Discipline and Islam

 If the solar system is working regularly, if the stars are revolving around the sun systematically and if there is no flaw in this function for millenniums it is only due to the fact that the solar system is based on order. Order is found in everything around us from the largest bodies of the universe to the minutest thing called ‘atom’. Everything in this world is made up of tiny atoms. A wonderful discipline is in action and it is seen in each and every movement of the universe. There are tiny atoms in every system.

Every atom has its own center, which is called ‘proton’. Many ‘electrons’ move round the center like stars and moons. In the words of a great Muslim scholar: "If you tear up the heart of every atom you will find its sun in its center."

 If the educational system of any country becomes chaotic, if the trade and economy of any nation is disturbed, if the balance of supply and demand is upset, if the law and order of any country turns corrupt, if the army gets out of control the end of that nation becomes certain.

When Imam Ali (as), Commander of the Faithful, was fatally injured by the sword of Ibn Muljim, the first bequest uttered by him to his sons, after advising them to refrain from Allah’s (SWT) disobedience, was regarding this orderliness in every affair: "I advise you to refrain from disobeying Allah (SWT) and to abide by law and order and regularity in life." One of the ways of orderliness is to divide our daily time according to our needs. Doing every necessary work in its proper time is life. We should further this foundation of life. We must refrain from disorderliness and indiscipline because irregularity ends propriety and destroys our talent and competence. The leader of the God-fearing people, Imam Ali (as) says, "A Muslim must divide his time into three parts. One part should be reserved for Allah’s (SWT) worship, one for earning livelihood and the third for attending to the demands of the body which cannot be ignored."

If there was no orderliness or discipline in our past can we benefit from such orderliness in the remaining years of our life?

"Certainly, we can..." because the three stages of our life, viz, childhood, youth and old age are like three compartments of a ship which can be separated from one another by pressing a button. If a compartment is damaged it can be separated from the rest. Only he is successful who can, using his wisdom, separate different compartments of his life and deal with them separately.

It is pitiable that man, instead of gaining from the present opportunities, should remain sorrowful for his past, thus wasting the time available to him and become careless about bringing order in the forthcoming time.

A competent minister was carrying out his administrative duties with the help of his assistants. When asked as to how he was arranging his affairs he replied, "I never postpone today’s work for tomorrow. In my view it is not correct to delay anything."

(Source: Secret of Success, Jafar Sobhani)

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The Science Behind The Veil