What does this show us? We need to learn the sunnah of Prophet SAS because we might make big mistakes while we do things according to our judgment with limited knowledge.

Even the medicine must be taken in a certain dose. If you take more than the recommended amount, it may be dangerous for you. They usually write this on the box. Although the medicine is good for curing the disease, too much of it can be dangerous for the body. Sometimes some people take high dose of medicine, for example, a student cannot

answer the question in school, comes home and swallows 20 pills of medicine. He could die or enter a state of coma. In reality, he took a medicine which is very useful curing the diseases. However, the doctor says you should not take 20 pills at once.

We have to do certain things in a day in an orderly way. For example, It is very rewarding--just like going for jihad-- for a father to work to earn a lawful income for his family because he works so that his children does not become needy to others. It is also good for mothers to do certain works in a day. That means, work is necessary. When a person works, his body gets tired and needs rest. The body needs not only rest but also nutrition. That is why we need to sleep and eat. We have to do other things in life. We need to visit friends and relatives; we need to have time to learn the Qur'an and other things. There are many different activities to do. One should spend time for ibadah, but he should not neglect his other duties.

Spending 24-hours per day in worship, every day of the year for a life-time is not possible. Attempts for such an activity are not permissible, either. Besides, if a person is aware that he is in the presence of Allah at all times, and he seeks the pleasure of Allah in everything he does, he will be in constant ibadah. Then, his work, his rest, his sleep, everything he does will be considered as an act of worship. Islam is the way of spending life in accordance with the pleasure of Allah. It is not a way of isolation or staying away from the society. It is a way of serving the society, be useful to mankind, producing something useful. It is a way of earning money, spending on good things and sharing what Allah has given with others. It is a way of winning hearts and getting prayers.

There is this side of Islam, too. We talk about it as our elderly, such as Yunus Emre, Maulana Jalal-ad-Din al-Rumî, talked about it. Muslim scholars who spend their lives studying Islam have told about these issues and wrote books to explain the subtleties. Out of ignorance, some people may go to extremes, which is not right.

The scholar would have the detailed knowledge about a matter and warn people: "That is not correct. Here is the evidence. Do what the Prophet instructed us to do!" He would prevent an innovation in religion and point to the straight path.

When man is left alone, he would use his limited knowledge and may go astray off the straight path hoping that he was doing something good to earn the pleasure of Allah. That is why the Prophet SAS warned us that we follow his examples. Live a natural life with moderation and without extremes.

The Prophet also meant that he was a human being and he got married, had a family and children. He told us not to abstain from marriage. He also said that he slept certain times of the day, so we should not abstain from sleeping and resting. He said that he fasted on certain days, so we should do the same and avoid the extremes.

Sometimes the excess of something would be as harmful as the lack of it. We need to look at the mater in detail and find the optimum choice. In Islam, the optimum approach is the approach of the Prophet SAS and his Sunnah. That is why we ought to follow his path which is the path that Allah likes best. To follow the path of the Prophet, we need to study it.

When a person follows the path of the Prophet SAS, he will receive prosperity not only in the hereafter, but also in this world. Throughout the history, our elderly, our teachers, the perfect spiritual guides, followed the path of the Prophet and prospered. Allah granted them honor, respect, rank, and wealth in this world. Allah knows, they will attain felicity in the hereafter.

When we disobey Allah SWT as an individual or as a society, we incur material and spiritual diseases. Then the injustices dominate the world, and suffering overcomes the tranquillity. Everybody must learn about Islam and live accordingly so that the injustices come to an end in the world.

I request from all of you that you take part in conveying the message of Islam. Let everybody know about the beauty of Islam, so that they may live accordingly to attain felicity in this word and in the hereafter. Try with all your might to teach Islam to your family members, relatives, neighbors, and the whole world. May the whole mankind become beloved servants of Allah and be happy in this world and in the hereafter.

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah. May the peace, mercy and blessing of Allah be with you all.

April 21, 2000 -- Australia