What Do You Know About Islam?
This is the text version of the lecture delivered by Shaykh Khalid Yasin to a group of non-Muslims in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Part 2 of 2
So through the Quran, the word Islam came. As a word – Islam, it came in the Quran, because when the building is complete you call it a house. When a car is on the assembly line, it is not an automobile, it is in the process of assembly. When the assembling has been completed and when it has been certified and when it has been test driven, it is now an automobile. When Islam was completed as a revelation, as a book, as an example through the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), it then became Islam. It became a complete way of life. Deen Al-Islam. So it is the word that was new, but not the practice, not the Prophet, not the order from God, not a new God, not a new revelation, but only a name Islam. And as we said previously – what were all the Prophets? They were all Muslims. Another distinction which we need to keep in mind is that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) unlike his predecessors, he did not come to the Arabs or his own people exclusively. No. Therefore Islam is not a religion of the Arabs, it is not for Arabs only. Yes, Muhammad (pbuh), the son of Abdullah was born in Makkah, a city in Arabian peninsula, so certainly he was an Arab by birth – consequences of his birth, choice of the Almighty. Additionally, the Quran was revealed in the Arabic language to protect it, make it clear, make it pure and precise. Yet the Quran dispels any inclinations or associations that the message of Muhammad (pbuh) was limited or meant for Arabs only.
Sura 34 - Saba [Saba, Sheba] Verse 28-28:
28. وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلا كَافَّةً لِلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لا يَعْلَمُونَ
Sura 34 - Saba [Saba, Sheba] Verse 28-28:
28. We have not sent thee but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not.
As such Muhammad (pbuh) is the finality of the great Prophets/Messengers before him. And since we are making reference to the Quran to support our presentation, we should give some background information on the Quran itself. First of all, the Quran makes the claim that it is product of divine revelation ie it was sent down to Muhammad (pbuh) from Almighty God through inspiration.
Sura 53 - An-Najm [The Star] Verse 3-4:
3. وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى
4. إِنْ هُوَ إِلا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى
Sura 53 - An-Najm [The Star] Verse 3-4:
3. Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.
4. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:
This is a statement of Allah. If we are to convince someone about the authenticity of the Quran, then we must prove that it was impossible for Muhammad (pbuh) to manufacture such a book. Secondly, we must prove that it was equally impossible for any human agency to have created it.
Let us think about this. The Quran makes the statement:
Sura 96 - Al-Alaq [The Clot, Read] Verse 2-2:
2. خَلَقَ الإنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
Sura 96 - Al-Alaq [The Clot, Read] Verse 2-2:
2. Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:
How did the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) know that the embryo started out as a clot and clinging to the wall of the Uterus of the mother? Did he have a Telescope? Did he have a Stethoscope? Or did he have some kind of X-Ray vision? How did he receive this knowledge when it was just discovered around 50 years ago?
How did he know that the oceans have a barrier between them to separate the salt and the fresh water?
How did he know that Sun and the Moon and the Planets are all swimming in an orbit that has been ordained for them?
How did he know that? And on and on and on. How did he know that when these things have just been discovered 30 or 40 years ago?
Technology and Science, the sophistication of which you and I know have just discovered these things. How did Muhammad (pbuh) know about these things over 1400 years ago? An uneducated Shepherd, a man raised in the desert, a man who was uneducated, who could neither read nor write. How could he say something like this (The Quran)? How could he produce something like this (the Quran)? And how could someone living with him, before or after him, produce something which has just been discovered recently? How could a man who never left the Arabian Peninsula, who never sailed on a Ship, who lived 14 centuries ago, make such clear and astounding descriptions that were recently discovered.
Also, if this is not enough, let me mention to you that the Quran has 114 chapters and over 6000 verses. And there were 100s of people in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who memorized this book entirely. Where they some kind of genius? How did that happen? Did anyone memorize any of the Gospels, the Old and New testament, the Psalms of David? Nobody; not even the Pope, but there are millions of Muslims today, who has memorized this entire book. This is the ambition of every Muslim. Not some, every.
How many Christians have you ever met in your life who have memorized their Bible? None. You never met any Christian who has memorized the whole Bible, because you never met a Christian who even knew what was the whole Bible – because the Christians themselves have over 700 different denominations and they are approximately 39 different versions of the Bible, with different books and different versions, different amount of verses and different amount of chapters and they don’t agree to that, so how could they even memorize what they don’t agree about?
In a condemning fashion, I am a person who was a Christian. A person who found out these things to my own investigation. A person who is now sharing this information for you, over turning some rocks for you to look under. And it is up to you.
Finally, suppose I told you that this book has been universally preserved, without the slightest alteration of any kind in over 14 centuries. If all of this is true – what all I am saying. If it is all true, would you agree that this book is quite profound and unique to say the least, would you be honest enough to say that? Of course you would if you were honest and you are. Within yourselves you will have to come to that conclusion. Many other non-Muslims came to the same conclusion. For example: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon Bonaparte, Winston Churchill and many others. I can go on and on and on, they came to the same conclusion. Whether they accepted Islam openly or not, they came to that conclusion, that there is no other literature in the world, that is so profound as the Quran and as a source of Wisdom and Healing and Direction.
Now that we have settled the issue of the authenticity of the Quran, let us turn to another subject matter – the basic themes of the Quran, which are: The Supreme Oneness of Almighty God, which includes His names, the Attributes, the relationship between the Almighty and His creations and how man should maintain that relationship. The continuity of Prophets and Messages, their lives and their messages and their overall mission. The insistence upon following the final and Universal example Muhammad (pbuh) – the seal of the Prophets and Messengers. Reminding the human beings of the shortness of this life and calling them towards the eternity of this life and calling them towards the eternity of the life here after. Life here after; meaning after here. After you leave here, you are going somewhere, I mean today/tonight. Well after you die and leave this earth, you are going somewhere, whether you accept it or not, you are going there, where you will be held responsible for your deeds. And you have been told even, but you have rejected. Because the object of this life is not for you to sit here and after this do nothing and have no effect. Every cause has an effect. And we came into this life for a cause and a purpose and it must have an effect. You don’t go to school to stay there, you don’t go to work not to get paid, you don’t build a house and not move in, you don’t make a suite and don’t wear it, you don’t grow up as a child and don’t become an adult, you don’t work without expecting a reward, you cannot live without expecting to die, you cannot die without the expectancy of the grave and you cannot expect that the grave is the end, because that would mean that God has created you for a foolish purpose. And you have not gone to school or worked or came here today/tonight for a foolish purpose. So how can you assign to God something less than yourself. In attempt to capture and prevent the imagination and faculties of reasoning, the Quran goes through great length and view to expound upon Oceans and Rivers, the Trees and Plants, the Birds and Insects, the Wild and Domestic animals, the Mountains and the Valleys, the expansions of the Heavens, the Universe, the Fishes and the Aquatic life, the Human Anatomy and Biology, the Human Civilization and History, the description of Paradise and Hell, the evolution of Human Embryo, the mission of all the Prophets and Messengers and the purpose of life on Earth. And how could a man born in the desert, a man who was illiterate and could not read and was watching Sheep, expound on subjects to which he was never exposed to? The most unique aspect of Quran is that it sources to confirm all the previously revealed scriptures. And that if you decide becoming a Muslim, you do not have to consider yourself changing your religion, you are not changing your religion. If you gain weight and you have a suit and you really like that suit, you don’t have to throw the suit away – do you? No! take it to the tailor and tell him, "listen, make some adjustments and make it little bigger because I really like this suit". Similarly if you have lost some weight, you don’t have to throw away the 500 dollar suit, take it to the tailor and say, "listen, make it little tight by making some alterations because I like this suit". With your belief, your honour, your virtue, your love of Jesus Christ, your attachment to God, your Worship, your truthfulness and your dedication to Almighty God, you don’t have to change and throw that away – you hold on to them, but you have to make alterations when you know that the truth has been revealed to you. That is all, but you have to be honest enough to know that you have lost some weight and need to make some adjustments. Islam is simple my brothers/sisters. Bear witness that there is none to be Worshipped except Almighty God. If I ask any of you to bear witness that "my father is my father", how many of you will bear witness that "my father is my father", "my son is my son", "my wife is my wife", "I am who I am", then how is it that you hesitate to bear witness that Almighty God is One and Almighty God is the Only and Almighty God is your Lord and your Creator. Why? Are you arrogant? Are you being Glorious? Do you possess something which God does not possess? Do you possess some secret that you want to share with us? Or are you confused? That is the question you have to ask yourself.
If you thought that you will die tonight and in front of you was Paradise and back of you was Hell Fire and you had a chance to put things straight with your conscience and to put things straight with God and to ask God to accept the best of your deeds, if you had a chance to do that and if you thought you will die tonight, you will not hesitate to bear witness that there is only One God, you will not hesitate to bear witness that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of God and representative of all the Prophets. You will not hesitate that; you are one of those who would like to be written down in the book of God as, those who submit. You will not hesitate, but you think you are going to live little more while and you want to enjoy few more things, you want to drink little more scotch, you want to lie down with few more girls, you want to wear few more panty suits, you want to dance little bit more, you want to sing little bit more, you want to hang out little bit more. And of course you are not ready to pray every day, that is because you think you are going to live a while. But how much is a while? I see some of you getting bald like me. How long ago was it when you had full hair? I see that some of you have grey hair. How long ago was it when your hair were all black? You have aches and pains in your knees and elbows and other places. How long ago was it when you were just a child, running and playing without a care? How long ago was it? It was yesterday, yes! And you are going to die tomorrow. So how long do you want to wait?
Islam is to bear witness that Almighty God is the God, the Only God, the Only One without any partners.
Islam is to acknowledge the existence of the Angels who were sent with the duty of revealing the revelations to the Prophets, carrying the message to the Prophets, controlling the winds, the mountains and the oceans and taking the life of those to whom God has ordered to die.
Acknowledge that all the Prophets and Messengers of God were righteous men and they were all sent by Almighty God.
And acknowledge the fact that there will be final day of judgement for all creatures.
Acknowledge that all Good and Evil has been proportioned by Almighty God.
Acknowledge that there will definitely be a resurrection after death.
The fundamental duties of every Muslim is simple; five things. Islam is like a big house. And every house has to be built with Pillars and Foundation. Pillars and Foundation. And you have to build the house with rules. The Pillars are the rules. And when you build your house you must follow the rules.
The first of the five rules of Islam is to uphold the code of strict monotheism i.e.
not to accept any partners with God not worship anything along with God not to say anything about God that you have no right to say not to say that He has a father or a son or a daughter or a mother or uncle or aunt or board of trustees or anybody He has to ask or to say anything about God that you have no right to say To bear witness; now you sentence yourself. You take the sentence you want. You sentence yourself to Peace and Paradise or you sentence yourself to Confusion, Frustration, Hell Fire and Punishment. You sentence yourself. You ask yourself. Do I bear witness that there is only One God? If you ask yourself that question, you will say, yes I bear witness. Do I witness that Muhammad (pbuh) as he as been explained, is the Messenger of God? Yes I do bear witness. If you bear witness to that, then all of you and all of us are Muslims. Yes, Muslims. And you don’t have to change what you were, you just have to make alteration in what you were i.e. in your thinking and practice. In finality; brothers/sisters, I ask you a honest and direct question. How many of you understood what I said to you? How many of you understood – just raise your hands? How many of you disagree with what I said about God, about Muhammad, about the creation of Life? How many disagree essentially with what I said? OK! All those who agree with what I said raise your hands. Say: I bear witness that there is only One God, I bear witness that there is only One God and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Amen! Amen! Amen!
May Allah bless us, may Allah help us and may Allah guide us. I would say to all you brothers/sisters that you were very honest and very patient.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
What Do You Know About Islam?
What Do You Know About Islam?
This is the text version of the lecture delivered by Shaykh Khalid Yasin to a group of non-Muslims in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Part 1 of 2
What Do You Know About Islam? Not what you have heard about Islam, not what you have seen in the actions of some Muslims, but what do you really know about Islam? Because there is a difference between Islam and Muslims. There is a difference between a Man and a Father. A man who has children, he is a father, but father is a responsibility. If a man does not fulfil those responsibilities, he is not necessarily a good father. Islam is a rule and an order. If a Muslim does not fulfil these Rules/Orders, he is not a good Muslim, so you cannot compare Islam by Muslims.
We hear the terms Islam and Muslims quite often. And we read about Islam/Muslims in periodicals, text books of Colleges and Universities. We hear and we see a lot of inaccurate, misleading and purposeful misinformation through the media and I have to admit that some of these misinformation and misrepresentation has been perpetuated by Muslims themselves. Yet one out of every five people in this world of 5 billion people is a Muslim. One out of five people in this world is a Muslim. This is a statistics, that you can verify in the Encyclopaedia, Almanac or any other source that you like to look at. How is it that, 1 out of 5 people in this world is a Muslim, that we don’t know something about Islam, the facts about Islam? If I told you that 1 out of 5 people in the world is a Chinese, but we know the Geographical, Social, Economical, Historical, Political and Philosophical factors about China and Chinese. How come we don’t know about Islam.
What is that joins 29 nations and some say 37 nations? What is it that joins these nations and this Universal configuration into a common fraternity? What makes a brother from Australia my brother, a brother from America my brother, a brother from Pakistan my brother, a brother from Africa, China, Russia and so forth, my brother? What makes them my brothers? We have that different cultural and psychological backgrounds. What is it about Islam, that automatically embraces us and joins us together as a brotherhood?
What are the accurate characteristics of this mis-understood way of life, which is followed by great part of humanity? I will try to provide you with some facts about Islam. And it is necessary for you to be open minded and open hearted, because if I turn a glass up side down and pour water, I will never get a glass of water, it has to be right side up. Facts alone do not lead to understanding, but rather a combination of ambition and ability to appreciate and accept the truth when you hear it.
The word Islam means Surrender, Submission and Obedience. Surrender, Submission and Obedience to Allah – the Almighty God. You can say Allah or the Creator or the Supreme God, the Supreme Force, the All Wise. All of those are His names. We say Allah because in Arabic there is no other expression, this expression Allah cannot be applied to any created thing. Other words we use for Almighty God, people apply them for created things. For eg: the almighty dollar, he is the greatest and so on, but the word Allah can only be applied to the Creator, whom we have described earlier. So from this point, I am going to use the word Allah and you will know whom I am speaking about.
The word Islam is derived from the root Salamah, it means to be at peace or to have security. Therefore a Muslim is a person, who Surrenders, Submits and Obeys the laws of Almighty God and through this Submission obtains peace and security for themselves. We can immediately see that by such a definition, the Arabic word Islam describes the same manner and behaviour of the well known and respected Prophets and Messengers of Almighty God. All of them – Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Issac, Ishmael, Jacob, John the Baptist, Jesus and Muhammad. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them all. All of these men, these Prophets/Messengers came from the same Almighty God, with the same message, with the same chain of transmission and they said ONE THING: Obey God. Worship Almighty God and fulfil the purpose of life and do good actions and you will be rewarded with another life. That’s all they said. Don’t make it more than that. That is all they said regardless of what language, what time and to whom they came to. That is all they said.
If you read the scriptures carefully, without your own interpretation or someone else’s addition or fabrication, you will find that this was the simple message off all the Prophets who confirmed one another. Not one of those Prophets ever said, I am God, Worship me. You don’t have to think because you won’t find it in any book you have; not the Bible, not the Torah, not the Old and the New Testament, not the psalms of David. You will not find it in any book. You will not find it from the speech of any Prophet. Please go home and palm through all the pages of your Bible and I guarantee you that you won’t find it once, any where. So where did this come from? That is something else you have to investigate. And in another setting we can set the straight word easily for you. History has a way of turning over every stone. We can immediately see that by such a definition, the Arabic word describes what all the Prophets did. They all came and Submitted themselves to God, Surrendered themselves to God and called the people to God and insisted upon the people to do deeds of righteousness. The 10 commandments of Moses – what was that? The speech of Abraham – what was that? The psalms of David – what was that? Proverbs of Solomon – what did he say? The Gospel of Jesus Christ – what did he say? What did John the Baptist say? What did Issac/Ishmael say? What did Muhammad (pbuh) say? Nothing more than that.
Sura 98 - Al-Bayyina [The Clear Proof, Evidence] Verse 5-5:
5. وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَذَلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ
Sura 98 - Al-Bayyina [The Clear Proof, Evidence] Verse 5-5:
5. And they have been commanded no more than this: To worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith); to establish regular prayer; and to practise regular charity; and that is the Religion Right and Straight.
Simple message. By the same token, it would be appropriate to consider those Prophets and Messengers as Muslims because Muslim is what? Don’t think about the Arabic terminology, don’t think about Saudi Arabia, Makkah, Medina or Egypt. Think about what Muslim means -
He who surrenders to Almighty God and obeys the laws of Almighty God and whether it is naturally or in a dialectical manner, everything that submits to the law of Almighty God is a Muslim.
So when the child comes out of mother’s womb at the time when God has ordered – what is it? It is Muslim.
When the Sun goes around in its orbit – what is it? It is Muslim.
When the Moon goes around the Earth – what is it? It is Muslim.
The Law of Gravity – what is it? Muslim Law.
Therefore, everything that submits to Almighty God is a Muslim. Therefore, when we willingly obey Almighty God, we are Muslims.
Jesus Christ was a Muslim, his blessed mother was a Muslim, Abraham was a Muslim, Moses was a Muslim, all the Prophets were Muslims, but they came to their people and spoke different languages. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) spoke the language of Arabic and in Arabic language to Submit/Surrender means Muslim. One who Submits/Surrenders is a Muslim.
Every Prophet and Messenger of Almighty God brought the very same and fundamental message. Worship Almighty God and be sincere towards Him. If we examine the message of each of well known Prophets, we can easily conclude this fact. Where there is a conflict, it is a result of false assertions, fabrications, exaggerations, personalized interpretation of alleged Writers, Historians, Scholars and individuals. For instance, let me point something out to you which may be you haven’t looked at before. How come throughout the Old Testament, God is always referred to as One, The Master, The Lord and King of the Universe and that in the 1st commandment given to Moses, He did not allow any body to Worship any graven images or to bow down to anything in the heavens or the earth or the sea below. He never allowed that. All the Prophets said, He was One and that He was Almighty God. Throughout the Old Testament, this is repeated again and again at all places. Then all of a sudden we get four testimonies Mathew, Mark, Luke and John.
Mathew who? Mark who? Luke who? And John who? Four different Gospels that were written 48 years apart and none of these men who did not collaborate with each other, none of then wrote their last name. If I gave you a cheque for your pay this month and I write my first name and told you to take it to bank, would you accept that cheque? No you wouldn’t. If the Police stops you for breaking the traffic laws and if you give him only your first name, will that be acceptable to him? Could you have a passport with only one name? Did your Mother/Father give you only one name? Where in the history of man is one name accepted as a documentation? Where? No where, except in the Bible. And how could you base your faith upon four Gospels that are written by four men who didn’t seem to know their last name. Then after those four Gospels, there are 15 more books written by a man who was an apostolic, who killed Christians, tortured Christians and then said that he in a vision saw Jesus and he was commissioned as an Apostle of Jesus. If I told you, Hitler after killing 6 million Jews, then he himself decided that he wanted to be saved, then he met Jesus Christ or Moses on the path and he became a Jew and he wrote 15 books and added them to the Torah. Will this be accepted by the Jews? No! you wouldn’t accept that. So how come 4 books without the last name and 15 other books written by another man and this is the first time God is called a man, this is the first time God is called three and it is the first time God is given a son – how is it acceptable to you Christians? How? Think about it. We won’t argue on that point, I will just give you something to think about.
The advent of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did not bring a new religion or way of life as some people claim. On the contrary, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) confirmed the life and message of all the previous Prophets and Messengers, both through his personal conduct and with the Divine revelation which he received from the Almighty. The sacred scripture that Muhammad (pbuh) brought is called Al-Quran, it means that which is recited. Muhammad (pbuh) did not write the Quran, he did not author the Quran, nobody came and helped him to write the Quran or to author the Quran. And nobody collaborated with him in this, but the angel Gabriel recited to him and Almighty God made his heart a receptacle of that, just like a satellite disk is a receptor of waves and gives you the TV images. Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) heart was receptacle of revelation and as a result we have Al-Quran which has been preserved for over 1400 years without the change of a dot. Is there any other book in the world that you know of, that was preserved as it was revealed without the changing of even a dot? No book – only the Quran. Don’t take my word for it, go to the library and read what the Encyclopaedia Britannica says or the World Encyclopaedia or the Americana’s Encyclopaedia or any other universal encyclopaedia of the world that is not written by Muslims - read what it says about Islam, Quran and Muhammad (pbuh). Read what the non-Muslims said about the Quran, Islam and Muhammad (pbuh). Then you will accept that, what I am saying is universally documented and clear. That Muhammad (pbuh) is the profound individual in the history of humanity. Profound why? Read what they say. That the Quran is the most incredible, the most profound piece of literature in the annals of history. Read what they say. That the Islamic way of life is categorized and so precise and dynamic, it has never changed. Read what they say.
The sacred scripture that Muhammad (pbuh) received is called the Quran. And each of the Prophets/Messengers – they also received the scriptures. And in the Quran these Prophets, their scriptures, their stories, the principle of their mission is maintained with profound detail. Did Muhammad (pbuh) meet them, eat with them, talk with them and collaborate with them to write their biographies? No, of course he didn’t.
In the Quran, Muhammad (pbuh) is referred to as the Messenger of Almighty God and the seal of the previous Prophets, which is the limit of his role as a human being. Muslims do not worship Muhammad. We are not Muhammadans. We don’t have the right to take the name as Muhammad and say we are Muhammadans. Nor were the people who followed Moses – they were not Mosians or the people who followed Jacob were not Jacobites or the people who followed Abraham were not Abrahamians or the people who followed David were not Davidians. No no no. So how do people call themselves Christians? Christ did not call himself a Christian. How do people call themselves Christians? Christ said that whatever he receives from Almighty God is the word of God and what he heard is what he said. That is what he did. So how do we call ourselves Christians? We have to be Christ like. And what was Christ like? He was a servant of Almighty God, so you should be servants of Almighty God. That’s all. And the final scripture and the divine revelation, the Quran makes a very clear and concise statement:
Sura 5 - Al-Maeda [The Table, The Table Spread] Verse 3-3:
3. الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإسْلامَ دِينًاَ
Sura 5 - Al-Maeda [The Table, The Table Spread] Verse 3-3:
3. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.
This is the text version of the lecture delivered by Shaykh Khalid Yasin to a group of non-Muslims in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Part 1 of 2
What Do You Know About Islam? Not what you have heard about Islam, not what you have seen in the actions of some Muslims, but what do you really know about Islam? Because there is a difference between Islam and Muslims. There is a difference between a Man and a Father. A man who has children, he is a father, but father is a responsibility. If a man does not fulfil those responsibilities, he is not necessarily a good father. Islam is a rule and an order. If a Muslim does not fulfil these Rules/Orders, he is not a good Muslim, so you cannot compare Islam by Muslims.
We hear the terms Islam and Muslims quite often. And we read about Islam/Muslims in periodicals, text books of Colleges and Universities. We hear and we see a lot of inaccurate, misleading and purposeful misinformation through the media and I have to admit that some of these misinformation and misrepresentation has been perpetuated by Muslims themselves. Yet one out of every five people in this world of 5 billion people is a Muslim. One out of five people in this world is a Muslim. This is a statistics, that you can verify in the Encyclopaedia, Almanac or any other source that you like to look at. How is it that, 1 out of 5 people in this world is a Muslim, that we don’t know something about Islam, the facts about Islam? If I told you that 1 out of 5 people in the world is a Chinese, but we know the Geographical, Social, Economical, Historical, Political and Philosophical factors about China and Chinese. How come we don’t know about Islam.
What is that joins 29 nations and some say 37 nations? What is it that joins these nations and this Universal configuration into a common fraternity? What makes a brother from Australia my brother, a brother from America my brother, a brother from Pakistan my brother, a brother from Africa, China, Russia and so forth, my brother? What makes them my brothers? We have that different cultural and psychological backgrounds. What is it about Islam, that automatically embraces us and joins us together as a brotherhood?
What are the accurate characteristics of this mis-understood way of life, which is followed by great part of humanity? I will try to provide you with some facts about Islam. And it is necessary for you to be open minded and open hearted, because if I turn a glass up side down and pour water, I will never get a glass of water, it has to be right side up. Facts alone do not lead to understanding, but rather a combination of ambition and ability to appreciate and accept the truth when you hear it.
The word Islam means Surrender, Submission and Obedience. Surrender, Submission and Obedience to Allah – the Almighty God. You can say Allah or the Creator or the Supreme God, the Supreme Force, the All Wise. All of those are His names. We say Allah because in Arabic there is no other expression, this expression Allah cannot be applied to any created thing. Other words we use for Almighty God, people apply them for created things. For eg: the almighty dollar, he is the greatest and so on, but the word Allah can only be applied to the Creator, whom we have described earlier. So from this point, I am going to use the word Allah and you will know whom I am speaking about.
The word Islam is derived from the root Salamah, it means to be at peace or to have security. Therefore a Muslim is a person, who Surrenders, Submits and Obeys the laws of Almighty God and through this Submission obtains peace and security for themselves. We can immediately see that by such a definition, the Arabic word Islam describes the same manner and behaviour of the well known and respected Prophets and Messengers of Almighty God. All of them – Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Issac, Ishmael, Jacob, John the Baptist, Jesus and Muhammad. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them all. All of these men, these Prophets/Messengers came from the same Almighty God, with the same message, with the same chain of transmission and they said ONE THING: Obey God. Worship Almighty God and fulfil the purpose of life and do good actions and you will be rewarded with another life. That’s all they said. Don’t make it more than that. That is all they said regardless of what language, what time and to whom they came to. That is all they said.
If you read the scriptures carefully, without your own interpretation or someone else’s addition or fabrication, you will find that this was the simple message off all the Prophets who confirmed one another. Not one of those Prophets ever said, I am God, Worship me. You don’t have to think because you won’t find it in any book you have; not the Bible, not the Torah, not the Old and the New Testament, not the psalms of David. You will not find it in any book. You will not find it from the speech of any Prophet. Please go home and palm through all the pages of your Bible and I guarantee you that you won’t find it once, any where. So where did this come from? That is something else you have to investigate. And in another setting we can set the straight word easily for you. History has a way of turning over every stone. We can immediately see that by such a definition, the Arabic word describes what all the Prophets did. They all came and Submitted themselves to God, Surrendered themselves to God and called the people to God and insisted upon the people to do deeds of righteousness. The 10 commandments of Moses – what was that? The speech of Abraham – what was that? The psalms of David – what was that? Proverbs of Solomon – what did he say? The Gospel of Jesus Christ – what did he say? What did John the Baptist say? What did Issac/Ishmael say? What did Muhammad (pbuh) say? Nothing more than that.
Sura 98 - Al-Bayyina [The Clear Proof, Evidence] Verse 5-5:
5. وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَذَلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ
Sura 98 - Al-Bayyina [The Clear Proof, Evidence] Verse 5-5:
5. And they have been commanded no more than this: To worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith); to establish regular prayer; and to practise regular charity; and that is the Religion Right and Straight.
Simple message. By the same token, it would be appropriate to consider those Prophets and Messengers as Muslims because Muslim is what? Don’t think about the Arabic terminology, don’t think about Saudi Arabia, Makkah, Medina or Egypt. Think about what Muslim means -
He who surrenders to Almighty God and obeys the laws of Almighty God and whether it is naturally or in a dialectical manner, everything that submits to the law of Almighty God is a Muslim.
So when the child comes out of mother’s womb at the time when God has ordered – what is it? It is Muslim.
When the Sun goes around in its orbit – what is it? It is Muslim.
When the Moon goes around the Earth – what is it? It is Muslim.
The Law of Gravity – what is it? Muslim Law.
Therefore, everything that submits to Almighty God is a Muslim. Therefore, when we willingly obey Almighty God, we are Muslims.
Jesus Christ was a Muslim, his blessed mother was a Muslim, Abraham was a Muslim, Moses was a Muslim, all the Prophets were Muslims, but they came to their people and spoke different languages. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) spoke the language of Arabic and in Arabic language to Submit/Surrender means Muslim. One who Submits/Surrenders is a Muslim.
Every Prophet and Messenger of Almighty God brought the very same and fundamental message. Worship Almighty God and be sincere towards Him. If we examine the message of each of well known Prophets, we can easily conclude this fact. Where there is a conflict, it is a result of false assertions, fabrications, exaggerations, personalized interpretation of alleged Writers, Historians, Scholars and individuals. For instance, let me point something out to you which may be you haven’t looked at before. How come throughout the Old Testament, God is always referred to as One, The Master, The Lord and King of the Universe and that in the 1st commandment given to Moses, He did not allow any body to Worship any graven images or to bow down to anything in the heavens or the earth or the sea below. He never allowed that. All the Prophets said, He was One and that He was Almighty God. Throughout the Old Testament, this is repeated again and again at all places. Then all of a sudden we get four testimonies Mathew, Mark, Luke and John.
Mathew who? Mark who? Luke who? And John who? Four different Gospels that were written 48 years apart and none of these men who did not collaborate with each other, none of then wrote their last name. If I gave you a cheque for your pay this month and I write my first name and told you to take it to bank, would you accept that cheque? No you wouldn’t. If the Police stops you for breaking the traffic laws and if you give him only your first name, will that be acceptable to him? Could you have a passport with only one name? Did your Mother/Father give you only one name? Where in the history of man is one name accepted as a documentation? Where? No where, except in the Bible. And how could you base your faith upon four Gospels that are written by four men who didn’t seem to know their last name. Then after those four Gospels, there are 15 more books written by a man who was an apostolic, who killed Christians, tortured Christians and then said that he in a vision saw Jesus and he was commissioned as an Apostle of Jesus. If I told you, Hitler after killing 6 million Jews, then he himself decided that he wanted to be saved, then he met Jesus Christ or Moses on the path and he became a Jew and he wrote 15 books and added them to the Torah. Will this be accepted by the Jews? No! you wouldn’t accept that. So how come 4 books without the last name and 15 other books written by another man and this is the first time God is called a man, this is the first time God is called three and it is the first time God is given a son – how is it acceptable to you Christians? How? Think about it. We won’t argue on that point, I will just give you something to think about.
The advent of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did not bring a new religion or way of life as some people claim. On the contrary, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) confirmed the life and message of all the previous Prophets and Messengers, both through his personal conduct and with the Divine revelation which he received from the Almighty. The sacred scripture that Muhammad (pbuh) brought is called Al-Quran, it means that which is recited. Muhammad (pbuh) did not write the Quran, he did not author the Quran, nobody came and helped him to write the Quran or to author the Quran. And nobody collaborated with him in this, but the angel Gabriel recited to him and Almighty God made his heart a receptacle of that, just like a satellite disk is a receptor of waves and gives you the TV images. Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) heart was receptacle of revelation and as a result we have Al-Quran which has been preserved for over 1400 years without the change of a dot. Is there any other book in the world that you know of, that was preserved as it was revealed without the changing of even a dot? No book – only the Quran. Don’t take my word for it, go to the library and read what the Encyclopaedia Britannica says or the World Encyclopaedia or the Americana’s Encyclopaedia or any other universal encyclopaedia of the world that is not written by Muslims - read what it says about Islam, Quran and Muhammad (pbuh). Read what the non-Muslims said about the Quran, Islam and Muhammad (pbuh). Then you will accept that, what I am saying is universally documented and clear. That Muhammad (pbuh) is the profound individual in the history of humanity. Profound why? Read what they say. That the Quran is the most incredible, the most profound piece of literature in the annals of history. Read what they say. That the Islamic way of life is categorized and so precise and dynamic, it has never changed. Read what they say.
The sacred scripture that Muhammad (pbuh) received is called the Quran. And each of the Prophets/Messengers – they also received the scriptures. And in the Quran these Prophets, their scriptures, their stories, the principle of their mission is maintained with profound detail. Did Muhammad (pbuh) meet them, eat with them, talk with them and collaborate with them to write their biographies? No, of course he didn’t.
In the Quran, Muhammad (pbuh) is referred to as the Messenger of Almighty God and the seal of the previous Prophets, which is the limit of his role as a human being. Muslims do not worship Muhammad. We are not Muhammadans. We don’t have the right to take the name as Muhammad and say we are Muhammadans. Nor were the people who followed Moses – they were not Mosians or the people who followed Jacob were not Jacobites or the people who followed Abraham were not Abrahamians or the people who followed David were not Davidians. No no no. So how do people call themselves Christians? Christ did not call himself a Christian. How do people call themselves Christians? Christ said that whatever he receives from Almighty God is the word of God and what he heard is what he said. That is what he did. So how do we call ourselves Christians? We have to be Christ like. And what was Christ like? He was a servant of Almighty God, so you should be servants of Almighty God. That’s all. And the final scripture and the divine revelation, the Quran makes a very clear and concise statement:
Sura 5 - Al-Maeda [The Table, The Table Spread] Verse 3-3:
3. الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإسْلامَ دِينًاَ
Sura 5 - Al-Maeda [The Table, The Table Spread] Verse 3-3:
3. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.
The Need of Islamic Counselling
The Need of Islamic Counselling
The Muslim community in the Western countries like UK and USA faces a great deal of social challenges brought about by forces from the mainstream society. The forces of the media; the presence of guns, alcohol, and drugs; the proliferation of adultery and fornication; and, the atmosphere of a society lacking guidance all contribute to the challenges faced by our communities. These outside forces have exaggerated all the simple tasks of creating families, raising children, and supporting our friends and neighbours.
God has given us tools to solve our community problems, by using the Quran and Sunnah. In addition, Islamic counselling emphasizes spiritual solutions, based on love and fear of Allah (SWA) and the duty to fulfil our responsibility as the servants of Allah (SWA) on this earth.
The principles of Islamic counselling are the following: confidentiality, trust, respect, recognizing the difference between arbitration and counselling, loving what is good for other people, making peace between people, concern about Muslim affairs, good listening habits, understanding others' cultures, the partnership between Imams and professionals, awareness of the law of the land, and the ultimate goal of connecting people with Allah (SWA) and offering spiritual solutions to them. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is our model and example in showing compassion about others' concerns. It was reported that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was a good listener. Allah (SWA) has described his patience in listening to others in the Holy Quran:
Sura 9 - At-Tawba [Repentance, Dispensation] Verse 61-61:
61. وَمِنْهُمُ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ النَّبِيَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Sura 9 - At-Tawba [Repentance, Dispensation] Verse 61-61:
61. Among them are men who molest the Prophet and say, "He is (all) ear." Say, "He listens to what is best for you: he believes in Allah, has faith in the Believers, and is a Mercy to those of you who believe." But those who molest the Messenger will have a grievous penalty.
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 1-1:
1. قَدْ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ قَوْلَ الَّتِي تُجَادِلُكَ فِي زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 1-1:
1. Allah has indeed heard (and accepted) the statement of the woman who pleads with thee concerning her husband and carries her complaint (in prayer) to Allah: and Allah (always) hears the arguments between both sides among you: for Allah hears and sees (all things).
Quran reminds us that in any form of counselling, or private talks, Allah (SWA) is present and hears what we are saying.
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 7-7:
7. أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأرْضِ مَا يَكُونُ مِنْ نَجْوَى ثَلاثَةٍ إِلا هُوَ رَابِعُهُمْ وَلا خَمْسَةٍ إِلا هُوَ سَادِسُهُمْ وَلا أَدْنَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَلا أَكْثَرَ إِلا هُوَ مَعَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كَانُوا ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا عَمِلُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 7-7:
7. Seest thou not that Allah doth know (all) that is in the heavens and on earth? There is not a secret consultation between three, but He makes the fourth among them, - Nor between five but He makes the sixth,- nor between fewer nor more, but He is in their midst, wheresoever they be: In the end will He tell them the truth of their conduct, on the Day of Judgment. For Allah has full knowledge of all things.
Quran also teaches us that the private talk in our counselling is to help others to be righteous and to be obedient to Allah.
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 9-9:
9. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ فَلا تَتَنَاجَوْا بِالإثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَةِ الرَّسُولِ وَتَنَاجَوْا بِالْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 9-9:
9. O ye who believe! When ye hold secret counsel, do it not for iniquity and hostility, and disobedience to the Prophet; but do it for righteousness and self-restraint; and fear Allah, to Whom ye shall be brought back.
The Muslim community in the Western countries like UK and USA faces a great deal of social challenges brought about by forces from the mainstream society. The forces of the media; the presence of guns, alcohol, and drugs; the proliferation of adultery and fornication; and, the atmosphere of a society lacking guidance all contribute to the challenges faced by our communities. These outside forces have exaggerated all the simple tasks of creating families, raising children, and supporting our friends and neighbours.
God has given us tools to solve our community problems, by using the Quran and Sunnah. In addition, Islamic counselling emphasizes spiritual solutions, based on love and fear of Allah (SWA) and the duty to fulfil our responsibility as the servants of Allah (SWA) on this earth.
The principles of Islamic counselling are the following: confidentiality, trust, respect, recognizing the difference between arbitration and counselling, loving what is good for other people, making peace between people, concern about Muslim affairs, good listening habits, understanding others' cultures, the partnership between Imams and professionals, awareness of the law of the land, and the ultimate goal of connecting people with Allah (SWA) and offering spiritual solutions to them. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is our model and example in showing compassion about others' concerns. It was reported that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was a good listener. Allah (SWA) has described his patience in listening to others in the Holy Quran:
Sura 9 - At-Tawba [Repentance, Dispensation] Verse 61-61:
61. وَمِنْهُمُ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ النَّبِيَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Sura 9 - At-Tawba [Repentance, Dispensation] Verse 61-61:
61. Among them are men who molest the Prophet and say, "He is (all) ear." Say, "He listens to what is best for you: he believes in Allah, has faith in the Believers, and is a Mercy to those of you who believe." But those who molest the Messenger will have a grievous penalty.
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 1-1:
1. قَدْ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ قَوْلَ الَّتِي تُجَادِلُكَ فِي زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 1-1:
1. Allah has indeed heard (and accepted) the statement of the woman who pleads with thee concerning her husband and carries her complaint (in prayer) to Allah: and Allah (always) hears the arguments between both sides among you: for Allah hears and sees (all things).
Quran reminds us that in any form of counselling, or private talks, Allah (SWA) is present and hears what we are saying.
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 7-7:
7. أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأرْضِ مَا يَكُونُ مِنْ نَجْوَى ثَلاثَةٍ إِلا هُوَ رَابِعُهُمْ وَلا خَمْسَةٍ إِلا هُوَ سَادِسُهُمْ وَلا أَدْنَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَلا أَكْثَرَ إِلا هُوَ مَعَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كَانُوا ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا عَمِلُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 7-7:
7. Seest thou not that Allah doth know (all) that is in the heavens and on earth? There is not a secret consultation between three, but He makes the fourth among them, - Nor between five but He makes the sixth,- nor between fewer nor more, but He is in their midst, wheresoever they be: In the end will He tell them the truth of their conduct, on the Day of Judgment. For Allah has full knowledge of all things.
Quran also teaches us that the private talk in our counselling is to help others to be righteous and to be obedient to Allah.
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 9-9:
9. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ فَلا تَتَنَاجَوْا بِالإثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَةِ الرَّسُولِ وَتَنَاجَوْا بِالْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
Sura 58 - Al-Mujadila [She that Disputeth, The Pleading Woman] Verse 9-9:
9. O ye who believe! When ye hold secret counsel, do it not for iniquity and hostility, and disobedience to the Prophet; but do it for righteousness and self-restraint; and fear Allah, to Whom ye shall be brought back.
The Importance of Community in Islam
The Importance of Community in Islam
The idea of Jama’ah in Islam is unique. Islam does not separate the religious aspect of the society from the social and the political aspect. On the contrary, in Islam, all aspects of the society are bound by the discipline, or the dynamic of Shareeah. Sharee’ah is the law, it is the source of empowerment, it is the source of legislation, it is the driving force of the community. Thus, the community is driven (guided) by the Sharee’ah. Every part of it is governed and dependent upon the Sharee’ah. Therefore, the religion is law, and the law is religion.
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 102-105:
102. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
103. وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَى شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
104. وَلْتَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
105. وَلا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَأُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 102-105:
102. O ye who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
103. And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided.
104. Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity.
105. Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear Signs: For them is a dreadful penalty,-
The Jama’ah in Islam is destined to become government. The early Islamic community was not powered simply by empty rituals and words to be recited. It was powered and governed by discipline and order. It had a social and political structure. It had financial and economical accountability. It had a military response and a source of justice.
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #28
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Najih al-Irbad bin Sariyah, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, delivered an admonition that made our hearts fearful and our eyes tearful. We said, "O Messenger of Allah, it is as if this were a farewell sermon, so advise us." He said, "I enjoin you to have Taqwa of Allah and that you listen and obey, even if a slave is made a ruler over you. He among you who lives long enough will see many differences. So for you is to observe my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-principled and rightly-guided successors, holding on to them with your molar teeth. Beware of newly-introduced matters, for every innovation (bid'ah) is an error."
This is what Jama’ah meant in that early community, and this is what Jama’ah means today. Unfortunately, Muslims today are following or practicing a mode of religion as have been dictated to them by historical and cultural conditioning. They are clustered into ethnic groups and isolated geographic communities. They wear Islam only as an external ritual.
Sura 61 - As-Saff [The Ranks, Battle Array] Verse 1-4:
1. سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
2. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لا تَفْعَلُونَ
3. كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَنْ تَقُولُوا مَا لا تَفْعَلُونَ
4. إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْيَانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ
Sura 61 - As-Saff [The Ranks, Battle Array] Verse 1-4:
1. Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, let it declare the Praises and Glory of Allah: for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
2. O ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not?
3. Grievously odious is it in the sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not.
4. Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.
In the Muslim countries, nationalism and secularism are the driving forces of their sovereignty. The Sharee’ah has no practical constitutional significance. In these modern Muslim states, the Islamic concept of Jama’ah is seen as a threat and subjected to brutal suppression.
The Muslims living as minorities in the Western countries are suffering from a very complicated identity crisis. Their organizations are ethnic and culturally driven, with the trappings of Islamic rituals, completely divorced of the discipline of Jama’at.
They have religious leaders and speakers, who have no judicial or political authority over their constituents. These leaders are responded to in the Masjids or at certain events that are “religiously” oriented. However, those leaders exercise little or no influence over the social, political, economic or judicial lives of their congregations.
Yes, we understand that we are living in the Western Civilization, and we need to assimilate and integrate to a certain extent in order to comply and involve ourselves with local citizenship and to fulfil our social responsibility.
However, this should not, and in essence does not, remove or prevent us from distinguishing ourselves as a comprehensive, self contained community. This is what Jama’ah means: A complete, self-contained community, under leadership, discipline and regulated by the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #35
Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Do not be envious of one another; do not artificially inflate prices against one another; do not hate one another; do not shun one another; and do not undercut one another in business transactions; and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah.
A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. Piety is here - and he pointed to his chest three times. It is evil enough for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for another Muslim: his blood, his property and his honour."
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #36
It was related on the authority of Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Whosoever relieves from a believer some grief pertaining to this world, Allah will relieve from him some grief pertaining to the Hereafter. Whosoever alleviates the difficulties of a needy person who cannot pay his debt, Allah will alleviate his difficulties in both this world and the Hereafter. Whosoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother. Whosoever follows a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them, and Allah makes mention of them amongst those who are in His presence. Whosoever is slowed down by his deeds will not be hastened forward by his lineage."
The idea of Jama’ah in Islam is unique. Islam does not separate the religious aspect of the society from the social and the political aspect. On the contrary, in Islam, all aspects of the society are bound by the discipline, or the dynamic of Shareeah. Sharee’ah is the law, it is the source of empowerment, it is the source of legislation, it is the driving force of the community. Thus, the community is driven (guided) by the Sharee’ah. Every part of it is governed and dependent upon the Sharee’ah. Therefore, the religion is law, and the law is religion.
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 102-105:
102. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
103. وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَى شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
104. وَلْتَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
105. وَلا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَأُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 102-105:
102. O ye who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
103. And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided.
104. Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity.
105. Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear Signs: For them is a dreadful penalty,-
The Jama’ah in Islam is destined to become government. The early Islamic community was not powered simply by empty rituals and words to be recited. It was powered and governed by discipline and order. It had a social and political structure. It had financial and economical accountability. It had a military response and a source of justice.
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #28
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Najih al-Irbad bin Sariyah, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, delivered an admonition that made our hearts fearful and our eyes tearful. We said, "O Messenger of Allah, it is as if this were a farewell sermon, so advise us." He said, "I enjoin you to have Taqwa of Allah and that you listen and obey, even if a slave is made a ruler over you. He among you who lives long enough will see many differences. So for you is to observe my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-principled and rightly-guided successors, holding on to them with your molar teeth. Beware of newly-introduced matters, for every innovation (bid'ah) is an error."
This is what Jama’ah meant in that early community, and this is what Jama’ah means today. Unfortunately, Muslims today are following or practicing a mode of religion as have been dictated to them by historical and cultural conditioning. They are clustered into ethnic groups and isolated geographic communities. They wear Islam only as an external ritual.
Sura 61 - As-Saff [The Ranks, Battle Array] Verse 1-4:
1. سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
2. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لا تَفْعَلُونَ
3. كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَنْ تَقُولُوا مَا لا تَفْعَلُونَ
4. إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْيَانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ
Sura 61 - As-Saff [The Ranks, Battle Array] Verse 1-4:
1. Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, let it declare the Praises and Glory of Allah: for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
2. O ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not?
3. Grievously odious is it in the sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not.
4. Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.
In the Muslim countries, nationalism and secularism are the driving forces of their sovereignty. The Sharee’ah has no practical constitutional significance. In these modern Muslim states, the Islamic concept of Jama’ah is seen as a threat and subjected to brutal suppression.
The Muslims living as minorities in the Western countries are suffering from a very complicated identity crisis. Their organizations are ethnic and culturally driven, with the trappings of Islamic rituals, completely divorced of the discipline of Jama’at.
They have religious leaders and speakers, who have no judicial or political authority over their constituents. These leaders are responded to in the Masjids or at certain events that are “religiously” oriented. However, those leaders exercise little or no influence over the social, political, economic or judicial lives of their congregations.
Yes, we understand that we are living in the Western Civilization, and we need to assimilate and integrate to a certain extent in order to comply and involve ourselves with local citizenship and to fulfil our social responsibility.
However, this should not, and in essence does not, remove or prevent us from distinguishing ourselves as a comprehensive, self contained community. This is what Jama’ah means: A complete, self-contained community, under leadership, discipline and regulated by the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #35
Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Do not be envious of one another; do not artificially inflate prices against one another; do not hate one another; do not shun one another; and do not undercut one another in business transactions; and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah.
A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. Piety is here - and he pointed to his chest three times. It is evil enough for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for another Muslim: his blood, his property and his honour."
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #36
It was related on the authority of Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Whosoever relieves from a believer some grief pertaining to this world, Allah will relieve from him some grief pertaining to the Hereafter. Whosoever alleviates the difficulties of a needy person who cannot pay his debt, Allah will alleviate his difficulties in both this world and the Hereafter. Whosoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother. Whosoever follows a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them, and Allah makes mention of them amongst those who are in His presence. Whosoever is slowed down by his deeds will not be hastened forward by his lineage."
Community, Leadership, and Empowerment - Part 2/2
Community, Leadership, and Empowerment - Part 2/2
Together, with the best people (citizens) of this society, we must cultivate, repair and reform our society into a new society. That will inspire and serve the needs of everyone, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. We will also fulfil our collective duty to Almighty God to establish and preserve a society of goodness and prosperity.
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 186-186:
186. لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا وَإِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الأمُورِ
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 186-186:
186. Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs.
Sura 64 - At-Taghabun [Mutual Disillusion, Haggling] Verse 11-18:
11. مَا أَصَابَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ إِلا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ يُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
12. وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَى رَسُولِنَا الْبَلاغُ الْمُبِينُ
13. اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
14. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ وَإِنْ تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
15. إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
16. فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَاسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا وَأَنْفِقُوا خَيْرًا لأنْفُسِكُمْ وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
17. إِنْ تُقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَاعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
18. عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Sura 64 - At-Taghabun [Mutual Disillusion, Haggling] Verse 11-18:
11. No kind of calamity can occur, except by the leave of Allah: and if any one believes in Allah, (Allah) guides his heart (aright): for Allah knows all things.
12. So obey Allah, and obey His Messenger: but if ye turn back, the duty of Our Messenger is but to proclaim (the Message) clearly and openly.
13. Allah! There is no god but He: and on Allah, therefore, let the Believers put their trust.
14. O ye who believe! Truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them! But if ye forgive and overlook, and cover up (their faults), verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
15. Your riches and your children may be but a trial: but in the Presence of Allah, is the highest, Reward.
16. So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey and spend in charity for the benefit of your own soul and those saved from the covetousness of their own souls,- they are the ones that achieve prosperity.
17. If ye loan to Allah, a beautiful loan, He will double it to your (credit), and He will grant you Forgiveness: for Allah is most Ready to appreciate (service), Most Forbearing,-
18. Knower of what is open, Exalted in Might, Full of Wisdom.
Therefore, we Muslims living as minorities, cannot be satisfied or content with having a religious distinction or a religious message that we cultivate and offer to others. No, that is very narrow, very selfish, and will never allow us to fulfil our responsibility to the society. Our human example must provide the fruits and the tangible evidence for our society to evaluate the Islamic proposition.
Sura 57 - Al-Hadid [The Iron] Verse 16-16:
16. أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الأمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
Sura 57 - Al-Hadid [The Iron] Verse 16-16:
16. Has not the Time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious transgressors.
Sura 5 - Al-Maeda [The Table, The Table Spread] Verse 8-8:
8. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Sura 5 - Al-Maeda [The Table, The Table Spread] Verse 8-8:
8. O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #15
Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Let whosoever believes in Allah and in the Last Day either speak good or be silent. Let whosoever believes in Allah and in the Last Day honour his neighbour. Let whosoever believes in Allah and in the Last Day honour his guest."
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #36
It was related on the authority of Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Whosoever relieves from a believer some grief pertaining to this world, Allah will relieve from him some grief pertaining to the Hereafter. Whosoever alleviates the difficulties of a needy person who cannot pay his debt, Allah will alleviate his difficulties in both this world and the Hereafter. Whosoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother. Whosoever follows a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them, and Allah makes mention of them amongst those who are in His presence. Whosoever is slowed down by his deeds will not be hastened forward by his lineage."
We must build our character, develop our family and our local community, as a model and example for all to see and benefit from! Then, and only then, can we be confident that our social responsibility is under fulfilment. To achieve this, we must be wide-minded, pure hearted and generous.Our society and the world will then know the “Tree of Islam”, by its fruits!!
Sura 47 - Muhammad [Muhammad] Verse 38-38:
38. هَا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلاءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يَبْخَلُ وَمَنْ يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ وَإِنْ تَتَوَلَّوْا يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لا يَكُونُوا أَمْثَالَكُمْ
Sura 47 - Muhammad [Muhammad] Verse 38-38:
38. Behold, ye are those invited to spend (of your substance) in the Way of Allah: But among you are some that are niggardly. But any who are niggardly are so at the expense of their own souls. But Allah is free of all wants, and it is ye that are needy. If ye turn back (from the Path), He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you!
Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 54-56:
54. قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيْكُمْ مَا حُمِّلْتُمْ وَإِنْ تُطِيعُوهُ تَهْتَدُوا وَمَا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلا الْبَلاغُ الْمُبِينُ
55. وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الأرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
56. وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 54-56:
54. Say: "Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger: but if ye turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and ye for that placed on you. If ye obey him, ye shall be on right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to preach the clear (Message).
55. Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: 'They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me. 'If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked.
56. So establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey the Messenger; that ye may receive mercy.
Sura 22 - Al-Hajj [The Pilgrimage] Verse 40-41:
40. الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلا أَنْ يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ وَلَوْلا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
41. الَّذِينَ إِنْ مَكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الأرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الأمُورِ
Sura 22 - Al-Hajj [The Pilgrimage] Verse 40-41:
40. (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say, "our Lord is Allah". Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid his (cause);- for verily Allah is full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will).
41. (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establish regular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right and forbid wrong: with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs.
We must believe, in fact, we must know, without any doubt, that the ascendancy of Islam is imminent and Divinely mandated. It will happen, and it must happen, in spite of the doubting, lazy, cowardly, and deviant Muslims, and the wicked, conniving, corrupt, and rebellious non-Muslims.
Sura 61 - As-Saff [The Ranks, Battle Array] Verse 9-13:
9. هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ
10. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
11. تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
12. يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
13. وَأُخْرَى تُحِبُّونَهَا نَصْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Sura 61 - As-Saff [The Ranks, Battle Array] Verse 9-13:
9. It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).
10. O ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?-
11. That ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew!
12. He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the Supreme Achievement.
13. And another (favour will He bestow,) which ye do love,- help from Allah and a speedy victory. So give the Glad Tidings to the Believers.
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #19
Abu al-‘Abbas ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas, radiyallahu anhuma, reported: One day I was behind the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, and he said to me:
"O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice] : Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you (have need to) ask, ask of Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that even if the Nation (or the whole community) were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with something, they would not be able to harm you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried."
Together, with the best people (citizens) of this society, we must cultivate, repair and reform our society into a new society. That will inspire and serve the needs of everyone, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. We will also fulfil our collective duty to Almighty God to establish and preserve a society of goodness and prosperity.
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 186-186:
186. لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا وَإِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الأمُورِ
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 186-186:
186. Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs.
Sura 64 - At-Taghabun [Mutual Disillusion, Haggling] Verse 11-18:
11. مَا أَصَابَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ إِلا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ يُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
12. وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَى رَسُولِنَا الْبَلاغُ الْمُبِينُ
13. اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
14. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ وَإِنْ تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
15. إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
16. فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَاسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا وَأَنْفِقُوا خَيْرًا لأنْفُسِكُمْ وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
17. إِنْ تُقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَاعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
18. عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Sura 64 - At-Taghabun [Mutual Disillusion, Haggling] Verse 11-18:
11. No kind of calamity can occur, except by the leave of Allah: and if any one believes in Allah, (Allah) guides his heart (aright): for Allah knows all things.
12. So obey Allah, and obey His Messenger: but if ye turn back, the duty of Our Messenger is but to proclaim (the Message) clearly and openly.
13. Allah! There is no god but He: and on Allah, therefore, let the Believers put their trust.
14. O ye who believe! Truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them! But if ye forgive and overlook, and cover up (their faults), verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
15. Your riches and your children may be but a trial: but in the Presence of Allah, is the highest, Reward.
16. So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey and spend in charity for the benefit of your own soul and those saved from the covetousness of their own souls,- they are the ones that achieve prosperity.
17. If ye loan to Allah, a beautiful loan, He will double it to your (credit), and He will grant you Forgiveness: for Allah is most Ready to appreciate (service), Most Forbearing,-
18. Knower of what is open, Exalted in Might, Full of Wisdom.
Therefore, we Muslims living as minorities, cannot be satisfied or content with having a religious distinction or a religious message that we cultivate and offer to others. No, that is very narrow, very selfish, and will never allow us to fulfil our responsibility to the society. Our human example must provide the fruits and the tangible evidence for our society to evaluate the Islamic proposition.
Sura 57 - Al-Hadid [The Iron] Verse 16-16:
16. أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الأمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
Sura 57 - Al-Hadid [The Iron] Verse 16-16:
16. Has not the Time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious transgressors.
Sura 5 - Al-Maeda [The Table, The Table Spread] Verse 8-8:
8. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Sura 5 - Al-Maeda [The Table, The Table Spread] Verse 8-8:
8. O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #15
Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Let whosoever believes in Allah and in the Last Day either speak good or be silent. Let whosoever believes in Allah and in the Last Day honour his neighbour. Let whosoever believes in Allah and in the Last Day honour his guest."
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #36
It was related on the authority of Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Whosoever relieves from a believer some grief pertaining to this world, Allah will relieve from him some grief pertaining to the Hereafter. Whosoever alleviates the difficulties of a needy person who cannot pay his debt, Allah will alleviate his difficulties in both this world and the Hereafter. Whosoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother. Whosoever follows a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them, and Allah makes mention of them amongst those who are in His presence. Whosoever is slowed down by his deeds will not be hastened forward by his lineage."
We must build our character, develop our family and our local community, as a model and example for all to see and benefit from! Then, and only then, can we be confident that our social responsibility is under fulfilment. To achieve this, we must be wide-minded, pure hearted and generous.Our society and the world will then know the “Tree of Islam”, by its fruits!!
Sura 47 - Muhammad [Muhammad] Verse 38-38:
38. هَا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلاءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يَبْخَلُ وَمَنْ يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ وَإِنْ تَتَوَلَّوْا يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لا يَكُونُوا أَمْثَالَكُمْ
Sura 47 - Muhammad [Muhammad] Verse 38-38:
38. Behold, ye are those invited to spend (of your substance) in the Way of Allah: But among you are some that are niggardly. But any who are niggardly are so at the expense of their own souls. But Allah is free of all wants, and it is ye that are needy. If ye turn back (from the Path), He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you!
Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 54-56:
54. قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيْكُمْ مَا حُمِّلْتُمْ وَإِنْ تُطِيعُوهُ تَهْتَدُوا وَمَا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلا الْبَلاغُ الْمُبِينُ
55. وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الأرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
56. وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 54-56:
54. Say: "Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger: but if ye turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and ye for that placed on you. If ye obey him, ye shall be on right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to preach the clear (Message).
55. Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: 'They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me. 'If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked.
56. So establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey the Messenger; that ye may receive mercy.
Sura 22 - Al-Hajj [The Pilgrimage] Verse 40-41:
40. الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلا أَنْ يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ وَلَوْلا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
41. الَّذِينَ إِنْ مَكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الأرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الأمُورِ
Sura 22 - Al-Hajj [The Pilgrimage] Verse 40-41:
40. (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say, "our Lord is Allah". Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid his (cause);- for verily Allah is full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will).
41. (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establish regular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right and forbid wrong: with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs.
We must believe, in fact, we must know, without any doubt, that the ascendancy of Islam is imminent and Divinely mandated. It will happen, and it must happen, in spite of the doubting, lazy, cowardly, and deviant Muslims, and the wicked, conniving, corrupt, and rebellious non-Muslims.
Sura 61 - As-Saff [The Ranks, Battle Array] Verse 9-13:
9. هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ
10. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
11. تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
12. يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
13. وَأُخْرَى تُحِبُّونَهَا نَصْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Sura 61 - As-Saff [The Ranks, Battle Array] Verse 9-13:
9. It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).
10. O ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?-
11. That ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew!
12. He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the Supreme Achievement.
13. And another (favour will He bestow,) which ye do love,- help from Allah and a speedy victory. So give the Glad Tidings to the Believers.
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #19
Abu al-‘Abbas ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas, radiyallahu anhuma, reported: One day I was behind the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, and he said to me:
"O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice] : Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you (have need to) ask, ask of Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that even if the Nation (or the whole community) were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with something, they would not be able to harm you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried."
Community, Leadership, and Empowerment
Community, Leadership, and Empowerment - Part 1/2
The social success for Muslims lie in a very simple formula. It is a simple formula, but it cannot be achieved by the people who are divided by their personal, ideological and partisan values. The main components of this formula are:
Community - Leadership - Empowerment
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 159-159:
159. فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الأمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 159-159:
159. It is part of the Mercy of Allah that thou dost deal gently with them Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (Their faults), and ask for (Allah's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment). Then, when thou hast Taken a decision put thy trust in Allah. For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).
Sura 4 - An-Nisa [Women] Verse 59-59:
59. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلا
Sura 4 - An-Nisa [Women] Verse 59-59:
59. O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 92-92:
92. لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 92-92:
92. By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth Allah knoweth it well.
However, there will never be a truly Islamic Community without the establishment of Brotherhood. Similiarly, there will never be any respect for Leadership without Discipline, and finally, we can never arrive at social Empowerment without making great Sacrifices.
This formula is simple enough for every Muslim to understand and implement. It does not require people with great knowledge, or extraordinary faith, i.e., (scholars or extremely pious persons). Scholars and pious people will guide us, but they will not sustain us. We can only be sustained by the implementation of the formula.
Sura 16 - An-Nahl [The Bee] Verse 90-90:
90. إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Sura 16 - An-Nahl [The Bee] Verse 90-90:
90. Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition.
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #7
On the authority of Tamim Al-Dari that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Religion is nasihah." We said: "To whom?" The Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said: "To Allah and His Book, and His messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk."
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #35
Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Do not be envious of one another; do not artificially inflate prices against one another; do not hate one another; do not shun one another; and do not undercut one another in business transactions; and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah.
A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. Piety is here - and he pointed to his chest three times. It is evil enough for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for another Muslim: his blood, his property and his honour."
It is a formula that is as simple as having (or collecting) the food and firewood on a camping expedition. Sometimes we become so preoccupied in the sophistication of the journey, that we forget the simple things like the map, the food, the firewood, or the tents! Sometimes, we need to re-evaluate and re-assess our situation and look for what we neglected or overlooked.
Steps we need to take towards Unity and Brotherhood:
Establish genuine relationships with one another.
Meet with each other to discuss critical issues.
Consult with leadership to understand their vision.
Hold meetings to develop a public referendum.
Sponsor a Leadership Summit to address the public referendum.
Adopt persistence and good behaviour to achieve this objective.
Unity and Brotherhood is a critical social responsibility, and we must keep it in our minds throughout all of our activities and ambitions. We should never be known as isolationists and people who look to take. Rather, we must be involved in the affairs of the greater society, and willing to contribute.
Sura 8 - Al-Anfal [Spoils of War, Booty] Verse 24-29:
24. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
25. وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
26. وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ أَنْتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الأرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَنْ يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُمْ بِنَصْرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
27. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تَخُونُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
28. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
29. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
Sura 8 - Al-Anfal [Spoils of War, Booty] Verse 24-29:
24. O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom ye shall (all) be gathered.
25. And fear tumult or oppression, which affecteth not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong: and know that Allah is strict in punishment.
26. Call to mind when ye were a small (band), despised through the land, and afraid that men might despoil and kidnap you; But He provided a safe asylum for you, strengthened you with His aid, and gave you Good things for sustenance: that ye might be grateful.
27. O ye that believe! betray not the trust of Allah and the Messenger, nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.
28. And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial; and that it is Allah with Whom lies your highest reward.
29. O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong), remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you, and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded.
Sura 8 - Al-Anfal [Spoils of War, Booty] Verse 45-46:
45. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُوا وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
46. وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
Sura 8 - Al-Anfal [Spoils of War, Booty] Verse 45-46:
45. O ye who believe! When ye meet a force, be firm, and call Allah in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper:
46. And obey Allah and His Messenger; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For Allah is with those who patiently persevere:
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #28
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Najih al-Irbad bin Sariyah, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, delivered an admonition that made our hearts fearful and our eyes tearful. We said, "O Messenger of Allah, it is as if this were a farewell sermon, so advise us." He said, "I enjoin you to have Taqwa of Allah and that you listen and obey, even if a slave is made a ruler over you. He among you who lives long enough will see many differences. So for you is to observe my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-principled and rightly-guided successors, holding on to them with your molar teeth. Beware of newly-introduced matters, for every innovation (bid'ah) is an error."
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #34
On the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, say:
"When any one of you sees anything that is disapproved (of by Allah), let him change it with his hand. If he is not able to do so, then let him change it with his tongue. And if he is not able to do so, then let him change it with his heart, though that is the weakest (kind of) faith."
The social success for Muslims lie in a very simple formula. It is a simple formula, but it cannot be achieved by the people who are divided by their personal, ideological and partisan values. The main components of this formula are:
Community - Leadership - Empowerment
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 159-159:
159. فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الأمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 159-159:
159. It is part of the Mercy of Allah that thou dost deal gently with them Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (Their faults), and ask for (Allah's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment). Then, when thou hast Taken a decision put thy trust in Allah. For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).
Sura 4 - An-Nisa [Women] Verse 59-59:
59. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلا
Sura 4 - An-Nisa [Women] Verse 59-59:
59. O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 92-92:
92. لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 92-92:
92. By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth Allah knoweth it well.
However, there will never be a truly Islamic Community without the establishment of Brotherhood. Similiarly, there will never be any respect for Leadership without Discipline, and finally, we can never arrive at social Empowerment without making great Sacrifices.
This formula is simple enough for every Muslim to understand and implement. It does not require people with great knowledge, or extraordinary faith, i.e., (scholars or extremely pious persons). Scholars and pious people will guide us, but they will not sustain us. We can only be sustained by the implementation of the formula.
Sura 16 - An-Nahl [The Bee] Verse 90-90:
90. إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Sura 16 - An-Nahl [The Bee] Verse 90-90:
90. Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition.
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #7
On the authority of Tamim Al-Dari that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Religion is nasihah." We said: "To whom?" The Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said: "To Allah and His Book, and His messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk."
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #35
Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Do not be envious of one another; do not artificially inflate prices against one another; do not hate one another; do not shun one another; and do not undercut one another in business transactions; and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah.
A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. Piety is here - and he pointed to his chest three times. It is evil enough for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for another Muslim: his blood, his property and his honour."
It is a formula that is as simple as having (or collecting) the food and firewood on a camping expedition. Sometimes we become so preoccupied in the sophistication of the journey, that we forget the simple things like the map, the food, the firewood, or the tents! Sometimes, we need to re-evaluate and re-assess our situation and look for what we neglected or overlooked.
Steps we need to take towards Unity and Brotherhood:
Establish genuine relationships with one another.
Meet with each other to discuss critical issues.
Consult with leadership to understand their vision.
Hold meetings to develop a public referendum.
Sponsor a Leadership Summit to address the public referendum.
Adopt persistence and good behaviour to achieve this objective.
Unity and Brotherhood is a critical social responsibility, and we must keep it in our minds throughout all of our activities and ambitions. We should never be known as isolationists and people who look to take. Rather, we must be involved in the affairs of the greater society, and willing to contribute.
Sura 8 - Al-Anfal [Spoils of War, Booty] Verse 24-29:
24. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
25. وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
26. وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ أَنْتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الأرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَنْ يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُمْ بِنَصْرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
27. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تَخُونُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
28. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
29. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
Sura 8 - Al-Anfal [Spoils of War, Booty] Verse 24-29:
24. O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom ye shall (all) be gathered.
25. And fear tumult or oppression, which affecteth not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong: and know that Allah is strict in punishment.
26. Call to mind when ye were a small (band), despised through the land, and afraid that men might despoil and kidnap you; But He provided a safe asylum for you, strengthened you with His aid, and gave you Good things for sustenance: that ye might be grateful.
27. O ye that believe! betray not the trust of Allah and the Messenger, nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.
28. And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial; and that it is Allah with Whom lies your highest reward.
29. O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong), remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you, and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded.
Sura 8 - Al-Anfal [Spoils of War, Booty] Verse 45-46:
45. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُوا وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
46. وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
Sura 8 - Al-Anfal [Spoils of War, Booty] Verse 45-46:
45. O ye who believe! When ye meet a force, be firm, and call Allah in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper:
46. And obey Allah and His Messenger; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For Allah is with those who patiently persevere:
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #28
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Najih al-Irbad bin Sariyah, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, delivered an admonition that made our hearts fearful and our eyes tearful. We said, "O Messenger of Allah, it is as if this were a farewell sermon, so advise us." He said, "I enjoin you to have Taqwa of Allah and that you listen and obey, even if a slave is made a ruler over you. He among you who lives long enough will see many differences. So for you is to observe my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-principled and rightly-guided successors, holding on to them with your molar teeth. Beware of newly-introduced matters, for every innovation (bid'ah) is an error."
Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith #34
On the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, say:
"When any one of you sees anything that is disapproved (of by Allah), let him change it with his hand. If he is not able to do so, then let him change it with his tongue. And if he is not able to do so, then let him change it with his heart, though that is the weakest (kind of) faith."
Shaykh Khalid Yaseen is what is known as a da'ee
Shaykh Khalid Yaseen is what is known as a da'ee, this basically means a person who speaks publicly about the Islamic faith in order to invigorate the spiritual and moral conscience of listeners, or to educate and inform people about the Islamic faith.
Born in Brooklyn, during the changing 50's amongst a background of civil rights, struggle for freedom and equality (Shaykh Khalid Yasin) has always been well trained to speak out in times of inequality. Never accepting that anything came without hard work and firm resolve, he was able to seek a living, an education and most importantly be guided to the truth in spite of his surroundings.
Separated from his family at an early age and placed in foster homes he experienced 'the full buffet' of Christianity and felt that he needed something more simple and clear to inspire him. As many of the young Afro-American population did, Abu Muhammad first was introduced to Islam by the Black Nationalists; but made all the wiser for the defection of Hajj Malik Al-Shabaz.
Lecturing all around the world, Abu Muhammad was able to train extensively in Qur'an, Islamic legislature and Arabic in Madina and Cairo; although never accepting more recognition then he is due and only ever admitting to be a 'student of a student of knowledge'. The opinion of Abu Muhammad is that knowledge, which is easily acquired is least valued and most in need of explanation - he recommends those who seek knowledge to 'ask those who know'. Shaykh Khalid is, at current setting up and running 'the purpose of life centre' in Shirecliffe, Sheffield; an oasis of learning and community activity in a scenic setting in the heart of Sheffield. Members of the local and wider community are welcome at the centre on the weekend for an introduction, or a cup of tea with a resolve to improve links within the community and to offer a place of training, guidance or reflection.
Hopefully, the ultimate aim of the centre is to offer to the already vibrant Sheffield community a focal point for the rebuilding of an Islamic civilisation that did not threaten the world, but enriched it. The main objective in all the projects Abu Muhammad initiates is to give people the truth in the clearest, most straightforward and beneficial way to give access to people to the treasure that is Allah's (swt) Islam.
Born in Brooklyn, during the changing 50's amongst a background of civil rights, struggle for freedom and equality (Shaykh Khalid Yasin) has always been well trained to speak out in times of inequality. Never accepting that anything came without hard work and firm resolve, he was able to seek a living, an education and most importantly be guided to the truth in spite of his surroundings.
Separated from his family at an early age and placed in foster homes he experienced 'the full buffet' of Christianity and felt that he needed something more simple and clear to inspire him. As many of the young Afro-American population did, Abu Muhammad first was introduced to Islam by the Black Nationalists; but made all the wiser for the defection of Hajj Malik Al-Shabaz.
Lecturing all around the world, Abu Muhammad was able to train extensively in Qur'an, Islamic legislature and Arabic in Madina and Cairo; although never accepting more recognition then he is due and only ever admitting to be a 'student of a student of knowledge'. The opinion of Abu Muhammad is that knowledge, which is easily acquired is least valued and most in need of explanation - he recommends those who seek knowledge to 'ask those who know'. Shaykh Khalid is, at current setting up and running 'the purpose of life centre' in Shirecliffe, Sheffield; an oasis of learning and community activity in a scenic setting in the heart of Sheffield. Members of the local and wider community are welcome at the centre on the weekend for an introduction, or a cup of tea with a resolve to improve links within the community and to offer a place of training, guidance or reflection.
Hopefully, the ultimate aim of the centre is to offer to the already vibrant Sheffield community a focal point for the rebuilding of an Islamic civilisation that did not threaten the world, but enriched it. The main objective in all the projects Abu Muhammad initiates is to give people the truth in the clearest, most straightforward and beneficial way to give access to people to the treasure that is Allah's (swt) Islam.
Yusuf Abdullah [Joseph Zammit]
Yusuf Abdullah [Joseph Zammit]
Disclaimer: This convert story has been published on ChallengeYourSoul.com as is, without being edited. It may promote views & ideas not supported by ChallengeYourSoul.com and/or which are not Islamically correct.
Since childhood I was gifted with the sincere love for God and I was very sensitive to spiritual/religious things. I used to re-tell the stories about the saints to my mother while she was doing the housework. I spent my time reading the life stories of saints and the prophets in the Old Testament, as well I was highly fascinated with Jesus (Peace be on him). In my late teens, about 17 years old, this childhood fascination took a drastic turn when a priest gave me a copy of the Plain Truth magazine. Immediately curious, I embarked on a correspondence course in Bible study.
Slowly but surely I was becoming aware of something beautiful in the Bible which was missing.
I could not accept the teachings of the church anymore as they did not inspire me at all. I couldn’t understand how and why our society is so anti-Christian in its values. Religion was for inside the church only! On the other hand, I wanted to seek the inner, true teachings of the prophets and of Jesus (Peace on them all) in particular. I started using the Psalms as my daily prayers and for the first time I got satisfaction and power from prayers so much that tears would flow down my cheeks.
As my thirst and hunger increased, I started studying various mystical paths, as well as psychology. I started reading Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the Sufis who made a very good impression on me, but I brushed them aside as being Muslims. I studied the Hindu mystics, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, then on to the Theosophists, Buddhism, Zen and Tao yoga. During these years I used to correspond with initiates in these religions in the UK.
Simultaneously, I started studying Gnosticism, and this reverted me back to the Bible studies. I studied a lot of good books by Jewish scholars as well as international Bible scholars about many contradictions in the Bible. Next thing was that I contacted various Rosicrucian Orders and being a member in a couple of them. The Rosicrucians claim to be gnostic and freemasons and they promise the initiate to receive Cosmic Power etc. I was still going back, every now and then, to Sufi philosophy and mysticism and still was impressed and attracted by their simplicity and inner love for Allah. The Sufis touched my heart as nothing else did. In 1986 I decided to cut off my name and membership in the Catholic Church. I did this officially through the legal methods available. This was one of the most challenging things I did, alhamdulillah.
In 1989 I made contact with an Indian Master of high standing and was initiated. This Path is purely mystical and within the folds of the Sikh religion. At last, I said this is it. I was initiated into it for 11 whole years when I started to see similarities in the teachings to Sufi teachings, which I kept interested in. This was very interesting and I started investigating further the issue. I found out, to my amazement and satisfaction, that the Path was influenced, way back in the 16th century, by Sufi teachings and mysticism. Interest again flared up within me regarding the Sufis and so decided to go back to the roots of it, therefore studying more deeply the Sufi Way, which more and more was influencing me. The great obstacle was that real Sufis were Muslims—or worked within the Islamic religion. I found many so called International sufi orders which were neutral to religion but these I wasn’t attracted to. I kept on asking why do I have to be a Muslim in order to be a sufi? To become a Muslim is considered as a big ‘treason’ in a Catholic country like Malta. At this period in my life, I increased my prayers fervently and the yearning within me exploded. To my amazement and bewilderment, I found myself reading the Quran, the Holy scripture that is obviously so close to what Jesus taught, as well as the Old testament Prophets, that I laughed at myself for having missed it (or bypassed it) in my studies.
Reading the Holy Quran was the pivot in my life. I started exploring the Pillars of Islam and by the help and mercy of Allah I gathered strength enough to embrace Islam on Laylat-u-l-Qadr in year 2000. My studies of Sufis became deeper and I made contact with a couple of Tariqas, employing their daily wasifas and dhikr.
AFTERTHOUGHT
Here I must emphasise the real cause behind my whole life. Since childhood I wanted God and God alone. Whatever Prophet, Guru, Master I met with, it was only for the glory of God. God was and still is my aim, my life, my breath. Since childhood, I always thought about death. Being rich, having a nice family, being healthy, having a beautiful wife etc etc…so what? I have to die, then…? Therefore, I was sincere and took life seriously. I used to pray and pray and cry “Oh Allah! If I succeed in finding You just before I die, my whole life would have been a success!” Going through life, in all its materialistic attractions and deviations, still my heart pointed towards God.
Having arrived at the stage where I was a candidate student in one of the oldest Sufi Schools, I thought now this is really it. But Allah knows best. This year [2002], one week before embarking for the Hajj, casually I met a Muslim couple from UK at the local masjid. I had a very good conversation with them and in the night they gave me some books to read. I realised they were from the shia. I was so fascinated by one of the books they gave me that I made it a point to contact them at the Hotel next morning, but alas! They had flown back home. I went to the Hajj fully convinced that the shia are the true Muslims. So, I advise anyone to keep himself/herself open and let God do the work. We must have yearning, longing and be sincere in our prayers, then Allah does it all.
Your brother in Islam
Sura 2 - Al-Baqara [The Cow] Verse 97-97:
97. قُلْ مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Sura 2 - Al-Baqara [The Cow] Verse 97-97:
97. Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel-for he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe,-
Disclaimer: This convert story has been published on ChallengeYourSoul.com as is, without being edited. It may promote views & ideas not supported by ChallengeYourSoul.com and/or which are not Islamically correct.
Since childhood I was gifted with the sincere love for God and I was very sensitive to spiritual/religious things. I used to re-tell the stories about the saints to my mother while she was doing the housework. I spent my time reading the life stories of saints and the prophets in the Old Testament, as well I was highly fascinated with Jesus (Peace be on him). In my late teens, about 17 years old, this childhood fascination took a drastic turn when a priest gave me a copy of the Plain Truth magazine. Immediately curious, I embarked on a correspondence course in Bible study.
Slowly but surely I was becoming aware of something beautiful in the Bible which was missing.
I could not accept the teachings of the church anymore as they did not inspire me at all. I couldn’t understand how and why our society is so anti-Christian in its values. Religion was for inside the church only! On the other hand, I wanted to seek the inner, true teachings of the prophets and of Jesus (Peace on them all) in particular. I started using the Psalms as my daily prayers and for the first time I got satisfaction and power from prayers so much that tears would flow down my cheeks.
As my thirst and hunger increased, I started studying various mystical paths, as well as psychology. I started reading Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the Sufis who made a very good impression on me, but I brushed them aside as being Muslims. I studied the Hindu mystics, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, then on to the Theosophists, Buddhism, Zen and Tao yoga. During these years I used to correspond with initiates in these religions in the UK.
Simultaneously, I started studying Gnosticism, and this reverted me back to the Bible studies. I studied a lot of good books by Jewish scholars as well as international Bible scholars about many contradictions in the Bible. Next thing was that I contacted various Rosicrucian Orders and being a member in a couple of them. The Rosicrucians claim to be gnostic and freemasons and they promise the initiate to receive Cosmic Power etc. I was still going back, every now and then, to Sufi philosophy and mysticism and still was impressed and attracted by their simplicity and inner love for Allah. The Sufis touched my heart as nothing else did. In 1986 I decided to cut off my name and membership in the Catholic Church. I did this officially through the legal methods available. This was one of the most challenging things I did, alhamdulillah.
In 1989 I made contact with an Indian Master of high standing and was initiated. This Path is purely mystical and within the folds of the Sikh religion. At last, I said this is it. I was initiated into it for 11 whole years when I started to see similarities in the teachings to Sufi teachings, which I kept interested in. This was very interesting and I started investigating further the issue. I found out, to my amazement and satisfaction, that the Path was influenced, way back in the 16th century, by Sufi teachings and mysticism. Interest again flared up within me regarding the Sufis and so decided to go back to the roots of it, therefore studying more deeply the Sufi Way, which more and more was influencing me. The great obstacle was that real Sufis were Muslims—or worked within the Islamic religion. I found many so called International sufi orders which were neutral to religion but these I wasn’t attracted to. I kept on asking why do I have to be a Muslim in order to be a sufi? To become a Muslim is considered as a big ‘treason’ in a Catholic country like Malta. At this period in my life, I increased my prayers fervently and the yearning within me exploded. To my amazement and bewilderment, I found myself reading the Quran, the Holy scripture that is obviously so close to what Jesus taught, as well as the Old testament Prophets, that I laughed at myself for having missed it (or bypassed it) in my studies.
Reading the Holy Quran was the pivot in my life. I started exploring the Pillars of Islam and by the help and mercy of Allah I gathered strength enough to embrace Islam on Laylat-u-l-Qadr in year 2000. My studies of Sufis became deeper and I made contact with a couple of Tariqas, employing their daily wasifas and dhikr.
AFTERTHOUGHT
Here I must emphasise the real cause behind my whole life. Since childhood I wanted God and God alone. Whatever Prophet, Guru, Master I met with, it was only for the glory of God. God was and still is my aim, my life, my breath. Since childhood, I always thought about death. Being rich, having a nice family, being healthy, having a beautiful wife etc etc…so what? I have to die, then…? Therefore, I was sincere and took life seriously. I used to pray and pray and cry “Oh Allah! If I succeed in finding You just before I die, my whole life would have been a success!” Going through life, in all its materialistic attractions and deviations, still my heart pointed towards God.
Having arrived at the stage where I was a candidate student in one of the oldest Sufi Schools, I thought now this is really it. But Allah knows best. This year [2002], one week before embarking for the Hajj, casually I met a Muslim couple from UK at the local masjid. I had a very good conversation with them and in the night they gave me some books to read. I realised they were from the shia. I was so fascinated by one of the books they gave me that I made it a point to contact them at the Hotel next morning, but alas! They had flown back home. I went to the Hajj fully convinced that the shia are the true Muslims. So, I advise anyone to keep himself/herself open and let God do the work. We must have yearning, longing and be sincere in our prayers, then Allah does it all.
Your brother in Islam
Sura 2 - Al-Baqara [The Cow] Verse 97-97:
97. قُلْ مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Sura 2 - Al-Baqara [The Cow] Verse 97-97:
97. Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel-for he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe,-
When I found Islam I knew it was the 'last stop'
When I found Islam I knew it was the 'last stop'
Disclaimer: This convert story has been published on ChallengeYourSoul.com as is, without being edited. It may promote views & ideas not supported by ChallengeYourSoul.com and/or which are not Islamically correct.
Often when people ask me ‘How did you come to Islam?’, I take a deep breath and try and tell them the ‘short version’. I don’t think that Islam is something that I came to suddenly, even though it felt like it at the time, but it was something that I was gradually guided towards through different experiences. Through writing this piece I hope that somebody may read it, identify with some things and may be prompted to learn more about the real Islam.
I was born in 1978 in Australia, was christened and raised ‘Christian’. As a child I used to look forward to attending church and going to Sunday school. Even though I can still remember looking forward to it, I can’t remember much about it. Maybe it was getting all dressed up in my best clothes, maybe seeing the other children, maybe the stories, or maybe it was just that I could look forward to my grandmothers’ famous Sunday lunch when I got home. My family wasn’t strict about religion at all - the bible was never read outside church from what I knew, grace was never said before eating. To put it simply I guess religion just wasn’t a major issue in our lives. I can remember attending church with my family sometimes, and as I got older I can remember getting annoyed when the other members of my family chose not to come. So for the last couple of years I attended church alone.
At the time that I attended primary school ‘Religious Education’ was a lesson that was given weekly. We learned of ‘true Christian values’ and received copies of the bible. While I wouldn’t admit it at the time, I also looked forward to those classes. It was something interesting to learn about, something that I believed had some sort of importance, just that I didn’t know what.
In my high school years I attended an all girls high school. We didn’t have any sort of religious classes there, and I guess to some degree I missed that because I starting reading the bible in my own time. At the time I was reading it for ‘interest sake’. I believed that God existed, but not in the form that was often described in church. As for the trinity, I hoped that maybe that was something I would come to understand as I grew older. There were many things that confused me, hence there seemed to be ‘religious’ times in my life where I would read the bible and do my best to follow it, then I would get confused and think that it was all too much for me to understand. I remember talking to a Christian girl in my math classes. I guess that gave me one reason to look forward to math. I would ask her about things that I didn’t understand, and whilst some explanations I could understand, others didn’t seem to be logical enough for me to trust in Christianity 100%.
I can’t say that I have ever been comfortable living with a lot of aspects of the Australian culture. I didn’t understand for example drinking alcohol or having multiple boyfriends. I always felt that there was a lot of pressure and sometimes cried at the thought of ‘growing up’ because of what ‘growing up’ meant in this culture. My family travelled overseas fairly often and I always thought that through travelling I might be able to find a country where I could lead a comfortable life and not feel pressured like I did. After spending 3 weeks in Japan on a student exchange I decided that I wanted to go again for a long-term exchange. In my final year of high school I was accepted to attend a high school in Japan for the following year.
Before I left Australia to spend the year overseas I was going through one of my ‘religious stages’. I often tried to hide these stages from my parents. For some reason I thought that they would laugh at me reading the bible. The night before I flew to Japan my suitcase was packed however I stayed up until my parents had gone to sleep so I could get the bible and pack it too. I didn’t want my parents to know I was taking it.
My year in Japan didn’t end up the most enjoyable experience in my life by any means. I encountered problem after problem. At the time it was difficult. I was 17 years old when I went there and I learned a lot of valuable lessons in that year. One of which was ‘things aren’t always what they seem’. At one stage I felt as though I had lost everything - my Japanese school friends (friends had always been very important to me, even in Australia), my Japanese families, then I received a phone call saying that I was to be sent home to Australia a couple of months early. I had ‘lost everything’ - including the dream that I had held so close for so many years. The night that I received that phone call I got out my bible. I thought that maybe I could find some comfort in it, and I knew that no matter what, God knew the truth about everything that everybody does and that no amount of gossip and lies could change that. I had always believed that hard times were never given to us to ‘stop us’, but to help us grow. With that in mind, I was determined to stay in Japan for the whole year and somehow try and stop the ridiculous rumours. Alhamdulillah I was able to do that.
From that year I came to understand that not only is every culture different, but also they both have good points and bad points. I came to understand that it wasn’t a culture that I was searching for... but something else.
I attended an all girls Buddhist school in Japan. We had a gathering each week where we prayed, sang songs and listened to the principal give us lengthy talks. At first I wasn’t comfortable attending these gatherings. I was given a copy of the songbook along with the beads that you put over your hands when you pray. I tried to get out of going to them at the start, but then decided that I didn’t have to place the same meaning to things as others did. When I prayed, I prayed to the same God that I had always prayed to - the One and Only God. I can’t say that I really understand Buddhism. Whenever I tried to find out more I met with dead ends. I even asked a Japanese man who taught English. He had often been to America and he said that in Japan he was Buddhist, and in American he was Christian. There were some things about Buddhism that I found interesting, but it wasn’t something that I could consider a religion.
In a lot of ways I picked what I liked out of religions and spiritual philosophies and formed what I considered to be my ‘Own Religion’. I collected philosophical quote after quote in high school, read into things such as the Celestine Prophecy and Angels when I returned to Australia, and still held onto the Christian beliefs that made sense to me. I felt like I was continually searching for the truth.
When I returned to Australia from Japan I had grown closer to a girl that I went to high school with. She was always somebody who I considered to be a good friend, but wasn’t in ‘my group of friends’ whom I sat with in class or for lunch. Some of the people in that group I haven’t heard from and haven’t seen since I returned. I realised that this other girl and I had a lot more in common than I had first thought. Maybe this was because I had changed a lot in Japan, or maybe it was because I had learned that being ‘socially acceptable’ and popular wasn’t important because the people that are making those judgements are not always morally correct. I didn’t really care who was my friend and who wasn’t anymore, but I did care that I was true to myself and refused to change to suit other people. I felt like I had found who I really was by losing everything that I had previously considered important.
The girl that I had grown closer to was Muslim, not that I thought of it at the time. One night we sat in McDonalds, taking advantage of their ‘free refill coffee’ offer and talked about religion, mainly in what way we believed in God. She was the one asking the questions mostly, about how I thought God to ‘be’. I enjoyed the discussion and felt somehow that I might be making some sense to her with my ‘Own Religion’. When we got home she got out the 40 Hadith Qudsi and read them for herself. She read some of them to me, which of course got me interested. I asked to borrow the book from her so I could sit and read them all too, which I did. Reading the book in some ways was frightening. To me, examples of Islam could be found in TV news reports and in books such as ‘Princess’ and ‘Not without my daughter’. Surely, I thought, the Hadith were just a good part of it, but the bad part was there too.
From there I moved back to my university for the start of semester and couldn’t really get books from my friend anymore so I started looking on the Internet. I had already ‘met’ some Muslims on the IRC but I considered them my friends too and that they wouldn’t tell me the ‘truth’ about Islam. I thought that they would only tell me the good parts. I did ask them some questions though and Masha’Allah they were a great help. I still remember asking a Muslim guy whether he believed in angels. Angels were a part of my ‘Own Religion’ and I certainly didn’t believe that a Muslim guy would admit to believing in the existence of Angels!! My limited and ignorant understanding of a Muslim male was one who beat his wife, killed female babies and was a terrorist in his spare time. This sort of person couldn’t possibly believe in angels I thought. Of course I was shocked when he said ‘Of course I believe in angels’. From then I was interested to know what else Muslims believed in.
I often think that I initially continued reading about Islam through the Internet to prove it wrong. I was always looking for that ‘bad part’. Everybody couldn’t have such a bad view of Islam if there was no reason for them to. I had always found a bad or an illogical part to every religion that I had read into. So why would Islam be different? I remember finding an Islamic chat site for the first time and expected to see suppressed females just reading what the males were saying. I expected them not to have an opinion, I expected the ‘typical Muslim girl’ that I had always felt sorry for. To my shock I saw girls happily chatting, with opinions that they were allowed to express. Muslim girls that were somehow more liberated than I felt.
My learning about Islam through the Internet continued through chatting to lots of people and printing out homepage after homepage. The more I learned the more scared I was. I didn’t tell any of my friends that I was reading about Islam, not even my best friend. At first it was because I didn’t want them telling me only the ‘good parts’, and then even when I came to realise that I wasn’t going to find any of the bad parts, I didn’t want them to get their hopes up about me reverting to Islam. I wanted this ‘decision’ to be one that I made on my own - without pressure.
This ‘decision’ that I refer to wasn’t really a decision at all. I am often asked ‘What made you decide to become Muslim?’ but when something as clear and logical as Islam is put in front of you, there is no choice. This is not to say that it made the decision to say Shahadah any easier. There were many things that stopped me at first. Firstly I didn’t think that I knew enough about Islam… but then it didn’t matter because I knew that I would never find anything that was illogical or ‘bad’. I came to realise that saying Shahadah is not the final step, but the first. Insha-Allah throughout my life I will continue to learn. The other thing that made me hesitant was turning the meaning of the word ‘Islam’ from all the bad things that I had linked with it. I always thought that I couldn’t possibly be Muslim!! To then learn that my ‘Own Religion’ and beliefs for example of God being One, was actually Islam was hard at first. Islam brought everything together. Everything made sense. To me, finding Islam was like one big bus ride - I had stopped and had a look at all of the stops along the way, taken a bit from all of them, and continued on with the journey. When I found Islam I knew it was the ‘last stop’ of my long ride.
In October of 1997, my best friend came with me for me to say my Shahadah at an Islamic Centre in Melbourne (Jeffcott st). I was still scared at the time, but after one of the sisters going through the articles of faith, and me putting a mental tick next to each of them, I knew that there was nothing left to do but to say it with my mouth. I still cry when I think of the moment that I said ‘Yes.. I’ll do it’. I finally dropped the mental wall that had been stopping me. I was to repeat in Arabic after the sister. With her first word I cried. It is a feeling that I can’t explain. My friend was sitting beside but a little behind me, I didn’t realise it then but she was already crying. I felt so much power around me and in the words, but I myself felt so weak.
Sometimes I think my family wonder if this is a phase I am going through, just like my other phases. I was even vegetarian until mum told me what was for dinner that night - a roast. There is still so much for me to learn, but one thing that I would like people to understand is that I know Alhamdulillah that Islam is a blessing for mankind. The more you learn, Insha-Allah, the more beauty you will see in Islam.
Your sister in Islam.
Sura 45 - Al-Jathiya [Crouching] Verse 20-20:
20. هَذَا بَصَائِرُ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Sura 45 - Al-Jathiya [Crouching] Verse 20-20:
20. These are clear evidences to men and a Guidance and Mercy to those of assured Faith.
Disclaimer: This convert story has been published on ChallengeYourSoul.com as is, without being edited. It may promote views & ideas not supported by ChallengeYourSoul.com and/or which are not Islamically correct.
Often when people ask me ‘How did you come to Islam?’, I take a deep breath and try and tell them the ‘short version’. I don’t think that Islam is something that I came to suddenly, even though it felt like it at the time, but it was something that I was gradually guided towards through different experiences. Through writing this piece I hope that somebody may read it, identify with some things and may be prompted to learn more about the real Islam.
I was born in 1978 in Australia, was christened and raised ‘Christian’. As a child I used to look forward to attending church and going to Sunday school. Even though I can still remember looking forward to it, I can’t remember much about it. Maybe it was getting all dressed up in my best clothes, maybe seeing the other children, maybe the stories, or maybe it was just that I could look forward to my grandmothers’ famous Sunday lunch when I got home. My family wasn’t strict about religion at all - the bible was never read outside church from what I knew, grace was never said before eating. To put it simply I guess religion just wasn’t a major issue in our lives. I can remember attending church with my family sometimes, and as I got older I can remember getting annoyed when the other members of my family chose not to come. So for the last couple of years I attended church alone.
At the time that I attended primary school ‘Religious Education’ was a lesson that was given weekly. We learned of ‘true Christian values’ and received copies of the bible. While I wouldn’t admit it at the time, I also looked forward to those classes. It was something interesting to learn about, something that I believed had some sort of importance, just that I didn’t know what.
In my high school years I attended an all girls high school. We didn’t have any sort of religious classes there, and I guess to some degree I missed that because I starting reading the bible in my own time. At the time I was reading it for ‘interest sake’. I believed that God existed, but not in the form that was often described in church. As for the trinity, I hoped that maybe that was something I would come to understand as I grew older. There were many things that confused me, hence there seemed to be ‘religious’ times in my life where I would read the bible and do my best to follow it, then I would get confused and think that it was all too much for me to understand. I remember talking to a Christian girl in my math classes. I guess that gave me one reason to look forward to math. I would ask her about things that I didn’t understand, and whilst some explanations I could understand, others didn’t seem to be logical enough for me to trust in Christianity 100%.
I can’t say that I have ever been comfortable living with a lot of aspects of the Australian culture. I didn’t understand for example drinking alcohol or having multiple boyfriends. I always felt that there was a lot of pressure and sometimes cried at the thought of ‘growing up’ because of what ‘growing up’ meant in this culture. My family travelled overseas fairly often and I always thought that through travelling I might be able to find a country where I could lead a comfortable life and not feel pressured like I did. After spending 3 weeks in Japan on a student exchange I decided that I wanted to go again for a long-term exchange. In my final year of high school I was accepted to attend a high school in Japan for the following year.
Before I left Australia to spend the year overseas I was going through one of my ‘religious stages’. I often tried to hide these stages from my parents. For some reason I thought that they would laugh at me reading the bible. The night before I flew to Japan my suitcase was packed however I stayed up until my parents had gone to sleep so I could get the bible and pack it too. I didn’t want my parents to know I was taking it.
My year in Japan didn’t end up the most enjoyable experience in my life by any means. I encountered problem after problem. At the time it was difficult. I was 17 years old when I went there and I learned a lot of valuable lessons in that year. One of which was ‘things aren’t always what they seem’. At one stage I felt as though I had lost everything - my Japanese school friends (friends had always been very important to me, even in Australia), my Japanese families, then I received a phone call saying that I was to be sent home to Australia a couple of months early. I had ‘lost everything’ - including the dream that I had held so close for so many years. The night that I received that phone call I got out my bible. I thought that maybe I could find some comfort in it, and I knew that no matter what, God knew the truth about everything that everybody does and that no amount of gossip and lies could change that. I had always believed that hard times were never given to us to ‘stop us’, but to help us grow. With that in mind, I was determined to stay in Japan for the whole year and somehow try and stop the ridiculous rumours. Alhamdulillah I was able to do that.
From that year I came to understand that not only is every culture different, but also they both have good points and bad points. I came to understand that it wasn’t a culture that I was searching for... but something else.
I attended an all girls Buddhist school in Japan. We had a gathering each week where we prayed, sang songs and listened to the principal give us lengthy talks. At first I wasn’t comfortable attending these gatherings. I was given a copy of the songbook along with the beads that you put over your hands when you pray. I tried to get out of going to them at the start, but then decided that I didn’t have to place the same meaning to things as others did. When I prayed, I prayed to the same God that I had always prayed to - the One and Only God. I can’t say that I really understand Buddhism. Whenever I tried to find out more I met with dead ends. I even asked a Japanese man who taught English. He had often been to America and he said that in Japan he was Buddhist, and in American he was Christian. There were some things about Buddhism that I found interesting, but it wasn’t something that I could consider a religion.
In a lot of ways I picked what I liked out of religions and spiritual philosophies and formed what I considered to be my ‘Own Religion’. I collected philosophical quote after quote in high school, read into things such as the Celestine Prophecy and Angels when I returned to Australia, and still held onto the Christian beliefs that made sense to me. I felt like I was continually searching for the truth.
When I returned to Australia from Japan I had grown closer to a girl that I went to high school with. She was always somebody who I considered to be a good friend, but wasn’t in ‘my group of friends’ whom I sat with in class or for lunch. Some of the people in that group I haven’t heard from and haven’t seen since I returned. I realised that this other girl and I had a lot more in common than I had first thought. Maybe this was because I had changed a lot in Japan, or maybe it was because I had learned that being ‘socially acceptable’ and popular wasn’t important because the people that are making those judgements are not always morally correct. I didn’t really care who was my friend and who wasn’t anymore, but I did care that I was true to myself and refused to change to suit other people. I felt like I had found who I really was by losing everything that I had previously considered important.
The girl that I had grown closer to was Muslim, not that I thought of it at the time. One night we sat in McDonalds, taking advantage of their ‘free refill coffee’ offer and talked about religion, mainly in what way we believed in God. She was the one asking the questions mostly, about how I thought God to ‘be’. I enjoyed the discussion and felt somehow that I might be making some sense to her with my ‘Own Religion’. When we got home she got out the 40 Hadith Qudsi and read them for herself. She read some of them to me, which of course got me interested. I asked to borrow the book from her so I could sit and read them all too, which I did. Reading the book in some ways was frightening. To me, examples of Islam could be found in TV news reports and in books such as ‘Princess’ and ‘Not without my daughter’. Surely, I thought, the Hadith were just a good part of it, but the bad part was there too.
From there I moved back to my university for the start of semester and couldn’t really get books from my friend anymore so I started looking on the Internet. I had already ‘met’ some Muslims on the IRC but I considered them my friends too and that they wouldn’t tell me the ‘truth’ about Islam. I thought that they would only tell me the good parts. I did ask them some questions though and Masha’Allah they were a great help. I still remember asking a Muslim guy whether he believed in angels. Angels were a part of my ‘Own Religion’ and I certainly didn’t believe that a Muslim guy would admit to believing in the existence of Angels!! My limited and ignorant understanding of a Muslim male was one who beat his wife, killed female babies and was a terrorist in his spare time. This sort of person couldn’t possibly believe in angels I thought. Of course I was shocked when he said ‘Of course I believe in angels’. From then I was interested to know what else Muslims believed in.
I often think that I initially continued reading about Islam through the Internet to prove it wrong. I was always looking for that ‘bad part’. Everybody couldn’t have such a bad view of Islam if there was no reason for them to. I had always found a bad or an illogical part to every religion that I had read into. So why would Islam be different? I remember finding an Islamic chat site for the first time and expected to see suppressed females just reading what the males were saying. I expected them not to have an opinion, I expected the ‘typical Muslim girl’ that I had always felt sorry for. To my shock I saw girls happily chatting, with opinions that they were allowed to express. Muslim girls that were somehow more liberated than I felt.
My learning about Islam through the Internet continued through chatting to lots of people and printing out homepage after homepage. The more I learned the more scared I was. I didn’t tell any of my friends that I was reading about Islam, not even my best friend. At first it was because I didn’t want them telling me only the ‘good parts’, and then even when I came to realise that I wasn’t going to find any of the bad parts, I didn’t want them to get their hopes up about me reverting to Islam. I wanted this ‘decision’ to be one that I made on my own - without pressure.
This ‘decision’ that I refer to wasn’t really a decision at all. I am often asked ‘What made you decide to become Muslim?’ but when something as clear and logical as Islam is put in front of you, there is no choice. This is not to say that it made the decision to say Shahadah any easier. There were many things that stopped me at first. Firstly I didn’t think that I knew enough about Islam… but then it didn’t matter because I knew that I would never find anything that was illogical or ‘bad’. I came to realise that saying Shahadah is not the final step, but the first. Insha-Allah throughout my life I will continue to learn. The other thing that made me hesitant was turning the meaning of the word ‘Islam’ from all the bad things that I had linked with it. I always thought that I couldn’t possibly be Muslim!! To then learn that my ‘Own Religion’ and beliefs for example of God being One, was actually Islam was hard at first. Islam brought everything together. Everything made sense. To me, finding Islam was like one big bus ride - I had stopped and had a look at all of the stops along the way, taken a bit from all of them, and continued on with the journey. When I found Islam I knew it was the ‘last stop’ of my long ride.
In October of 1997, my best friend came with me for me to say my Shahadah at an Islamic Centre in Melbourne (Jeffcott st). I was still scared at the time, but after one of the sisters going through the articles of faith, and me putting a mental tick next to each of them, I knew that there was nothing left to do but to say it with my mouth. I still cry when I think of the moment that I said ‘Yes.. I’ll do it’. I finally dropped the mental wall that had been stopping me. I was to repeat in Arabic after the sister. With her first word I cried. It is a feeling that I can’t explain. My friend was sitting beside but a little behind me, I didn’t realise it then but she was already crying. I felt so much power around me and in the words, but I myself felt so weak.
Sometimes I think my family wonder if this is a phase I am going through, just like my other phases. I was even vegetarian until mum told me what was for dinner that night - a roast. There is still so much for me to learn, but one thing that I would like people to understand is that I know Alhamdulillah that Islam is a blessing for mankind. The more you learn, Insha-Allah, the more beauty you will see in Islam.
Your sister in Islam.
Sura 45 - Al-Jathiya [Crouching] Verse 20-20:
20. هَذَا بَصَائِرُ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Sura 45 - Al-Jathiya [Crouching] Verse 20-20:
20. These are clear evidences to men and a Guidance and Mercy to those of assured Faith.
The Religion of Truth
The Religion of Truth
Disclaimer: This convert story has been published on ChallengeYourSoul.com as is, without being edited. It may promote views & ideas not supported by ChallengeYourSoul.com and/or which are not Islamically correct.
All I have to say is all what you know already, to confirm what you already know, the message of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam"peace be upon him") as given by God - the Religion of Truth. As human beings we are given a consciousness and a duty that has placed us at the top of creation. Man is created to be God's deputy on earth, and it is important to realize the obligation to rid ourselves of all illusions and to make our lives a preparation for the next life. Anybody who misses this chance is not likely to be given another, to be brought back again and again, because it says in Qur'an Majeed that when man is brought to account, he will say, "O Lord, send us back and give us another chance." The Lord will say, "If I send you back you will do the same."
MY EARLY RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING
I was brought up in the modern world of all the luxury and the high life of show business. I was born in a Christian home, but we know that every child is born in his original nature - it is only his parents that turn him to this or that religion. I was given this religion (Christianity) and thought this way. I was taught that God exists, but there was no direct contact with God, so we had to make contact with Him through Jesus - he was in fact the door to God. This was more or less accepted by me, but I did not swallow it all.
I looked at some of the statues of Jesus; they were just stones with no life. And when they said that God is three, I was puzzled even more but could not argue. I more or less believed it, because I had to have respect for the faith of my parents.
POP STAR
Gradually I became alienated from this religious upbringing. I started making music. I wanted to be a big star. All those things I saw in the films and on the media took hold of me, and perhaps I thought this was my God, the goal of making money. I had an uncle who had a beautiful car. "Well," I said, "he has it made. He has a lot of money." The people around me influenced me to think that this was it; this world was their God.
I decided then that this was the life for me; to make a lot of money, have a 'great life.' Now my examples were the pop stars. I started making songs, but deep down I had a feeling for humanity, a feeling that if I became rich I would help the needy. (It says in the Qur'an, we make a promise, but when we make something, we want to hold onto it and become greedy.)
So what happened was that I became very famous. I was still a teenager, my name and photo were splashed in all the media. They made me larger than life, so I wanted to live larger than life and the only way to do that was to be intoxicated (with liquor and drugs).
IN HOSPITAL
After a year of financial success and 'high' living, I became very ill, contracted TB and had to be hospitalized. It was then that I started to think: What was to happen to me? Was I just a body, and my goal in life was merely to satisfy this body? I realized now that this calamity was a blessing given to me by Allah, a chance to open my eyes - "Why am I here? Why am I in bed?" - and I started looking for some of the answers. At that time there was great interest in the Eastern mysticism. I began reading, and the first thing I began to become aware of was death, and that the soul moves on; it does not stop. I felt I was taking the road to bliss and high accomplishment. I started meditating and even became a vegetarian. I now believed in 'peace and flower power,' and this was the general trend. But what I did believe in particular was that I was not just a body. This awareness came to me at the hospital.
One day when I was walking and I was caught in the rain, I began running to the shelter and then I realized, 'Wait a minute, my body is getting wet, my body is telling me I am getting wet.' This made me think of a saying that the body is like a donkey, and it has to be trained where it has to go. Otherwise, the donkey will lead you where it wants to go.
Then I realized I had a will, a God-given gift: follow the will of God. I was fascinated by the new terminology I was learning in the Eastern religion. By now I was fed up with Christianity. I started making music again and this time I started reflecting my own thoughts. I remember the lyric of one of my songs. It goes like this: "I wish I knew, I wish I knew what makes the Heaven, what makes the Hell. Do I get to know You in my bed or some dusty cell while others reach the big hotel?" and I knew I was on the Path.
I also wrote another song, "The Way to Find God Out." I became even more famous in the world of music. I really had a difficult time because I was getting rich and famous, and at the same time, I was sincerely searching for the Truth. Then I came to a stage where I decided that Buddhism is all right and noble, but I was not ready to leave the world. I was too attached to the world and was not prepared to become a monk and to isolate myself from society.
I tried Zen and Ching, numerology, tarot cards and astrology. I tried to look back into the Bible and could not find anything. At this time I did not know anything about Islam, and then, what I regarded as a miracle occurred. My brother had visited the mosque in Jerusalem and was greatly impressed that while on the one hand it throbbed with life (unlike the churches and synagogues which were empty), on the other hand, an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity prevailed.
THE QUR'AN
When he came to London he brought back a translation of the Qur'an, which he gave to me. He did not become a Muslim, but he felt something in this religion, and thought I might find something in it also.
And when I received the book, a guidance that would explain everything to me - who I was; what was the purpose of life; what was the reality and what would be the reality; and where I came from - I realized that this was the true religion; religion not in the sense the West understands it, not the type for only your old age. In the West, whoever wishes to embrace a religion and make it his only way of life is deemed a fanatic. I was not a fanatic, I was at first confused between the body and the soul. Then I realized that the body and soul are not apart and you don't have to go to the mountain to be religious. We must follow the will of God. Then we can rise higher than the angels. The first thing I wanted to do now was to be a Muslim.
I realized that everything belongs to God, that slumber does not overtake Him. He created everything. At this point I began to lose the pride in me, because hereto I had thought the reason I was here was because of my own greatness. But I realized that I did not create myself, and the whole purpose of my being here was to submit to the teaching that has been perfected by the religion we know as Al-Islam. At this point I started discovering my faith. I felt I was a Muslim. On reading the Qur'an, I now realized that all the Prophets sent by God brought the same message. Why then were the Jews and Christians different? I know now how the Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah and that they had changed His Word. Even the Christians misunderstand God's Word and called Jesus the son of God. Everything made so much sense. This is the beauty of the Qur'an; it asks you to reflect and reason, and not to worship the sun or moon but the One Who has created everything. The Qur'an asks man to reflect upon the sun and moon and God's creation in general. Do you realize how different the sun is from the moon? They are at varying distances from the earth, yet appear the same size to us; at times one seems to overlap the other.
Even when many of the astronauts go to space, they see the insignificant size of the earth and vastness of space. They become very religious, because they have seen the Signs of Allah.
When I read the Qur'an further, it talked about prayer, kindness and charity. I was not a Muslim yet, but I felt that the only answer for me was the Qur'an, and God had sent it to me, and I kept it a secret. But the Qur'an also speaks on different levels. I began to understand it on another level, where the Qur'an says,
"Those who believe do not take disbelievers for friends and the believers are brothers."
Thus at this point I wished to meet my Muslim brothers.
CONVERSION
Then I decided to journey to Jerusalem (as my brother had done). At Jerusalem, I went to the mosque and sat down. A man asked me what I wanted. I told him I was a Muslim. He asked what was my name. I told him, "Stevens." He was confused. I then joined the prayer, though not so successfully. Back in London, I met a sister called Nafisa. I told her I wanted to embrace Islam and she directed me to the New Regent Mosque. This was in 1977, about one and a half years after I received the Qur'an. Now I realized that I must get rid of my pride, get rid of Iblis, and face one direction. So on a Friday, after Jumma' I went to the Imam and declared my faith (the Kalima) at this hands. You have before you someone who had achieved fame and fortune. But guidance was something that eluded me, no matter how hard I tried, until I was shown the Qur'an. Now I realize I can get in direct contact with God, unlike Christianity or any other religion. As one Hindu lady told me, "You don't understand the Hindus. We believe in one God; we use these objects (idols) to merely concentrate." What she was saying was that in order to reach God, one has to create associates, that are idols for the purpose. But Islam removes all these barriers. The only thing that moves the believers from the disbelievers is the salat. This is the process of purification.
Finally I wish to say that everything I do is for the pleasure of Allah and pray that you gain some inspirations from my experiences. Furthermore, I would like to stress that I did not come into contact with any Muslim before I embraced Islam. I read the Qur'an first and realized that no person is perfect. Islam is perfect, and if we imitate the conduct of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) we will be successful. May Allah give us guidance to follow the path of the ummah of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Ameen!
Disclaimer: This convert story has been published on ChallengeYourSoul.com as is, without being edited. It may promote views & ideas not supported by ChallengeYourSoul.com and/or which are not Islamically correct.
All I have to say is all what you know already, to confirm what you already know, the message of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam"peace be upon him") as given by God - the Religion of Truth. As human beings we are given a consciousness and a duty that has placed us at the top of creation. Man is created to be God's deputy on earth, and it is important to realize the obligation to rid ourselves of all illusions and to make our lives a preparation for the next life. Anybody who misses this chance is not likely to be given another, to be brought back again and again, because it says in Qur'an Majeed that when man is brought to account, he will say, "O Lord, send us back and give us another chance." The Lord will say, "If I send you back you will do the same."
MY EARLY RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING
I was brought up in the modern world of all the luxury and the high life of show business. I was born in a Christian home, but we know that every child is born in his original nature - it is only his parents that turn him to this or that religion. I was given this religion (Christianity) and thought this way. I was taught that God exists, but there was no direct contact with God, so we had to make contact with Him through Jesus - he was in fact the door to God. This was more or less accepted by me, but I did not swallow it all.
I looked at some of the statues of Jesus; they were just stones with no life. And when they said that God is three, I was puzzled even more but could not argue. I more or less believed it, because I had to have respect for the faith of my parents.
POP STAR
Gradually I became alienated from this religious upbringing. I started making music. I wanted to be a big star. All those things I saw in the films and on the media took hold of me, and perhaps I thought this was my God, the goal of making money. I had an uncle who had a beautiful car. "Well," I said, "he has it made. He has a lot of money." The people around me influenced me to think that this was it; this world was their God.
I decided then that this was the life for me; to make a lot of money, have a 'great life.' Now my examples were the pop stars. I started making songs, but deep down I had a feeling for humanity, a feeling that if I became rich I would help the needy. (It says in the Qur'an, we make a promise, but when we make something, we want to hold onto it and become greedy.)
So what happened was that I became very famous. I was still a teenager, my name and photo were splashed in all the media. They made me larger than life, so I wanted to live larger than life and the only way to do that was to be intoxicated (with liquor and drugs).
IN HOSPITAL
After a year of financial success and 'high' living, I became very ill, contracted TB and had to be hospitalized. It was then that I started to think: What was to happen to me? Was I just a body, and my goal in life was merely to satisfy this body? I realized now that this calamity was a blessing given to me by Allah, a chance to open my eyes - "Why am I here? Why am I in bed?" - and I started looking for some of the answers. At that time there was great interest in the Eastern mysticism. I began reading, and the first thing I began to become aware of was death, and that the soul moves on; it does not stop. I felt I was taking the road to bliss and high accomplishment. I started meditating and even became a vegetarian. I now believed in 'peace and flower power,' and this was the general trend. But what I did believe in particular was that I was not just a body. This awareness came to me at the hospital.
One day when I was walking and I was caught in the rain, I began running to the shelter and then I realized, 'Wait a minute, my body is getting wet, my body is telling me I am getting wet.' This made me think of a saying that the body is like a donkey, and it has to be trained where it has to go. Otherwise, the donkey will lead you where it wants to go.
Then I realized I had a will, a God-given gift: follow the will of God. I was fascinated by the new terminology I was learning in the Eastern religion. By now I was fed up with Christianity. I started making music again and this time I started reflecting my own thoughts. I remember the lyric of one of my songs. It goes like this: "I wish I knew, I wish I knew what makes the Heaven, what makes the Hell. Do I get to know You in my bed or some dusty cell while others reach the big hotel?" and I knew I was on the Path.
I also wrote another song, "The Way to Find God Out." I became even more famous in the world of music. I really had a difficult time because I was getting rich and famous, and at the same time, I was sincerely searching for the Truth. Then I came to a stage where I decided that Buddhism is all right and noble, but I was not ready to leave the world. I was too attached to the world and was not prepared to become a monk and to isolate myself from society.
I tried Zen and Ching, numerology, tarot cards and astrology. I tried to look back into the Bible and could not find anything. At this time I did not know anything about Islam, and then, what I regarded as a miracle occurred. My brother had visited the mosque in Jerusalem and was greatly impressed that while on the one hand it throbbed with life (unlike the churches and synagogues which were empty), on the other hand, an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity prevailed.
THE QUR'AN
When he came to London he brought back a translation of the Qur'an, which he gave to me. He did not become a Muslim, but he felt something in this religion, and thought I might find something in it also.
And when I received the book, a guidance that would explain everything to me - who I was; what was the purpose of life; what was the reality and what would be the reality; and where I came from - I realized that this was the true religion; religion not in the sense the West understands it, not the type for only your old age. In the West, whoever wishes to embrace a religion and make it his only way of life is deemed a fanatic. I was not a fanatic, I was at first confused between the body and the soul. Then I realized that the body and soul are not apart and you don't have to go to the mountain to be religious. We must follow the will of God. Then we can rise higher than the angels. The first thing I wanted to do now was to be a Muslim.
I realized that everything belongs to God, that slumber does not overtake Him. He created everything. At this point I began to lose the pride in me, because hereto I had thought the reason I was here was because of my own greatness. But I realized that I did not create myself, and the whole purpose of my being here was to submit to the teaching that has been perfected by the religion we know as Al-Islam. At this point I started discovering my faith. I felt I was a Muslim. On reading the Qur'an, I now realized that all the Prophets sent by God brought the same message. Why then were the Jews and Christians different? I know now how the Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah and that they had changed His Word. Even the Christians misunderstand God's Word and called Jesus the son of God. Everything made so much sense. This is the beauty of the Qur'an; it asks you to reflect and reason, and not to worship the sun or moon but the One Who has created everything. The Qur'an asks man to reflect upon the sun and moon and God's creation in general. Do you realize how different the sun is from the moon? They are at varying distances from the earth, yet appear the same size to us; at times one seems to overlap the other.
Even when many of the astronauts go to space, they see the insignificant size of the earth and vastness of space. They become very religious, because they have seen the Signs of Allah.
When I read the Qur'an further, it talked about prayer, kindness and charity. I was not a Muslim yet, but I felt that the only answer for me was the Qur'an, and God had sent it to me, and I kept it a secret. But the Qur'an also speaks on different levels. I began to understand it on another level, where the Qur'an says,
"Those who believe do not take disbelievers for friends and the believers are brothers."
Thus at this point I wished to meet my Muslim brothers.
CONVERSION
Then I decided to journey to Jerusalem (as my brother had done). At Jerusalem, I went to the mosque and sat down. A man asked me what I wanted. I told him I was a Muslim. He asked what was my name. I told him, "Stevens." He was confused. I then joined the prayer, though not so successfully. Back in London, I met a sister called Nafisa. I told her I wanted to embrace Islam and she directed me to the New Regent Mosque. This was in 1977, about one and a half years after I received the Qur'an. Now I realized that I must get rid of my pride, get rid of Iblis, and face one direction. So on a Friday, after Jumma' I went to the Imam and declared my faith (the Kalima) at this hands. You have before you someone who had achieved fame and fortune. But guidance was something that eluded me, no matter how hard I tried, until I was shown the Qur'an. Now I realize I can get in direct contact with God, unlike Christianity or any other religion. As one Hindu lady told me, "You don't understand the Hindus. We believe in one God; we use these objects (idols) to merely concentrate." What she was saying was that in order to reach God, one has to create associates, that are idols for the purpose. But Islam removes all these barriers. The only thing that moves the believers from the disbelievers is the salat. This is the process of purification.
Finally I wish to say that everything I do is for the pleasure of Allah and pray that you gain some inspirations from my experiences. Furthermore, I would like to stress that I did not come into contact with any Muslim before I embraced Islam. I read the Qur'an first and realized that no person is perfect. Islam is perfect, and if we imitate the conduct of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) we will be successful. May Allah give us guidance to follow the path of the ummah of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Ameen!
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