allah' whether you see Him or not. Allah says in the Quran 'And fear me oh you who ponder'.

According to Ali the fourth caliphate of Islam, The fear of Allah 'Taquwa' means being satisfied with the little you have earned, believing in the revealed laws and commandments of Allah and to be prepared to meet the creator 'God'.

In another verse (2:257) '.Allah is the Protecting Guardian of those who believe. He bringeth them out of darkness into light. As for those who disbelieve, their patrons are false deities. They bring them out of light into darkness. Such are rightful owners of the Fire. They will abide therein'.

Relationship between man and his soul.
Mankind has to improve the relationship between him self and his soul, in one of the traditions of the messenger peace be upon him he said 'Put your soul on account before you will be accounted'.

Human being has to judge him or her self using the brain that God gave him to see weather what s/he is doing will destine him or her to success or perish.

In Quran (91:10) God has equipped mankind with knowledge of differentiating the bad and good, it is up to him to decide the direction which his soul is driving him or her to.

Relationship between man and his/her fellow human being.

The last part of the Hadith we cited earlier, the Messenger Muhammad peace be upon him, emphasized the importance of relating well with our fellow human beings, regardless of their religious affiliations and back grounds.

Man is viceroy of God, Q (2:30) '…and when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth... .'

So if you and I, we are viceroy of God, He ' God' does not condone mischief on earth, we have to depict a Godly attribute of being merciful and treat our fellow human beings well, because that is what we are required to observe and do.

Quran (3:104) 'And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful'

A leader should treat his subordinates well, and let the latter be obedient to the former, treat your neighbors well, let the elders treat the young ones well, and let the young ones have respect for the elders.

A husband must treat his wife and children well and let the wife and the kids know there responsibilities towards the Dad.

In one tradition 'Hadith' the prophet said, 'the best amongst you is the one who treats his family with humbleness and I treat my family with humility'.

Much as he was a prophet and a messenger, Muhammad peach be upon him, leaved a simple life with all the people.

Quran (32:21) 'There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often'.

We have a good example from the messenger of Islam Muhammad peace be upon him.

He was mistreated, insulted and stoned while in 'Taif' but kept being good to the society, and God praised him in the Quran .(68:4) 'And indeed, you are of a great moral character'.

To sum it up, relationship can be described by citing basically three major issues, as we have seen in the prophetic tradition Hadith discussed in this write up.

However, it is important to note that, the relationship between man and the environment he is living in can not be given a blind eye.

Man as a viceroy of God, has a duty given to him to monitor, and protect the earth and environment. Taking this mandate lightly, portrays being disobedient to the creator 'God', and the culprit will be destined to perish.

About the Author: Abubakar Sematimba he is a Journalist and Teacher, founder of blessedly-Ugandan. A foundation that promotes home made products and service

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