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IN the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Amanah refers to the trust or responsibility entrusted to humans by Allah (SWT), encompassing various aspects of life. Amanah originates from the word ‘aminah’ and is defined as security, peace and safety. Literally, amanah means reliability, faithfulness and trust. Trustworthiness enhances integrity and sound moral conduct which must be seen in all Muslims. Amanah is about being fair to fellow humans, punctual and keeping promises and commitments. Amanah is an important aspect of a Muslim’s character. Peace in the society is achieved through individuals’ faith, and the concept of amanah binds individuals with society.
The word ‘amanah’ appears six times in the Qur’an: four times in the Madinah revelations and twice in the Makkah revelations. This emphasises the importance of amanah and prepares the believers to take trusts seriously and be accountable in their own lives, families, societies and communities. Every Muslim has rights and responsibilities. Everything given to humanity by Allah (SWT) is amanah, and must be managed with care and the utmost fear of Allah (SWT). Amongst the amanah given to us as believers from Allah (SWT) is to obey His commandments and hold on to our deen, Islam. Allah (SWT) has given onto the believers the rational power and mental faculty in which believers have been given a free choice to differentiate right from wrong – to worship Allah (SWT) and submit to His will, or to worship mankind and submit to them. Allah (SWT) categorically orders mankind, “O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger, nor betray knowingly your Amanat (the things entrusted to you, and all the duties which Allah has ordained for you).” Surah Al-Anfal, Qur’an 8:27.
Even the blessings given to us by Allah (SWT) such as our health, our senses, wealth and other resources are all amanah from Allah (SWT), including our wives and husbands and the blessings of the children entrusted to our care. This is why we shall all be questioned about them all on how they are utilised in Allah’s (SWT) course. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who was known even before his prophethood as Al-Amin (the trustworthy) stressed the importance of amanah. On the authority of Ibn Mas’ud (R.A.), the Prophet (SAW) said, “The two feet of the son of Adam will not move from near his Lord on the Day of Judgement until he is asked about five (matters): about his life – how he spent it; about his youth – how he took care of it; about his wealth – how he earned it and where he spent it and about that which he acted upon from the knowledge he acquired.”
Even at work or volunteering for a charity or an organisation, your role is amanah. Today, there is lack of commitment and honesty. It is important that Muslims have good relations with the manager or the person who is the head of organisation or the organisers of an event; where if one cannot perform a role assign for him due to other commitments, it is better for one to be open about it where the role can then be given to someone else who is able to perform the task. Allah (SWT) has given everyone a brain (aql) and heart (qalb). Thus, it is better for one to be honest. Allah (SWT) says, “Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart of each of those ones will be questioned (by Allah).” Surah Al-Isra, Qur’an 17:36.
Amanah is a very comprehensive concept which includes everything such as adherence to Islamic injunctions, fairness in dealing with others, giving everybody his due, and many more. With decline in moral values, the true sense of amanah may be compromised by a huge number of Muslims. Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman (R.A.) reported that the Prophet (SAW) told his companions about what would become of amanah with two different Hadiths, with which Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman (R.A.) swore about part of the Hadith being fulfilled already, and that for the other to come to pass was being awaited. He said: “Amanah (trust) descended in the innermost of the hearts of men (that is, it was in their hearts innately, by Fitrah, or pure human nature). Then the Qur’an was revealed and they learnt from the Qur’an and they learnt from the Sunnah.”
Then Prophet Muhammad (SAW) told us about the removal of amanah. He said: “The man would have some sleep, and Amanah would be taken away from his heart, leaving the impression of a faint mark. He would again sleep, and Amanah would be taken away from his heart, leaving an impression of a blister, as if you rolled down an ember on your fool and it was vesicled. He would see as swelling having nothing in it.” The Prophet (SAW) then took up a pebble and rolled it over his foot and said: “The people would enter into transactions with one another and hardly a person would be left who would return (things) entrusted to him (and there would look like an honest person) till it would be said: In such and such tribe there is a trustworthy man. And they would also say about a person: ‘How prudent he is.” How handsome he is and how intelligent he is. Whereas in his heart, there would be no grain of faith.”
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Even maintaining secrecy and confidentiality of what is required to be confidential is considered in Islam as amanah and breaching it is a sign of hypocrisy. There are excellent models of some Prophets of Allah (SWT) who demonstrated great attitudes to showcase amanah. When Prophet Yusuf (A.S.) was given his role by the King of Egypt at the time, it was not for being a prophet nor for his piety, rather it was due to his skills and his knowledge. Yusuf (A.S.) said, “Set me over the store houses of the land; I will indeed guard them with full knowledge (as a minister of finance in Egypt).” Surah Yusuf Qur’an 12:55.
Thus, Muslims should take up roles and duties only when they are capable to fulfill the trust to discharge the responsibility, when given positions, it should be handed over to the right people in relation to skill, trust and reliability as faith and piety alone is not enough for one to complete a task, especially if they do not have the skill. Therefore, Muslims should take care in their duties to safeguard amanah on a personal or professional basis.
