As we work for justice in this world, let us never lose sight of the fact that ultimately we are not living for this world we are living in it. We search assiduously for the program that will assure the most abundant share of justice for ourselves and those we support. This is fitting as we are urged in the Qur’an to be upright witnesses and advocates for justice. It is more fitting though that we strenuously search for the right religious program, as we will inevitably leave this world and move on towards our reckoning in the next.

Along these lines something I read this morning in Shaykh Jamaladdin al-Qasimi’s abridgement of Qut al-Qulub struck me as an amazing program which we should and easily could adopt as our religious program. He relates: “That he (the believer) does not become comfortable with sin; that he does not eat from an unlawful income; that he restrains his tongue and hand from abusing the honor and wealth of people; that he gives sincere advice to people out of compassionate concern for them; that he is pleased with what pleases them and saddened by what saddens them. [Finally], he is sincere in all of the actions that he undertakes for God, Most High.”

Note: I have translated the word “Muslims” in the original text as “people.” The acceptability of this translation is affirmed by textual evidence, which indicates that the relevant advice mentioned here is applicable to all people.