Product Categories
  • Items on Sale
  • Eid-ul-Adha Special
  • Environment
  • Hajj and Umrah
  • Islamic Events
  • New Year
  • Nikah / Engagement
  • Ramadan Special
  • Sunnah Gifts
  • Teacher Appreciation
  • Books by Age Group
    • Books for 3-6 years
    • Books for 7-10 years
    • Books for 8-12 years
  • Accessories
    • Badges
    • Coasters
    • Keychains
    • Magnetic Bookmarks
    • Magnets
    • Mugs
    • Notebooks
    • Tote bags
    • Wall Tiles
    • Water Bottles
  • Children’s Books by Theme
    • Islamic Fiction Novels
    • Hibakidz Magazine
      • Magazine Subscription
    • Storybooks and activity books
    • Tawheed Books for Children
  • Books for Adults
    • Dua books and cards
    • Communication Builders
    • Goal Planners
    • Hiba Magazine
    • Marriage Special
Cart ₨ 0.00 0 0

No products in the cart.

Return To Shop
Shopping cart (0)
Subtotal: ₨ 0.00

Checkout

Return to previous page
Home E-MAGAZINE

Is Life Fair?

E-MAGAZINE

Is Life Fair?

July 31, 2023 /Posted bySadaf Azhar / 1059

By

Sadaf Azhar – Hiba’s Sub Editor

Is fairness an objective or subjective idea? Can we all agree on what is ‘fair’ for each human being? For instance, could we agree on one salary for all people?

Behind this notion of ‘unfairness’ is the mindset of entitlement, a selfishness behind the refrain ‘I didn’t get this’ or ‘I deserved that’.

What we perceive as fair or unfair is based on our perception of ourselves and the imperfect knowledge of the world around us.

It reflects our priorities in life – we tend to focus on ourselves and those whom we love or care for rather than others suffering in the world, such as famine or war victims elsewhere.

The Gratitude Mindset

Ibn Qayyim explains that those who accuse Allah (swt) of not being just don’t really want life in general to be fair, but life to be ‘unfair’ in their own favour. We only complain when we get the bad end- no one complains of life being ‘unfair’ when he or she is showered with worldly wealth or success. The root of this perception of unfairness, therefore, lies in ingratitude.

Abdullah bin Amr al Aas (rta) narrates that the Prophet (sa) said that you might be given enough but since you lack contentment, you won’t fall in the category of those whom Allah (swt) considers as the successful people. This contentment with what Allah (swt) has decreed for you is the basis for a gratitude mindset that recognizes Allah (swt) as Al- Adl, The Just.

Wealth is a greater test than poverty and the rich shall enter Paradise 500 years later than the poor because they shall be questioned about their use of resources that they were blessed with.

Imam Qurtubi explains that the Prophet (sa) passed the test of wealth because his personality and attitude did not change when he became wealthy. He continued looking after the orphans and widows and taking care of his relatives.

Then Allah (swt) stripped him of his wealth and he experienced total poverty – he lost his wealth, his loving wife and uncle, and finally the support of his tribe and extended family in the hostile Arab environment. The Prophet (sa) himself suffered emotionally and physically – he buried 6 of his seven children himself. Yet he displayed ‘excellence’ and Ihsan even in these straightened circumstances.

The Prosperity Doctrine – A Mirage

Most religions have the concept of the ‘prosperity doctrine’ whereby if the Divine Presence loves you, you’re well off.

Islam preaches the opposite – poverty is a test for those Allah (swT) loves.  He withholds the Dunya the way you withhold water from a sick person (to break addictions). When He withholds in this world, He will give more or better in the next.

The Companions used to be upset for the Prophet’s (sa) deprivation of material wealth and they cried when they witnessed his grinding poverty and hunger. This was because they believed he deserved the best in both worlds. The Prophet (sa), however, encouraged a shift in their mindset by asking: ‘Aren’t you satisfied that they have the Dunya and we have the Aakhirah?’

He used to ask Allah (swt) for ‘just enough’ in this worldly life. As witnessed by Omar (rta), the prophet (sa) used to sleep on a date palm mat that would leave marks on his back. Yet, the prophet (sa) never complained and throughout his life, whether wealthy or poor, he would always be willing to help out others in any way possible.

The Opportunity to do Good Deeds

In the Masnoon Dua we are recommended to ask for the ‘Hasanah’ in this world and the Hereafter. Imam Hasan al Basri defines ‘Hasanah’ as knowledge that is beneficial, pure earnings (Rizq) and deeds that are accepted by Allah (swt).

Note that he does not define as Hasanah a vast earnings, but pure and good earnings. This was why the companions understood the value of doing good in every facet of life, using all that Allah (swt) had blessed them with.

Once, the poor companions complained about the rich ones having more opportunities for doing good through their wealth by giving charity. Note that they did not complain about the unfairness of the distribution of wealth for their own worldly consumption but focused on the missed opportunity for doing good.

Similarly once the Prophet (sa) asked his companion Rabia (rta) to pray for anything he wished for. Rabia (rta) asked for the Prophet’s (sa)’ companionship in the Hereafter, not for any worldly benefit.

Imam ibn Hazm, an Andulusian scholar, debated once and proved his point by quoting from an obscure text. His opponent taunted him claiming he couldn’t refer to that text because the oil from his lamp ran out (an allusion to his poverty), so Ibn Hazm replied: ‘I had a difficult time looking at it under the golden chandeliers of my house.’ This statement routed his opponent, for wealth can ‘blind’ us to the truth and make us ungrateful and wasteful.

Life isn’t fair, but Allah (swt) is in His Divine Wisdom of protecting us, from our own folly.

The melon – Hikayat-e-Ru...
Freedom Fighters’ Gallery – Li...

About author

About Author

Sadaf Azhar

Other posts by Sadaf Azhar

Related posts

E-MAGAZINE
Read more

The Mothers of Prophet Muhammad (sa): Amina and Halima (Part 2)

June 17, 2025
By Sadaf Azhar – Hiba magazine Assistant Editor   Apart from his birth mother who died when the Prophet (sa) was very young, he had... Continue reading
E-MAGAZINE
Read more

The Genocide – From the Eyes of an 18 year Old

June 14, 2025
By Amal Hanif Growing up reading about the Holocaust, the Srebrenica massacre, and countless other mass exterminations enabled by imperialist powers, I always questioned how... Continue reading
E-MAGAZINE
Read more

The Mothers of Prophet Muhammad (sa): Amina and Halima (Part 1)

June 10, 2025
By Sadaf Azhar – Hiba magazine Assistant Editor     Aminah- his birth mother The Prophet ﷺ was the son of Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib... Continue reading
E-MAGAZINE
Read more

Understanding Haya of Your Heart (Fiqh Haya Al Qalb)

June 2, 2025
By Rana Rais Khan – Founder and Editor-in-Chief Hiba Family Resource Centre Ibrahim At Tawejri, an Arab scholar has beautifully explained the misunderstood idea of... Continue reading
E-MAGAZINE
Read more

Mindful Glorification in Dhul Hajj for Non-Hajjis

May 29, 2025
By Umm Amal – Hiba Magazine Team Writer The first nine days of Dhul Hajj, the sacred month are sometimes neglected by non-pilgrims or non-Hajis... Continue reading

Comments are closed

ABOUT US

  • Story of Hiba
  • Team
  • Contact

INFORMATION

  • Advertise
  • Write
  • Availability
  • My Account
  • Donate
  • Refunds & Exchange

SEARCH OUR WEBSITE

STAY CONNECTED

Facebook Instagram Pinterest Linkedin Whatsapp Email Youtube

Payment Options

 

 

 

COPYRIGHT © 2003-2024 – HIBA MAGAZINE