Reflections

As Muslims, we have to make it clear to others that Islam is very simple and easy to follow.


Modern day Muslims seem to be worried about this thing called “Security. Man-made Security” reduces Faith..... the more you are secure, the less you are likely to ask of Allah, to recognize HIS hands in the scheme of things, you begin to trust your own ability at planning, at being able to control your own destiny and future and those dependant on you.... you feel that you are powerful and that the world belongs to the Intelligent and Logical and Brainy guys, who can do this... and that... and change the face of the world..... it is his background security which allows a person to say and do things like this. Talk to a guy who does not know where his next meal is going to come from and you will know, talk to a guy living in a War- torn city since birth... and you will know, talk to a guy living in a desert and you will know. We all like to have security, and perhaps that is instinctive to human nature and hence it is from Allah (s.w.t), but this feeling of security should come from trying to be close to Allah, should come from having the knowledge that Allah has given us, should come from the Promise and Agreement that we have with our Maker, should come from the confidence we have, just being a Muslim.


As Muslims, I feel that it is easier to invite non-Muslims from Europe and US to Islam, than it is to improve the lot of those like us, who are Born Muslims, and hence do not value the Treasure of Islam, simply because we have inherited it from our fore-fathers and hence have taken things for granted. Non-Muslims in such countries may dislike Muslims due to Ignorance of the subject and a concerted effort by the authorities and the Powers that be. But Muslims themselves have not been of any help to Islam itself, we have not portrayed an image that comes from following Islam in the right way, we have ourselves imitated the West, thus implying that we prefer their culture over our own, thereby weakening the teachings of Islam within ourselves. We have been at serious fault and have not been true and good Muslims, hence our Dawah through self- portrayal has been dismal, to say the least. Inspite of this, Allah is Great and has allowed us to follow HIS path without destroying us completely. Hence we should make an effort to invite more and more Westerners to the path of Islam.


There is no greater motivation to follow Islam, than seeing a Pious and Practising Convert to Islam.... it’s amazing to see the effect that such a person has on non-practising born-Muslims.... the only other deadlier effect is by learning the Arabic Language and then reading the Quran or the Ahadith.. If only we Muslims could understand the Arabic Language, then the Ummah will only think and write in one Language... Arabic!.


In addition to talking about what we, as Muslims, should not be doing... it is very very important to talk about, what we actually should be doing. One of the major reasons is that there is an over emphasis on the Nth Level Branch of a particular topic in Islam, rather than on the ROOT itself.... many of our learned people spend a lot of time and energy on things which are way beyond the need and scope of an ordinary Muslim and hence as an Ummah we are confused... we feel that Islam is complicated and there are so many things to do, that we cannot possibly reach them, and so there is block in our minds.... so we leave the ROOT and go astray.


Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) has very clearly defined the basic needs of a Muslim who will go to Jannah. I would describe a modern day good Muslim, as one who offers his Salah on time, everyday, reads the Quran, does not tell a Lie and who is good at his halal work......that’s all.... do only this much....., the very minimum, this should be the starting standard, we should promote this idea actively, not talk about a lot of things.


The idea is to make clear that Islam is a simple way of life, it does away with all the complications of this world, it is very easy to follow and very easy to teach.


(The writer can be reached at sskhan@gawab.com)

While Hajj signifies brotherhood of mankind and promotes peace and equality.


Hajj is one of the five basic duties of Islam made obligatory on every Muslim once in a life time. Everyone who has got enough means to travel to Makkah and stay there for the required period without disturbing the livelihood of his family and his dependants should do it once in a lifetime.
When Prophet Muhammad performed his Hajj, he also delivered his Last Sermon which is like the first Human-Rights Charter read out for the guidance to the mankind till the end of the world. Hajj is basically the commemoration of the great sacrifice offered by Prophet Ibrahim (Pbuh) The last trial came, when he travelled to Makkah, in the form of direction from Allah to sacrifice his son Ismail, who too later became a Prophet. Hazrath Ibrahim did not hesitate in complying with the command of his Creator. But to Allah, only his submission was to be tested and the son Ismail was saved when he was about to be slaughtered.


An angel sent by Allah appeared at the right time and offered a lamb and asked Ibrahim to slaughter the same instead of Ismail. This great spirit of sacrifice and submission to the Will of Allah is commemorated in the form of sacrifice of different animals by Muslims across the world. After this great incident, Hazrath Ibrahim constructed the great Mosque of Kabah which is the first and the holiest mosque on earth.


Hajj creates a sense of purity among the people. Hajj promotes a sense of repentance from the sins and purifies the soul if done with utmost sincerity. It also evokes a feeling of brotherhood among each other. That is the reason why Hajj is done only collectively.


Hajj promotes peace and any evil action and violence is forbidden within the Haram.


Though all evil acts are prohibited always, Hajj provides an opportunity to cleanse one’s mind and soul in order to lead a better and pious life thereafter. Hajj promotes equality of mankind when at the same time millions of people from every corner of the world cutting across the lines of colour and tribes assemble and wear a very simple unstitched Ihram, to look alike without displaying any superiority of wealth and social status.


Those are very unlucky who despite having the opportunity of performing Hajj, return back empty handed in terms of “Taqwah.” If Hajj is performed just for namesake and with the sense of exhibition, it has no meaning. Those who are not present at the Hajj, celebrate Eid-ul-Adha or Bakrid as is commonly known, in the rest of the world, perform special prayers and sacrifice the specified animals to commemorate the great event as per the commandments of Allah.