Secure your future

[ummtaalib]

Secure your future

 

Generally, no minority in any country feels assured of complete safety unless they enter into an accord with the locals. Accords of safety and peace treaties are generally agreed to verbally or in writing.

 

Islam teaches us to also take this precaution, and to even win over the hearts of the indigenous through action.

 

Before emigrating to Madinah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) first took assurances from the Ansar when they met in Mina. This is referred to as “Bai’atul Aqabah” in which the few dignitaries of Madinah pledged their support to Islam and the Muslims.

 

In Islamic history, there were several such accords at different periods and in various places. One of the first of its kind was the agreement between the Muslims and the Abyssinian king, Negus. Whilst reducing agreements to writing is of utmost importance, more important and undoubtedly more effective are those agreements that are based on action and qualities.

 

Islamophobia in the time of the Sahabah

There are numerous instances in that era of false propaganda against Islam and Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam). In equally many cases, those myths were easily dispelled when the innocent public were exposed to the true teachings of Islam.

 

In the case of Negus, he had summoned the few Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) who emigrated to his country to investigate their motives. The Kuffar of Makkah had sent an envoy to the African King with the purpose of “bad mouthing” the Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) so that Negus may return them to Makkah. This envoy had sought to paint a false picture of the Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) claiming that: these were a group of naive mischievous youngsters who have forsaken their religion and have engaged in innovation.

 

Negus asked the Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) to respond to their allegations. Sayyiduna Ja’far (radiyallahu ‘anhu), the cousin of Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) stood up and explained the reality to the king. The following is a summary of what he said:

 

“Honourable King! We were an ignorant nation who used to worship idols of stone, commit all sorts of vice, sever family ties and harm our neighbors. The powerful among us would devour the weak.

Allah Ta’ala then sent to us a Prophet from among us, who exhorted our people to worship Allah alone, and not things of stone. He commanded us to speak the truth, to maintain family ties, fulfill the rights of our neighbours and to safeguard our trusts. He forbade us from: murder, vice, lies and from devouring the wealth of the weak…”

(Hayatus Sahabah, vol.1 pg.455)

 

When Negus was exposed to these sublime teachings, he spontaneously rejected the request of the disbelieving envoys from Makkah and gave asylum to the Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum). In fact, he actually accepted Islam on the hands of Sayyiduna Ja’far (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

(Hayatus Sahabah, vol.1 pg.168)

 

Our Current Dilemma

Today too we are faced with a similar situation; Islam and the Muslims are at the wrong end in the media. Almost every misdeed has to be linked to Islam. False notions of Islam are spreading rapidly. As Muslims who are either direct victims or potential victims of such flak, we are duty bound to dispel all misconceptions.

 

This could be done vocally by following the correct procedures, but even more effective will be our practical demonstration of the sublime teachings of Islam just as Sayyiduna Ja’far (radiyallahu ‘anhu) did. This will go a long way in changing the picture. After all Sayyiduna Ja’far (radiyallahu ‘anhu) did so in Africa as well.

 

How to make Peace with Fellow Humans

When Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) first arrived in Madinah Munawwarah after emigrating from Makkah, his opening statement was:

“O People!

 

1. Spread the Salam (greeting of peace),
2. Feed the masses,
3. and offer (Tahajjud) Salah at night while the rest are asleep, (if you do so) you will gracefully enter Paradise.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: Hadith 2485).

These were his advices to the Muslims who had just arrived in a foreign land. They were people who would be interacting with non muslims too.

 

Two of these three guidelines for safe entry into Jannah pertain to our interaction with the locals. This golden advice is more applicable today than it was then. With the brutality of the xenophobic attacks here in South Africa still fresh in our minds, this sublime solution can prevent the situation from worsening…

 

Therefore each of these teachings should be implemented in the most effective of ways;

 

1. Spreading the message of peace through our action; by being more kind and considerate in our dealings etc. and more importantly, by spreading the religion of peace among the indigenous people coupled with our support for local humanitarian causes. Sane men do not harm those who are of their benefit.
2. Feeding schemes among the indigenous should be arranged by each able community. After all: “The best way to a man’s heart is his stomach.” This is a humanitarian duty on all those who can afford it.
3. The hearts of men are in the control of Allah Ta’ala. Therefore the best option is to resort to earnest du’a to Allah Ta’ala, especially during the last portion of the night.

 

By implementing these prescriptions, we will insha-Allah go a long way in securing our future; in this world as well as the Hereafter. Failure to do so could be detrimental to us in both!

 

The current crisis in Myanmar is deeply saddening, but should also serve as an eye opener to every other Muslim-minority globally.

 

May Allah Ta’ala restore the glory days of Islam worldwide. Soon, very soon. Amin.

 

al-miftah

[Bint e Aisha]

“Islamophobia is exacerbated by the fact that Muslims often lack the power to control the narrative of Islam in the modern West. What most non-Muslims “know” about Islam often comes from one of two sources: the mass media, which frames Muslims primarily through the lens of terrorism and violence; and a professional Islamophobia network, a cadre of right-wing bloggers, activists, authors, and politicians who make a living demonizing and dehumanizing Muslims.

Decades if not centuries of Islamophobia have had a devastating impact on the lives and livelihoods of Muslims living in the West. Since 9/11, Muslims have been subject to intrusive government surveillance and profiling programs, detentions and deportations, registration systems, hate crimes, and infringements on freedom of religion in the form of antisharia laws, hijab and full-face veil bans, and localized and political resistance to the building of mosques and minarets.”

~ Todd Green, Professor of Religion at Luther College. A nationally recognized expert on Islamophobia, Green served as a Franklin Fellow at the U.S. State Department in 2016-17

Source: Islamophobia - Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion