It is necessary to understand the fundamental nature of a human being, that he is: weak, hasty, ignorant and unjust. He is also unappreciative, anxious, obstructive, fearful, mean, stingy, and miserly. He loves to argue, arrogantly ignores and turns away from his Lord in wealth and health, and despairs when in poverty and sickness. He also rejoices and boasts when in wealth to other slaves of Allah. He is never fed up or bored of asking for wealth.

These characteristics are always present in one; however, they increase or decrease, surface or fade away according to the upbringing and the amendment of the spirit.

He is also afflicted with hardships, works industriously, and struggles diligently all his life.

Allah the Most High says:

"Man is ever hasty." [Israa', 11]

"Mankind was created weak." [an-Nisaa', 28]

"Man was created of haste (i.e., impatience)." [al-Anbiyaa', 37]

"But man [undertook to] bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant." [al-Ahzab, 72]

"Indeed man, to his Lord, is ungrateful." [al-Aadiyat, 6]

"Indeed, mankind was created anxious. When evil touches him, impatient, and when good touches him, withholding [of it]." [al-Ma`arij, 19]

Anxiety is strength of impatience in states of affliction, and strength of attachment to this world and holding onto it in states of blessings, fearing it will diminish and slip away.

"Say: 'If you possessed the depositories of the mercy of my Lord, then you would withhold out of fear of spending.' And ever has man been stingy." [al-Israa', 100]

"Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful." [Ibrahim, 34]

"But man has ever been, most of anything, [prone to] dispute." [al-Kahf, 54]

"And when We bestow favor upon man [i.e. the disbeliever], he turns away and distances himself; and when even touches him, he is ever despairing." [al-Israa', 83]

"No! [But] indeed, man transgresses because he sees himself sufficient." [al-Alaq, 6-7]

"And if We give man a taste of mercy from Us and then We withdraw from Us and then We withdraw it from him, indeed, he is despairing and ungrateful." [Hud, 9-11]

"Man is not weary of supplication for good [things], but if evil touches him, he is hopeless and despairing." [Fussilat, 49]

That is, man does not get tired of supplicating for good, i.e. wealth and health.

"Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture." [al-Insan, 2]

"O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion (i.e. striving throughout your life until you meet your Lord, hastening toward death)." [al-Inshiqaq, 6]

Since these characteristics are in one's fundamental nature, then those who overcame them and progressed ought to guide the ones that are constrained and imprisoned by them, for they are in need of mercy, advice and rectification. "You will not believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself."

"So by mercy from Allah [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah." [Aal `Imran, 159]

My Mission in Life

Dr. Yahya al-Yahya