Praise is to Allah and peace and prayers upon His messenger Mohamed (SAWS)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
"وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ*يُخَادِعُونَ اللّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلاَّ أَنفُسَهُم وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ*فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللّهُ مَرَضاً وَلَهُم عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ*وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لاَ تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ*أَلا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَـكِن لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ*وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ آمِنُواْ كَمَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُواْ أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا آمَنَ السُّفَهَاء أَلا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاء وَلَـكِن لاَّ يَعْلَمُونَ*وَإِذَا لَقُواْ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ قَالُواْ آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ إِلَى شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُواْ إِنَّا مَعَكْمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ*اللّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ*أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرُوُاْ الضَّلاَلَةَ بِالْهُدَى فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهْتَدِينَ"
“And of mankind, there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" while in fact they believe not.* They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!* In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies.* And when it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only peacemakers."* Verily! They are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not*And when it is said to them : "Believe as the people have believed," they say: "Shall we believe as the fools have believed?" Verily, they are the fools, but they know not.* And when they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe," but when they are alone with their Shayatin (devils - polytheists, hypocrites, etc.), they say: "Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking."* Allah mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doings to wander blindly.* These are they who have purchased error for guidance, so their commerce was profitless. And they were not guided.” (2:8-16)
In the last 100 years the human race succeeded in reaching levels of sophistication and advancement that are unprecedented in known history. Humans tamed and resolved very complex laws of science and nature. Western nations used this knowledge to propel our kind into the future with great speed. In parallel and to support this progress humans managed to develop social, economic and political systems that go hand in hand to ensure that this progress is not hindered. Those systems gave birth to a concoction of liberties, censorships, and boundaries that endorse growth at the highest rate. Alternative morals and ideals are welcomed as long as they don’t take away from what has become the collective goal. The influential of our kind jointly chose to leap into the future, and agreed to conform and integrate within in this universal society. The offspring and the frame that governs these efforts is secular foundation.
It has been subtly affirmed that our topmost priority is the bottom line, our socio-economic status, and what is understood as “freedom”. Evidently, in the last 100 years (even more for non Muslims) people started employing religion and using it as a tool to serve their own desires. It is imperative for Muslims around the world to pause and examine their deeds, and reflect on the extent to which we are able to conform to this secular order without breaching the fundamentals of our faith.
There is no denying that the reality of the establishment of a multicultural society resulted in powerful dynamics, and that it created significant social pressure on some Muslim immigrants from various backgrounds. We are expected to adapt swiftly to new social conditions and we are quite successful at it. But the cost is all too steep. Some “evolutionary” Muslim leaders who chose to justify the integration of Islam with secular society, and others who attempt to weave Islam within their preconceived western ideologies have fallen significantly short of representing the purpose of Islam. They frequently delivered contradictory messages to the unsophisticated Muslim.
The purpose of this document is to focus on Muslim immigrants and the different elements that pressure their integration into secular society. Attention will be given to examples of various adjustments that they are willing to undertake, highlighting their subtle transformation. An attempt will be made at revealing that minor aspects of the religion have been mistakenly perceived as crucial divine demands, while major ones have been diluted and forsaken.
At the beginning it is important to understand that Islam has come to set a straight path that yields to no departures. Allah SWT sent His message to Moses, when his followers deviated from the original teachings of Judaism, Allah sent Jesus to warn them and correct their path. But when the message of Jesus was steered away from its intent Islam came through Mohamed SAWS to rectify the deviation of the people of the book, and to set the path that all human beings must follow. But the forces that cause people to stray (Shaytan) are still – and will always be - in play and many Muslims have, and continue to deviate from the correct path, as have the people of the book. We must note that the fastest way to stray has always been to detract from the elementary teachings, and those who accept the guidance of Allah SWT and the prophet Mohamed SAWS, and adhere to the basics of Islamic teaching will never be deceived, for they know all too well that unless they exert an opposing force to these inevitable dynamics then they too will also go astray.
The prophet SAWS says in his hadith:
Muslim - Book 034, Number 6448:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: You would tread the same path as was trodden by those before you inch by inch and step by step so much so that if they had entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also. We said: Allah's Messenger, do you mean Jews and Christians (by your words)" those before you"? He said: Who else (than those two religious groups)?
The secular apparatus:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُواْ بَيْنَ اللّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُواْ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً* أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ حَقًّا وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا
“Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers and wish to make distinction between Allah and His Messengers saying, "We believe in some but reject others," and wish to adopt a way in between. * They are in truth disbelievers. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating torment.“ (4:151)
Secularists, regardless of their religious orientation (or lack thereof), believe that religious considerations should be excluded from civic affairs and public education. This statement is not impartial to religious education. One needs to understand that it is in direct contradiction to the involvement of religion in any substantial aspect of society. Albeit, where its involvement in areas where it is impossible to exclude like some civil affairs are incorporated. This incorporation of those minor aspects serves two purposes. First, it allows advocates of secularism to display openness to the incorporation of religious “teachings”. Second, it deceives the common person into believing they indeed are free to practice their faith.
The most serious infiltration of secularism into society however has been education. For years, modern education adapted a secular approach and most curriculums advocate the marginalization of religion. In fact the new generations are completely baffled, and in most cases beyond liberation from the confinement of secular thought. The system fortified itself through manipulating of the mass.
To put these thoughts into perspective, it is important for the mass to understand how secularism placed itself in direct confrontation with Islam. The perplexing part for simple Muslims is that while secularism actively trims down basics tenets of Islamic belief, it does so while claiming impartiality. It claims that people are free to worship any deity as long as religious teachings in the social and political systems were replaced with man-made legislation. There are numerous Muslims today who concur with these teachings and consider them progressive, and in no contradiction with Islam. It is mandatory for Muslims who make this assumption to rectify their belief through an accurate examination and understanding of the various verses of the Quraan as a whole without selecting only the ones that address a specific situation. Only in doing so will they become able to understand the collective message of Islam.
Allah SWT says:
"وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَة...ً"
“And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth,…”(2:31)
The definition of a viceroy is: “A governor of a territory who rules in the name of a sovereign authority”. In the case of Muslims this authority is Allah SWT.
Muslims believe that Allah SWT has sovereign authority over all affairs. For He has attributed Himself as Malik Al Mulk (The sovereign king of the kingdom), Muslims also believe that our duty is to abide by His commands.
"وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ"
“…If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers”(5:44)
Sayed Qutb (May Allah have mercy on his soul) says:
“ The act of worship must be more comprehensive and further reaching than fulfilling of rituals. Jinn and Ins (humans) do not spend their lives performing rituals and Allah SWT Has not ordered them to do so. However He has ordered them with other activities that are carried throughout their lives. We may never know what the orders for Jinn are, but we certainly know the ones for mankind. It is the administration of our affairs on earth and conducting them according to the will of Allah. This administration implies active involvement in growth, development, identification and utilization of the various resources to advance and elevate the conditions of our kind and implementing the laws of Allah on earth to achieve the divine flow which is in conformity with the universal order”
Government of our affairs is from Allah SWT. Being representatives of His authority, our role in governing is to conduct our affairs according to His will. These are His orders and that is His test for us. It is the single way for justice, success and development to be achieved. That however is the exact opposite of a secular society, which can never accept or acknowledge that. In fact secularism can only gain its strength and popularity through casting doubt on our beliefs making it weak and hesitant. The recipe is quite simple and potent:
Limit knowledge and reduce the level of spiritual teachings of the public
Cast doubt on belief and religions without eradicating them from society
Preoccupy society and sedate it with consumption and debt
Those elements are the catalyst of a secular system and shaytan’s latest tools to take people away and keep them from their faith.
The prophet SAWS in his last sermon said:
“Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.“
Muslims have been disengaged from the true essence of Islam in the shadow of secular society. Popular Islam is becoming a deviation from the original message, which Allah sent. Many Muslims and their scholars are busy justifying this passive form in order to support their own interests, or to cover their vulnerability and weakness. They have become submissive not to Allah, but to their own advantages and desires. Integration with secular society is now the cancer that devours our identity. It is a very advanced step in the complete transformation of Islam into a deferred system of belief. And the signs of transformation have been evident to those with a keen vision. Because they have seen it take place with other decrees that were sent by Allah SWT.
Allah SWY Says:
"أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُواْ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُواْ إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُواْ أَن يَكْفُرُواْ بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلاَلاً بَعِيدًا* وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى مَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ رَأَيْتَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَنكَ صُدُودًا* فَكَيْفَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ جَآؤُوكَ يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللّهِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلاَّ إِحْسَانًا وَتَوْفِيقًا"
“Have you seen those (hyprocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taghut (false judges, etc.) while they have been ordered to reject them. But Shaitan (Satan) wishes to lead them far astray. “ (4:60) “And when it is said to them: "Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger (Muhammad)," you (Muhammad) see the hypocrites turn away from you (Muhammad) with aversion. “ (4:61) How then, when a catastrophe befalls them because of what their hands have sent forth, they come to you swearing by Allah, "We meant no more than goodwill and conciliation!"
Transformation Markers to Islamic Articles of faith in secular society:
Remarkably, the significance that today’s common Muslim (especially those who have been exposed to secular society) places on certain aspects of Islam are quite different from what the prophet SAWS had taught through the revelation of Quraan, and in his sahih hadith. This in turn reflects critical flaws in people’s understanding of their own creed. Western Muslims not only place more importance on integration and acceptance in society, but they are also racing to participate in political organizations that promote such integration with the support of secular Muslim organizations (defined in Muslim parts of the world as shadow of the government) . This is in direct breach of the Sunna of the prophet SAWS. The sira narrates that prior to the Muslims migration to Madina and establishing a Muslim entity, the prevailing council of Quraish negotiated with the prophet SAWS to make him the chief of their council. Had the prophet SAWS seen an opportunity to promote Islam as the chief of the biggest tribe of the Arab peninsula, he would have clinched the opportunity. But the prophet SAWS had the vision that today’s progressive scholars lack. He saw no room for compromise with the mandate from Allah. Today’s Muslim leaders on the other hand present us with the carrot of political representation and the false illusion of fair representation rather than showing us the true nature of our duty from an Islamic perspective. It is time to understand the various distractions that those pro-integration organizations are accentuating in order to divert the focus of the ordinary Muslim away from the main obligations. It is time that Muslims seek accurate wholesome knowledge of the authentic teachings and the mandate from Allah. We must put an end to the efforts of dilution that we are quick to adapt to. Finally we must stop believing everything and begin to challenge Muslims with authority today and question those who we listen to.
"وَإِن تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَن فِي الأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلاَّ يَخْرُصُونَ"
“And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah's Path. They follow nothing but conjectures, and they do nothing but lie.” (6:116)
Conceding Islamic acumens:
"فَمَا لَكُمْ فِي الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ وَاللّهُ أَرْكَسَهُم بِمَا كَسَبُواْ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَهْدُواْ مَنْ أَضَلَّ اللّهُ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلاً*وَدُّواْ لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُواْ فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاء فَلاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء حَتَّىَ يُهَاجِرُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ"
“Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites? Allah has cast them back (to disbelief) because of what they have earned. Do you want to guide him whom Allah has made to go astray? And he whom Allah has made to go astray, you will never find for him any way (of guidance.* They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Auliya' (protectors or friends) from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allah (to Muhammad)…” (4:88-89)
There is little doubt that there is a vast vacuum in understanding Islam in Western societies. In areas of the world where religion and state have alienated from one another, and over time, the population tends to develop an indifference towards religion. This indifference develops into ignorance and lack of knowledge in affairs that require a deeper level of spiritual education. Let us put the essence of secular teachings in perspective. We clearly observe that a system which aims at maximizing productivity and consumption can only be achieved if the spiritual side of the common person is marginalized and ignorance of our (humans) devout nature spreads. Consequently the ability to be liberated from certain predispositions becomes incomprehensible to individuals or even society. Muslims quite often face a challenge when they encounter certain questions and accusations on certain topics. For example when asked to discuss the different aspects of marriage in Islam, refraining from eating or drinking during the day, or women’s status, Muslims feel challenged. The challenge is three fold. First, more often than not the question comes from persons with little or no spiritual inclination. Second, they are still under pressure to be accepted by society (the need to integrate). Third, the common Muslim has already been too exposed to non-Islamic ideologies that they themselves are finding Islam intangible. Muslims (“scholars” included) often got away with putting a twist on the information to avoid “follow up” questions and further discussions. The response becomes distorted because the primary objective is to deliver “acceptable” information rather than “foreign” information. To further clarify this statement, let us consider the challenge faced when a Muslim is asked about certain restrictions. In a society that advocates almost absolute freedom, it becomes exceedingly difficult to rationalize any response that deviates from what this society preaches as “valuable” and “indispensable”. We often fall in the trap of attempting to please our peers at the expense of our own understanding of the Islamic creed. We distort some of the main fundamentals of Islam to gain acceptance of Society. The next generation is facing a bigger dilemma. Secular teachings have already manipulated their minds and the separation of the religious institution from managing their affairs has become the adequate norm.
Another form of pressure on Muslims is to present a “good” picture of Islam in order to guide others to the path. But what is “good” depends to a large degree on the audience. Some influential Western Muslim scholars whose main mission is to invite to Islam often find themselves in a logical debate with non-Muslims. In a debate, one will habitually aim at winning the debate, rather than presenting the information as it really is to those with receptive hearts and minds. The intention then swiftly changes from spreading Islam to trimming Islam. And trimming usually starts with the concepts that are not logically appealing to the opponent. For example the concept of causality “السببية” is often the first to be completely removed from any logical debate because it defies secular logic. Any sincere belief in Islam however, requires unembellished acceptance of this concept. Put simply, if causality is disconnected from the discussion of faith, then religion automatically becomes not only theoretical, but also hypothetical. Islam is the submission of one’s heart and mind to Allah through the signs that Allah SWT has chosen to give us. If a person’s heart is incapable of accepting those signs, then it is not up to us to create further signs and proofs to guide him/her to Islam.
“يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ*إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ”
And disgrace me not on the Day when (all the creatures) will be resurrected*The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, Except him who brings to Allah a clean heart [clean from Shirk (polytheism) and Nifaq (hypocrisy)]. (26:87-88)
A clean heart is a condition of belief. It is of paramount importance for Muslims to understand that Allah SWT has chosen to guide some and not others. In fact some of His prophets failed in inviting their own wives and children to Islam (Nouh and Lut for example). An authentic message is the easiest message to spread, even if it is beyond some people’s mental horizons. After all what good does it do if more people convert to Islam based on an incorrect understanding of the Muslim Creed?
It is important to present a few aspects that exhibit new-found phenomenons amongst our brothers and sisters in Islam. This is by no means an account of the objects of deviation but rather two examples of what the common Muslim may perceive as categorically beneficial activity where in reality they are peripheries that sidetracked the mass from the principles of their faith.
Islamic Conference phenomenon:
Volume 1, Book 3, Number 100:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al' As:
I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "Allah does not take away the knowledge, by taking it away from (the hearts of) the people, but takes it away by the death of the religious learned men till when none of the (religious learned men) remains, people will take as their leaders ignorant persons who when consulted will give their verdict without knowledge. So they will go astray and will lead the people astray."
Reminiscent of rock concerts and trade shows, Islamic conferences are the contemporary popular culture of Muslim youth. Those are usually weekend activities where men and women freely mix and interact while attending lectures by renowned Islamists who gained their fame through TV talk shows. Those shows have without doubt played a good role in getting some people’s attention. Some youth began to pray and some women decided to wear hijab after listening to those people on TV. Although it is quite distressing that TV (a means of information delivery – not exchange) has indeed become the source of Islamic knowledge for the mass, we can only appreciate the fact that it guides some people to some good actions. But we need to look at this phenomenon and the consequences of these shows and not only the benefit but also the damage that it may cause.
There is no doubt that these shows and conferences point out an enormous vacuum of knowledge evident in the need to Muslim youth to get closer and learn more about Islam. It also highlights that the audience of these shows are not particular about the information that is being presented to them at this stage because little else is available. But what is to be most feared also happened, secular institutions have also seized control over the content of the material being delivered. Not in the sense that they edit it, but definitely in the sense of auditing it. Those scholars (who already have a large variety of knowledge) accepted this screening as the lesser of two evils. The trouble is they haven’t looked at the full consequences of doing so. They have become tools of further integration into secular society. They helped more people pray, wear hijab and accept the main pillars of Islam, but they have are also advocating active involvement and promote participation in the campaigns and endorsements of political parties that keep religion at bay. Those TV shows and Islamic conferences are currently fully endorsed by secular institutions. And parents are taking their children to attend them thinking that those “scholars” are foreshadowing all the truth.
The Islamic Diet:
Sahih Mulsim Book 034, Number 6450:
Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (saws) as saying: Ruined, were those who indulged in hair-splitting. He (the Holy Prophet) repeated this thrice.
(Meaning those who exceed the limit, overburden themselves, and carry things too far)
Many Muslims believe that the most important aspect of being spiritually pure is to strictly adhere to a food diet. This in return resulted in enormous wealth and effort exhausted on investigating the exact way that meat is slaughtered, handled, and delivered. The scrutiny extended to soft drinks, cheese, and even items with clear labels of conformity. While there is no doubt that Muslims are asked to adhere to rules in the slaughtering of animals, it was never intended to reach the point that it has in the Western world. We need to ask ourselves why this debate was not extended to taking mortgage loans. Why have we been allowing ourselves to work for banks that administer and pay salaries from the interest “Riba” that they collect? We have been paying the highest forms of attention to the content of the cheese that we eat, and very little attention to the source of money that we’re buying this “Halal” cheese with. We need to ask ourselves to what extent is this Islamic? We also need to observe and make the connection that the background of the Muslims who are significantly involved in the Islamic diet phenomenon are mostly people who come from parts of the world where they are a minority where a very strict diet is the most important aspect of their faith. Perhaps the driver is more cultural than it is religious. Or perhaps we find it more peaceful and rewarding to follow our parents’ example than to follow Allah’s example and His prophet’s:
The prophet SAWS ate meat without knowing if Allah’s name was mentioned on it.
Malik Muwatta : Book 24, Number 24.1.1:
Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that his father said, "The Messenger of Allah (SAWS), was asked, 'Messenger of Allah! Some people from the desert bring us meat, and we do not know whether the name of Allah has been mentioned over it or not.' The Messenger of Allah, (SAWS), said, 'Mention the name of Allah over it and eat.' "
There is no doubt that Allah SWT has made everything lawful for us except those items that he clearly mentioned as Haram. And His intention for us is to make our lives uncomplicated so that we can focus on the more significant aspects of life. But maybe because we don’t want to adhere to certain principles, and we clearly deviate from others we chose to chastise ourselves somewhere else. It could very well convince us that we’re being loyal Muslims through this diet, but never should we forget that we are still accountable for everything that we do or more applicable in this case the things that we don’t do.
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَادِلُ فِي اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلَا هُدًى وَلَا كِتَابٍ مُّنِيرٍ* وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ
[31:20] Do ye not see that Allah has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on earth, and has made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and unseen? Yet there are among men those who dispute about Allah, without knowledge and without guidance, and without a Book to enlighten them!
[31:21] When they are told to follow the (Revelation) that Allah has sent down, they say: "Nay, we shall follow the ways that we found our fathers (following)." What! even if it is Satan beckoning them to the Penalty of the (Blazing) Fire?
Dissipation of Sunna:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَالْعَصْرِ* إِنَّ الْإِنسَان َلَفِي خُسْرٍ* إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْابِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
“By Al-'Asr (the time)* Verily! Man is in loss* Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one another to patience” (103:1-3)
The most obvious form of transformation and setback that Muslims are facing is the indifference and apprehension to the Sunna, which plagues a large majority of contemporary Muslims. The word ‘Sunna’ today ceased to reflect its original meaning. Today’s average Muslim understands it as a sect of Islam that follows the teachings of the prophet and the four Khalifs. It includes and is limited to discretionary acts of worship beyond the ones that are obligatory, and narrates details of optional conduct that the first generation of Muslims found convenient.
This however is an imprecise description of the word. The Sunna of the prophet is his teachings. It’s his course in reasoning and the motives behind his decision-making. The Sunna of the prophet SAWS can be described as fulfilling the mandate of Allah and the intentions of His Shari’a in practical terms and living examples through all facets of a real life, the prophet’s life. Muslim leader today however be it Imams, or Mufti’s or intellectuals or those who address the mass have refrained from highlighting or addressing the issues that face Islam today through examples from the life of the prophet. Even though very relevant examples exist, they instead have either taken liberty in trying to recreate resolution that preserves the secular identity, or they have chosen to ignore those issues all in all and elected not to teach Muslims about the wisdom of their prophet. The result is a Sunna that exists without the knowledge that it needs to spread. Muslim scholars need to answer to the marginalization of Sunna that they inadvertently spread. By all accounts this is one of the most significant innovations that have been endorsed by contemporary Muslim leaders, and the ugliest face of alteration that exists today. This specific point requires further scrutiny, which is beyond this reduced scope.
What do we need to keep in mind:
The transformation markers that were stated above are by no means presented to account, but rather to provide paradigms of the different channels of transformation. It is crucial that Muslims learn. And it is crucial that they authenticate the knowledge that they acquire. Only then will they be able to identify their own deviation from Islam. And only then will they recognize the road that will lead them back to the straight path.
Volume 9, Book 88, Number 206:
Narrated Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman:
The people used to ask Allah's Apostle about the good but I used to ask him about the evil lest I should be overtaken by them. So I said, "O Allah's Apostle! We were living in ignorance and in an (extremely) worst atmosphere, then Allah brought to us this good (i.e., Islam); will there be any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes." I said, 'Will there be any good after that evil?" He replied, "Yes, but it will be tainted (not pure.)'' I asked, "What will be its taint?" He replied, "(There will be) some people who will guide others not according to my tradition? You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of some others." I asked, "Will there be any evil after that good?" He replied, "Yes, (there will be) some people calling at the gates of the (Hell) Fire, and whoever will respond to their call, will be thrown by them into the (Hell) Fire." I said, "O Allah s Apostle! Will you describe them to us?" He said, "They will be from our own people and will speak our language." I said, "What do you order me to do if such a state should take place in my life?" He said, "Stick to the group of Muslims and their Imam (ruler)." I said, "If there is neither a group of Muslims nor an Imam (ruler)?" He said, "Then turn away from all those sects even if you were to bite (eat) the roots of a tree till death overtakes you while you are in that state."
The five pillars of Islam are the foundation of Islam. They are the signs that identify and mark Muslims amongst others. Those pillars together with eating Halal food, wearing hijab, growing a beard, refraining from drinking alcohol, and conducting civil ceremonies in Islamic way,…etc. are all indications that one is a Muslim. However if they are perceived as all that is required from a Muslim then the understanding is greatly flawed. It is important that every Muslim realizes the complete mandate.
“وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ*يُخَادِعُونَ اللّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلاَّ أَنفُسَهُم وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ”
[2:8] Of the people there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day;" but they do not (really) believe.
[2:9] Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realise (it) not!
The Mandate is to (in our heart, conscience and actions) accept, understand, and believe that Allah SWT is Sovereign over all creation, that His message to us is flawless and that His rule over us is just. A secular society and government believe in the sovereignty of man, and democracy believes in the sovereignty of the majority (of men). Blending with, participating and playing an active role in those systems is a recognition of their legitimacy, a promotion of valid alternative to Allah’s sovereignty, and casting doubt on His message. The active involvement and integration of a Muslim into such systems mutates his creed, possibly without realizing it, out of ignorance, or even in response to misguided Muslim scholars.
It is time Muslims look deep in their conscience and ask themselves whether they have doubt on the validity of Islam as a complete system and whether they have succeeded into aligning their children in the right direction. If we accept Allah as HE wants to be accepted then Islam is not merely an identity that we need to protect. It is a complete path of social, economic, political systems. But if we accept Allah as WE want to accept Him, then we have given ourselves the liberty to create other religions. Muslim’s own perception of Islam is Muslim’s own adversary. Once we have managed to rectify our own perception through a correct understanding and valuable education, we will be able to understand the ways through which Shaytan defeats us.
“وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ إِلاَّ ظَنًّا إَنَّ الظَّنَّ لاَ يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ”
Most of them follow not but conjecture. Assuredly conjecture can by no means take the place of truth. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do. (10:36)
We need to identify and compare what we think is Islam and What Allah SWT wants us to believe. Muslims are in desperate need to be reinforced with knowledge of the integrity and quintessence of their faith. Islam was sent to human beings after other messages were altered and diluted. New concepts and viewpoints have changed the face of our creed. The devil’s role is to push us away from Allah’s path with deceitful ways. Ways that stray us from the road thinking that we’ve been accustomed to it.