This week, I discovered that there are three different kinds of relationships that make up the foundation of Islam and development. First, my relationship with Allah, in which I have a duty to worship Allah SWT because I am a Muslim. To carry out the duties of a Muslim, Allah has designated all Muslims as khalifah in this world. For example, offering five times a day of prayer, fasting during Ramadan, and carrying out the Hajj.
The second is the human-to-human relationship. All human actions carry significance, as they will be assessed by Allah SWT in the afterlife. For instance, I will eventually receive the greatest rewards from Allah if I am doing good deeds for other people. I also have to apply the ideas of amar ma'ruf and nahi mungkar, or dakwah, as a Muslim. We are urged to increase our deeds of kindness and abstain from the deeds that Islam forbids. But since it is our duty as Muslims, we should also spread kindness and dakwah throughout our society rather than focusing solely on ourselves.
The relationship with the surroundings comes next. Allah based the creation of the world's perfect balance on circularity and sustainability. Humanity must act justly, thoughtfully, and moderately in order to preserve this balance. I have a responsibility to protect the environment by keeping my surroundings clean. For instance, by using environmentally friendly products and the 3R concept, I can control the amount of waste I produce.
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