The Journey of life, its paths & destinations

 

I went for a walk in a nearby Valley Park. This comes after some emotional and thoughtful weeks after the sudden death of a university sister. I worked with her in the Leicester University Islamic Society, which I presided over 24 years ago. She died from an illness that she hid from her closest. Her death shocked all who knew her and worked with her.

 

She was loyal, shy, caring and principled. After leaving University, she took on her family business and expanded it. Many remember her conduct with family, employees, suppliers, and customers. She was a role model for many, and many relied on her for her leadership and the selfless care she gave to them.

 

Her death invoked memories among the group of her university friends. Although it had been 24 years since I had met or spoken to her, it also made me revisit my steps back then.

 

As I walked through the park, I contemplated my life journey. Strangely, the changing scenery and paths around me started to talk to me in my imaginary world. I began to paint a picture in my mind of my life journey.

 

This path led to other paths; sometimes, I took the wrong turn, turned back, and chose another path. This reminded me that our lives take similar paths and turns.

 

I started my walk in the park by choosing a path with a target destination: Swan Lake. This path led to other paths; sometimes, I took the wrong turn, turned back, and chose another path. This reminded me that our lives take similar paths and turns. After University, I took a path and made decisions that dictated my next 24 years. I started to revisit and question my paths as my memories returned to those moments 24 years ago.

 

The weight of the “what if” moments started to play heavily on my chest as if failures of lost opportunities underpinned my worldly successes.

 

Allhamdulillah, I may have had a promising career and life that many may desire. I discussed this in a recent radio interview (see link below). Yet, my mind started questioning this for all the paths I could have taken, the lost opportunities, and the many achievements that could have been different and perhaps better. The weight of the “what if” moments started to play heavily on my chest as if failures of lost opportunities underpinned my worldly successes.

 

I felt sadness and pain as I walked and crossed different paths. This was not about personal wealth but the impact on broader society and infrastructure.

 

Was I lost in my life journey? I questioned myself as I continued my walk. Lost in my thoughts, the path opened to my set destination. It is a beautiful lake with stunning majestic swans gliding through the water under a clear blue sky, making everything clear to observe and enjoy.

 

 

A painful reality hit me as I sat on the bench to soak in the moment, processing my thoughts. The sister’s death reminded me of the temporary nature of this destination, this world, these life paths that we choose to walk on, these destinations that we set ourselves, and all our life struggles. It all eventually dies and moves on.

 

What is left after we are gone is what matters. What matters are the memories of the moments we live, the impact we have on the lives of others, and how they remember us, just like the memories of this sister.

 

What is left after we are gone is what matters. What matters are the memories of the moments we live, the impact we have on the lives of others, and how they remember us, just like the memories of this sister. We remember her legacy, kindness, principles, leadership, and caring nature.

 

This realisation influenced me and replaced my immediate memory of my path choices. I remembered the sounds of the birds chirping, the cool breeze, the happiness of people who walked past me, and the kindness of the old couple who warned me of some rough paths ahead. I concluded that it is not the choices of the life paths that we take that matter; it’s what we do with them and how we conduct ourselves as we walk them that define us.

 

I revisited my life journey to find these moments. I was accompanied by a loving and caring wife, the childhood of my beautiful daughter, and our travels as a family, making every moment worth living for. During my professional work, solving and resolving problems in charities and successfully dealing with crises they find themselves in is an aspect of my life that matters, not career choices.

 

We may think we chose the wrong path or ended up in the incorrect destination—this does not matter, as it all ultimately dies. God decides our paths to test us.

 

We may think we chose the wrong path or ended up in the incorrect destination—this does not matter, as it all ultimately dies. God decides our paths to test us. We should focus on what stays and lives on: the memories and impact we leave on this temporary world. We need to fill our paths with these memories, regardless of the paths that we embark on.

 

Content with my conclusions, I returned to my car as if I had found a treasure in my quest as I remembered this special sister.

 

Having lived my old memories once more, one thoughtful memory braced me. A poetic verse of a famous Sufi poet, Altaf Hussain Hali. I read and memorized in Urdu as a kid. It went on something like this:

 

Valuable lessons are taught to us by graves.
We find this treasure from this burial.

 

I had found my treasure through the sad death of this special sister of ours. May Allah swt grant her the highest paradise. Ameen.

 

End.

 

Author: Nasir Rafiq is the Managing Partner of Dua Governance Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors. He is also a community leader and Chairs many initiatives and organizations.

He spoke about his career in a radio interview with local community radio station UnityFM. Man on a Mission – a Personal Story of Faith, Change and Impact (See link).

Businesses – A force for good, the Islamic concept

Often businesses are considered to be secular, money-making entities that have nothing to with religion or morality.

 

Attributes such as cheating, tax avoidance, aggressive marketing, deception, and exploitation at the cost of preventable harm and wellbeing are by which businesses and corporate world in general are sometimes identified with.

 

This is not the case as far as the Islamic concept goes.

 

Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was a businessman when he became a Prophet at the age of 40. At the time he was married to Khadijah RA, a prominent businesswoman In Makkah. Makkah was in the middle of some famous trade routes. One route was to Shaam (Syria) in the north during the hot summer months and the other to Yemen in the south during the winter months.

 

The nobles in Makkah were mainly traders. This is why some of the early noble companions of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) were traders and businessmen. They continued their trades and businesses after accepting Islam whenever they had the opportunity to do so. Some prominent companions known for their successful businesses and wealth are Abdur-Rahman ibn ‘Awf (RA) and Uthman ibn Affan (RA), both were among the ten promised paradise and glad tidings.

 

Islam promotes business and trade – this activity becomes a force for good for humanity. Islam therefore provides a comprehensive framework for businesses to operate within. Unfortunately at times this is overlooked and ignored by Muslims over technical debates concerning permissibility of individual business transactions.

 

Some aspects of this framework are as follows:

 

Islam focuses on consumption, and this dictates production and supply

 

In Islam what is not permissible (Harram) to consume is also not permissible to produce. This sets an important principle. A moral guide for businesses. Businesses become champions of promoting what is permissible (Halal). Mosques and Scholars can educate and give advice, but the actual Halal activity is facilitated by businesses, and this is what then influences consumer behavior – In Islam, business is not just about profits, they promote the good (Halal) as well.

 

The approach of Islam to Halal and Harram is set by the Holy Quran. It allows everything and prohibits exceptions (Quran 02:173). Being religious does not restrict business thus Islam provides ample opportunity for businesses to supply and produce.

 

Honesty and accountability should be at the heart of business ethics

Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was known for his honesty and accountability in his business dealings. This is what stood him out and led to his marriage to his first wife Khadijah (RA). Even his enemies vouched for his honesty and accountability in his business dealings. His companions followed his example.

Quran refers to the story of the Prophet Shoaib (RA) and how God punished the people of Madyan (Midian) for not giving full measure and weight in their business dealings and for creating mischief (Quran 07:85).

 

In Islam honesty and accountability is at the heart of business dealings and reporting. As part of the Islamic faith, one may be able to dodge earthly regulators, the belief dictates the ultimate accountability to be in the grave and on the Day of Judgement. This is what focuses the mind and ensures honest and transparency in business dealings and reporting.

 

Social responsibility is a mandatory worship (Zakat) for businesses in Islam

 

It is obligatory on every able Muslim adult, and this includes business owners to give Zakat (religious donation) each year. This is traditionally 2.5% of one’s savings more than a year less short-term liability. Islam prescribes those that should benefit from Zakat funds, these individuals being the most vulnerable in society.

This way the most vulnerable in society became stakeholders in businesses and businesses contribute to the uplifting of the society they operate within.

 

Another aspect of Zakat contribution is the way it is calculated. Its not based on in year profits as traditionally business taxes are instead the focus is on the top half of the balance sheet, being the net savings more than a year. Through this mechanism God ensures wealth is not accumulated in fewer hands in savings assets and that instead assets are put into use for generating further economic activity and charity.

 

In Islam business performance generates and decreases wealth

Usuary is prohibited in Islam and it is replaced with trade and business. Money is not treated as a product that can be hired out instead it is invested in business. The investor becomes a stakeholder in the business with success and failure resting with all. This ensures wealth is generated and decreased based on business performance and effort and not on social class and privilege.

 

The consequence being that an Islamic business mind then becomes focused on business activity and performance and not on maximising wealth without effort or risk.

 

The concept of business success and failure rests with the Almighty

Business performances often very much rely on nature and factors outside the control of humans, business owners, employees, and suppliers. The recent pandemic has taught us this lesson in a very hard and real way.

 

Quran (18:32-44) refers to a story of two businessmen. One boasted of his wealth and business strength and while the other reminded him of his limitations before the Almighty. The one that boasted eventually saw his crops destroyed by nature overnight with nothing left.

This way the most vulnerable in society became stakeholders in businesses and businesses contribute to the uplifting of the society they operate within.

 

Another aspect of Zakat contribution is the way it is calculated. Its not based on in year profits as traditionally business taxes are instead the focus is on the top half of the balance sheet, being the net savings more than a year. Through this mechanism God ensures wealth is not accumulated in fewer hands in savings assets and that instead assets are put into use for generating further economic activity and charity.

 

In Islam business performance generates and decreases wealth

Usuary is prohibited in Islam and it is replaced with trade and business. Money is not treated as a product that can be hired out instead it is invested in business. The investor becomes a stakeholder in the business with success and failure resting with all. This ensures wealth is generated and decreased based on business performance and effort and not on social class and privilege.

 

The consequence being that an Islamic business mind then becomes focused on business activity and performance and not on maximising wealth without effort or risk.

 

The concept of business success and failure rests with the Almighty

Business performances often very much rely on nature and factors outside the control of humans, business owners, employees, and suppliers. The recent pandemic has taught us this lesson in a very hard and real way.

 

Quran (18:32-44) refers to a story of two businessmen. One boasted of his wealth and business strength and while the other reminded him of his limitations before the Almighty. The one that boasted eventually saw his crops destroyed by nature overnight with nothing left.