Are We Mercy To Mankind?

And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. (Al-Anbiya 21:107)

In our previous article of this series, we discussed the topic of oppression and its ramifications on our individual and collective lives. This topic is a continuation of the same theme but with a slightly different focus.

Allah SWT sent his messengers and prophets as a form of mercy to humanity. The highest form of mercy towards a person is to remind him of his eventual meeting with his Creator and to prepare him for this meeting. Since there won’t be another prophet coming after Muhammad SAW, the responsibility of conveying the message of Allah to humanity rests with his nation.

We have not sent you but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not. (Saba 34:28)

Since Muslims are conveying the message of Prophet Muhammad SAW, they by extension are also supposed to be carrying his title of being the mercy to humanity.

Let’s not go as far as entire mankind, let’s look at our behavior with those who are our direct responsibility, our newest brothers and sisters in faith—the converts to Islam. Instead of being role models for them and helping them to develop their faith and understanding, we often become a hurdle in their spiritual growth.

Today, the Muslim world is polluted with different ideologies and understandings. There are many groups and mosques, all adhering to some ideology instead of the pure message of Islam. This causes confusion and division among all Muslims, but the effects are worst on new Muslims and Muslim youth. They receive various contradicting information, interpretation, and messages from different people and places which cause confusion, doubt, and uncertainty.

Of course Allah SWT will guide those who are sincere as He promises in the Qur’an:

And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good. (Al-Ankabut 29:69)

The topic here is whether we are making matters easier for them, or more difficult.

Let’s do a quick rewind of last few hundred years to get a clearer understanding of the Muslim world today.

Up until a few decades ago, almost all of the predominantly Muslim nations were occupied by colonial powers. During the five hundred or so years of occupation, Muslims were denied proper education and accurate understanding of their religion. The condition of the Muslim world can be compared to a person after he wakes up from a long sleep. When the person initially wakes up, his mind is unstable and shaky. It takes a while for him to be able to walk up straight. This is exactly the situation of the Muslim world after a long period of neglect from their religion under colonialism. It is going from one transition of ideologies and understanding to another—both spiritual and political. And to make matters worse, each one of these ideologues claim to be THE ONE!

The only way to bring the Muslim world out of the mess it has fallen into is to go back to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad SAW. He SAW left us a complete journey from disbelief to ultimate belief. If we want to follow Islam we have to follow the twenty three years’ period of revelation as sent by Allah SWT to His Prophet SAW.

Everything in life has a sequence. Just like that everything in Islam has a sequence. Allah SWT sent the Qur’an over a period of twenty-three years, creating a system of belief and spiritual development. Anytime we want to follow Islam properly we have to follow the twenty-three years’ format.

The problem is that all the various ideological groups also claim to be following this divine system! What is a person supposed to do?

It is almost as if a person wants to be a surgeon but doesn’t want to go through years of education and training. Instead he puts on scrubs, wears a mask and gets into the operation theatre.

Take the example of the group that believes that women should be completely covered, have no interaction with men, stay at home, and be served. They derive this understanding from the Qur’anic verses which were revealed for the Prophet SAW’s wives towards the end of his life. They believe that since the Prophet’s wives are the role models for Muslims, all Muslim women should follow the same and thus the verses apply to them as well. In a way it is correct, but what these people forget is that at that time in Islamic history men were also men! They were the teachers, care takers and role models for the women in their lives. Today if women follow these teaching, who will take care of them?

Even if we try to implement this understanding today, we will be faced with two major challenges:

1. Humanity is made up of two parts—male and female. If females stay home and males are not fulfilling their role, who will take care of the females?

2. If females stay home, who will educate them about Islam? Who will teach them on how to be good wives, mothers and role models for others?

Yes, Islam is complete in its teachings and understanding. Yes, Qur’an is complete and will never change but we have to take the rules of Islam according to the condition and slowly and systematically build up towards what we want to achieve.

For example, is it realistic to ask a New-Muslim sister to completely cover up and stay at home? How will she be beneficial to herself and others? Are Muslims that knowledgeable, nice and kind to provide for her and educate her? How many men today have basic knowledge of Islam to educate their own families, let alone society at large? Even if you find them, they usually follow an ideology or understanding, not the pure teachings of Islam.

Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction… (An-Nahl 16:125)

Take the example of a person who is sick and is given an antibiotic. If he has sensitive stomach or an ulcer, the antibiotics can hurt him instead of healing him. Is it advisable to give him this medication just because it is good? No! We have to set priorities according to the condition. We have to heal the ulcer before giving the antibiotics!

Islam is not a way of life according to me and you. It is the way of life according to Allah SWT and He knows that we are weak and cannot do anything except gradually. This is why the Qur’an was revealed in stages.

It is the biography of the Prophet SAW that teaches us how to understand Qur’an. It teaches us how the revelation was step by step and occasion by occasion; and how regulations came toward the end of the Prophet’s life when community’s faith was perfected.

Careful study of the life of the Prophet SAW allows us to see that the initial teachings of Islam were focused on building faith, building the relationship with the Creator, and on knowing the Creator and one’s own reality.

Once a person knows who he is, and once his relationship with his Creator is established, he will start building faith and will give the Lord the right that is His due! Once a person has faith, it will help him to be devoted; since devotion cannot come unless you love someone, and love cannot come unless you know the object of your love!

Devotion and love require knowledge and connection, and two-thirds of the Qur’an revealed in Makkah does exactly that!

During thirteen years in Makkah, only a handful of regulations were revealed by Allah SWT. The rest of Islamic rules and regulations were revealed in Medina when people were ready to receive them. For example, the rule of hijab was revealed after many years in Medina.

When we give da’wah, should we start from the beginning of the revelation or the end?

It has to be the beginning! We have to be merciful to people and be patient until their faith is strong enough for them to implement the rules of Allah SWT.

A man once came to me who believed in Islam but he had a girlfriend and occasionally drank alcohol. What is the wisdom in this case? Ask him to wait until he becomes a perfect believer and overcome all his shortcomings or bring him in the fold of Islam and under Allah’s mercy?

There are approximately 5,800 verses in the Qur’an that talk about the Creator and the relationship between a person and His Lord; and only 500 verses that talk about rules and regulations. The verses about Allah SWT and His relationship with His creation begin with “O mankind”, whereas verses establishing rules begin with “O you who have believed”, making a clear distinction between those who have submitted and those who have faith –Muslim vs. Mo’min.

A Muslim is someone who has embraced Islam and has willingly submitted himself to the Creator; whereas belief is a journey that is developed and perfected over lifetime through struggles, sacrifices and gaining knowledge. The more a person gains knowledge, the more he develops his belief and strengthens it. As the belief rises and gets stronger, the person is consequently enabled to implement regulations of Allah SWT.

“Religion is easy, and no one overburdens himself in his religion but he will be unable to continue in that way. So do not be extremists, but try to be near perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded. Gain strength by worshipping in the mornings and afternoons and during the last hours of the night.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

"This religion is easy. No one becomes harsh and strict in the religion without it overwhelming him.” (Al-Bukhari)

Humans are complicated creatures. Their needs, desires, hearts, souls and understandings are different and unique. We cannot dictate what we want from other people. We cannot force people to listen as it is an opening and guidance from Allah SWT. All we can do is invite them to the mercy of Allah who in turn will take care of all their needs.

Therefore, the most important is to build your faith and your understanding! Not to dress as a surgeon to perform surgery, but first understand the job and take necessary steps to become the surgeon!

Do those who are harsh and tough on others forget their own state before Allah SWT guided them?

Were they at this level of faith and understanding since they were born or they went through their own journey of faith until they became strong enough to implement the commands of Allah?

If Allah SWT and His Prophet SAW didn’t do it, then who are we to expect others to implement the commands of Allah overnight?

A young Muslim came to the Prophet SAW one day and said: "O Prophet! Give me permission to commit adultery." Some of the Companions who were present, seeing this request as being against Islamic morals scolded the young man and told him to be quiet.

Prophet Muhammad SAW was very calm and told the young man "Come over here and sit down." Then he turned to him and started to talk with him.

He continued, and said: "Would you want someone to commit adultery with your daughter?"

Then he went on to ask if the young man would approve of his sister, paternal aunt or maternal aunt committing adultery. Each time, the young man answered: "No, I would not want that."

When he saw that the youth had understood his error the Prophet SAW put his hand on the young man's chest and said " My Lord, forgive him his sin, clean his heart and protect him from committing sins."

The young man said that when I came to the Prophet my heart was full of desire of committing adultery, and when I left after this meeting my heart was completely pure from this desire. (Ahmed)

Note the Prophet’s patience, mercy and consideration towards the needs and weaknesses of people.

During the lifetime of the Prophet SAW there was a man called `Abdullah who used to make Allah's Apostle laugh. The Prophet lashed him because of drinking (alcohol). And one-day he was brought to the Prophet on the same charge and was lashed. On that, a man among the people said, "O Allah, curse him! How frequently he has been brought (to the Prophet on such a charge)!" The Prophet said, "Do not curse him, for by Allah, I know he loves Allah and His Apostle." (Bukhari)

On certain occasions people asked the Prophet SAW questions or sought his approval over acts of devotion but Prophet SAW didn’t reply. When he was inquired about his silence he explained that if he had replied or approved, it would have become a command and an obligation to follow those acts and people would not be able to burden it. The following narrations explain some of these instances.

Narrated Aisha (RA), wife of Prophet SAW: The Messenger of Allah SAW never offered prayer in the forenoon, but I offer it. The Messenger of Allah SAW would give up an action, though he liked to do it, lest the people should continue it and it is prescribed for them. (Abu Dawud)

Aisha (RA) also said that the Prophet SAW prayed once in the Masjid during one of the nights of Ramadan. People joined him, and then more people joined him in the next night. Then more people waited for the Prophet SAW in the third and the fourth night, but the Prophet SAW did not come out to them. The next morning, the Prophet SAW said: "I have seen what you did; nothing had prevented me from coming out to you except that I feared that it may become obligatory upon you." (Bukhari & Muslim)

Islam teaches us that anything we do has to be done for the benefit of the person and his environment. We can’t ignore the environment or take it out of the equation. Mercy also dictates that teachings and expectations should be according to the level of the people. For example, when people embrace Islam all the odds are stacked against them from family and friends to the larger environment. Add to that the lack of brotherhood, sisterhood, support system, Islamic environment and role models in the Muslim community.

Are New-Muslims today entering their faith in a society closely parallel to Makkah or Medina?

It is most definitely Makkah. We have to be merciful to them and try to facilitate the environment for them in which they can grow and strengthen their faith. If a person embraces Islam with full conviction, even if he still commits sins, he will eventually enter paradise; whereas, the one who dies in a state of disbelief will be in hellfire for eternity. So mercy and wisdom require that we invite people to Islam, overlook their weaknesses and allow them to spiritually grow at their own pace.

We also have examples around us of what happens when we try to break the sequence of da’wah (propagation of faith) as ordained by Allah SWT. Look at what happened in Afghanistan in recent history. Taliban tried to implement the Islamic law, but they did it out of sequence and harshly without any mercy to the point they caused people to run away from them.

So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. (Al-Imran 3:159)

This is Allah’s advice to His Prophet SAW, then what about you and me?! If we expect others to implement the regulations of Islam without any education and strong faith or push them for it, they will do so but it will not be out of devotion and love for Allah SWT, and they won’t be able to continue for a long period of time. They will struggle with a lot of internal conflicts and when the society challenges them, their faith will falter because it was not strong enough to deal with the pressure.

It is imperative that we must understand that Islam outside is the direct result of the iman inside. The more a person has iman inside, the more he will be able to implement Islam on the outside.

There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. (Al Baqara 2:256)

A person has to follow Islam and its rulings willingly in order to please Allah SWT. No one can force another to implement the teachings of Islam. If one forces another to do something, he will do it for the person and not for Allah, thus to no benefit for either. But if you teach a person to be close to Allah, when the time is right he will fulfill the commands of Allah purely for His pleasure.

Therefore the priority should be to gain the right understanding, knowledge, proper conduct and manners so when you outwardly proclaim your faith, you can be a positive role model for others and not a destructive image for your religion.

If today Americans want to embrace Islam where are the Muslims to educate them?

Is this the mission of Islam, or the mission of Islam is to invite people to the oneness and mercy of Allah?

To kill and get killed is easy but to sacrifice the time, money and effort, and to be a role model for others to follow is tough!

How can we invite others when we are harsh, tough and stubborn in our own understanding?

How can we invite others when we are not ready to listen to them and deal with them according to who they are and where they are coming from?

Yes, we are coming out of colonialism which gave birth to many groups and sects that are driven by political and economic situations and are trying to survive the oppression. Yes, the message of Islam got lost during that struggle and the purpose shifted and became focused on survival of land, money and politics. Yes, our identities were snatched from us and we were cut off from our glorious past. But can we sit around lamenting and complaining? Or do we have to re-focus our energies, rectify our situation and prepare the banquet so we can invite others to it?

Our only purpose and concern should be to spread Islam even if we face oppression and injustice for our cause. And what’s more, we have to respond with kindness and generosity to the hostility we may face. Have you ever heard of a Prophet or Messenger running after people and abusing them? In fact, people harmed the Messengers but they never retaliated because if they had aggressed, their image would have been tarnished and their message would have been lost. Messengers and Prophets had to be patient, had to take humiliation and oppression for the sake of Allah, and offset the negativity with good manners and good conduct—in order to elevate the message and keep it pure.

Another story I came across is of a Jewish man from New York who had embraced Islam but didn’t practice it at all. He carried on with his old life style until he met a group of Muslims who truly impressed him and inspired him to practice his newly adopted faith. It was three years after his conversion to Islam that he actually became a Muslim.

When we eat food, it takes a while for our bodies to derive nutritional benefit from it. Similarly, when we embrace Islam it takes time to digest the meaning, to develop understandings, to establish the connection, to fall and then get up, and to overcome our weaknesses.

This time varies from one person to another. So who are we to burden anyone with any rule? These are the rules of Allah SWT and we have no right to push them on others! Our education should be focused on teaching people

The more people understand the faith the more they are molded into it, and when the time comes and they learn about a rule or regulation they willingly implement it. Once they are spiritually ready to apply the rules of Allah SWT, nothing can shake their resolve and make them change their mind.

Majority of people today have forgotten da’wah and its basic understanding. We have forgotten how to invite, how to be kind, how to be generous, how to be patient, and how to focus on the priority which is to help people reach the mercy of Allah and enter paradise.

Our mission is to help people establish a connection with their Lord Allah SWT. After that how much Islam they implement is not our concern. It is their own struggle between them and Allah SWT!

It is like we take a person to marathon just because he is strong. Yes, he might be strong and might be able to walk and run but that doesn’t mean that his body is trained to accomplish the task. He might pull, stretch or cut a muscle and permanently damage it and will never be able to win or even compete again. All because we didn’t respect his body and didn’t allow him to go for proper training before putting him in a challenging environment.

Are we really occupied with the concern of saving the humanity from eternal punishment?

If not, then is it a justifiable claim that we are not really mercy to mankind and thus by extension, we are not really true followers of the Prophet SAW?

One day, Dawud (AS) was walking and he said to Allah SWT "Oh Allah who is the most beloved slave to You." Allah revealed " Oh Dawud, most beloved person to me is the one with a pure heart. He will not spread mischief and he will not walk among people with backbiting and harshness. Mountains can be destroyed but he will not be. He loves me and loves those who love me and he makes people love me . Dawud (AS) asked "Oh Allah, how does he make people love you?" Allah replied, "He reminds people of my bounties and goodness to them so they will love me.”

Mercy is at the very core of the da’wah to Allah. We invite people towards their goodness:

If someone gives you a gift which is very precious, valuable and beneficial, are you going to save it for yourself and be greedy and selfish or are you going to share it with others?

What can be a more precious gift than knowing and loving your Lord, SWT! And what can be a greater mission than to be ambassadors of Allah SWT and invite humanity towards His message!

If you do not do it and I do not do it, who will do it? If you and I become so occupied with ourselves that we become careless about our responsibility towards humanity, we will be abandoned by Allah SWT and thus be destroyed both in this life and the next.

[And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of [all] matters. (Al Hajj 22:41)

And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims." (Fussilat 41:33)

Can there be a better way of enjoining right than to bring people back to their Creator?

A scholar once said, “If the voice of truth becomes low then the voice of oppression becomes high. Don’t blame the oppressor instead blame the people of truth; if they are not doing their job, then the oppressors will prevail.”

Another scholar addressed this issue saying, “If we only worry about ourselves and our families and ignore our surroundings we will pay a high price. We are part of our surroundings and our environment. We are products of our environment and cannot remove ourselves from it. If we do not develop our environment, it will destroy us.”

Muslims are supposed to be agents of change. Good change. When they live in a society, they should be able to influence it with their good conduct and by being exemplary role models for others.

Instead of being busy with the mission of changing themselves and their surroundings, Muslims have become pre-occupied with accumulating and enjoying material wealth. And just look at what havoc this negligence has caused! Who is the criminal? We are, because we did not do our job!

We are all responsible—according to our capabilities—to be the agents of change in our environment. When revelation started in Makkah the only thing required of Muslims was to invite others to the message. We have to start with just that!

Anything a person talks about nonstop eventually enters his heart. If someone likes a certain drink and keeps talking about it continuously, then not only the listener will begin to like it more, others around will also be influenced to try it. The same goes for a house, car, business or anything else; the more we talk about something the more it will manifest in our hearts and personalities.

If we talk about Allah SWT all the time, His reality will enter our hearts. At that time our days and nights will be busy with Allah, inviting others towards Him and increasing ourselves and others in faith. This is why Allah SWT said:

O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. (Al Ahzab 33:41)

The foremost component of doing da’wah is to build the motivation to do it. The sequence goes like this:

Islam teaches us to make a consistent daily effort for our spiritual growth, even if just for an hour or two. The consistent effort is necessary to offset the pull of material world around us. Our environment lures us to materialistic pleasures whereas Islam invites us to afterlife. They are total opposite of each other and this creates a tug of war inside. Wherever our efforts are focused, that is what will prevail in our hearts.

A Muslim should dedicate his time every day to read in order to build knowledge and understanding. This knowledge must be acquired under the supervision of someone more experienced who can guide the person to the knowledge that he needs most. This knowledge then needs to be spread and shared with others.

If you gain knowledge and are good to yourself only, what is your benefit on earth? How can Islam benefit from you? It is like someone who takes vitamins and exercises regularly and has strong muscles; but he doesn’t use these muscles. What is the benefit of his muscles?

Islam contains no selfishness or greed. It is all about giving, sharing and benefitting. It is all about mercy! Allah SWT said:

You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. (Al Imran 3:110)

Allah SWT ties our honor of being the best nation to the responsibility of spreading His Mercy to humanity. Humanity is plunged in the ferocious cyclone of oppression, strife, discontent and arrogance. This Mercy is needed more than ever to save people from themselves and from a disastrous end.

Trust your heart and your knowledge. Together they will give you a beautiful bond with your Lord who will guide you and help you accomplish that which will truly fill your heart and soul with contentment and happiness.

May Allah SWT accept us among those fortunate ones who receive the honor of being ambassadors of Allah SWT and His Messenger SAW. Ameen.

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CONDITION OF THE UMMAH

PART 5

ARE WE MERCY TO MANKIND?

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