In the name of Allaah, Most Beneficent and Most Merciful
The Muslim is daily faced by a host of new problems and difficulties. Now and again, reports of untold oppression and barbarism against Muslims are received. Their lives, property and self-respect is trampled upon and worse than that, their religious matters are tampered and interfered with, their Masjids are under constant threat of being converted into temples and are disallowed proper implementation of their (Muslim) personal law.
OUR BLINDNESS
Despite this, the Muslim considers these to be chance occurrences or mere coincidences, thus never pausing to even consider the actual cause and reason behind this suffering. At the most, a few concerned souls, who are momentarily stirred by this state of affairs, call up some fancy conference, pass a few vague resolutions and disappear back into oblivion, contented that they have fulfilled their duties towards Islam.
UMMAH is like a body…. One part gets hurt another part feels the pain. Like a part of the body gets hurt the other parts go for its rescue… in case of calamities like rain, hail or wind… a bee or a dog attack… But when this body does not feel the pain when other part of the body gets hurt or it cannot protect itself from the calamities or attacks by anyone, then it can be said the body is paralyzed or diseased…..
THE DIAGNOSIS
We forget that Allah is the one who is the controller of all affairs…. Nothing can happen without the will of Allah. We are just thinking about the external situation only… we are not looking at the internal aspect…
It is an undisputed axiom of reality that no incident occurs in this Universe accidentally. We as Muslims believe that every occurrence is directly by the command and doing of Almighty Allah. However, every occurrence has been assigned an outward cause, that apparently seems to control and govern it. Thus our difficulties are also governed by causes which Allah and His Rasul (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) have explained to us in the Quran and Hadith:
- “And whatever calamity befalls you, it is due to your own doings and Allah forgives many of your shortcomings.” 42/30.
At another juncture:
- “Corruption has spread on water and land due to the doings of mankind. In order that Allah make them taste the penalty of some of their doings. Perhaps they may retract. (from their disobedience) 30/41.
At another juncture:
- Why would Allah punish you if you were grateful and believed. And Allah is Most appreciative, All-Knowing. 4/147.
- “If the people of the locality had believed and adopted taqwa (piety), We would have opened upon them the blessings of the heavens and the earth, but they denied and falsified, thus We seized them due to their actions.” 7/96.
All these verses indicate that the chastisement of Allah is the direct result of our disobedience, ungratefulness and transgression. On the other hand, if we are obedient and grateful, no punishment will overtake us.
GRATEFULNESS
Proper appreciation of Allah’s bounties is the correct utilization of these favours. To utilize life, health, faculties of sight, hearing, feeling, thinking, locomotion, finances, status and position, all for the pleasure of Allah and in accordance with His commandments is true appreciation of Allah’s bounties. The anti-thesis of this is ungratefulness, which invites the wrath and displeasure of Allah.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
With regards to the verse:
* “And whatever calamity befalls you, it is due to your own doings.” 42/30
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) explained the tafsir of this ayat to Hazrat Ali (RA) thus:
* “0 Ali! whatever calamity befalls you; illness, afflication or any worldly calamity; it is the earning of your own hands.”
* Hazrat Hasan (R) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) said: “By Him in whose control is my life! Any scratch, twitching of veins, slipping of the foot or a flying stone suddenly striking the body; all are due to the committing of sins”.
* Hazrat Abu Musa (RA) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) said: “A wound or any slighter calamity is due to the commission of sins.”
* Hazrat Imraan bin Husain (RA) once felt ill. People came to pay him a visit and expressed their condolences. He replied: “What is achieved by condolences? This is due to some sin I have committed.”
* Hazrat Dahhak (RA) reports that: “A person who forgets the Quran after learning it is due to committing sins.” Thereafter he recited this verse and said: “What could be a greater calamity than forgetting the Quran?”
* Once Hazrat Asma binte Abu Bakr (RA) experienced a headache. She exclaimed: “This is due to my sins.” – DurreManthoor, Ibne-Katheer.
OUR CONDITION
Let us now examine our lifestyles.
SALAAT & OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Salat which has been described as the criterion between Imaan and Kufr (disbelief) how much does it feature in the life of the Muslims? How many are there who are punctual with their obligatory Salat?
How many adhere to the other basic requirements of Islam such as Fasting, Zakat and Hajj? On the otherhand, consider the prohibitions of Islam; those actions that Shariah has declared Haram and a source of Divine curses and harsh reprisals. How many Muslims are engrossed in these day and night? How many have adopted these as part of their lifestyle?
LIQUOR
* Let us consider liquor for example. The Quran has repeatedly forbidden the intake of liquor.
* Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) has cursed anyone associated with liquor in anyway.
He has cursed the consumer, the stockist, the manufacturer, the marketer, the buyer, the seller, the transporter, the receiver and those that derived any income from it.
* In one hadith it has been titled as “The root to all evil.”
INTEREST AND USURY
* The Quran has declared the prohibition of interest. The Quran has equated the usage of interest tantamount to declaring war upon Allah and His Rasul [sallallaahu alaihi wasallam]
* The hadith has classified interest a conglomeration of 73 sins; the slightest of these being equal to fornicating with one’s own mother (incest).
* One hadith warns that the consumer of interest will rise as a lunatic on the Day of Qiyamah.
* Another hadith warns that the part of the humanbody that was nourished by haram income, will not enter Jannah.
* One hadith states that the nation that has taken to fornication and interest should await the chastisement of Allah.
Let us now consider how clear our dealings and transactions are! Interest forms an integral part of our business dealings. Worse than that, desperate attempts are being made to even legalise it (Islamically).
VARIOUS MAJOR SINS
* Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:
“When my ummah will be involved in fifteen activities, then calamities will descend upon them:
- Public finances will be regarded as personal property
- Amanat (Trust) will be abused
- Zakat will be considered a tax (burden)
- Wives will be obeyed
- Mothers will be disobeyed
- Friends will be well-treated
- Parents will be ill-treated
- Noise and commotion will be common in Musjids
- Unqualified persons will occupy positions of responsibility
- Respect will be shown to some people merely to escape their tyranny
- Liquor will be consumed openly
- Men will don silk garments
- Singing girls will be available (for entertainment)
- Musical instruments will be rampant
- The Pious predecessors will be reviled and vituperated; The ummah should then await hurricanes, earthquakes and transformation of some people (into animals).”
Which of these sins are not the daily life – style of most Muslims today? It is no cause of surprise if we are now afflicted by various calamities.
ENJOINING RIGHT AND FORBIDDING EVIL
It is reported in one hadith that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) said:
By Him in whose control is my life! You should continue to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, else Allah will descend such a punishment upon you, that you will make dua unto Him and He will not accept your duas.
In one hadith it is reported that Allah does not punish a whole community on the sins of a small group of people, until these people transgress openly, before such people who have the power of preventing them and yet do not do so. The punishment of Allah then overtakes all. The duas of the pious will then be of no avail to anyone.
OPPRESSIVE LEADERS
In a similar way, today we complain about the oppression of our leaders, whereas these leaders have been appointed over us due to our transgressions. The only salvation from them is through taubah and perfect obedience to Allah’s commands.
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) said: Just as you are (your actions are) so will your rulers be.
In another hadith, it is reported:
I am Allah, there is no deity besides Me, I am the King of Kings and the Master of Kings, the heart of Kings are within My control; when My servants are obedient to me, I make their rulers kind-hearted towards them; when they disobey Me, I turn their rulers against them with anger and tyranny, they then oppress them severly. Therefore, instead of cursing them, turn towards me in remembrance and submission, I will protect you against their tyranny.
Remedy
- Realize and recognize that everything is in the control of Allah.
- Make tauba. Leave the sin…. Make sincere tauba.
- We have to remove this notion that my sin is my business… it is between me and Allah and it will not effect anyone. Any sin done openly does effect others. Further the decisions of Allah are based on our Amaal.“Verily, Allah does not change men’s condition unless they change their inner selves; and when Allah wills people to suffer evil [in consequence of their own evil deeds], there is none who could avert it: for they have none who could protect them from Him”.
- Lets establish the pillars of Islam in our life. Populate the masajid with Amaal. Try to pray your salaat with Jamaat.
- Participate in the effort of Dawat & Tabligh. If this effort is done, then Allah will change our conditions. Deen will start coming in the lives of the people.
- Make dua for the muslims who are suffering. Dua is the weapon of a momin. Cry to Allah in the Tahajjud and pray Salatul Hajath and make dua. Today we adopt all the worldly means but do not turn to Allah for help.
COMMENTS