Presented by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM BIN MOHAMAD ISA

MATCHING WORDS WITH DEEDS When religious teaching becomes a mere profession, it loses its fervor. Those who take it up begin to say things they do not believe and their actions tend to become divorced from their words. This can lead them to twist facts and compromise ideas and principles to serve their interests and desires. Their rulings, pronouncements and opinions, or fatwas, may sound convincing but they are far removed from the spirit and the letter of the religion. The double standards of those who claim to represent a certain religion or ideology not only harm them personally, but also undermine the ideas and the religions they are advocating. Thus people would hear fine words, contradicted by foul deeds. Then become confused and the light generated by faith in their hearts becomes dim. Having lost trust in religious preachers, they now lose trust in the religion itself. When they are not uttered with sincerity and conviction, words lose their impact. A mans beliefs are meaningless unless his actions and behavior become a practical translation of those beliefs. When a mans conduct reflects his words, no matter how plain and ordinary these words are, people will trust him and take him seriously. His words draw their power and effect from the sincerity and honesty with which they are being uttered, not from the rhetoric or eloquence in which they are delivered. They assume a force of their own. To match ones actions to ones words is not easy to achieve. It requires cultivation, discipline and constant contact with God. Lifes preoccupations are normally distracting, and man is weak unless he remains in touch with Gods omnipotent power. The forces of evil and temptation can also overwhelm him sometimes, and a brief moment of carelessness can damage the entire course of his life. But, supported by Gods invincible power, man can conquer his desires, overcome his weaknesses and overpower his opponents, powerful as they may be. Thus the Quran directs the Jews of Madinah and, by implication, all mankind, to seek support and strength through perseverance and prayer. The Jews were being asked to give up the privileged status they enjoyed in Madinah and the material benefits obtained from their religious functions, and to accept the new revelations which they knew to be true. Such great sacrifices require strength, courage and devotion. Hence the directive: Seek strength in patient perseverance and in prayer, which is indeed a demanding task except for the devout, who know that they shall meet their Lord and to Him they shall ultimately return. (Verses Baqarah: 45-46)