One Ummah Network
Fri, 29 Sep 2000 18:33:40 -0700
Submission by: Islamic Unification Movement <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Topic: Al-Qur'an: Criterion and Unifier
************
Text:
With the Name of Allah, The Merciful Benefactor, The Merciful Redeemer
Al-Qur'an: Criterion and Unifier
Although the Muslim Ummah is currently divided, Muslims have often found
grounds on which to unite. Muslims of various nationalities, ethnicity,
and schools of thought occasionally join hands in order to break the
shackles of oppression, establish better communities for their families, or
call people to the great religion of al-Islam. Whatever cause or factor,
whether tragic or joyous, whether it is long term or for only an instant,
Muslims have discovered reasons to unite.
Inevitably, however, people get involved in recklessness, innovation, and
fitnah. The ties of unity are broken and the people return to their old
prejudices, hatred, transgression, and cultural backwardness.
The call of Islam becomes deafening to their ears.
"Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path)." (2:18)
Repeatedly, this unrelenting cycle is recommenced. No matter how well the
people design their plans or how firmly their organizations are
established, they eventually divide.
Why do Muslims fall victim to this fitnah to which Ash-Shaytan calls them?
Why do they find unity inadequate and prefer their own worldly desires to
those of Allah?
The answer is at the very heart of Islam. Before colonialism, before the
khilafah fell, before corruption entered the office of the caliphate,
before the great fitnah, before the disunity and confusion, there was a
book. Through it people found guidance, justice was established, and unity
was maintained.
The book was the Qur'an. Allah deputed the Holy Prophet (saaws) and
revealed to him the Qur'an that it might settle most of the matters about
which people disputed.
"And We sent down the Book to thee so that you should make clear to them
those things in which they differ, and that it should be a guide and a
mercy to those who believe." (16:64)
No disputes existed among Muslims, and the Prophet (saaws) settled any
disagreements that did occur. After the death of Prophet Muhammad, people
began to turn away from the truth that was revealed to them from Allah.
Their voices continued to recite the words of Allah, but their hearts
became focused on the material world.
Despite these adversities, many companions of the Prophet continued to
cling closely to the Book of Allah. In this way, it was preserved for
generations. The Muslim Ummah in general, however, gradually drifted away
from the Book. Each generation after the Prophet's death knew less of the
Qur'an, and when we say "knew less" we do not mean that they did not
memorize as many suras but rather that they no longer held the words of
Allah dear to their hearts and above all other things.
In order to preserve the Sunnah of the Prophet, people began to compile
many of his sayings and actions into books. This by itself seems harmless
and actually quite logical. Hadith collectors had an arduous task in
trying to compile books of ahadith while also attempting to separate the
authentic narrations from the unauthentic ones. As most of us are aware,
many of the great hadith scholars were quite successful in achieving their
goals. Some of them are said to have books that are 99% authentic.
For the average Muslim, it is necessary to caution him about the claims of
people who say such things for reasons that I cannot enumerate. I will,
however, attempt to provide a brief explanation of the reasons behind this
need for caution.
When scholars designated a hadith to be authentic, they set down as their
guide the Book of Allah. None of them would dare claim that a hadith, no
matter how authentic, should take precedence of the words of Allah, which
are inerrant. Nevertheless, generations after these scholars
oversimplified their works. Any hadith that had a sound chain was
designated as authentic while little attention was paid to the Book of
Allah. As a result, the Ummah as a whole fractured itself into schools of
thought that argued over the contradictions that existed in their own
books.
To the non-Muslim scholar, this type of uncertainty and division is comical
because it reminds him of his own religion's inability to justify
contradictions. This is while his divine book is full of contradictions
and the Qur'an is flawless and completely at harmony with itself and with
nature.
It is therefore clear that the study of hadith has not divided the Ummah
but rather the leaving off of the Qur'an in preference to ahadith. If we
are truly to unite the Ummah and reconcile our differences, we must at
least momentarily set our hadith books aside, suppress our desires to argue
with them, and turn to the Book of Allah. If we examine ourselves and our
Deen based on the Book of Allah, our differences will seem miniscule and
our hearts will be purified.
This is because all Muslims rely on the Qur'an for guidance. All Muslims
recognize the Qur'an as their source of wisdom and a Criterion for their
daily lives.
"Blessed is He Who sent down the Criterion to His servant, that it may be
an admonition to all creatures." (25:1)
We should never place anything above the Qur'an. It should be the judge of
our affairs. If something that we are doing is not in line with the
Qur'an, no matter what scholar or sheikh told us to do it, we must cast it
aside in favor of the words of Allah and common sense. This is the path
of righteousness. By doing this, our other differences, which are solely
based on hadith, will seem insignificant. Unlike any organizations that
have been established or causes that have appeared, the unity of the Qur'an
is permanent. As long as people keep it in their hearts and make it the
Criterion for their lives, they will not be divided. We must cling to the
rope that Allah extends to us. Allah had sent the Qur'an to us so that we
might find peace in our hearts and unity in our Ummah.
"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 you were enemies and He joined your hearts in
love, so that by His Grace, you became brethren; and you were on the brink
of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make His
Signs clear to you: That you may be guided." (3:103)
_________________________________________
OneUmmah Network
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Homepage: http://www.OneUmmah.Net
Free E-mail Service: http://mail.1ummah.net
Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
e-mail entire list: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The views expressed on One Ummah Information do
not necessarily coincide with the views of One Ummah
Network, with the Islamic Unification Movement, or its
supporters. All the works presented by this service are
properties of their authors unless otherwise stated.
__________________________________________