Thursday, January 30, 2014

Like Dead Bodies, Deaf and Blind

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah Almighty says,
الْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِ ۚ الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا ...

This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.
[Qur'an Al-Ma'ida 5:3]

تَوَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ﴿٢﴾

... And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty. (2)
[Qur'a Al-Ma'ida 5:2]

More than a religion, Islam is a complete and comprehensive way of life leading to a balanced way of living. History has shown that Islam is unique in its ability to provide guidance for the entire range of human activity. It does not separate spiritual and secular life as unrelated entities.

Islam is a Divine guidance wherein humans of all nations, colors and tongues feel linked to a Supreme Power and Justice. Its teachings are kept intact and authentic. It is the only way to happiness, dignity, and universal peace. Islam is so unique in its method for solving the problems of humanity. In Islam’s four abiding principles - equality, tolerance, promotion of science, and solution to the world’s problems - its universality asserts itself. It calls to all humans, if only humans will listen.
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّـهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا ﴿٨٢

Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction. (82)
[Qur’an An-Nisa 4:82]
كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللَّـهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ فَهَدَى اللَّـهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٢١٣

Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path. (213)
[Qur’an Al-Baqarah 2:213]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the final prophet sent as a mercy to us humans. It used to hurt him a lot if someone rejected the message of Allah. He used to feel as if someone's children were proceeding toward the fire by not heeding to the advice of his parents.

We will find in the Qur'an wherein Allah adopted different expressions to console him.
وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا تَكُن فِي ضَيْقٍ مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ ﴿٧٠

And do not grieve for them, and do not be straitened because of what they plan.
[Qur'an An-Naml 27:70]

That his job was only to convey the message of Truth, which he had done admirably. If someone had not accepted this, it was not his fault or deficiency. So, he need not worry and be despondent. Rather it is their own fault that they have lost their sense of direction.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِي بَيْنَهُم بِحُكْمِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿٧٨﴾ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّـهِ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ الْمُبِينِ ﴿٧٩﴾ إِنَّكَ لَا تُسْمِعُ الْمَوْتَىٰ وَلَا تُسْمِعُ الصُّمَّ الدُّعَاءَ إِذَا وَلَّوْا مُدْبِرِينَ ﴿٨٠﴾ وَمَا أَنتَ بِهَادِي الْعُمْيِ عَن ضَلَالَتِهِمْ ۖ إِن تُسْمِعُ إِلَّا مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِآيَاتِنَا فَهُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿٨١

Indeed, your Lord will judge between them by His [wise] judgement. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. (78) So rely upon Allah; indeed, you are upon the clear truth. (79) Indeed, you will not make the dead hear, nor will you make the deaf hear the call when they have turned their backs retreating. (80) And you cannot guide the blind away from their error. You can make no one listen (to you) except those who believe in Our verses, then submit themselves (to Allah). (81)
[Qur'an 27:78-81]

Qur'an has described the loss of their sense of direction by presenting three examples. First, that they were like dead bodies in the matter of acceptance of truth, and thus cannot take any one's advice to their advantage.

Second, that they were like the deaf man who does not wish to hear anything, rather they turn their backs and go away if someone tries to give them any advice.

Third, that they were like the blind that cannot see even if someone tries to show them the path.

Many people, including many today's Muslims fit in all three categories. They hear but they don't act. Some don't pray and if they pray they don't want to learn how to pray properly, some don't care whether they eat halal or haram -- they eat where non-Muslims eat, they eat what non-Muslims eat, and some think if they say bismillah (In the Name of Allah), it makes it all halal (lawful). Many lie, cheat and break promises habitually. They are not good to their parents and their neighbors. They don't take care of their families. They beat their women. Many Muslim women don't wear hijab and if they wear hijab they don't bother to wear it properly. Many, many more Muslims, are Muslims in name only. They drink, womanize, gamble, steal, never recite Qur'an, don't associate themselves with Muslims or any masjid, and so on. There are those who don't pay attention to Ramadhan or Eid or Friday. Ramadhan and Eid come and go, they don't have a clue. Friday is only good to start the weekend.

Some “educated” Muslims now pay only “lip-service” to Islam. They think that Islam is a slogan to be raised or a word to be uttered. They have forgotten that Allah dislikes those who brag about things that they do not practice. When a person's deeds are not commensurate with his words, his conduct is odious in the sight of Allah.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّـهِ أَن تَقُولُوا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٣

O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? (2) Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do. (3)
[Qur’an As-Saff 61:2-3]

It is no wonder we are in turmoil.

We have no one to blame except ourselves when things go wrong in our lives, as an individual, a family, a community, a society, or an Ummah.

May Allah awaken our hearts and submit to Allah, and guide the Ummah. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

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