Outline
- Introduction
- The Focus of This Article
- Returning to the Path of Allah: What Does it Mean?
- Why the Return of the Celebrity is Different
- The 3 +1 Bonus Points to Consider
- Conclusion
Introduction
Alhamdulillah.. infinite thanks and praise are due to the Almighty God, the Creator, the Master, the One and Only. Complete peace and salutations are upon His chosen final Messenger to the world, Sayyidunā Muhammad, his household, his companions, and all those who follow his guided path.
This article elaborates and supplements episode 13 of the “A Moment Please!” series.
Please spare 6 minutes to watch the video below (if you haven’t done so yet) before to diving in the article.
If you haven’t taken your coffee yet, I think it’ll be a good idea to pause for A Moment Please!, make a cup and come back right here.. Let’s go!
The Focus of This Article
Welcome Back
The focus of this article is to elaborate the 3 +1 (three plus one) bonus points that a celebrity, or any person with public influence for that matter should consider when returning to the path of Allah subḥānahū wa ta’ālā. In the video, we agreed that the 3 +1 bonus points are:
- Lowering one’s expectations,
- Embracing the methods of Islam and the Prophet’s in one’s new chapter,
- One must prepare for more temptations, and
- The Bonus Point: one should indeed be informed that the tests shall continue.
However, besides those, there’re two other points I find it necessary to highlight before discussing these 3 +1 bonus points. These two points are:
- Understanding what returning to path of Allah means
- Understanding why a celebrity’s return to Allah is handled differently
Returning to the Path of Allah: What Does it Mean?
Well, there’s a difference between returning to Allah and returning to the path of Allah.
A person who returns to the path of Allah is still alive and still carries out his fair share of this first part of life. However, when a person ‘returns to Allah’, it means his time on this earth has simply ended, and he has been moved to his second part of life (Akhirah) to begin.
In a nutshell, every single one of us shall return to Allah. However, everyone’s experience of returning to Allah is determined by how he led his journey on the path.
The ones on the path are allies of Allah. And the ones who choose otherwise become allies to the Ṭāghūt (the Devil).
ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّٰغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ ۗ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ
“Allah is the patron of the those who believe. He leads them from darkness to the light. As for those who deny the truth, their supporter is Satan, who brings them out of light into darkness. They are the heirs of the Fire, and there they will remain forever.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:257).
We’re on the path, if we strive to adhere to the commands of Allah. We’re out of the path if, for whatever reason there may be, we fail to follow the commands of Allah. It’s when we decide to be on the path after been away from it that we return to the path. The Path of Allah.
وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“Believers, turn to Allah, every one of you, so that you may prosper.” (Surah al-Nūr, 24:31).
فَفِرُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
“Therefore hasten to Allah; truly, I am sent by Him to give you clear warning. Do not set up another god, along with Allah. I come from Him to warn you plainly.” (Surah al-Dhāriyāt, 51:50-51).
Also, the use of returning to the path is targeting at existing Muslims. If however a person is non-Muslim and decides to embrace Islam, that’s where “converting to Islam” is used. Some others use “reverting to Islam,” but I prefer the former.
If all it takes for someone who decides on returning to the path of Allah is to just go ahead and take action, why then, should we give attention to a celebrity’s decision on returning to the path of Allah?
Why the Return of the Celebrity is Different
As a person who has been in the spotlight, regardless of the period, it’s undeniable that you have a fanbase. If not all, a good number of followers in this fanbase will make some decisions in life based on an influence you might have made in them.
A celebrity is indifferent from any ordinary human being. But when they find themselves in jobs or positions that get media attention, they’re then used to create and manipulate mindsets. Mostly for the wrong reason and to the wrong direction. The truth is, the more evil thoughts, and immoral acts a celebrity engages in, the more space he’s likely given to draw the attention of the masses.
As Muslims, after admitting that we were not actually on the correct path of Allah, probably due to the nature of our profession or job, one can imagine the extent to which we have contributed in misleading and misguiding innocent lives. Regardless, whether we intended that or not.
It’s surprising how evil forces join forces when a celebrity or a public figure decides to liberate himself from the system of entertainment and return to the path of Allah. The least is that he’ll be subjected to bullying. And it goes to the point of trying to persuade him to change his mind, up to all sorts of accusations and threats.
Regardless of the mental torture and level of depression celebrities and public figures have to deal with on a regular basis, especially before appearing for performance for their fans in the media, we must admit that the perks and allowances that are provided for them make it difficult for one inside to think of returning to the path of Allah. Therefore, it requires a lot of courage for one to decide to leave all that, for the sake of Allah. And when he does, we must show him some moral support. At the least.
However, it’s important that, when one makes this decision, he should do it right, so that he doesn’t end up in a blurry zone, or a zone with unclear signboards while trying to fit in, on the path of Allah.
It’s important to get it right because you get it right:
- you save yourself, and
- you save some of your fans
Likewise, when you get it wrong, you’re not misguided alone.
This isn’t only important. It’s rather crucial. In a ḥadīth reported by Imām Muslim from the narration of Sayyiduna Abū Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu,, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:
مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى، كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الأَجْرِ مَثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ؛ لا يَنْقُصُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئاً. وَمَنْ دَعَا إِلَى ضَلالَةٍ، كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الإِثْمِ مِثْلُ آثَامِ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ؛ لا يَنْقُصُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ آثَامِهِمْ شَيْئاً
“Whoever calls to guidance (righteousness), will be rewarded, similarly to the rewards of those who follow him, without any of their rewards been reduced. And whoever calls to deviation, will carry sins, similar to the sins of all those who act upon it (the deviation), without their sins been reduced.”
Now, if you’re a celebrity and have read to this point, having watched the video earlier on, I’m sure, by the will of Allah, that you have made up your mind and are ready on returning to the path of Allah. Thus, you can’t wait to read the next section. The 3 +1 bonus points. Let’s go…
The 3 +1 Bonus Points to Consider
By now, you’ve noticed that, the 3 +1 bonus points for you to consider, as a celebrity, or a public figure are not the only things to work on when returning to the path of Allah. However, they’re suggestions that once you succeed in adopting them, it becomes easy for you to move on, by the will Allah, against all odds and obstacles.
Lower your expectations
The first point to take note of is to lower our expectations as we prepare to return to the path of Allah.
Yes, lower your expectations. Sometimes, when a brethren returns to the path, especially if he happens to be a celebrity or a person of public influence, he may be made a hero, especially by some practicing folks.
Yes, they will. They will make a hero out of you. But for a short while. In fact, if they do, don’t take it highly. After all, your return is to the path of Allah. Not to the cheer-ups of the people. Remember, it’s a personal journey.
Having said that, let’s be clear; there’s nothing wrong to be made a hero. It’s just that you need to know the implications that come with. It’s short-lived. That’s all there’s.
One thing that helps to overcome this is to adopt Islam’s and the Prophet’s method in moulding the new you. So…
Embrace Islam and the Method of the Prophet’s in the New You
The second point to take note of when returning to the path of Allah is to aim to embrace the authentic methods of Islam and the teachings and commands of The Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam in your new chapter.
In other words, once back to the path of Allah, verify your Knowledge of and about Islam from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Failure to do this will render you confused in no time. This is because every sect will want to pull you to their side and their agenda… their agenda. And your agenda is Allah and His Prophet.
So, do make sure anyone who tries to pull you to his side is able to prove what they preach you with the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Prepare for More Temptations
The third point to take note of when returning to the path of Allah is to prepare to deal with more temptations than you probably used to.
Yes… the moment you decide to return to the path of Allah, is the moment you’ll be faced with more and more temptations. Even the bank which you’ll call wanting to cancel your credit card (to avoid riba) will offer you temptations, so to keep you consuming more and more riba.
If you’re a celebrity who deals with companies of all sorts, you’ll be surprised by the amount of offers you may receive, all in attempt to keep you in the path of the devil. Therefore, being informed about this beforehand should help when the time comes.
The Bonus Point: The Tests Shall Continue. Surely!
One of the common mistakes we make when we embrace is Allah, when we pray, when we give charity, and when we do good is that we develop a perception of granted safety and secuity without being tested. Simply because “we’re now in the camp of Allah.”
However, the truth is, after one’s repentance, the tests and trials of this life will continue, at least in different forms. The good news is, there’s a huge difference between the test before repentance and the test that we shall experience after.
When we’re away from Allah, we endure the tests and trials of life with no expectations from Allah. Therefore most of the time, if not always, we can’t accept those tests. We sigh. We reach out to sorcerers and magicians and whatnot.
However, after returning to the path of Allah, after the improvement in our understanding of Islam, and after the positive change of our worldview, we now endure tests and trials of life with expectations for rewards and reassurance from Allah.
When you remind yourself, that no matter how painful the test is, it shall come to an end, and that there’re mountains of rewards awaiting you with Allah, your determination becomes stronger, and your spiritual immunity reaffirms, by the will of Allah.
Conclusion
You have made it thus far.. Restarting afresh with Allah may be exhausting, indeed. But rest assured; the rewards are worthwhile the trouble. Despite the challenges, your heart will be filled with peace. You’ll be able to sleep without the need for drugs. And you’ll free yourself from the crooks and tycoons of modern-day slavery.
If you’ve reached this point of the article, then kindly consider sharing it with your loved ones. And let the discussion continue on Facebook.
Allāh knows best.
Allāhu Ḥāfiẓ 🙂
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