UNITY OF THE UMMAH
As Salam Alaikum wa Rehmathullah,
And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, (and) if you
(Muslims of the whole world collectively) do not do so [i.e. become
allies, as one united block under one Khalifah to make victorious
Allah's religion of Islamic Monotheism], there will be Fitnah (wars,
battles, polytheism) and oppression on the earth, and a great
mischief and corruption (appearance of polytheism) Al-Anfal 73.
The pride we take in being the best of People chosen for the benefit
of mankind (3:110) and for having been blessed with a Deen that
Allah has perfected and completed His favour upon us by giving it to
us (Al-Maidah 3) is entirely justified, but just like how power
without responsibility is more harmful than beneficial, so too our
Deen that comes to us with a promise of Jannah but does not exclude
us from being severely tested and held accountable for not living up
to the responsibility reposed on us by the Creator, both in this
World and the Hereafter.
We are singularly a people on whom lies the onus of disproving the
present day accepted norms, practices and values. We bear the burden
of proving how Islam is perfect and the only religion acceptable to
Allah SWT. Anything even slightly in conflict with the Quran is
completely unacceptable to us. We have the unenviable responsibility
of standing by the Commands of Allah even at the cost of being
labelled dogmatic, intolerant, violent and all the other titles that
are heaped upon us.
I believe there is a need for us to stop and reflect why it is so?
It is easy for us to feel victimised and develop a siege mentality.
We feel so frustrated at the unfairness of it all and as a result
fight back with all our might in an effort to dispel the wrong
notions people have about our great religion. Of late there are more
and more from amongst us who are taking to writing, organising
seminars and creating platforms for inter-faith dialogue and a lot
more. One has to say this is good and I am sure it is also helping
some what in offsetting the stereo typing of the Muslims. Awareness
about Islam is growing by the day and statistics show there are more
and more people embracing Islam. Amazingly this is happening at a
time when Islam is at its weakest and is generally perceived as a
backward and violent religion. The question is how can this
contradiction be reconciled?
I believe we have to understand that for any answer, one first needs
to have a question and as a Muslim Nation, we have never felt the
need to question ourselves. We are rarely willing to look inward and
certainly unwilling to give the benefit of doubt to others for their
erroneous perceptions about Islam and Muslims. The best of our
efforts today are directed towards explaining how we are not any of
those things that they perceive us to be, rather the need is for us
to show why we are none of those things people associate with us.
When we say, we are the best of people, we argue that it is so
because Allah has said so, whereas the need is for us to demonstrate
our superiority by emitting an Islamic character that is based on
honesty, integrity, truthfulness, uprightness and trustworthiness.
When we say, Islam is a religion perfected by Allah, hence the best
religion; we again make the point that Allah has said so, whereas
the need is for us to show the enormous benefit there is for the
World from Islam.
It should not be difficult for us to understand that it is in human
nature to adopt and accept something only if he/she finds there is
something in it for him/her that is superior to what she already
has. There are certainly those who will find Islam superior simply
because it is logical and answers the contradictions they find in
their own Scriptures.
In this age of communication and Information, there are more and
more people who have suddenly become aware of Islam as a religion
that is different and somehow compelling for others to learn more
about it. Unfortunately the how of Islam being a superior religion
has become a cause for more and more people embracing Islam but at
the same time leaving a larger number of otherwise unconcerned
people with a hostile attitude towards it. Conversely had the why of
Islam being a superior religion been a cause for people to embrace
Islam, then the results would have been different. There would have
been a larger number of people embracing Islam and even those who
did not would certainly not have had ill will or dislike for Islam.
I plead with my brethren Ummah to recognise this contradiction and
focus their efforts more and more towards correcting this anomaly by
building a Society that is based on Islamic values. A system that
demonstrates Universal Islamic Brotherhood and a mechanism that
prevents one from benefiting at the expense of other; rather it
looks at equity in the distribution of wealth. It takes away the
capitalistic mindset of survival of the fittest; rather it
demonstrates the right for all to survive.
We have to show to the World that Islam is democratic in essence
without subscribing to the farce that is practiced in the name of
democracy today. We have to show Islamic democracy on the principle
of governance of the Leaders, by the leaders, for the people unlike
democracy of the people, for the people and by the people.
We have to demonstrate a non-interest based banking system that can
work and more importantly helps to spread peace and goodwill in the
Society, unlike discontent, crime and degradation of human values
otherwise.
When we say we are the best of people, we explain how but are unable
to demonstrate why because we don't have anything to show that is
visibly evident. Most of our Institutions are in shambles. Our
Islamic Scholars (Ulema) depend on Sadaqa and Zakat to run their
Madrasas or even their households.
There is an absolutely urgent need for us to articulate the role of
a Muslim Woman in the society today. While there is no denying the
immense rights and benefits Islam has given to Muslim Women, there
is a need to not lose sight of the fact that it is a Woman who makes
a Home and that is her primary duty and responsibility. Similarly a
Muslim Man has to awaken to his rights and duties as a Provider.
Only the amalgamation of the two will bring harmony and peace in a
Society that is bedevilled by materialistic instincts and Mammon
(the money god) as its presiding deity.
Finally in the context of Unity of the Ummah under a single Khalifa,
it has been mentioned in Tafsir At Tabari "That if you do not do
what We (Allah) have ordered you to do, [i.e. all of you (Muslims of
the whole world) do not become allies as one united block to make
Allah's religion Islam) victorious, there will be a great Fitnah
(polytheism, wars, battles, killing, robbing, a great mischief,
corruption.)]. And it is Fitnah to have many Khalifahs.
I know it is not possible to have one Khalfah overnight, but the
urgency of putting in motion a process that envisages a model
Islamic system in all segments of Islamic Society cannot be over
emphasised. May Allah SWT give us all the wisdom to imbibe all that
pleases Him and reject all that that He is displeased with. Aameen.
The Quran Says: "Verily! Those who believe not in the Ayat (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah,
Allah will not guide them and theirs will be a painful torment". Al
Nahl 104
Jazak Allahu Khairan
Syed Adil
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy
Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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http://www.islamonline.net
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http://www.prophetmuhammadforall.org
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