Who is your Master?

In Islam, what is our fundamental relationship with Allah?

It’s easy for us to accept that Allah is our Creator.

But the real test is in accepting Allah as our Master Who we owe our servitude and obedience.

A young man came to brother Nouman and asked him:

“Why can’t Allah guarantee me a perfect life, give me a happy life?

If He is in control of everything, why does He have to give me a hard life?

Is Islam, our fundamental relationship with Allah is between (Rabb) and (Abd), i.e. Master and slave.

The thing about a Master is that you don’t negotiate with Him. You can negotiate with an employer or with a partner, but you can’t negotiate with a Master, as in this relationship the slave cannot dictate the terms, but only obey.

The Qur’an tells us what it means to be a slave of Allah, and describes our relationship with Him as one of loyalty, gratitude, love, friendship, remembrance … It’s really a beautiful relationship.

This Master wants me to be a slave who loves Him, and remembers Him all the time, as He says in the Qur’an:

“So remember Me, I will remember you…” (2:152)

Does that sound like a Master?

He wants to be your friend, He wants you to be His friend, but first understand that He is your Master, then understand that He is your friend.

The disbelievers of Makkah had no problem accepting Allah as the Creator, as stated in the Qur’an:

“If you asked them, “Who created the heavens and earth and subjected the sun and the moon?” they would surely say, “Allah.” Then how are they deluded?” (29:61)

But if you asked them who the master is, there’s silence because that requires that I have to be a slave, if I called Him Master. This makes me a slave, makes me humble.

Who is your boss? Who is your ultimate authority?

So that’s the line that has to be crossed when someone enters into Islam. They have to accept not only Allah as Rabb, Master, but also to accept themselves as slave.

Don’t miss this excellent 10 minutes of deep reflections.