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 CRISIS IN GAZATHERMOMETER OF THE CONDITION OF THE
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Prophet Muhammed SAW has said, “Whoever disappoints a Muslim, where his sanctity is profaned and his honor is assaulted, will be disappointed by Allah when he would like to triumph. And whoever stands by a Muslim where his sanctity is profaned and his honor is assaulted will be assisted by Allah when he needs His assistance” (Sahih al Jami)
The word ‘disappoints’ is an incomplete translation of the Arabic word 'khadhala' used by our Prophet Muhammed SAW. Khadhala refers to a person who has the ability to do something but rather chooses to forsake, abandon, fail, betray, and desert his Muslim brothers in need. This khadhala can be intentional, due to weakness, lack of loyalty, or misplaced priorities. For example, today we prefer material life, comfort, family, business etc. above the message of Islam, da’wah, supporting the needy, the orphan, and each other. And now we have plunged to a new low where we even fail to aid and support our own oppressed brothers and sisters. While Muslims are being brutalized and terrorized all over the world, majority of the ummah is passively watching, weeping, sharing gory news/images over texts, Twitter, Facebook or emails, while in reality contributing nothing to ease the pain and suffering.
The Muslim ummah is suffering from one calamity after another, yet our selfishness, greed and weakness of iman has made us paralyzed from carrying out the duty of spreading the noble message of Allah SWT to humanity. We have become like an incapacitated person who has all his limbs but cannot use them.
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One of the fundamental responsibilities Islam places on us is the rights of other Muslims. When we closely study the hadeeth mentioned above and the rest of the sayings of the Prophet SAW mentioned below, we can see clear and straightforward warnings that if we show cowardice and do not assist our brothers in need, very soon Allah SWT will inflict us with similar conditions where we will need help, but Allah SWT will not help us and will not send anyone else to our aid. |
Keeping in mind that paralysis and disability of the ummah are a form of punishment from Allah SWT, here are some questions to ponder upon while reading the following sayings of the Prophet SAW:
- Why did Allah SWT seal the hearts of the rich so they cannot spend?
- How is it that the scholars and learned people do not stand with the truth?
- How can millions of people become so weak and disabled that their voices mean absolutely nothing?
- Az-Zubair bin `Adi said: We went to Anas bin Malik (RA) and complained to him of suffering at the hands of Al-Hajjaj. He replied: "Show endurance, for no time will come but will be followed by one worse (than the present one) till you meet your Rabb. I heard this from your Prophet (SAW)". (Al-Bukhari)
- The Prophet SAW said, "By Him in Whose Hand my life is, you either enjoin good and forbid evil, or Allah will certainly soon send His punishment to you. Then you will make supplication and it will not be accepted". (At-Tirmidhi)
- The Prophet SAW said, "The first defect (in religion) which affected the Children of Israel in the way that man would meet another and say to him: `Fear
Allah and abstain from what you are doing, for this is not lawful for you.' Then he would meet him the next day and find no change in him, but this would
not prevent him from eating with him, drinking with him and sitting in his assemblies. When it came to this, Allah led their hearts into evil ways on
account of their association with others.''
Then he (SAW) recited,
Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.
They used not to prevent one another from wrongdoing that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing.
You see many of them becoming allies of those who disbelieved. How wretched is that which they have put forth for themselves in that Allah has become angry with them, and in the punishment they will abide eternally.
And if they had believed in Allah and the Prophet and in what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them as allies; but many of them are defiantly disobedient. (Al Ma`ida 5:78-81)
Then he (SAW) continued: "Nay, by Allah, you either enjoin good and forbid evil and catch hold of the hand of the oppressor and persuade him to act justly and stick to the truth, or, Allah will involve the hearts of some of you with the hearts of others and will curse you as He had cursed them". (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)
The wording in At-Tirmidhi is: Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "When the Children of Israel became sinful, their learned men prohibited them but they would not turn back. Yet, the learned men associated with them and ate and drank with them. So, they were cursed at the tongues of Dawud and `Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), because they were disobedient and were given to transgression.'' At this stage Messenger of Allah (SAW) who was reclining on a pillow sat up and said, "No, By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, there is no escape for you but you persuade them to act justly.''
- Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA) reported: "O you people! You recite this Verse:
`O you who believe! Take care of your own selves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is right (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in error.' (Al Ma`ida 5:105)
But I have heard Messenger of Allah (SAW) saying: "When people see an oppressor but do not prevent him from (doing evil), it is likely that Allah will punish them all.'' (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)
"Beware of injustice, for oppression will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection; and beware of stinginess because it doomed those who were before you. It incited them to shed blood and treat the unlawful as lawful.'' (Muslim)
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Ibn `Umar (RA) reported: We were talking about the Farewell Pilgrimage without knowing what was it when Messenger of Allah (SAW) was also present. He (SAW) stood up and recited the Praise and Glorification of Allah. He then gave a detailed account of Ad-Dajjal and said,
'Every Prophet sent by Allah had warned his people against his mischief. Nuh (AS) warned his nation and so did all the Prophets after him. If he (i.e., Ad-Dajjal) appears among you, his condition will not remain hidden from you. Your Rabb is not one-eyed, but Ad-Dajjal is. His right eye is protruding like a swollen grape. Listen, Allah has made your blood, and your properties as inviolable as of this day of yours (i.e., the Day of Sacrifice), in this city of yours (i.e., Makkah), in this month of yours (i.e., Dhul -Hijjah). Listen, have I conveyed Allah's Message to you?''
The people replied in affirmative. There upon he said,
"O Allah, bear witness.'' And he repeated it thrice. He (SAW) concluded: "Do not revert after me as infidels killing one another". (Al-Bukhari)
- "Whoever usurps unlawfully even a hand span of land a collar measuring seven times (this) land will be placed around his neck on the Day of Resurrection." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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"Verily, Allah gives respite to the oppressor. But when He seizes him, He does not let him escape.'' Then he (SAW) recited,
"Such is the Seizure of your Rabb when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful (and) severe."(Hud 11:102) (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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Mu`adh (RA) reported that Messenger of Allah (SAW) sent me (as a governor of Yemen) and instructed me thus:
"You will go to the people of the Book. First call them to testify that `there is no true god except Allah, that I am (Muhammad (SAW) the Messenger of Allah.' If they obey you, tell them that Allah has enjoined upon them five Salat (prayers) during the day and night; and if they obey you, inform them that Allah has made Zakat obligatory upon them; that it should be collected from their rich and distributed among their poor; and if they obey you refrain from picking up (as a share of Zakat) the best of their wealth. Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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Messenger of Allah SAW said, "Do you know who is the bankrupt?''
They said: "The bankrupt among us is the one who has neither money with him nor any property".
He said, "The real bankrupt of my Ummah would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with Salat, Saum and Sadaqah (charity), (but he will find himself bankrupt on that day as he will have exhausted the good deeds) because he reviled others, brought calumny against others, unlawfully devoured the wealth of others, shed the blood of others and beat others; so his good deeds would be credited to the account of those (who suffered at his hand). If his good deeds fall short to clear the account, their sins would be entered in his account and he would be thrown in the (Hell) Fire." (Muslim)
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"A believer continues to guard his Faith (and thus hopes for Allah's Mercy) so long as he does not shed blood unjustly." (Al-Bukhari)
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"The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other.'' He (SAW) illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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"The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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"He who is not merciful to people Allah will not be merciful to him.'' (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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"A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. So he should not oppress him nor should he hand him over to (his satan or to his self which is inclined to evil). Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever removes the troubles of his brother, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever covers up the fault of a Muslim, Allah will cover up his fault on the Day of Resurrection." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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"A Muslim is a brother to a Muslim. He should neither deceive him nor lie to him, nor leave him without assistance. Everything belonging to a Muslim is inviolable for a Muslim; his honor, his blood and property. Piety is here (and he pointed out to his chest thrice). It is enough for a Muslim to commit evil by despising his Muslim brother.'' (At-Tirmidhi)
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"Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices by overbidding against one another; do not hate one another; do not harbor malice against one another; and do not enter into commercial transaction when others have entered into that (transaction); but be you, O slaves of Allah, as brothers. A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he neither oppresses him nor does he look down upon him, nor does he humiliate him. Piety is here, (and he pointed to his chest three times). It is enough evil for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother-in-faith: his blood, his property and his honor." (Muslim)
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"No one of you shall become a true believer until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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Prophet SAW said, "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed."
A man enquired: "O Messenger of Allah! I help him when he is oppressed, but how can I help him when he is an oppressor?''
He (SAW) said, "You can keep him from committing oppression. That will be your help to him." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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"A Muslim is a brother of (another) Muslim, he neither wrongs him nor does hand him over to one who does him wrong. If anyone fulfills his brother's needs, Allah will fulfill his needs; if one relieves a Muslim of his troubles, Allah will relieve his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and if anyone covers up a Muslim (his sins), Allah will cover him up (his sins) on the Resurrection Day". (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
So what do you think brings the paralysis and disability from Allah SWT?
When our priorities shift from the hereafter to this world and our hearts develop the love of duniya and other diseases, Allah SWT removes all ability and strength from us. It is Allah SWT’s wrath and punishment for us, both internally and externally.
Internally: by disabling Muslims from making a difference or doing anything to change their condition.
Externally: by tasleet—which means Allah SWT allows the oppressors and the enemies of Islam to have dominance over the Muslims.
This is our condition today! Read these sayings of the Prophet SAW carefully and repeatedly as they explain exactly what has happened to the ummah and why we are in such crises. We neglected our duty both as individuals and an ummah by not living the message of Islam and not carrying it to the rest of humanity. We are paying the price for abandoning our deen in the form of weakness over weakness, humiliation after humiliation, and disaster after disaster.
Note: These are the prophecies of none other than our beloved Prophet SAW. They need to be taken with utmost seriousness if we want to improve our condition.
The Prophet SAW said, “The nations shall gather and team up against you (i.e., Muslims) as the predators gather and team up against their prey.
A questioner asked, “Is it because of us being low in numbers at that day?”
The Prophet SAW replied: “No, you that day shall be in great numbers, but you will be as powerless as the foam of the water on the surface of the river, and Allah shall remove any fear from your enemies toward you, and He shall put in your hearts wahn.”
A questioner asked: “O Apostle of Allah, what is wahn?”
The Prophet SAW replied: “The love of life's amusements and the fear of death.” (Abu Dawud)
If we read this hadeeth carefully and look at the condition of the ummah today, we will not need any further explanation about our situation. We have lost the basic essence of Islam and have become materialistic to the point we act as if we are never going to die, and we will never meet Allah SWT and be questioned for our time on this earth.
It is imperative for us to ask ourselves this question, ‘what can we do?’
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We have to wake up from this state of heedlessness and understand that all the disasters, aggression, oppression, and killing we see around us are actually wake-up calls for us from Allah SWT. These conditions will increase and will get tougher with time. Very soon the sifting time will start during which the ummah will face some hard trials; through these trials some people will be honored, and others will be disgraced. What will determine this honor and disgrace is our faith and what we are living for. If our faith is alive, if we understand the message and embody it through our actions, Allah SWT will protect us and help us to pass these difficult times safely until we meet Him. |  |
In conclusion we can say that the only way to change the status quo, both internally and externally, is for each Muslim to accept Islam as his responsibility and do his best for it, instead of waiting for others to do something. These are the steps we need to take:
- Start our journey of faith. We have to understand what the message of Islam is all about and what Allah SWT wants from us at this time and place. This applies to male, female, young, and old.
- Try to build sincerity and truthfulness between Allah SWT and us by devoting time and money for our spiritual development. We need to do this not only to save ourselves from the anger of Allah SWT but in order to be assets to our families and societies.
- Develop the quality and character of an ambassador of Islam and be role model for others.
- Devote maximum possible time and effort to:
These steps are not optional, they are mandatory for us to take as we will be questioned about our efforts on the Day of Judgment and each one of us will have to answer according to his ability and status.
It might appear that now Muslims are more aware of the suffering of the ummah than ever before. However the reality is that just keeping up with the news and the crisis does not equal awareness. The real awareness is when the person is in an active mode taking practical steps to change the condition. Passive observation of the news and bloody images and then passing them on with a few words of condemnation can actually bear witness against us, both in this duniya and akhirah.
News comes with responsibility. To watch our fellow Muslims suffer extreme hardships and not do anything about it puts us in a very precarious situation with Allah SWT as evident by the sayings of the Prophet SAW. Besides, the news today is really a means of deception and distraction. It takes us away from the real news of the past, present and the future which the Qur’an gives us. If we want to truly understand what is going on in this world, where we are headed, and most importantly, where do we fit in the current scheme of things and which side we belong to, we have to read Qur’an and be in the company of learned people.
At this point in time our ummah has two choices:
- Remain disgraced.
- Receive honor and elevation.
Both disgrace and honor are in the hands of Allah SWT. Allah SWT has disgraced us because we abandoned His message and He SWT will not change our condition unless we change the course we are on. Allah SWT has said:
Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. (Ar-Ra’d 13:11)
Allah SWT and His Prophet SAW have repeatedly warned us of the consequences if we do not take our deen1 seriously. If we stay in this spiritually static state and continue to ignore the responsibility Allah SWT has placed on us, then we will remain humiliated and disgraced.
The only way we will receive honor from Allah SWT is if we honor His message. We can’t afford to waste any more time. We have to make tawba (repent), embrace Islam wholeheartedly, and devote our lives to carry Allah SWT’s message to humanity.
According to the promises of Allah SWT and His Prophet SAW, the advent of the noor or light of Allah SWT is imminent!
Allah SWT says,
They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.
It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it. (As-Saff 61:8-9)
Allah SWT reiterates the same promise in another place in the Qur’an by saying,
They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.
It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others with Allah dislike it. (At-Tawbah 9:32-33)
This noor is the guidance which will spread on the earth. It will happen whether with us or without us. Anyone with basic knowledge of Islam knows with certainty that from this darkness of poverty, misguidance, weakness and humiliation that we are in, the light of Allah SWT will rise. Our efforts should be concentrated on trying to be among those lucky ones who are chosen by Allah SWT to spread this noor. Those who ignore this call will be disgraced in this life and doomed to hellfire at the end.
Despite all the chaos and upheaval, these are beautiful times. According to Islamic teachings, when we see the situation getting tougher and the deen of Allah SWT seems to hit all time low, we need to know for a fact that the victory and elevation of Allah SWT is coming.
Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient. (An-Noor 24:55)
Qur’an is full of promises of victory and elevation and as Muslims we must believe in them. Not only that, Allah SWT shows us what we can do in order to receive what Allah SWT has promised. Now it is up to us to choose which group we want to belong to—the group of light or the group of darkness.
O you who have believed, shall I guide you to a transaction that will save you from a painful punishment?
[It is that] you believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if you should know.
He will forgive for you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence. That is the great attainment.
And [you will obtain] another [favor] that you love - victory from Allah and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers.
O you who have believed, be supporters of Allah , as when Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples, "Who are my supporters for Allah ?" The disciples said, "We are supporters of Allah." And a faction of the Children of Israel believed and a faction disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became dominant. (As-Saff 61:10-14)
Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allah - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allah is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you. (Muhammed 47:38)
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We are living in what can be considered one of the darkest and ugliest times in human history. When prejudice and hatred for a people leads to their brazen and indiscriminate killing in plain view of the world and it refuses to act; when basic value of human life irrespective of faith, gender, race and nationality is all but lost, we know that humanity has died. What we need is to train ourselves to ask all the time is: why has Allah SWT allowed it to happen? Allah SWT, the Creator, the Almighty, has given us the answer in the following verse: |
And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much. (Ash-Shuraa 42:30)
Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness]. (Ar-Rum 30:41)
It is our own negligence, our mischief, sins, and oppression amongst each other that has caused the downfall of humanity. But Allah SWT with His ultimate mercy, wisdom and justice has left the door of repentance open for us.
These are dark times but very soon the noor of Allah SWT is going to spread throughout the world. Let’s be among those who are a part of spreading this light InshaAllah.
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Stay away from division!
This is not the time to discuss different schools of thought or differences of opinion in any matter. The confusion and division in the ummah will increase as time passes and we must be extremely careful not to be part of causing any division among people.
- Do not look to the mistakes of others.
Do not look at what others are doing or not doing; instead keep yourself busy with what Allah SWT wants you to do.
- Make yourself your number one priority!
Instead of spending time over the internet and keeping track of who is (or is not) doing what, save your time and effort, and focus your energies to:
- develop yourself,
- strengthe n your relationship with Allah SWT,
- spread the message of unity to Allah (invite people to Allah), and
- remember Allah SWT in abundance.
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Verify your news!
Do not spread any gossip or ‘so called news’ without verifying it with knowledgeable people and authentic sources first.
- Ignore the enemies!
- Do not be distracted with what the enemies of Islam are doing; instead always remember what Allah SWT can do.
O you who believe! If you will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly. (Muhammed 47:7)
This is what we need today! We need Allah SWT to be on our side!
Sincere Advice: If you want to thoroughly understand the condition of the ummah and what is going on please:
- Read the “Book of the End” by Ibn Kathir
- Listen to the lecture series “The Final Chapter” at www.noora1.com
- Listen to the lectures or read the articles in the series titled “Journey of Victory vs. Journey of Defeat” and “Condition of the Ummah” at www.noora1.com
