Seeking The Inner Muslim
Surely all Praises are due to Allah, we praise Him, seek
His assistance, and ask His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah
from the evil of ourselves and the wickedness of our deeds. Verily
whomever Allah guides there is none to take him astray; and whomever
Allah allows to stray, there is none to guide. I bear witness that
there is nothing worthy of worship but Allah, He is one and has no
partners; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and last
Messenger. May Allah send His choicest blessing and Peace to
Muhammad, his companions, family and all those who call to his way
and establish the Sunnah till the Day of Judgment. As to what
follows:
Muslims are finding themselves under great pressure today. From all
sides, and in various forms, subtle and blatant, attacks are being
launched against Muslim individuals, families and communities.
Pressure is being applied to our eyes with the scanty summer
fashions and rash of indecency on the television and in the movies.
In
topless in public places. Already, women can be seen mowing their
lawns, sunbathing, or strolling down the street without any blouse,
bra or shirt. Pressure is being
applied to our ears by the constant
swearing, backbiting, and scandal that we are confronted with daily.
The unavailability of jobs or loans and the growing availability of
interest, mortgages, and gambling are applying pressure to our
hands. Attacks in the media against Islam are on the increase.
Muslims are blamed for slavery, wife assault, terrorism, female
circumcision, ignorance and animosity to civilization. Recently, the
Yahud in
as a pig and posted them on Muslim homes and businesses.
Many Believers feel that their back is against the wall and the
whole earth is closing in on them. They do not see any escape or
relief in the next dew decades. A1lah tells us in the Blessed
Qur'an: "And whoever keeps his duty to Allah, Allah will make a way
out for him and provide for him from where he knows not. And whoever
depends on Allah, Allah is sufficient for him. Surely Allah will
achieve His purpose. He has made a limit for all things. " (65:3)
Even the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself, who was the best of
humanity, and his Companions, who were the best generation, were
severely tested. For thirteen long years, the Muslims were tortured
in Makkah, driven out of their homes and even killed. They were
afflicted with diseases and malnutrition. One day, the Prophet
(pbuh) was passing the family of Yassir (ra) who were known for
their piety and their submission to the will of Allah. They were
being savagely beaten and tortured. Allah had not given the Muslims
the right to fight back, so the Prophet could
only ease their burden
by revealing to them a special part of His mercy. The Prophet
said: "Patience, family of Yassir, your promised abode is
The pain and suffering of the Makkan period forged a tight
relationship between the Muslims and purified their relationship
with Allah. If a person had accepted Islam for fame, glory, wealth
or position, he would soon turn back on his heels. Arrogance, pride,
envy and racism were eliminated and the Muslims came to see each
other as being closer and more important than their own families. We
should remember their struggle as we endure today's trials and
tribulations.
Muslims throughout the planet are in a state of siege. Some find
themselves in a hot war where the fire of the military is all around
them. Others find themselves in a war of ideas where the bullets are
propaganda and insults. Sometimes the effects of psychological
warfare are more devastating than military warfare for they can last
for more than a generation.
In the wake of this crisis, people are making critical choices about
Islam. Many are choosing to accept Islam, for despite the negative
attacks, they realize that Islam is the only way out of the present
corruption and tyranny. Islam is the only organized way of life that
can categorically oppose homosexuality, racism and secularism. Only
the Qur'an and Sunnah have cohesive arguments and a moral system
that can be applied
in conjunction with science, politics, business
and every day life. Other people are asking themselves, "Should I
practice Islam completely or should I continue being Muslim in name
or by culture?" They see Islamic practice in today's society as
swimming against a tidal wave. So they justify selling pork, liquor,
gambling tickets or committing adultery as part of modern life. They
fail to recognize that "Harem" is for everybody and for all times.
How do we bring about change in our conditions and enable those who
are undecided about practicing Islam to see the light of Allah's
guidance. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was reported to have
said, "Islam began as a stranger and will return to being a stranger
so glad tidings (or a certain huge tree in
who are strange. They asked, "O Messenger of Allah" Who are the
strangers?" He replied, "Those who rectify (themselves and others)
when the people are corrupt." (Al-Tabarani: Sahih)
Muslims who have been blessed to revert to Islam or to practice
Islam in the full sense have a great responsibility. The Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) was "Uswatun Hasanah" (a fine example) of the
practical application of Islam. He not only talked about Islam but
he lived it in all spheres of his life. In order for us to make this
critical change, we need to re-analyze our Islamic theory and
practice. Great emphasis has been placed upon "ibadat" or the ritual
aspects of Islam. Now we need to focus on Muamalat or inter-personal
relationships. How many times do we hear about a Muslim who prays
and fasts but he is untrustworthy, or a Muslim who wears Islamic
clothing yet cheats in business! We need to look at the "Inner
Muslim" and bring this personality to the surface.
In Islamic history there were many illustrious scholars who searched
for the inner aspects of Islam yet were also versed in Shari'ah.
With so much falsehood being presented today as scholarship, it is
important for us to find those scholars who were balanced and
respected by all. Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf ibn Murri ibn Hasan an-
Nawawi was in this category. He was born in the
1233 CE and in his early years rose to be a recognized scholar for
his knowledge of Hadith and his piety. He recognized that the
Prophet (pbuh) was visited by the Angel Jibril and asked about Islam
and Iman. He was also questioned about Ihsan (righteousness). The
Prophet's response was that "Ihsan is to worship Allah as though you
see Him and if you cannot do this, then worship Him as though He
sees you." So Jibril asked about the inner Muslim, the conscience or
the essence of the person. Muslims today need to look into
themselves and find that inner person. We need to ask
ourselves, "Why do we pray, fast, give Zakat or go to Hajj? Are they
done for Allah or for the people's attention and pleasure?"
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FIVE PRICIPLES OF IHSAN
Imam An-Nawawi laid down five principles for Ihsan, which we need to
study and implement into our lives. He also gave us an action plan
as to how to attain them.
1. Fearing Allah in the secret and the open. This is attained
through scrupulousness and being upright. The Prophet (pbuh) once
said to one of his companions, "Say, I believe in Allah, and then be
upright." We need to constantly look at ourselves and examine our
intentions for doing what we do.
2. Living according to the Sunnah in word and deed. This state can
be attained through caution and good character. Remember that the
Prophet has informed us,
"Haste is from the Shaitan." Putting Islam
into our character will force us to implement the guidance instead
of just spouting it from our mouths.
3. Indifference to whether others accept or reject us. This state
can be attained through patience and entrusting our affairs with
Allah. We need to stop looking around us and being afraid of whether
society accepts us or whether people will be angry at our Islam. If
we are right with Allah, then there is nothing to fear!
4. Satisfaction with Allah, the Most High, in scarcity and plenty.
This state can be attained through contentment with what one has and
submission to the Will of Allah.
5. Turning to Allah in happiness and affliction. This state can be
attained through having gratitude to Allah in happiness and taking
refuge in Him in affection.
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May Allah give us the benefit of the scholarship and striving of
this humble yet profound thinker and may Allah help us to embody the
words and warnings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who left us in an
authentic Hadith reported in Al-Tirmidhi: "Two characteristics are
not found together in a hypocrite: good manners and understanding of
religion (Fiqh fi-Din)."
May Allah protect the weak and oppressed of the Ummah of Muhammad
(pbuh) and give us the strength to be shining examples of this clear
way of life. Surely Allah is the Off-forgiving and He has power over
all affairs.
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COMPILED,EDITED AND ADAPTED BY KHALID LATIF, E-TABLIGUE
AB
"For to us will be their return; then it will be for us to call them to account." (Holy Quran 88:25-26)
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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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