بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
I pray that you are well.
We all know about the Maslow hierarchic theory of needs. The hierarchic theory is often represented as a pyramid, with the larger, lower levels representing the lower needs--basic physiological needs (food and shelter), psychological needs, social needs, spiritual needs, and the upper point representing the need for self-actualization (knowing that you have strong beliefs, values, morals, and confidence).
To a certain extent the theory is relevant to us. We all have needs. We want to have food in our bellies, roof over our heads, we want companionship and friends, we want to have a sense of belonging and association. These are the things that many people work very hard for each day to no end. When they have satisfied these needs, then they might start thinking about the religion. But when? These needs seem to always expand. Remember, at one time you might share a room with your friend. Then you got married and moved to a small 1 or 2 bedroom apartment. The apartment seemed too small to fit you, your spouse and your juniors, so you moved to a three bedroom apartment. All of a sudden you have to move to a 5 bedroom 3 car-garage home and found out that you could not fit all your stuff and you have a tool shed in the backyard! Sound somewhat familiar?
So you see, you will never have enough of this world. You will never have the time to think about your religion, let alone practicing it, if you don't make a point to think about it, learn it and practice it. The danger is that you might be doing haram or fall into haram because you are too focus on the wrong needs.
So what is really our basic needs?
Ibrahim alayhissalaam has an inverted pyramid of needs for us. After he left his wife and infant son in the desert where there was no cultivation to provide them with food, he made du'a to Allah. One would think he would ask Allah to provide food for them but the first thing he asked was to let them perform prayer (spiritual need), then to draw people to them and make people love them (social needs), then only he asked Allah to provide them with fruits (Maslow's basic need). Even when he asked Allah to provide them with worldly he connected it to worship, so they may be grateful to Allah. This is self actualization when Allah becomes everything to you, when you are eating, sleeping, learning, playing, enjoying your time with your company, working, etc. When Allah is everything for you, you will have tranquility. Nobody else achieve this except the Prophets and the friends of Allah.
"Our Lord, I have made some of my seed to dwell in a valley where is no sown land by Thy Holy House; Our Lord, let them perform the prayer, and make hearts of men yearn towards them, and provide them with fruits; haply they will be thankful." Qur'an Ibrahim 14:37
May Allah give us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
Wassalaam
