A Wake-Up Call 2 Muslims

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds and peace and blessings be upon His last and final messenger Muhammad

We are all very well aware with the current dismal situation of the Muslim Ummah throughout the world. Probably we are at the lowest ebb possible. We were supposed to be torchbearers for humanity, but we ourselves are probing in the dark. We keep blaming others for our dismal situation, but we ourselves are to be blamed for the situation we are in. It's only because the worldly life has become so dear to us that we have totally forgotten the purpose of life. We have forgotten that one day we all have to depart from this world without any prior notice and our permanent abode is hereafter. There is a hadith of our beloved prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam), which reads:

"I am not afraid of impoverishment for you. I rather apprehend that the world may be given to you in abundance as it was to the people before you, and then you begin to compete with one another for winning it as they did, and be destroyed by it as they were."

I believe it's worth deviating a bit from the main topic for while to mention a couple of practices (though there are many), which are an ample proof for our love of this transitory world. These practices go on to prove that whether we are living our lives for this world or the world hereafter. The first practice is dealing in Usury (interest money). Our love for this world is so deep rooted that we have lost all the senses to distinguish between halaal (permissible) and haraam (non permissible). If "by chance" we happen to distinguish between the two, yet we follow the haraam way because we do not want to be left behind in the race for the riches of this world. While there are others who go to extent of trying to prove it halaal, but they do no harm to anyone but to themselves and their families who enjoy living on such haraam money and deprive themselves of the blessings of Allah Subhaanahu-wata-aala. Below I quote a verse of Qur'aan and a couple of traditions regarding usury.

"O you who have attained to faith! Remain conscious of God. And give up all outstanding gains from usury, if you are [truly] believers; for if you do it not, then know that you are at war with God and His Apostle. But if you repent, then you shall be entitled to [the return of] your principal: you will do no wrong, and neither will you be wronged."

(Qur'aan, chapter 2, verses 278-279)

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud The Apostle of Allah (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) cursed the one who accepted usury, the one who paid it, the witness to it, and the one who recorded it. (Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3327)

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) said, "Usury has seventy parts, the least important being that a man should marry his mother."

(Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2826)

The verse of the Qur'aan mentioned above says that those who deal in usury are at war with Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) and His Rasool (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam). The second hadith means that if anybody has any kind of participation in usury (interest money) it is as if he is having incest with his mother. Please remember that among all the sins that are associated with interest money, this is the lowest level of sin a man can commit; Allah knows best what are the levels above this. After hearing this hadith only the most mean would continue to deal in usury. May Allah save us all from this practice. Aameen! The reason why such parallel examples are given (in this case a person dealing in interest money is equated with having incest with his mother) so that we can understand the severity of the crime. The dealing in interest money is like doing the act mentioned above. Still for those who give various reasons in favour of dealing usury, I would like to quote a hadith for them in this regard.

Hadrat Imam Al-Hasan bin 'Ali (Radiallahu-ta-aala-anhu) said: "I have retained in my memory these words of Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam), 'Leave what causes you doubt and turn to what does not cause you doubt. Truth is tranquility, but falsehood is doubt."

(Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Nasai)

To be safe, it's better to give up a thing (in this case usury), in which you have doubts. The second most unfortunate common practice amongst we Muslims is the act of Lying. We do not even think once before lying. We go to the extent of giving excuses and making lying permissible. We give such stupid excuses that without lying we cannot compete with others. If such would have been the case, Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) would have made lying permissible. I would like to ask my respected brothers and sisters that have you ever come across a person looking for some dishonest person to do any business dealings or any other kind of transaction? As far as I am concerned, I have never come across such a person who's asked me to guide him to a person who lies, when he promises, he breaks them, etc. In fact, if we observe we will find that we just do the opposite to what we have been commanded to do by our beloved prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam). You just look at anything; you will see how true this statement is. Yet we expect Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) to shower His mercy and send His help. Yet we dare to raise our hands in dua (prayer) to seek His help, whereas Qur'aan says:

"And so lay the curse of Allah upon the liars." (Qur'aan, Chapter 3, verse 61)

I would like to quote a couple of traditions regarding lying.

The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) was asked: "Can a believer be a coward?" The Prophet said: "Yes." He was then asked: "Can a believer be a miser?" He replied: "Yes." And finally, he was asked: 'Can a believer be a liar?" The Prophet said: "No."

(Al-Muwatta, Volume 56, Hadith 19)

Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiallahu ta'ala anhu) narrates that Rasool Allah (Sallalahu alaihe wasallam) said, "Should I tell you the greatest among the deadly sins," I said, "Why not? Ya Rasool Allah (Sallalaho alaihe wasallam)." He said, " Associating partners with Allah Ta'ala, disobedience of Parents, (when he was saying this he was lying in a relaxed position, suddenly he sat straight up), and said, "Beware of lying"... he kept on repeating this for such a long time that we started hoping that he would end this topic and talk to us about another topic."

(Bukhari Shareef, Vol 1).

I fact lying is a sign of Hypocrisy.

On the authority of Abdullah ibn 'Amr (Radiallahu-ta-aala-anhu) the Prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) said:"Four traits whoever possesses them is a hypocrite and whoever possesses some of them has an element of hypocrisy until he leaves it: the one who when he speaks he lies, when he promises he breaks his promise, when he disputes he transgresses and when he makes an agreement he violates it."

Hypocrites are condemned in the Qur'aan in very strict words.

"The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire: no helper wilt thou find for them.

" (Qur'aan, Chapter 4, verse,145)

We do not even think once that by lying we are trying to please the person to whom we are lying to and by this very act we are displeasing Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala). If we are doing an act to please someone at the cost of displeasing Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala), then we should be prepared for doom and a life of disgrace and humiliation. We will have to make a choice.

Coming back to the main topic, no matter what people suggest for the success of the Muslim Ummah, but there is only one way to success and that is to get back 1429 years back and follow the footsteps of our beloved prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) and his pious companions (Radiallahu-ta-aala-ajmaeen).

"You have indeed in the messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah.

"(Qur'aan, Chapter 33, verse 21)

Its pity that in spite of Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) making it crystal clear that your success depends on following His beloved messenger (Sallalahu-alaihi-wasallam), yet we try to devise new ways and means for our success. Are we wiser than the Most Wise? One need not be an Islamic scholar of any eminence to know why prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) was sent to this world. Anybody who has the slightest of idea about prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam's) life knows that he came to invite people to worship none but Allah and follow him. Right from his first call till last stages of his life, he kept inviting people to Islam. We as Muslims believe that he is the last and final messenger of Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) and there is not going to come another messenger after him. So it's the responsibility of we Muslims to spread the world of God (Islam). Below I mention the last part of Farewell pilgrimage of prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam).

"All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people".

It were these people who listened and obeyed and spread far and wide to spread Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala's) Deen and it is through them that Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) has blessed us with the wealth of Eemaan. So now doesn't it become imperative for us to take this message to those who have not yet received it? In fact it's their amanah entrusted to us by God, which we have to deliver it to them. If we do not, we will be answerable to God Almighty. Its pity that barring handful of people, the whole Ummah is oblivious of this huge responsibility of taking Islam to non-Muslims. I repeat again that you need not be an Islamic scholar of any eminence to understand what prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam's) message is and for whom it is meant. It is for all people to come after him till the end of this world. Since he is the last and final messenger, so it's our responsibility to spread Islam and save people from eternal hell fire. Many of us are of the opinion that first we should make Muslims a better Muslims, and then we will take the message of Islam to non-Muslim. No doubt that we Muslims have got so much deviated from Straight Path that there is definitely a need to call them back to perform such basic things as five daily prayers in congregation. No doubt it's such a great work. But I would like to ask from those, who ignore doing Dawah work amongst non-Muslims and consider correcting Muslims (Islaah) as an end in itself that, who's going to take the message of Islam to those, whom it hasn't reached? Have they set any time frame within which all Muslims would be corrected and then Islam would be taken to non-Muslims? Trust me; I don't see that time coming at least in near future. On the contrary, it's getting worst. Even if it comes (may it come), it means that all this while, we will let our brothers and sisters go to hell and abide therein forever, just because our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters have not yet been fully corrected! It's really astonishing. Far from calling people to Islam, we become obstacles in their way by our misdeeds and bad behaviour as they think that this is Islam. We all know as Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) says in Surah Nisa:

"Allah does not forgive that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed.

"(Qur'aan, Chapter 4, verse 48)

Are non-Muslims not from the progeny of Adam and Eve (May peace be upon both) as we are? Are they not Ummati of our beloved prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) as we are? Is Qur'aan not for them as it is for us? Is Islam not for them as it is for us? If your answer to all the said things is in affirmative and it should be, then who is going to take this message to our brothers and sisters who have deviated from the Straight Path? Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) has not addressed us thus, just in play:

"You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah."

(Qur'aan, Chapter 3, verse 110)

It means that we are "best of peoples" only when we enjoin good and forbid wrong. The best thing a believer can enjoin in the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) is inviting people to worship none but Allah and the best thing he can forbid is not to associate partners unto Allah.

"Who is better in speech than the one who calls men to God, works righteousness, and says, I am those who bow down in Islam!"

(Qur'aan, Chapter 41, verse 33)

It should very well be understood that Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) doesn't depend on us to make His Deen (religion) prevail over all other ways of life (religion). Islam is to prevail over all other religions and that's the decree of the Lord of the Worlds, whether we do it or not, it's going to come to a passé.

If you turn back (from the Path), He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you!

(Qur'aan, Chapter 47, verse 38)

History is witness to the fact that when Muslims have failed in their responsibility of calling people to Islam, Allah has brought others in their place. It has started happening. Allah has started replacing Muslims with those who are new to Faith to propogate His Deen (Islam). We have got only one life and we should make the most of it. It's still not too late and the wise amongst us would not let this opportunity go. Have you come across a student, who gets to know from his teacher that so and so questions are for sure going to be asked in the examination, yet he ignores them? Only the most foolish student could ignore them and end up failing in the examination. So is the case of doing Dawah work (inviting people to Islam). Only the most foolish amongst us will ignore this important obligation that Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) has bestowed on us and subject himself to the life of humiliation in this world and Allah forbid, in the world hereafter.

"By (the Token of) Time through the Ages), Verily man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy". (Qur'aan, Chapter 103)

This chapter of Qur'aan is most comprehensive of all the chapters and according to Imam Ghazaali (Rahmatullah-alaih), if only this chapter had been revealed instead of whole Qur'aan, it would have been enough. The phrase "and (join together) in mutual teaching of Truth" in this chapter refers to propagation of Islam. The chapter is self-explanatory. One thing that might come to your mind is that it's not just the right time for Dawah work, keeping in mind the current scenario. Honestly speaking, the time is very ripe for dawah work. People need much needed peace and happiness and that could only be achieved by following Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) and His beloved prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam). The current scenario is such because we are not doing this work. If our non-Muslim brothers and sisters are told about what Islam stands for and what are it's teachings. That it's no new religion and its the same old religion preached by all the prophets (peace be upon them all) from Adam to Jesus (peace be upon them both) and it is for them also as much it is for Muslims, then all their misgivings and misconceptions will be removed. If the leader who is suppose to lead, himself gets misled, you can very well imagine what will happen to its followers. The same is the story with us. Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) has sent us into this world for the benefit of mankind. He has sent us as leaders and guide for entire mankind. But its pity that in spite having the best of formula for leading a successful life and having beloved prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) as our leader ,who in turn is guided by Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala), yet we imitate others, who are guided by Satan. We will have to make a choice, whether are we with Satan as our guide or Allah as our Guide. There are so many ahadith, which exhort Muslims to keep enjoining good and forbidding evil. Our success and failure totally depend on this. I would like to quote one in this regard.

Sayyidatina 'Aisha, (Radiallahu-taala-anha) said: "Once the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam), entered the house, and I guessed from his face that something had happened to him. He did not talk to anyone, and after having ablution he entered the mosque. I tried to hear behind the wall what he said. So, he sat at the pulpit, and after praising Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) he said: 'O Muslims! Allah has commanded you to exhort people to good deeds and prevent them from sins; otherwise a time will come when you will pray to Him, but He will not listen to you; you will ask your needs of Him, but He will not grant them; you will demand His help against your enemies, but He will not help you.' After saying this, he came down from the pulpit". (Ibn Majah)

Trust me this work is so very easy. This I am telling you out of my own experience and the people I have seen doing it. Since, we have never done this, that's why it seems so difficult. I would like to ask the readers that those whom we label as anti-Muslims, have we ever told them that your God and my God is one, that your messenger and my messenger is one (i.e., Muhammad Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam), that your Book and my Book is one (i.e., Qur'aan), that your religion and my religion is one (i.e., Islam). On the contrary, we don't give them Qur'aan because they are not clean. As a matter of fact, just as we cannot touch it in unclean condition, so can't they. Just as we can touch it when clean, so can they. If they are not going to read it, how will they get to know the Truth? All you need to do for this most important job is to consider non-Muslims as your brothers and sisters (which they actually are) who have deviated from True and Straight Path and should be sincere and affectionate towards them. The best example can be taken from prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam's) call to Islam to the people of Taif. The incidence of Taif is nothing but sheer love and concern for his people by our beloved prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) despite being humiliated and persecuted to the maximum. Even when calling people to Islam, we should adopt prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam's) Sunnah, i.e., making Qur'aan as the basis for calling people to Islam with love and affection. Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) has made Dawah work easier for us.

To put the above said things in a nutshell, it should be understood that if we only concentrate on doing Islaah work (if we are doing it at all) and consider it to be, the be all and end all of all activities then we can never ever reach our non-Muslims brothers and sisters with Islam because we have shortened our area of activity. Whereas, if our area of activity would be broader and includes entire humanity then Islaah work would automatically become a part of it. It could further be understood well with an example. If we want to be successful only in this world I can assure you, we can never be successful in the hereafter because our area of activity is shorter. Whereas, if we our goal is hereafter, we are bound to be successful both in this world and the world hereafter because our area is broader and encompasses both this world and the world hereafter. To achieve success in the hereafter, we will have to do good deeds in this world, which will automatically make us successful in the hereafter also. If anybody doubts what I have said above then he/she can see the life our beloved prophet (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) as a shining example. In fact, I have not said anything new. I am just trying to remind you all, the responsibility that Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) has put on our shoulders as believers. Still not much is lost. The need of the hour is that we hold the Qur'aan and the Sunnah tight and feel blessed in following it rather feel ashamed. Our love for Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) and His Rasool (Sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) should be more than anything else. That's exactly what Islam demands from those who claim to be Muslims.

"Say: if it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that you have gained; the commerce in which you fear a decline: or the dwellings in which you delight – are dearer to you than Allah, or His messenger, or striving in His cause; - then wait until Allah brings about His Decision: and Allah does not guide the rebellious"

(Qur'aan, Chapter 9, verse 24)

I would like to end this mail by quoting a verse from Qur'aan.

"O you who believe! If you will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly."

(Qur'aan, Chapter 47, verse 7)

Please make dua for this sinner that Allah (Subhaanahu-wata-aala) may forgive his sins. Jazakmullahu-ahsanal-jaza.

Our concluding supplication is that all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds

P.S.: This has been specially written keeping Indian Muslims in mind, but it's importance and relevance cannot in the least bit be less to Muslims living in other parts of the world.

Contact details:
hasan.hma@gmail.com, hma_hasan@yahoo.com
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