Sincere Believers
in the Quran, and those of us returning to Islam, must be aware of the fact
that Islam and Kufr (Disbelief) are two totally opposite systems of life. These lifestyles are travelling in totally
opposite directions and are not designed to be compatible or comfortable with
each other. Islam will always appear to
be a threat to the eyes of the Disbelievers and their leaders, no matter how
many assurances Muslims may give them. So all the assurances that today’s
Muslim “appeasers” are scurrying to present to Western politicians are wasted
efforts and will only continue to create confusion in the lives and minds of
sincere Believers around the world. In
the Quran, Allah says plainly:
“In the Name of
Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Never
will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with you
Unless
you follow their form of “religion”…(Quran 2:120)
In this same piece of advice, He confirms what is going to
happen if we pursue these “social” strategies;
“…Were you to follow their desires after the
knowledge which has reached you,
Then
will you find neither Protector nor Helper against Allah.”
Heedless of this advice, “Muslim leaders” today are trying to
make a liar out of Allah. They continue to cosy up to unbelievers and
misinterpret the teachings of Allah and His Messenger in the hope that the
unbelievers will somehow begin to like us.
The problems of current Kafir societies are products of
Disbelief in Allah and disobedience to His instructions. The leaders and
maintainers of these societies are knowingly competing with
Allah to create their own version of lifestyles for humans. They know
what Allah commands but are knowingly defiant. They do not respect or follow their own scriptures; what makes
today’s “Muslim leaders” think that they will respect and follow ours?
The signature characteristic of Disbelief (Kufr) is Ignorance; the deep-seated arrogance that makes the unbeliever deaf, dumb and blind! If today’s Muslims would pay attention to the information given to us by Allah in the Quran, we would see the true obstacle that we are really up against. As early as Surah 2, Allah explains to us clearly that the Message is meant only for “those who fear Allah.” (Quran 2: 2). In this same advice, Allah explains to those who will listen:
The signature characteristic of Disbelief (Kufr) is Ignorance; the deep-seated arrogance that makes the unbeliever deaf, dumb and blind! If today’s Muslims would pay attention to the information given to us by Allah in the Quran, we would see the true obstacle that we are really up against. As early as Surah 2, Allah explains to us clearly that the Message is meant only for “those who fear Allah.” (Quran 2: 2). In this same advice, Allah explains to those who will listen:
“In the Name of
Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
As to
those who Disbelieve, it is the same to them
Whether you warn them or do not warn them;
They
will not believe.
Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing
And on their eyes is a veil;
And for them is a great punishment. “
(Quran 2; 6-7)
If Muslims will contemplate the results, we will see that
Allah speaks The Truth! Muslim “leaders” and the Muslim population alike should be
more concerned with consolidating the Muslim community worldwide and less
worried with resolving the problems created by the willful arrogance of Disbelief.
Unfortunately, we have absorbed so many ignorant concepts about “religion” that
we are currently mirror-images of the disbelievers in our own communities. Allah and His Messenger have clearly defined
for Believers the definition of a Believer. Allah and His Messenger have also
warned us that hypocrites will infiltrate the community if we become
careless. In Surah 2: 8-10, Allah says:
“In the Name of
Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Among
the people there are some who say: ‘We believe
In Allah
and the Last Day’; but they are not Believers.
They are
trying to deceive Allah and the Believers
But they
are deceiving only themselves and do not understand.
In their hearts is a disease and Allah has increased their
disease
And for them is a great punishment because they are liars.”
Muslim
communities today are riddled with these characters, many of them in positions
of influence and authority. We know them by their actions, but are tolerating
their hypocrisy because they call themselves “Muslim”. Sincere Believers need to rethink our current
relationship with the Quran and the Hadith (training by the Prophet). We need
to reestablish in our lives the proper educational hierarchy of Islam: 1) The
instructions of Allah (the Quran), 2) the Hadith (training by the Prophet),
3)other Islamic instructions. Islam
is a system of life based on the practical Guidance and Instructions
of Allah; it is not a bundle of ephemeral, esoteric “beliefs”.
Muslims do not “hope” that our actions are correct. Allah Himself assures us as
early as Surah 2: 5
“In the
Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
They (followers of Quran’s instructions)
are on TRUE GUIDANCE from
their Lord,
And
they are the Successful.”
We must understand that and have no doubt about what we are
doing when we become Muslim. We do not
need the approval or instruction of Unbelievers to follow the teachings of the
Quran. Allah has already told us that they will never approve of anyone of us
becoming Muslim. Again, very early in the Quran (2: 109), Allah tells us:
“In the Name of
Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Quite
a number of the People of the Book wish they could turn you
Back
to Disbelief after you have believed…”
The truth of
that statement has never changed! We can see it today in the actions of
Christian “charitable” organizations working in Muslim lands. They do not give “charity”
to those who do not convert to Christianity.
Moreover,
many “Muslims”, faced with this situation, accept this illogical philosophy
because it is backed by tangible material benefits compared to the material
hardships of their native beliefs. The
distasteful truth is that most of today’s “Muslims” are “Muslim” by birthright,
not by personal informed consent.
Therefore, they are as ignorant about the foundation and specifics of
Islam as are most adherents of other lifestyles (religions). They are taught by
Muslim teachers and “educators” about the “religion” of Islam but have
no concept of the lifestyle of Islam. When confronted about Islam with the
misconceptions of Disbelievers, they either waste valuable energy trying to “defend”
corrupted misrepresentations of the Islamic life or submit to ignorance and try
to adjust their “practice” of Islam to comply with Kafir recommendations.
Although
Islam is the birthright of every human being, the title of “Muslim” must be
earned! It is not a family heirloom to be willed to unappreciative descendants.
Allah, in Quran, is quite specific about
who is
or is not a Believer and to whom the Message is directed:
“In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful
This is
the Book; there is nothing doubtful in it;
It is a guide to God-fearing people…”
(Quran 2: 2)
Allah clearly
defines the characteristics of “God-fearing
people” and gives the definite assurance (not hope) that such
people are the Successful. (Quran 2: 3-5). Without a doubt, He is speaking
about living a successful life, both in this life and beyond. The
Quran, Allah states, is the Guidance
to accomplish this task. A Muslim, therefore, is a person who consciously
accepts this Guidance. When a Muslim implements these instructions
and becomes educated in the system of life Allah teaches, then he
becomes a true Believer (Mu’min);
he has practical (not just emotional) conviction that this system of life is
truly beneficial. This is what is sadly
lacking in what passes for “Muslim communities” throughout the world today. As
long as Muslims continue to teach and embrace the misconception that Islam is a
“religion”, not a practical everyday life system, then we will continue to
attract unflattering, derogatory criticism and attacks from Kafir systems
everywhere. Islam does not fit the preconceived notions of official “religion” and
never will. Therein lies the conflict and uneasiness about it.
Yet, despite all efforts to demonize Islam and
Muslims, a steady tide of new people are returning to Islam and abandoning
disbelieving systems of life all over the earth. This development is driving
Kafir leaders nuts. They cannot understand the lure of Islam and the Quran. Before
their very eyes, they see previously unruly, hopeless people transform into
openly God-fearing people, demanding to be allowed to faithfully follow the
commands of the Creator; refusing to participate in ignorant, useless materialism.
By the Grace
of Allah, these people have willingly
consented to accept the structured life of Islam under the Guidance of
Allah and abandon the empty lifestyle of Ignorance (Kufr). Unlike Kufr, Islam offers a clear roadmap for
mending the human soul and uniting it with its True Lord and the rest of the
Creation. Understanding the teachings of Allah in Quran removes the restless
doubt that comes from ignorance about the true values of Life. It produces a
peace of mind that cannot be found anywhere else. To every sincere Believer, Allah gives this
assurance:
“In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful
Allah is the Protector of those who have faith:
From the
depths of darkness He will
lead them forth into light.
Of those
who disbelieve, their Teachers are the Evil Ones:
From
light, they will lead them into the depths of darkness.
They
will be companions of The Fire, to dwell therein forever.”
(Quran
2: 257)
The task confronting sincere Muslims today is a simple one: educate
yourself in the teachings of the Quran! That is the source of
our understanding of Life. Read
the Quran for understanding. Read the Quran for understanding and
knowledge of what it teaches. Follow the
instructions of the Quran, regardless of what contemporary Muslim
educators teach. We are commanded by Allah and His Messenger to become the best
of humanity. You don’t have to be an “official” scholar to understand the words
of Allah. Understand that the
written book you know as the Quran contains the transcript
of a 23-year
long speech by Prophet Muhammad (Peace
be upon him). Ordinary people who heard it were able to understand it then.
It has not changed. Anybody who hears it
now and wants to obey Allah
has the assurance of Allah that Allah will guide them.
The roadmap of the establishment
of Islam lies in the historical process followed by the Messenger of
Allah (Peace be upon him). We do not have to resort to ignorant, destructive
actions to create true Muslim communities nor do we need to become embroiled in
the social controversies of the Kafir community. In Surah 3: 56, Allah forewarns Muslims: “As to those who
Disbelieve, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the
Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.” The avalanches of conflicts we see today are the
products of their own disbelief and disobedience to the instructions of Allah. We need not concern ourselves with their
problems. Instead, we must follow the instructions given to us and implement
the lifestyle that we say we believe in as Muslims. It is time that we heed the
call of Allah and His Messenger with intelligence and sincerity:
“In the Name of
Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
O you
who believe: enter into Islam wholeheartedly
And follow not the
footsteps of the Evil One;
For he is to you an avowed enemy.”
(Quran 2: 208)
