Post by Prince of Destiny on Jan 16, 2006 23:58:09 GMT -5
The Muslims and The Fear
Aftermath of September 11, we had seen Muslims in a state of apprehensiveness. Muslims fear that they might be b beleaguered, harassed and would be portrait as terrorist.” Muslims used such excuses to reason the extreme steps they took for their precautions. As a result, Muslims generated fear in their hearts; the fear
of loosing honor, fear of losing Rizq, and also fear of death. In this article I will, Inshallah, focus on the reasons that led the Ummah into such a state.
“Political Socialization” is a process through which a societys attitude and or ‘Mindset’ are channeled into specific direction. It is an undertaking that is
accomplished through various fortifications such as agents, schools, and it also manifests itself into the ‘Media,’ [one of the dangerous tools[. The mass Media
is the most effective mode of communication. It plays very important role in melting process. It assists the state by creating public opinion pertaining certain
policies. Without the media, the contemporary societies could not have been in a state in which they are in today. In the case of the Ummah, many different
methods were and are being used for Ummah to be woven into the fabrics of kufr. The Media uses every political and social crisis, correlated to Islam and Muslims, to
target Islam as terrorism preaching religion and Muslims as terrorist, and to put Muslims on the defensive. This psychological warfare resulted in misunderstanding of
certain concepts pertaining to Islamic Aqeeda such as ayats regarding Jihad, Jihad itself, and lack of political awareness. This is root of Ummah’s fear. Thus, Ummah Fear the loss of Rizq (sustenance), Fear of loosing Honor and Fear of Death.
Misunderstanding of the Ayat(s) regarding Jihad: “And kill them wherever you find them…” (2:191) This was the first ayat about fighting that was revealed. Muslims
were asked to fight “only those who fight you (from the Mushrikoon)”, thus this ayat applies neither to Jews nor to Christian but only to Mushrikoon of that particular
period.
Lack of Political Awareness: Political awareness could be defined as “awareness of political happenings based upon on ideology or interest.” Political crises are maneuvered to achieve certain object(s). Political awareness could also be gained through paying close attention to the events on regular follow up basis. Political awareness can lead one to understand an event compressively in order to provide solution to the crisis. Lack of Political awareness and improper analyzing of a crisis are also reasons for the root of fear in the hearts of Muslim Ummah. For instance, understand the persona of Osama in the international crisis. Who brought Osama into power, whose interest does he really serve and why. On the other hand, Muslims also have vague understanding regarding the Islamic ruling for waging Jihad in the absence of Khalifa. Islamically, no one has right to wage jihad in absence of Khalifa. Another example could be of a Fatwa Issued by Hamza Yusuf that it is okay for Muslim Women to take off their Hijab and wear a hat (to avoid harassment or backlash). The issued Fatwa is wrong from Islamic prospective and lacked political standpoint. A politically scrutinizing this issue would lead one to desist that issue is not ingenuously a person(s) in concealment of their belief but rather it encompasses the existence of Islam and future of Muslims in America. One’s security and self-preservation and not the concern for Islamic Ideology, from the fatwa, would eventuate. In contrast to this, Ottoman generals ordered their troops to settle enduringly around Russia when they were defeated. This settlement of Muslims in the region facilitated the propagation of Islam by Muslims marrying and interacting with the autochthonous People. The aforementioned ensamples are stressed the necessity of possessing Political awareness, proper understanding the concept of Jihad and ayats regarding it and causes for Ummahs fear in order to avoid the Noble Ummah from being in the quandary of Fear.
O Man! What has seduced you from your Lord Most beneficent?” (82:6)
Fear of Losing of Rizq: If Muslims realize that Allah (swt) alone is the provider of sustenance then they wouldn’t hesitate to adhere to Islamic Aqeeda. Lack of
understanding of Islamic Aqeeda, has let the Muslims into the fear of losing Rizq, end result, Muslims fear of losing Jobs, shaving off their beards, stop wearing
Hijab, using alias, and list goes on. All these actions testify how deep the fear is instilled in the hearts of Muslims. Allah (swt) says in the Quran, “Or think you
that you will enter paradise without such trails as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and aliments and were so shaken
that even the messenger and those who believed along with him said: “when will come help of Allah? Yes! Certainly, near is the help of Allah.”(2: 214). In another ayat
HE says “You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves and you shall certainly be scared from those Jews and christians..”(3:186).
“Satan threatens you with poverty, orders you to commit sins; whereas Allah promises you forgiveness from himself, and bounty…”(2:268). Through this ayats Allah
(swt) warned us that fearing satan will lead to poverty whereas Allah (swt) will grant us rewards beyond our comprehension. “verily, Allah provided Rizq whom he wills
without limits.” (3:37). Who amongst wouldn’t strive to achieve blessings of Allah (swt) in this life and in the hereafter?
“it is Satan that suggest to you the fear…”(3: 174)
Loss of Honor: “he who seeks Izzah, dignity, glory and honor let him know that Izzah belongs to Allah” (35:10) This ayat clearly states that only source of Honor is
Islam. If we seek honor by other mean than Islam Allah(swt) will humiliate us as Omer (ra) once stated. If Muslims understood that concept of honor in Islam,
they would be willing to accept humiliation in order to attain status of being Allah’s honored ones. “and say, O my lord let my entry be the gate of truth and honor
and likewise my exit by the gate of truth and honor and grant me a power from you to help me.” (17:80)
Fear of Death: it is this factor, which is most important factor in the lives of Muslims. It is because of fear of death, Muslim Ummah, today hindered from standing
up against tyrant rulers and delivering Haq to the people. It is the Fear of Death, which made Muslim Ummah slaves to the western nations. It is lack of understanding that Allah (swt) is the one who gives and takes lives to whomsoever he wills. It is
fear of death that had caused Muslims to compromise their deen. The Muhammad (saw) said: “The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating
invite others to share their dish.” Someone asked: “will that be because of our small in number at that time?” He (saw) replied: “NO, you will be numerous at that time; but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent and Allah will remove the fear from breast of your enemy and put enervations into your hearts.” Someone asked: “What is enervation?” Muhammad (saw) replied “Love of this world and hate of death.” (Abu Dawood)
Is Ummah’s fear Valid: Fear could be defined as something that which Human beings reckon more powerful than them and is capable of inflicting harm upon them. And people shape their lives in order to avoid harm accordingly. Thus, the source of harm, which is fear, becomes the dictator of lives for the subjects. Islam defines
that which dictates a being’s life and his actions as the Illah (thing that is obeyed and worshipped). Based on warnings of Allah in many ayats, Muslims realize that Allah (saw) is the only source of benefit and harm, muslims fear Allah based upon this, they submits to Allah (swt). Allah (swt) says: “and if Allah touches you
with harm none can remove it but HE and if HE touches you with good then he is able to do all things.” (6:17). Based on this, a Muslim establishes the concept of
fearing Allah (swt) alone. Fearing some other than Allah (swt) is considered Shirk.
O Noble Ummah! What has had happened to you? Don’t you realize that Allah (swt) is the one who calls for Jihad and he is the same Allah (swt) who is most merciful, most loving, and most forgiving? He has ordered us to respect even our enemie'd dead. He is the same Allah (swt) who forbids Muslims from killing a human life. Allah (swt) is the same Illah who forbids not only from taking a life but also from back biting a person or making his/her mockery and spreading rumors. He is the same Illah who declared us as disbelievers unless and until our neighbors are safe from us. O Muslims don’t be ashamed of who your are and what your belief is. O Muslims
lets maintain the status of being ‘Best Ummah’ by practicing Islam as is, no more, no less without compromising our Deen. Remember Allah (swt) is protector and we are the adherents of this Deen.
O Allah guide us to straight path so that our Life, our Ibadah (worship), our Sacrifice and our Death is only for you. Ameen.