Reformative actions and pious deeds are those actions from which one gains benefit in the Akhirat. Obligatory pious deeds and the four remaining sectors in Islam (aside from Aqa'id) are a burden to carry out for the members of our society in these days. The method to ease this burden is to reform and straighten out the conditions of our heart and tongue (speech).
Ayat of the Qur'an
This is one verse in which Haqq Ta’ala has, in concise wording, warned mankind against an important matter. The clarification is as follows.
It is a matter of common sense that whenever one performs some action the purpose is one of two things; either to acquire a benefit or to rid of a loss. For example, one eats to attain pleasure, this is a benefit. One takes medicine to rid of sickness; this is the riddance of a loss. Or, for example, one works to earn money; manages a business to gain profit; gives bribes to avoid punishment or to save from a miserable condition. One builds houses to shelter from the heat and cold. To sum up, this point needs no evidence that in all actions of mankind there is always a desire to either gain profit or to liberate oneself of loss. It does not take a genius to understand this point nor is there much need to present support and proofs for this.
However, there is a disagreement amongst the society over the actual focuses for profit and loss. The detail reagrding this uncertainty is that profit is the aim of all of mankind. However, everyone has established their own definition for profit. One individual, for example, is a police officer who strives to become the sheriff, or magistrate or tax collector thinking that he will achieve high ranks and status. He thinks that there is a lot of fame and betterment for himself in these positions and therefore strives to attain them. There is another police officer, however, who thinks that if I attain these higher positions, I will then be compelled to oppress the poor and helpless; since many times pressure is imposed on individuals to accept the governmental policies and they do not accept. There are many who have destroyed thousands of lives for the administration. There are others who would run from these positions and compulsions. The reason for this disagreement is that some considered this a personal benefit (name and betterment) while others considered it detrimental and therefore made efforts to rid themselves of it.
The extent to which there is disagreements is solely because one person considers one condition to be profitable and strives to acquire it while another individual considers it detrimental and struggles to avoid it. The disagreement over religion is similarly due to the above stated reason, but at this time there is no argument over this since, due to the Blessings of Allah, everyone in attendance is of the same religion.
WHICH PROFIT IS WORTHY OF ATTAINMENT At this time the topic worthy of concentration is that the decision regarding which profit is worthy of attainment and which loss is worthy of riddance. So after pondering slightly on the matter, what makes sense is that that profit is worthy of attainment which has two aspects present within it. Firstly, that the profit remains for a longer period of time, and secondly, that it must be pure and have no loss attached to it. Look, if there is one profit that is to remain for four years and simultaneously there is another profit that is to remain for eight years, then any sensible person will choose the benefit that is to remain for eight years over the former.
For example, if there are two houses brought before an individual, one of which is very large and luxurious, while the other is small and unattractive. This is also stated that the luxurious house, although larger and beautiful, must be emptied after four to five days, while the smaller house never has to be emptied. It is obvious that any rational individual will chose the smaller house over the larger. Additionally, if it is mentioned that this smaller house will be given to you for generation after generation, then for sure this house will be preferred over the other. We find out that that benefit remains for a longer period of time and for this reason it holds more promise and security. In the same way, in the case of the luxurious house, despite its beauty, if it contained a permanent fault there would also be reason to reconsider its acceptance. For example, the neighbor is unpleasant or it has some other annoyance while there is no such worry in the smaller house, it is obvious that the smaller house would be more preferable. It is now clear that only that profit is worthy of attainment which is pure, in the same way only that loss is worthy of riddance which would harm for a longer period of time and at every angle and stance is detrimental in which there is no chance of profit within.
Further, during travel if an individual stays over in a house for one or two nights and some discomfort overtakes him within the house, he does not worry or complain much knowing that he is only here for a few days. However, if the same discomfort were to overcome him in his actual home, it would cause his enormous discomfort and he would strive to rid of it. This is due to the fact that his actual home is where he will be residing for a longer period of time. Also, if you are told to travel in severe sunlight for four consecutive days and afterwards you will experience eternal pleasure and comfort, whereas on the other hand you are can remain in luxury and pleasure for four months and thereafter you will be placed in prison eternally, it is obvious that any rational minded person will choose the travel of four days and bear short-term hardship and discard the second option.
It is apparent now that that hardship which is long term and in its entirety with no chance of profit, is more worthy of concern. And that loss which is short term is not as significant in its removal. Therefore, the types of profit and loss are as follows; profit which is pure and long lasting, profit which is short term and contains loss, loss which is long lasting and pure, loss which is short term and contains some benefit within.
Now after this, we know that every individual has his eye on the profit and losses of this world, while we have been given news by Allah and RusoolAllah (sallalahu alayhi wasallam) of another kind of benefit and loss which is to be presented before us after death. We now have two more categories of profit and loss; Benefit in the world and in the Akhirat, Loss in the World and in the Akhirat. We should ponder over these last four categories, Benefit in the World, Benefit in the Akhirat, Loss in the World, Loss in the Akhirat and decide where they should be placed within the previously stated categories. In other words, one should contemplate whether the benefit of the world is a long lasting and pure benefit or short term and that which has some loss integrated within it. In the same way one should consider the loss in this world and the benefit and loss of the Akhirat. In other words, which Benefit and Loss is present in which category. So look closely and understand well that the profit of the world is temporary and the profit of the Akhirat is ever lasting. Additionally, the loss of the Akhirat is everlasting and the Loss in the Akhirat is also everlasting. The loss in the World is to shortly end.
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