Assalam alaikum, Allah Almighty says, "And those you call upon, about from Him, are not able to help you or even help themselves. If you call them to guidance they do not hear; and you see them look at you, but they do not see. Show forgiveness, enjoin good and turn away from the ignorant" [Surah al-Araaf (7): v 197-9]
It was reported that a man named Uyanah came to seek the audience of Caliph Umar where he complained that his tribe was not given sufficient wealth nor were they treated with justice. This of course was an insult of great magnitude as what he spoke was untrue and indeed his tribe was treated fairly. In anger Caliph Umar was about to punish Uyanah for his outburst, but Uyanah's nephew, Al-Hur reminded him of something which Allah Almighty said to the Prophet Muhammad said, "Show forgiveness, enjoin good and turn away from the ignorant". Having been reminded of this, he forgave Uyanah's rude remarks, and turned away from him. [Fath al-Bari 8/155] Lets put aside the repeated condemnation of terrorist acts over the past few months and address the recent events in Amman. A few days ago, a number of terrorists took to blowing themselves up at a wedding ceremony attended by men, women, children - your everyday people. Amongst the dead was a man named Moustapha Akkad, the producer of `The Message' perhaps the single most important media resource of recent decades which enabled Muslims and non-Muslims to gain a visual look into Islam. I often wonder, who are these people in `Al-Qaeda' who guide and direct individuals to commit such atrocities? Who are these people who have ignored large swathes of the Quran which clearly prohibits the murder of innocent people and embedded a seed of such hatred and anger that they try to mask their actions as pious actions. Allah Almighty says, "Repel evil with that which is better. We are better acquainted with the things they say. And, (Muhammad) say, `My Lord I seek refuge with you from the suggestions of the devils , and I seek refuge with You, My Lord!, lest they should come near me'" [Surah al-Muminoon (23): v 96-98] Do these people ever pause to look at what they are in fact encouraging and how it is at odds with both the teaching of the Quran and Sunnah and the example of the Prophet Muhammad? Evidently not. Its odd, for on the one hand the weak and impressionable are being invited to the honor of martyrdom through actions which ironically contradict with the manners, actions and teachings of Islam. And yet on the other hand we can even see the blind passion which drives many amongst the Muslims, an attempt to fill that empty longing for a sense of belonging, a sense of identity to accept perhaps the most ridiculous of concepts. Just this night I came across a forum on the internet where a contributor placed a video mpeg entitled `lion doing dikr 1'. Watching the file I couldn't help but wonder how absurd some people's interpretation of what is clearly a frustrated lion in at a zoo, roaring away at the onlookers who presumably are pestering him; then having the audacity to suggest that the anger of the lion is in fact the line engaged in the remembrance of God. If anything, the lion's thoughts were probably along the lines of `Oh God, not another group of ogling tourists, I wish I had a den in which I could hide away from their pestering taunts'. However , the saddest part was to see again in the same forum hosts of Muslims having seen the video actually believing this nonsense. So one extreme shows such an empty understanding of Islam that even t he most ridiculous of statements finds support by people within the Muslim community. Is it any wonder then that at the other extreme `Al-Qaeda' can release a statement suggesting that the Queen of England is one of the greatest threats to Islam? And that sadly, someone, somewhere in their blind fashion probably believes this nonsense? Perhaps the only real threat the Queen poses is to the fashion industry a quick make over wouldn't go astray, that aside, how sickening a comment from `Al-Qaeda'. This past week alone has shown how Prince Charles has vocally endorsed better understanding of Muslims amongst the non-Muslim communities in the `Western world'. This man, the potential future King of England speaking to senior statesmen, whose previous track record on supporting Muslims, and seeking justice for Muslims far exceeds any of the efforts of these terrorist organisations. It was reported that the prophet Muhammad said that the most important deed on the day of judgment, the heaviest on the scale will be good manners, justice. Issuing such ridiculous statements only shows how much difficulty certain individuals will find themselves in on such a day and may Allah have mercy and guide us all, ameen. Hearing this most recent statement I cannot help but see the parallel between the opening verse of this article when we are told to forgive, enjoin good and turn away from the ignorant for it is as clear as the sun rises everyday that `Al-Qaeda' and the methods they employ are nothing more than the ranting of the ignorant. We have been commanded in the Quran to repel evil with something better. That `better' thing is good, to speak a word of truth, to show how unjust these people (Al-Qaeda) have become (from their first atrocity to the most recent atrocity) and to stand together with those who speak truth be they Muslim or otherwise. One of the greatest signs of the day of judgment nearing is that there will be much killing. Who would have thought, with the atrocities of recent months and years that it would in fact be the (ignorant) Muslims who are killing Muslims (and non-Muslims), thus being the cause to one of the most horrifying signs of the day of judgment. Truly, after reading of the recent comments by al-Qaeda about the Queen, I have now `heard it all'. This foolishness must stop. We must protect the young, the weak and the impressionable from being influenced by such disgusting ideologies, and we must act with the justice Allah Almighty enjoins upon us all. May Allah Almighty have mercy and guide us all, ameen. fi amanillah, assalam alaikum, f ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/TXWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** {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] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of IslamCity unless sanctioned or approved otherwise. If your mailbox clogged with mails from IslamCity, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest". Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islamcity/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
