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Bismillaahi walhamdulillaahi wassalaatu wassalaamu alaa rasoolillaahi
Assalaamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu Teachings of the Qur`aan Al-Baqarah
Soorah 2
Aayaat 153-157
by Ayub A. Hamid
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The task that was entrusted to Muslims was never an easy task. Establishing the Islamic system of justice and peace entails a long, arduous struggle that is violently resisted and ferociously opposed by those who want to maintain the existing exploitive man-made systems in place. Bringing the desired change requires Muslims to make many sacrifices and endure many hardships. To crush the Islamic movement of peace and justice, the vested interests who are the beneficiaries of the existing exploitive systems wage ruthless wars in which numerous human lives are lost. The Islamic movement succeeds and the true peace and justice is established only if Muslims persevere and continue moving ahead towards their goals unflinchingly and steadfastly despite the losses and hardships inflicted by anti-Islamic powers. It is only after Muslims endure hardships without relenting in their struggle that the help and blessings of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala come and success and victory are achieved. The next few verses remind Muslims of that reality:
153 O believers! Seek help from perseverance and salaah; surely Allaah is with the steadfast. 154 And do not speak of those who are slain in Allaah's way as dead; nay, they are living, but you do not perceive. 155 And surely We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of property, lives and fruits. And give good news to the steadfast 156 who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are Allaah's and to Him we shall surely return. 157 Such are they on whom are blessings from their Lord, and mercy. Such are the rightly guided. The two key elements that provide the strength needed for an unrelenting struggle for the achievement of Islamic objectives have been identified to be perseverance and Salaah[1]. Salaah, especially that which is performed in addition to obligatory Salaah, in particular Tahajjud performed in the last part of the night, helps in this struggle by developing a close bond of relationship with Allaah, by establishing direct communication with the Master, by giving believers a chance to repose all their sentiments and emotions in Him, by letting them express their gratitude to Him for His guidance and mercy and by developing a reliance and Tawakkul that enables them to take on the whole world for Him. Perseverance (Sabr in Arabic) entails a firm resolve and fortitude to continue moving forward without relenting or flinching despite the severity of the attacks of the opposing forces or the magnitude of the difficulties, hardships and losses suffered as a result of those attacks. The believers must develop and grow in this quality through proper understanding of Islamic faith and its objectives, correct paradigms about life of this world and strong relationship with Allaah established through Salaah. It becomes much easier when we realize the fact that our life and whatever we own is all Allaahs and is temporarily given to us for use according to His directions and after this temporary stay in this world and temporary use of what Allaah has bestowed us, we are going to return to Him any way. Whether it is our life or our possessions they are going to depart from us sooner or later. So why not let them depart in serving Allaah and working for His plans and consequently earn His blessings and mercy for eternity. Sacrificing temporary things for permanent blessings is definitely a rewarding bargain. Those who grasp this concept and live by it are the ones who are truly guided. They are those who enjoy the presence of Allaah on their side and His help and His support and success in their endeavors. Those who are killed during this struggle should not be considered dead. Death is a transitional step that takes us from this world to the hereafter. When we die, we are taken away from test of behaviour in this world to a waiting stage where we wait for the result of our performance and consequent reward or punishment. However, those who die in the way of Allaah, they are given their reward immediately without waiting for the Day of Judgment. Hence, they enjoy the pleasures of the life hereafter immediately upon the transitions from this world to the hereafter. Hence, they are not dead, but living. Important Note: While reading this verse and its commentary, the reader must keep in the mind that all such verses of the Qur-aan are about a genuine Islamic movement that is being conducted and led according to the way of the Prophet and for the achievement of Islamic objectives. Such a noble struggle for peace and justice, which is in fact a mercy of Allaah to humanity, should not be confused with what is being attributed to Islam nowadays. For example, the current carnage in London is neither Islamic, nor conducive to or helpful in achievement of any Islamic objectives. In fact, it is totally against everything that Islam stands for. Rather, in reality, it is anti-Islamic and anti Muslim. Whoever perpetrates such crimes are in reality the enemies of Islam and Muslims. No one knows who has done it. People conveniently attribute it to Muslims and invent names of groups to do so. But whoever is behind such actions, whether they have Muslims names or otherwise, they are enemies of Islam and Muslims. They should not in any way be confused with the Islamic mission of peace and Justice in the world that the Qur-aan wants us to dedicate our energies to. |
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