SERVICE TO MANKIND

SERVICE TO MANKIND Social Service A LL the teachings of Islam are based on two basic principles— the worship of God and the service of mankind. Without putting both of these principles into practice, there can be no true fulfillment of one’s religious duties. In its followers, Islam inculcates the spirit of love and respect for all human beings. By serving human beings on the one hand they please God, and on the other they achieve spiritual progress for themselves. According to a Hadith, you should be merciful to people on earth and God on high will be merciful to you. One can receive God’s reward in the Hereafter only if one has done something to alleviate the sufferings of mankind. In this way Islam links personal salvation to serving others. This desire to serving others should not be accompanied by any expectations in return. Coming to the assistance of others is, in essence, an acknowledgement of the blessings which God has showered upon man. It is that person, who helps others who has something more than others. For example, one who has eyes comes to the assistance of one who has not been blessed with the precious gift of sight, an able bodied person will give physical help to the disabled and the man with resources will come to the aid of one who lacks them. On all such occasions when one man helps out another by virtue of those blessings which God has given him, he is in fact showing his gratitude to God for these favours. He is saying within himself, ‘O God, whatever I have is all given by You. Now I am spending it in Your path, I pray for more blessings and mercy for both of us (the helper and the receiver)’. Helping another is actually raising one’s own moral status. Making use of one’s possessions only for oneself is to live on the plane of animals, for the beasts share nothing with others. Man, superior to all creatures, lives on a far higher plane. The proper attitude in accordance with his status is not to keep to himself but to embrace the whole of humanity. He should lead his life as a well-wisher to all, a ‘giver’ member of society, ready to help everyone by accepting others’ rights over his own All the teachings of Islam are based on two basic principles— worship of God and service of mankind.