The Reward of Khidmat-e-Khalq, or Serving Humans Doubles in the Month of Ramadan

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 3 April 2023 Serving Human Beings, An Enlightened Chapter Of Islam Main Points 1. Serving humans in righteous ways to attain the pleasure of Allah Almighty is referred to as Khidmat-e-Khalq in Islamic terminology. 2. There are many forms of serving humans that are equally important, such as supporting the oppressed and weak people, sharing in their suffering, imparting knowledge and skills, giving helpful advice, establishing educational and welfare institutions etc. 3. Society must serve humanity as well, or it will struggle and endure the consequences of its attempts to flee from it. 4. If civilization doesn't show generosity to others, it cannot be humanitarian or Islamic. 5. The research demonstrates that the practical life of the Prophet was committed to serving humanity. He was well known for serving mankind even before he declared himself to be a prophet, and subsequently, this spirit of service only grew stronger until he established an Islamic empire in Madinah. ------ The holy month of Ramadan is a period of immense spiritual significance for Muslims all around the world. One of the Five Pillars of Islam is fasting during Ramadan. The three Abrahamic traditions regularly observe various fasting practices. Jews fast on Yom Kippur, Muslims fast during Ramadan, and some Christian groups fast during Lent. Many people all throughout the world have found a strong connection between developing self-control and developing spiritual insight via fasting. Ramadan is often referred to as the month of caring and sharing. When we go for hours without eating or drinking during the day, we are sharply reminded of the many millions of less fortunate people in the world. This month is therefore devoted to the values of generosity and empathy. While the reward for performing Khidmat-e-Khalq is always assured, it is doubled during Ramadan because all good deeds are rewarded twice. Serving humans in righteous ways to attain the pleasure of Allah Almighty is referred to as Khidmat-e-Khalq in Islamic terminology. The analysis of verses and hadiths demonstrates that serving humans is not only the most effective way to create a just society, but also a prerequisite for attaining divine love, the spirit of faith, and the ability to flourish both here and in the hereafter. In general, people only think of giving money as Khidmat-e-Khalq, but there are many other forms of serving humans that are equally important. These include supporting the oppressed and weak people, sharing in their suffering, imparting knowledge and skills, giving helpful advice, pointing out the way to a lost traveller, providing scholarly patronage, establishing educational and welfare institutions and hundreds of other things. All that is needed for the Khidmat-e-Khalq is a holy spirit, which elevates everyone in the sight of Allah. Religion is sincere goodwill, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) declared, clearly illuminating the Ummah with this precept. It is clear that kindness is a religious ideal. When the spirit of goodness reaches the pinnacle of perfection, it starts to manifest itself in numerous ways through deeds, which people can observe and pray for with their tongues. This fact is well known to all and is referenced in the Hadith literature. An excellent example of it is the story of the evil woman who gave water to a thirsty dog and ended up in heaven. Hazrat Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A prostitute had once been forgiven. She passed by a dog panting near a well. Thirst had nearly killed him, so she took off her sock, tied it to her veil, and drew up some water. Allah forgave her for that.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3321, Sahih Muslim 2245) Here, it's also vital to note that Islam accords worship status to service to people, which is the most significant outcome of the benevolent spirit. In the Holy Qur'an, where worship is declared to be the reason for human creation, worship also includes service to humanity. Society must serve humanity as well, or it will struggle and endure the consequences of its attempts to flee from it. If civilization doesn't show generosity to others, it cannot be humanitarian or Islamic. Certainly, the term "human" points us in the same direction. A man actually becomes human when love and humanity are present; if they are absent, he no longer qualifies as human. Islam has discouraged mentality and people who dare to exploit the wants and needs of others in order to further their own, and it has encouraged those who are able to hold the suffering of the poor and needy in their hearts, care about finding solutions to their problems, and spend their time relieving the suffering of others by giving up their own comfort. In other words, they are employed in human service. From the viewpoint of Islam, the best individual is one who works to improve the welfare of others. "The best person among people is the one who benefits others," the Messenger of Allah stated in plain terms.” (Kanzul Ummal) The Hadith in question encourages serving humanity without any limitations. Those who serve Muslims are beloved of Allah, but so too are those who work to serve non-Muslims. From this, it is clear that Islam does not mandate that Muslims be the only ones who should be served; rather, it promotes love and compassion for all people, including non-Muslims. This is the rationale for the Prophet of Allah's declaration that Muslims are brothers to one another and that all creatures are a part of the family of Allah. As a result, the greatest foundation for sympathy, mutual collaboration, and brotherhood has been established for the construction of humanity. Islam has proclaimed equitable treatment for all without distinction of race, caste, creed, or nationality. This includes the rights of neighbours, the treatment of the sick, the issue of supporting the destitute and other areas of human rights. It must surprise others who have even claimed that Islam does not provide a comprehensive service to mankind while painting an inaccurate picture of the religion, despite the fact that the religion places the greatest value on serving others after its fundamental beliefs. For the entirety of humanity, Islam has made Khidmat-e-Khalq a must for everyone. In order to prevent humanity from descending into the pit of damnation, it is necessary to preach religion in a caring manner. Muslims have a religious obligation to be kind to non-Muslims, even in the face of their open enmity. According to experts in the science of hadith, a major number of the Prophet's rulings relate to the rights of humans. Here, a few well-known hadiths should be discussed: “Treat those on earth with compassion, and the Lord of the heavens will have mercy on you” (Tirmidhi Sharif). “The leader of the nation is the servant of the nation” (Al-Jaami al-Sagheer by Suyuti) “As long as his servant serves his brother, Allah will assist him.” (Sahih Muslim) “No one of you can be a perfect believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.” (Sahih Muslim) “He who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.” (Sahih Muslim) Everyone can swiftly assess the mentality of Islam and the Prophet of Islam in reference to serving the people with the help of the aforementioned traditions. The research demonstrates that the practical life of the Prophet was committed to serving humanity. He was well known for serving mankind even before he declared himself to be a prophet, and subsequently, this spirit of service only grew stronger until he established an Islamic empire in Madinah. Thus, it is essential that influential people, organisations, and institutions of society come forward in the area of serving the public, securing their position, and teaching Islam via their deeds during this period of sectarianism and moral crisis. More so than from literature, individuals prefer to learn about Islam from the values and behaviour of other people. There is certainly an opportunity for improvement, even though some of our institutions may be functioning better. The study of ethics should be prioritised in the curricula of private schools and madrasas. All of us are accountable for these duties. ----- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. 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