Whenever I get a chance I go to Jumu’ah (Friday prayers). I mentioned in my previous post that last week I heard a very thought provoking and inspiring Friday sermon. The topics were 2; The importance of prayer and it’s acceptance on Friday and defending the honour of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw*. The Imam said:
Why do you let the enemies of Islam have the opportunity to lift a finger at not just ourselves but also at our beloved prophet Muhammadsaw because of our weaknesses? We too will be held accountable as a reason for that cause. If we wish to cleanse the world of all misconceptions about the Holy Prophetsaw then we must try to implement his true teachings in our lives. This is something that every Muslim should keep in mind, and always try to the best of their ability to present the flawless face of Islam to the world and in response to false allegations against it, to demonstrate to the world its pure and luminous picture. Laws can deal with visible fitna however they have little or no effect on the fitna in the heart.
The above quote is something we’ve all probably heard many many times. It is simple in what it says, but profound in the wisdom behind it. We live our lives in groups and have all had the multitude of experiences associated with joining, being part of, and leaving a group. Groups are defined by the people within them. Your family is a group, your friends, your school, your religion, your ethnicity etc.
As Muslims living here here in the west, we are ambassadors for Islam. People who don’t have much knowledge about Islam will base their understanding on what they see from the Muslims. Very few people would, after seeing a Muslim do something, refer to the Qur’an and the Hadith and judge the actions of the Muslim on that. Though that would be the best way of finding out what Islam really is but if someone doesn’t do that, can you blame them? Who has the time?
I was speaking to a convert recently about this particular topic and he said:
If we were living in a purely Muslim society, we wouldn't have to go through the motions because we would be surrounded by Islam all around us. Living here in the west we have to be heard, we have to stand up. But before we can do all that, we have to learn. And then life throws various circumstances at you. Sometimes they're caused by you, and sometimes they're not. And that I think brings the best out of you.
These days Islam and Muslims are presented in such a horrific manner by the media with countless examples of heinous and barbaric acts from places like Pakistan and Afghanistan mixed in the pot. For example just last week a woman was murdered by electrocution in Pakistan for honour killing. When people repeatedly hear such things on the evening news this is how their thought process goes:
We all know these ‘activities’ have nothing to with the true teachings of Islam, but when someone’s source of knowledge is the 6o’clock news on the BBC, this is all that they will be exposed to. Because of such things, they may form a false image of Islam in their minds and be opposed to it (which they have every right to do, taking into account their limited knowledge). That’s when the bad names start flowing…
The Qur’an says:
Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! you also should invoke blessings on him and salute him with the salutation of peace. (Chapter 33: Verse 57)
When you love someone dearly, you would anything for them. You wouldn’t stand anyone referring to your loved one in a bad manner, or calling them names or putting dirt on their character. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُو (Oh ye who believe), if you do love your prophet then why do you give others the opportunity to call him dirty names, as a result of your actions? Invoke Durood, and blessings on himsaw and salute himsaw with the salutation of peace as you have been instructed, and inculcate his excellent example in your life. Your actions speak so much louder than your words, what are you going to do about it?
I have a story to share regarding this, and that will be the first of many posts regarding this topic.
[This is a scheduled post]
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*saw – Short for صلى الله عليه وسلم meaning Peace be upon him.
Durood Shareef – An introduction can be read here and the Arabic audio can be downloaded here.
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