WHO IS WATCHING YOU?

 FAJR REMINDER: WHO IS WATCHING YOU?

By: Umm Affān

Ṣafar 12, 1448 (27-July-2026)

In continuation of the story of the mother of Laylā Bint ‘Āṣim—the grandmother of ‘Umar Ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz—we encounter a remarkable example of faith, honesty, and consciousness of Allāh. It is the story of a young milkmaid who refused to adulterate milk, not because she feared being caught by people, but because she feared Allāh.

Her mother urged her to add water to the milk, saying, “We are too poor. It is the only way we can earn enough money to provide for ourselves. The Khalīfah has forgotten us, and he won’t know what we did.” Poverty, or the fear of it, has led many people into sin. Some resort to theft, bribery, embezzlement, fraud, and other unlawful means under the disguise of financial hardship. Others become so consumed by the pursuit of wealth that they no longer distinguish between what is lawful and unlawful.

The reality, however, is that Allāh has already decreed everyone's sustenance. He grants it according to His Perfect Wisdom. While some receive more than others, the true test lies in whether we are content with what He has apportioned for us. Sadly, many people have created lifestyles beyond their means and then seek to sustain them through prohibited means.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn (Raḥimahullāh) said: “Money which is earned by disobeying Allāh is nothing except a person being led to his destruction step-by-step while he perceives not, as Allāh says: ‘Those who reject Our Āyāt, We shall gradually seize them with punishment in ways they perceive not. And I will give them time, certainly, My Plan is strong.’ — [Sūrah Al-A‘raf (7): 182-183], so fear Allāh, fear Allāh.” [Majmū‘ Fatāwā wa Rasā‘il, vol. 12, p. 35]

We cannot outsmart Allāh. Whatever has been written for you will never miss you, and whatever misses you was never meant for you. Therefore, place your trust in Allāh, seek your provision through lawful means, and remain content with His Decree. The young woman understood this reality. She replied to her mother, “Such an income would not be lawful; as a Muslim, I would not do anything whereby other Muslims are deceived.”

This statement teaches us a fundamental characteristic of a true believer: a Muslim does not deceive others. Abū Hurayrah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “...Whoever deceives is not one of us.” [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 101] Any wealth acquired through deception is devoid of blessing because it is Ḥarām. Allāh (ﷻ) warns: “And eat up not one another’s property unjustly (in any illegal way, e.g., stealing, robbing, deceiving, etc.), nor give bribery to the rulers (judges before presenting your case) that you may knowingly eat up a part of the property of others sinfully.” [Sūrah Al-Baqarah (2): 188]

A Muslim who truly fears Allāh neither deceives people nor consumes their wealth unlawfully. The milkmaid recognised that even though adding water to the milk might increase their earnings, it would also make that income unlawful. This incident also teaches another important lesson: Islām commands us to honour and obey our parents, but such obedience has its limits. It is never permissible to disobey Allāh to please any human being, regardless of their status or relationship to us. Obedience to parents is an act of worship only when it remains within the boundaries set by Allāh.

Still determined, the mother persisted. She said, “But there is neither the Khalīfah nor any of his officers here to see what we do. Daughter, go to bed now, and tomorrow I will myself mix the milk with water for you.” Yet the daughter's faith remained unshaken. She replied, “The Khalīfah may or may not be here, but his order must be obeyed. You may escape the notice of the Khalīfah and his officers, but how can we escape the Notice of Allāh and our conscience?” She also said, “Umar cannot see us, but the God of ‘Umar can see us.”

What a profound testimony of true Eemān! She realised that the absence of human witnesses never means the Absence of Allāh. She understood that while people may fail to see what is hidden, nothing is hidden from the Lord of the worlds.

Faced with such unwavering conviction, the mother had nothing more to say. The lamp was extinguished, and they both went to sleep. Allāhu Akbar! This story invites every one of us to reflect: Do we only do the right thing when someone is watching? Would we still obey Allāh if there were no cameras, supervisors, parents, teachers, or authorities to hold us accountable?

The believer's integrity is not measured only by what he does in public but also by what he does in private. Real righteousness is to obey Allāh when no one else is watching, knowing that He sees every action, hears every word, and knows every thought. No deed escapes His Knowledge, and every soul will stand before Him to account for what it earned.

I beseech Allāh (ﷻ) to grant us hearts that fear Him in public and in private, bless us with lawful sustenance, protect us from every form of deception, and make us among His truthful and sincere servants. Aameen.