Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Ibrahim (Abraham)
Chapter 14: Verse 22 (Partial)

Polytheism
"Do not blame me but blame yourselves. Here, neither I can come to your rescue, nor can you come to mine. I disavow your former act of associating me in the past with Allah."

No one professes, at the doctrinal level, that Satan is a partner of God in His divinity. Nor does anyone worship Satan. In fact, so far as verbal expressions go, people generally curse Satan. Ironically, the same people who curse him, also follow his ways, at times consciously, and at other times unconsciously. It is precisely this which has been termed as associating Satan with God in His divinity.

Polytheism does not merely assume one form, viz. associating others with God in matters of belief. There is also another form which consists of exalting someone to a position where it becomes imperative to follow him without any sanction for it from God, or even in opposition to God's command. Such an act, according to the Quran, is tantamount to setting up a partner to God in His godhead. A person who follows someone in this unreserved fashion is guilty of setting up a partner to God even if he keeps on abusing and cursing him. Even if such a person is not treated on a par with those who commit polytheism at the doctrinal level, nevertheless his act will be considered highly reprehensible.

Source:
"Towards Understanding The Quran" - Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi, Vol. 4, pp. 265-267

From Issue: 484 [Read original issue]

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Best State

Shaban is a month of good that introduces the great month of Ramadan. The Prophet, peace upon him, used to fast voluntarily during this month more so than in any other month. One of the motivations for that is that Shaban is the month during which the deeds performed by the servant ascend to God. What follows is a discussion around fasting during the month of Shaban.

Usama B. Zayd relates:  “The Prophet, peace and mercy of God upon him, used to fast so many days in succession that we said, ‘He will never break his fast.’ At other times he would go without fasting for so long until we said, ‘He will never again fast;’ except for two days, which he would fast even if they occurred during the times he was not fasting consecutive days. Furthermore, he would not fast in any month as many days as he fasted during Shaban. I said: ‘O Messenger of God! Sometimes you fast so much it is as if you will never break your fast, at other times you leave fasting for such a long stint it is as if you will never again fast [voluntarily]; except for two days that you always fast.’ He asked: ‘Which two days are those?’ I replied: ‘Monday and Thursday.’ The Prophet, peace upon him, said: ‘Those are two days in which the deeds are presented to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds are presented while I am fasting.’ I said: ‘I do not see you fasting in any month like you fast during Shaban.’ The Prophet, peace and mercy of God upon him, said: “That is a month occurring between Rajab and Ramadan that many people neglect. It is a month in which the deeds ascend to the Lord of the Worlds, be He Mighty and Majesty, and I love for my deeds to ascend while I am fasting.” Related by Imam Ahmad and Imam Al-Nasai

The narrations conveying this meaning are numerous. Among the important points conveyed by the tradition narrated by Usama b. Zayd, may God be pleased with him, is that the Prophet, peace upon him, frequently fasted during Shaban, as is supported by a tradition mentioned by Aisha, may God be pleased with her. She said: “I did not see the Messenger of God fast any month in its entirety except Ramadan, and I did not see him fast as frequently in any other month as he did during Shaban.” Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim

Among the reasons for that, as mentioned in the initial tradition, is that Shaban is the month in which the deeds done throughout the year ascend to God. The Prophet, peace upon him, wished for his deeds to ascend while he was fasting. This should be sufficient motivation for all of us to fast some days of this month. Fasting purifies us of the physical dross that collects in our system and makes our spiritual faculties sharper. What better state could we be in as our deeds are ascending to our Lord?

Compiled From:
"Fasting During Shaban" - Zaid Shakir

From Issue: 893 [Read original issue]

Cool Tips!

Fight Islamophobia

1. Name the problem: Islamophobia.

If you cannot name it, you cannot fight it. That is why anti-Muslim groups are making serious efforts to persuade others not to use the term Islamophobia. The Associated Press dropped the use of the term under that pressure a couple of years ago. Make sure the term Islamophobia is used by you and others to describe all sorts of hate speech and hate crimes against Islam and Muslims.

2. Always equate Islamophobia with racism and anti-Semitism.

They all are fruits of the same tree of hate.

3. Connect with the media personally.

Letters to the Editor is often the most read section in a newspaper. Even if it is not published, your letter is read and counted. Our friends in media tell us that they receive hundreds of negative letters and calls when they have a positive story about Islam or Muslims, while hardly any Muslim calls to appreciate or respond to good articles. Note that not all media or all non-Muslims support Islamophobia. Many have actively condemned torture, bombing, and occupation.

4. Online forums: Hate is thriving on online forums.

Whenever, you see a positive article, make sure that you spend some time posting positive comments and engaging in conversations.

5. Request your local library to purchase good books about Islam and Muslims.

Does your library contain books which share your perspectives, or does it only have the hatemongers’ books only.

6. Report, report, report.

Report each incident of Islamophobia you, your family, or friends encounter. Even small ones. While Muslims are the number one victims of hate in America, we rarely report it. The result is that the FBI’s national statistics report anti-Semitism, which is equally wrong, to be a bigger problem than Islamophobia.

7. Thank those who speak out or act against Islamophobia.

A quick call, even leaving a message and/or a two-line email message are sufficient.

8. Make Dua for the enemy.

May Allah guide the hatemongers. The Prophet made Dua for the enemy, pleading with Allah to have mercy on them because they do not know, therefore, they need to be guided.

Compiled From:
"8 Ways an Individual can fight Islamophobia" - Abdul Malik Mujahid

From Issue: 836 [Read original issue]