Dear Respected Brothers, Sisters and Elders,
Asalaamu alaykum
The following are just some points that I feel require some reflection on our part, and really they are not topics on which I intend to write whole articles about (although that would be ideal) so I thought I would just squeeze them into an email!
1.
Unfortunately the days of sitting at the feet of a scholar and learning directly from him or her are waning; the Internet has become a troubling substitute for the pursuit of this Sacred Knowledge, even if it has its advantages. However, since so many people utilise it and it is their first point of contact for many things, I would like to suggest the following shortlist of websites. They have different uses: people might want to start having a look at learning the Deen, they may want some specific questions answered or even general issues that we face today. They are great starting points, however, and I have personally benefited from them; mind you this is just a shortlist, there are many brilliant websites out there but it would be impractical and almost impossible for me to name all of them. I do have a bigger list if anyone wants it, though
2.
I believe that we have two major priorities in this age. We are living in an age in which there are 1.3 BN Muslims, countless masaajid, countless bookshops, countless websites yet we are weak as an Ummah in the earth. This is because generally we have stopped practicing Islam and serving Al-Khaaliq, the Creator. An even more pressing issue is the cancers of this Ummah i.e. the sects that are trying to destroy Islam from within. I say ‘trying’ because they are doomed to failure ultimately, but even so some Sunni Muslims have fallen into their trap.
Do not be naïve and fooled into thinking that so-and-so brother is such a practicing brother, masha Allah, praying, reading Qur’an, wearing a thawb, long beard, organising events, putting a lot of effort into working for the Deen etc, etc. A good example is the Tableeghi Jamaa’ah, with their almost relentless trips around the world to spread Allah’s word. However, we well know as the Prophet of Allah has taught us that even if one recites Qur’an elegantly and prays and fasts better than anyone, he can still be one who has left the fold of Islam. These people are actively working to spread their corruption; we should be even more actively be spreading the Doctrines of Sunni Islam yet we don’t see that much. Sunnis today have become very lazy and negligent in learning, implementing and spreading this Deen and this has to change if we are to improve our condition and stop the cancers of these sects from spreading.
Our Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) said,
“Follow the way of the largest group of Muslims! For, he who deviates from this group will be thrown into Hell.” (Ibn Majah)
In other words, there will be smaller groups or sects, and people who do not subscribe to Ahl us-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah and if they do not repent of their corrupt beliefs then they will reserve a front-row seat in the Fire. And remember again my beloved brothers and sisters, not to be naïve; just because some one says he is a Sunni-Hanafi, Sunni-Maliki, Sunni-Hanbali or Sunni-Shafi’i does not mean that he is a Sunni. I was talking to a man who said he was Sunni-Shafi’i but who was propounding Wahhabi ideas. A Sunni is distinguished by what he does, what he says and what he believes in and not by the fact that he says “I am Sunni”.
This also goes for masjids, shops, websites and so-called scholars, that is why learning off the Internet is very dangerous because you could easily come across a website that has a beautiful name like “allahuakhbar”, “ahlussunnah” or the like yet it is propounding corrupt beliefs. So I believe that we have two main priorities (the second I shall divide into sub-parts):
First Priority: Let us make sure that we are part of that “largest group of Muslims”, i.e. a member of Ahl us-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah. Let us analyse our beliefs and make sure that they are compatible with the creed (‘aqeedah) of Sunni Islam. Even non-Muslim schools teach in Religious Education that Sunni Islam is practiced by 90% of Muslims, and remember that our enemies within will always come with a smile. I have already dealt with this issue in my Saudi Wahhabi article entitled “Silent Partners and the Forgotten History”, and also the various sects. Here is a short list of them:
If you want to find out whether you are a Sunni Muslim, then I would recommend a book (among many books, this is just one good book) entitled “Sirat ul Ahl us-Sunnah – exposing the deviant sects in Islam”, published by Sirat ul Muslimin’, Manchester; it is a deep and comprehensive analysis (beliefs, practices, history) of Sunni Islam vs. all other sects and it clarifies a great many things.
Second Priority: We need to do those things that will reunite us with Our Rabb, the Most High and they entail the following:
3. The respect and reverence of Islam (it is the perfected Way that we have been given) is always there, but the respect and reverence of the Muslims is dependent on whether we practice Islam. In my last article I elaborated on the state and reasons of our condition. The state of a people is never changed for the worse unless they leave the commands of God; this is a historical fact. We have no one but ourselves to blame for our present state. And don’t think that when Imam Mahdi comes we are all going to be saved. That is a misleading notion because only those Muslims who have strong faith (Imaan) will be with him and saved. This is something that my Shaykh taught us, that when Imam Mahdi comes he would not be able to do anything for your own personal level of faith unless you are already a Mu’min; i.e. he will not be like a medicine that the Ummah will take and as a result all will become righteous. So let us forget about the Mahdi for now and stop waiting for him, let us assume that he will not come in our lifetime and let us just get up and do the job ourselves because we cannot afford to be complacent. If he does come within our lifetime, then all praise is for Allah, the Most Loving, and we must throng to give pledge to the Imam, but even then we will not be allowed any rest because of the tribulations of those coming times.
5. The reservation of a place in Paradise is not easy and sacrifice on the part of the individual is essential. My beloved Muslims, read the history of this Ummah; victory only ever came after struggle and sacrifice. Probably the best example of this is what Shaykh Abdullah Hakim Quick talked about when he said, “If you want the Medinian Period, you have to go through Mecca first.” Only after thirteen years of persecution by the Quraysh, was the Noble Prophet ordered to go and establish formal Islamic Governance in Yathrib (Madinah). I want you to stop reading now and think about this: THIRTEEN YEARS of constant persecution and we complain here in England about the state of the Muslims. Well what sacrifice have you and I given to contribute to the saving of the Ummah from its calamities? Indeed, only after sacrifice and struggle will we come out on top and not without trials and tests will we be victorious. Go to this link to find out more about our on-going test: http://www.harunyahya.com/24moral04.html
6. We need to search out the Ulama (scholars), sit with them, give them the due respect and reverence and learn from them. In western civilisation, teachers are jeered and insulted and even beaten up. There is a saying of the Mauritanians “the one who teaches you one letter is your father”. The Ulama today, forget a letter, are preserving and teaching the Sacred Knowledge of Islam so where is the respect and reverence given to them? Whole pieces have been written about this issue and I urge the reader to understand the worth of a scholar and to seek out the rightly guided leaders of Islam, to sit at their feet and to learn from them. I leave you with what the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu ta’ala alaihi wa aalihee wa sallam) himself said, reported by Abu Ad-Dardaa: “Indeed, the scholars are the inheritors of the prophets.” We do not have a Prophet of Allah with us today, but we do have the next best thing.
May Allah give us the strength to rise up to the challenges that we face today.
May Allah unite this Ummah.
May Allah unite this Ummah.
May Allah unite this Ummah.
May Allah give us the rightful inheritance of this earth after these disbelievers who are destroying the earth as we sit back and watch.
May Allah place the sweetness of Faith and Unshakeable conviction in our hearts.
May Allah place His remembrance and the love for Ahmad in our hearts.
May Allah place in us the desire for Al-Qu’ran.
All Glory is to Allah, the Most Wise, the Most Loving, the Most Giving who has created this awesome universe and given us the potential to be the best of it.
Who sent to us His chosen Messenger to purify us and to guide us.
Rabbanaa aatinaa fiDunya Hasanah wa filAakhirati Hasanah wa Qinaa AdhaabaNaar.
Our Lord give us good in this life, good in the next life and save us from the punishment of the Fire.
Blessings of Allah, the Most High and peace be on the Best of Creation, the Light of the Throne, the Imam of the Messengers, Our Beloved Noble Master Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa and on his Blessed Companions, Family, Followers and on all the Prophets, Ulama and Awliya.
And all praise is to Allah, the Lord and King of Creation.