Striving for Balance within our Bodies, Businesses and Bandagi

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا

.'In this way, we have made you the community of the middle path'

(Surat al-Baqara: Ayat143)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2016.

In his waaz on Chehlum of Imam Husain AS in Boston, Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS recited the ayat quoted above “In this way, we have made you the community of the middle path” (Surat al-Baqara: Ayat 143). Syedna TUS stressed that we are followers of our Mawali Tahereen who are “the community of the middle path” (ummat wasat) and so it is important to maintain balance in all aspects of our lives. Excesses and extremes inevitably lead to damage and detriment.

Syedna TUS referred to the Rasa’il Ikhwanus Safa, in which the Ikhwanus Safa explain that the human body’s health is maintained through a balance of four components (substances). These are 1) mucus (balgham), 2) blood (dam), 3) black bile (sawdaa’) and 4) yellow bile (safraa’). Any imbalance in these components causes illness and fatigue.

Based on this analogy Syedna TUS emphasized the importance of balance in various aspects of our life including time management, business, diet and religion.

Syedna TUS recalled that Maulana Taher Saifuddin RA advised that we divide our time in three portions: prayer (bandagi), earning a halal living (halal ni rozi) and halal pleasure (halal ni lazzat). Neglecting any one aspect at the expense of the other is holistically detrimental.

In the context of balance in business, Syedna TUS advised that one should not venture into something so big (khatu itnu mhotu kholide) that would consume all his time. It is important to keep time for children, to spend time in their upbringing (tarbiyat).

In the context of eating, it is important to keep time to have a meal in peace (tamakkun si). Balance in what we eat is also important. Too much of sugar risks diabetes. Anything in excess has negative effects on health.

Even in the context of religion it is important to maintain a balance. Amirul Mumineen AS has said that if a naafilat (non-compulsory prayers) tires you, suffice in farizat (compulsory prayers) for a while.

Syedna TUS added that just as the body needs rest if it is fatigued, we also need mental rest to rejuvenate.

Syedna TUS concluded that the key to a fruitful life is balance. Maintaining the most important balance between deen and dunya leads to a productive and happy life in this world and paradise in the hereafter. As Amirul Mumineen AS said in his khutba “Those who are pious earn both Dunya and Aakherat, they partake in Dunya while people of Dunya do not partake in Aakherat.”

While the balance between deen and dunya is critical, Syedna TUS stressed that deen must always come first. He encouraged Mumineen to live in Dunya in the best places, eating the finest foods but while gathering the provisions for the journey to the Hereafter. Living by the tenets of Shar’iat, praying namaz, doing roza, feeding the poor, doing good deeds are all actions that provide for our journey.

We offer thanks for the guidance of our Mawali Tahereen and their successor Dai-z-Zaman TUS who guides us by words and by example. He is today the successor to the “community of the middle path”, his path is most certainly the most balanced path. May Allah Ta’ala grant us strength to follow his guidance and walk through life balancing the pails of deen and dunya.