"Abdul Sattar Edhi is no more," was the news flash that saddened me to the core last week. A great ambassador of "True Islam," and of all religions for that matter, Edhi passed on after fulfilling his 90 years in this transient world. Despite the extremely contorted image of Islam that emerges these days on national and international media because of the need for sensationalism that has gripped today's culture, I humbly submit to you that the world of Islam has a fare share of such big hearts. Edhi is, of course, unique in many ways. He built the largest fleet of ambulances in the world with an impeccable service call record. His hundreds of social service centers helped save more 20,000 abandoned newborn children and took care of more than 50,000 orphans, and similar numbers of battered and homeless women -- a phenomenal feat in a poverty stricken third-world country like Pakistan. Edhi was driving his own ambulance up until two years ago when his kidneys failed.
Abdul Sattar Edhi received many national and international social service and peace awards. He received the highest civilian order of Pakistan, Nishan-e-Pakistan, in 1989. Very recently, his country nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Edhi is known as the 'Angel of Mercy' and the 'World's Greatest Humanitarian' in Pakistan. Abdul Sattar Edhi is alive today through his achievements and the legacy of extreme struggle he left behind. He has become immortalized in people's hearts and minds.
In Islam such people who expend their honor and life solely for the sake of God and his creation are called, Shaheed -- a person who stands as a witness through his own conduct and becomes a role model for others. The word Shaheed, in the common vernacular, describes someone who sacrifices his own life for protecting the lives and honor of his family, country, or nation without faltering or flinching even under the hardest of tests. This is a more restrictive definition. They are considered living even as they pass on to the next world. Allah says, "Do not call those who are killed in the way of God as dead; they are alive. But you perceive it not." (Holy Quran, 2:155)
Prophet Muhammad once said, "I, and the caretaker of the orphans will be as together in the Heaven as these two fingers of the hand are. (He put a pair of fingers together and showed them.)" Mr. Edhi's lifelong struggle (jihad -- intense and unrelenting struggle) represents the epitome of the grace and mercy of God reflected in man. Prophet Muhammad explained this in a parable to the believers. On the Day of Judgment, God would ask some people how was it that when He himself came at their door while hungry they refused to feed Him. They would say, "How could you have been hungry and begging? You are the Lord of the Universe." God would reply, "Remember that poor man who showed up for food at your door, it was Me you had scorned." Prophet Muhammad thus reminded them to pay heed while in this earthly life and seek God among the hungry and the destitute.
Islam claims to be a universal religion offering a personal connection and communion with the living God to every one living on earth irrespective of his/her geographical location, race, or ethnicity, and for all times to come. The relationship begins with the quickening of the spirit within each living person. A new everlasting life starts developing within a human being when true belief in God meets righteous deeds. Through a lifetime of trials and tribulations the spirit within progresses from strength to strength, eventually attaining the everlasting life, blissful and content for returning to its Lord.
Allah says in the Quran:
"And thou, O soul at peace! Return to thy Lord well pleased with Him and He well pleased with thee." (Holy Quran, 89:28-29)
"And as for those who strive hard to seek Us--We will surely guide them in Our ways. And verily Allah is with those who do good." (Holy Quran, 29:70)
"As for those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then remain steadfast, angels descend on them, saying: 'Fear ye not, nor grieve; and rejoice in the Garden that you were promised. We are your friends in this life and in the next. Therein you have all that your souls desire, and therein you have all that you ask for -- A heavenly treat from the Most Forgiving, the Merciful." (Holy Quran, 41:31-33)
Thus Islam gives glad tiding to all that the path to spiritual life is as available as ever and once this life is bestowed fully to a person, they live on forever and physical death does not separate them from their beloved.
We say at the passing of Mr. Abdul Sattar Edhi:
"Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we all return." (Holy Quran: 2:157)
NAN Religion on 07/16/2016