References :The oldman continued,O young man! The next instinct is the instinct of wanting to be loved. It is an inherent quality in all of us that we want to be loved, adored and appreciated by others, especially those who are close to us. Therefore, children want to be loved by their parents and vice versa, and wives want to be loved by their husbands as well as husbands want to be loved by their wives. No one wants to live in a loveless marriage, since it is totally un-natural. This is why we all have friends. Friends that we keep in close contact with and enjoy being in their company.It is for this same reason, why people engage in intimate relationships at high schools, colleges and universities, i.e. boy friend, girl friend relationships. They want to feel emotionally secured, and confident about themselves being beautiful, handsome, comely and attractive. They want to know that they are special in someone’s heart. Because of this it is very important that parents display their love and affection in their behaviour towards their children. If this is lacking the children will seek after this love and affection from strangers outside the home and therefore become vulnerable to rascals who will not hesitate to manipulate them. Children who are from homes where they were not shown any love nor attention often end up as class clowns disrupting the class in order to seek the attention of others. Likewise, girls who were not shown any love at home often start intimate relationships with men at an early age.Husbands who are not shown enough love and affection from their wives at home often engage in extra-marital love affairs with their co-workers at work; their secretaries or any other women they come into contact with on a regular basis. Some of them even go as far as to hire the services of prostitutes. These same practices apply to the women who are not shown any love by their husbands; they may end up seeking it from other sources that are obviously haram.All these vices occur because we all have this inherent instinct to fulfil. To love and to be loved. Hence whenever there is a vacuum the consequences can be startling and catastrophic for the individual and the society.Also, we all want to be loved and appreciated by our Muslim brothers and sisters, because the Muslim community is our extended family. The only way we can be loved by other Muslims is for us to improve on our relationship with Allah our Rabb and Creator. If the relationship with your Creator is good, then your relationship with his entire creation automatically becomes good.O young man! Man likes to know. Because knowledge signifies honour and dignity. Whereas ignorance signifies dishonour and ignobility. Allah Ta'ala instilled in us this instinct so that we will progress spiritually, academically, mentally scientifically and otherwise. Allah on many occasions in the Holy Qur’an has encouraged us to reflect and ponder on his creation. At times he has even invited us to travel through the different parts of His creation in order to learn from it.This instinct of being inquisitive and loving knowledge was given to us by Allah so that we will make many discoveries and break through for us to progress spiritually as well as technologically. Therefore this instinct when utilised properly produces wonderful and marvellous results.O young man! We are all living in a cruel and selfish world. A world were people will not hesitate to exploit others for their own selfish ends. So, Allah gave us the instinct of wanting to defend ourselves so that we will not allow others to use, misuse and abuse us. To defend oneself against oppressors, aggressors and assailants is also an inherent quality in us all.Today, the world is filled with tyranny and oppression, all because men refuse to acknowledge the rights of others. This was expected because if man does not give Allah his right, which is Islamic monotheism then it becomes impossible for him to give a fellow human being his rights.O young man! In addition to giving us the natural instinct of loving wealth, possessions and properties for various reasons, Allah also has given us the instinct of fearing poverty. The most important is that Allah told us to use our wealth as a means of doing righteous deeds and thus inherit the paradise. Additionally we were told not to neglect our portion of wealth from this world and upon acquiring it we should not use it to spread mischief and corruption on the earth, as is the case with wealthy people who have no piety. The other reason why Allah has given us this natural instinct is, to test us to see which of us is best of conduct.Wealth is a test from Allah Ta’ala. However it becomes a source of blessing whenever its owner utilises it righteously. Most rich people find it difficult to behave properly upon acquiring wealth. Thus they are given to greed, pride, lust, fighting the truth and so on.The man-made systems of capitalism, socialism and communism, have failed miserably to regulate man’s instinct of loving wealth. In capitalist societies, people pay attention to the life of this world and forget the Hereafter. They live for the sake of money, technology and pleasures of the flesh.The communist system was expected to perish, since they too like their capitalist counterparts, have denied the natural instinct of worshipping Allah, instead they both worship materialism. Additionally, the Communist have sealed their fate by also denying man his right to utilise his natural instinct of wanting to own properties, claiming that every thing is state owned. Every other man-made system is short lived, because in one way or the other, they are all in conflict with our natural instincts. Hence the people who live under these systems, live a life of misery, stress and mental depression. Since all man-made systems have proven to be inadequate and thus failed the people spiritually, socially, economically and otherwise, man is left with no choice but to humble himself and embrace, implement and carry out heavenly revealed laws which is al-Islam.O young man! Allah also gave us the instinct of loving delicious food and drinks so that we will eat right rather than abusing our bodies by eating just about anything, i.e. foods that are not nutritious. Allah wants the best for us in regards to food, clothing, shelter, guidance etc. There are many people today that have gone astray in regards to this natural instinct. There is no doubt that it is the Shaitaan who has caused them to loose their balance and go astray. There are many who loved food and drink to such an extent that it causes them to be selfish and unkind to their guests. Know that to take care of our guests is a sign of Iman.O young man! Men love for life, and his strong fear of old age and death, this is what the survival Instinct. If someone should hold a child of two, for example, and pretends like he is about to throw that child from a balcony or a veranda, you will see that child screams and cries out of intense fear for death and danger. This is so because everyone including this child was born with the inherent quality to fear death. This instinct was given to us by Allah so that we would avoid committing suicide. Therefore whenever a person commits suicide, this behaviour of his or hers is considered abnormal. Any society in which suicide occurs a lot, such a society is spiritually empty and this abnormal practice is a sign telling us that the society is on its way to destruction.The quality of hating old age and death is so inherent in Mankind that even our father Adam, alayhissalaam, was deceived by Iblees and ate from the forbidden tree after he was assured by Iblees that he Adam would live forever if he should eat from that particular tree. The Shaitaan deceived Adam, alayhissalaam, by promising him immortality because he knows that man hates old age and death instinctively.Mankind's fear for old age is so strong at times it leads a lot of men and women to undergo numerous amounts of plastic operations in order to look many years younger than they actually are. Even though these people at times suffer excruciating pains as a result of these plastic operations they bear the agony with patience because of their intense anxiety to look younger. Old age has affected a lot of people psychologically, in that they become miserable, loose their confidence, feel unwanted and retarded. They try to fight these feelings by dating young people who are sometimes half their age, thus came the slang terms known as sugar-daddy or sugar-momma.Unbelievers are more affected with old age than Muslims because their societies and families reject them; also because this world is their paradise and they have nothing in the hereafter to look forward to.O young man! About the story of Adam, alayhissalaam and Iblees, Allah said,دَلّٰىہُمَا بِغُرُوۡرٍ ۚ فَلَمَّا ذَاقَا الشَّجَرَۃَ بَدَتۡ لَہُمَا سَوۡاٰتُہُمَا وَ طَفِقَا یَخۡصِفٰنِ عَلَیۡہِمَا مِنۡ وَّرَقِ الۡجَنَّۃِ ؕ وَ نَادٰىہُمَا رَبُّہُمَاۤ اَلَمۡ اَنۡہَکُمَا عَنۡ تِلۡکُمَا الشَّجَرَۃِ وَ اَقُلۡ لَّکُمَاۤ اِنَّ الشَّیۡطٰنَ لَکُمَا عَدُوٌّ مُّبِیۡنٌ"Thus he cunningly seduced them, and when they ate from the tree, their shame became visible to them and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of the garden. Then their Rabb called out to them, 'Did I not forbid you to approach that tree, and did not I warn you that Shaitan was your open enemy?'" [QS. Al-A'raf (7):22]Allah Ta’ala gave us the instinct of covering nakedness, for various reasons. Such as to elevate us above the animal level. Additionally, to safeguard our chastity, morality and potency. Your clothes give you protection from harsh weather conditions. It gives you honour and dignity, defines your gender and beautifies you. This instinct, also implies, that we as humans, have a sense of shame. Therefore, do not believe when someone says, "I have no shame anymore!" It was mere speech, and a sign of arrogance.Is is said that Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah pleased with him, approached by a boy and they spoke for a short while. Then he bought from the boy a robe costing three dirhams. Its length was from the wrist to the ankles. He, Ali then wore it and made the following du’a, ‘All praise is due to Allah who has blessed me with this garment which I used to beautify myself in front of others and cover my aura (nakedness)'. It was said to him, 'What you just recited, was it from yourself or from the Prophet (ﷺ)'. He, Ali said, 'This du’a I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he was putting on his garments.'Man was created with the natural instinct of covering his aura (nakedness), and the purpose of garment, to beautifying ourselves and covering our nakedness.O young man! You asked me, is it wrong to love your country? Know that man is nationalistic by nature. Therefore he strives for unity, independence, interest, prosperity and even the dominion of his nation. He wants the best for his country and it hurts him to see his country’s backwardness, especially moral and economic backwardness. Whenever he leaves his country, he reads newspapers and magazines that inform him of the situation back home. Likewise, he buys goods and merchandise that were imported from his homeland to the country where he is residing. Whenever his country is participating in any competition, like the world Olympics, world cup football, the common wealth games and so on, he automatically becomes a fan and supporter of his national team without anyone having to tell him to do so. If his country is invaded by another country he would lay down his life to repel the aggressor and defend his homeland. This is so because he is by nature, a lover of his country. Because of this, it is considered bad manners by Islam to speak ill about someone's birthplace because his heart is connected to his country, hence by doing so you actually hurt him. Not only would you hurt him but you would cause him to hate you. Thus the Islamic brotherhood would be affected with hatred, malice, spite, resentment and rancour.But as Muslims, we should not allow our love for our country to turn us into, what is called, Asabiyya, giving preference to nationalism, tribalism, racism, partisanship, clannishness over the Islamic brotherhood. Regarding this Asabiyya, we should be careful not to let this understanding become a group fanaticism that is blind to tribes, ethnic groups, and nations. According to Ibn Khaldun, Asabiyya is an important element in building the country. Without it, the state will easily collapse because it does not have a strong bond of social solidarity, to cooperate with each other, build mutual understanding, and work hand in hand to maintain the integrity of the country. However, we should still be careful not to let this understanding become a group fanaticism that is blind to tribes, ethnic groups, and even nations. In fact, the unity of a nation, comes from the unity of diverse visions, which is manifested into a strong bond of solidarity, based on a sense of brotherhood.About Asabiyya, the Prophet (ﷺ) said,وَمَنْ قَاتَلَ تَحْتَ رَايَةٍ عُمِّيَّةٍ يَغْضَبُ لِعَصَبَةٍ أَوْ يَدْعُو إِلَى عَصَبَةٍ أَوْ يَنْصُرُ عَصَبَةً فَقُتِلَ فَقِتْلَةٌ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ وَمَنْ خَرَجَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي يَضْرِبُ بَرَّهَا وَفَاجِرَهَا وَلاَ يَتَحَاشَ مِنْ مُؤْمِنِهَا وَلاَ يَفِي لِذِي عَهْدٍ عَهْدَهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَلَسْتُ مِنْهُ “One who fights under the banner of a people who are blind to the cause for which they are fighting, (i.e. do not know whether their cause is just or unjust, who gets flared up with Asabiyya, calls people to fight for their Asabiyya. And supports his kith and kin (i.e. fights not for the cause of Allah but for the sake of his Asabiyya) if he is killed (in this fight) he dies as one belonging to the days of Jahiliyah (the pre-Islamic days of ignorance). Whoso attacks my Ummah (indiscriminately) killing the righteous and the wicked of them, sparing not (even) those staunch in faith and fulfilling not his promise made with those who have been given a pledge of security - he has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with him." [Sahih Muslim]The Prophet (ﷺ) also said,لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى عَصَبِيَّةٍ وَلَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ قَاتَلَ عَلَى عَصَبِيَّةٍ وَلَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى عَصَبِيَّةٍ“He is not one of us who calls to Asabiyya. He is not one of us who fights for the sake of Asabiyya. He is not one of us who dies following the way of Asabiyya.” [Sunan Abī Dāwūd; Sahih according to Al-Suyuti]Regarding the bond of solidarity based on brotherhood, the Prophet (ﷺ) said,مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ يَسَّرَ عَلَى مُعْسِرٍ يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ فِي عَوْنِ الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ وَمَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَمَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِي بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللَّهِ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَيَتَدَارَسُونَهُ بَيْنَهُمْ إِلاَّ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّكِينَةُ وَغَشِيَتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَحَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ وَمَنْ بَطَّأَ بِهِ عَمَلُهُ لَمْ يُسْرِعْ بِهِ نَسَبُهُ“Whoever relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, Allah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever helps ease one in difficulty, Allah will make it easy for him in this world and in the Hereafter. Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah helps the servant as long as he helps his brother. Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. People do not gather in the houses of Allah, reciting the book of Allah and studying it together, but that tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will cover them, angels will surround them, and Allah will mention them to those near him. Whoever is slow to good deeds will not be hastened by his lineage.” [Sahih Muslim]Remember, most wars that are being fought today taking a heavy toll on human lives and properties are fought in the name of nationalism. Nationalism was the dogma used by Hitler to incite his soldiers to pursue the second world war which lasted for seven years between 1939 and 1945. So was the eight year old war between Iraq and Iran. Millions of people died in both wars, soldiers as well as civilians. Likewise the destruction of what use to be Yugoslavia was done in the name of nationalism with the Serbs as the aggressors. Many more wars of the past and present can be used as examples of the Shaitaan using the natural instinct to love our country to turn us into violent nationalists. The Shaitaan has been using this instinct to cause great destruction on the earth in that he has turned a lot of people into nationalists, thinking that they are a superior nation and that they have the right to dominate others.So, there is nothing wrong with loving your country, it is an instinct, but don't overdo it so that you become trapped in what is so called Asabiyya. As for the Hadith, "To love your country is a part of Iman", is classified fabricated by all the scholars of Hadith.O young man! Finally, man was endowed with numerous and various natural instincts. This fact was acknowledged by psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists, biologists, historians and all the Prophets that were sent by Allah. And Allah knows best."Then the hawk sang,What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this wayWhat a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of youWhat a wicked thing to say, you never felt this wayWhat a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of youAnd I don't wanna fall in loveWith you *)
- Sheikh 'Abdullah Faisal, Natural Instincts, Darul Islam
- Rev. Geo. Fyler Townsend, M.A., Aesop Fables, George Routledge and Sons
*) "Wicked Game" written by Chris Isaak
