General
From Issue: 101 [Read full issue]
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QURAN
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Translation:
"So either kill Joseph or cast him into some distant land so that your father's attention may become exclusively yours. And after so doing become righteous."
[Al-Quran- Sura Yusuf 12: 9]
Tafseer:
Background:
This verse is part of
the conversation Prophet Joseph's (Yusuf) brothers were
having when they were plotting to get rid of him out of
jeolousy. [For details on the whole incident read Sura Yusuf
(12)]
Lessons:
- This statement reflects the psychological make-up of those who, even when they vigorously pursue their desires, still make an effort to maintain some relationship with faith and righteousness.
- Such people seem to have a peculiar way of 'balancing' their responses to the demands of righteousness on the one hand, and of self-indulgence and selfishness on the other.
- When they are under strong pressure from their lusts, they go ahead and commit an evil act, ignoring the demands of faith temporarily. However, as soon as they feel pangs of guilt, they try to assure conscience, thinking that what they had committed was merely a small act of sinning; that this sin was inevitable in order to achieve an important purpose.
- They further assure their conscience that it will not be long before they repent and revert to their original righteousness. But how can one think of killing someone on one hand, and still feel he is righteous?
[Compiled from "Towards
Understanding the Quran", by S. Abul Ala
Maududi, vol. IV]
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6
THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR ISLAM IN 2001
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continued from issue
# 99....
3.
MAKE YOUR MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS MORE OPEN TO FEEDBACK AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
Have things
been running the same way for years at your local Islamic
center? You know, disorganized, or closed off, with a couple
of people having the only say in all matters?
Many, many
Masjids and Islamic centers lack management and organizational
skills. They are run by an elite group of people who make
all of the decisions without proper consultation with the
community. They are also not held accountable for what they
do or how the money coming into the Masjid or organization
is spent. This doesn't mean that everything they are doing
is wrong. But there needs to be a more transparent and open
system that will benefit all Muslims in the community, the
male and the female, the young and the old, the immigrant
and the Muslim born in America, etc.
You can
help start the process of change. This, of course, has to
be done with plenty of wisdom and patience. But you and
others will benefit from working to make your Islamic organization
more open and accountable to the community.
To be continued
in the next issue....
[Taken from www.SoundVision.com]
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Hadith
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...And
Allah will Love you!
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The
Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon
him) said:
"Do
not covet this world, and Allah will love you; do not covet
what other people possess, and people will love you."
(Collected
by Al-Bukhari)
[Lessons:This is
what the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in reply to a Companion
who requested the Prophet (pbuh) to tell him of some
deeds which will make him earn the love of Allah, as well
as that of other people. Unfortunately, today the only
thing we worry about is: WHATELSE do our friends and neighbors
have?! This Hadith, however, doesn't mean that we shouldn't
enjoy the 'good things of this world'. Rather we should
work hard for them because nothing good comes without genuine
effort. The Prophet informed us that wealth can also
serve to increase our Taqwa (Allah-Consciousness):
'What a good helper is wealth in maintaining God-Consciousness.'
(Kanzul-Ummal.) Thus, all the good things in life
must be pursued, but not the love of this world.
It is not the amount of money that you possess which matters
in the eyes of Allah. Rather. He wants you to rid yourself of
the LOVE for that money! If you earn
$10 and give $5 in charity, this is much more precious in
the sight of Allah than someone who earns $ 100,000
and gives $1,000. The first one has sacrificed half
of his wealth and other one has given one-hundredth
of what he has earned. Therefore, Sacrificing everything
in Allah's way, is the true prescription for gaining
Allah's love, as well the love of the people of this world-
who can easily sense sincerity and unselfishness
in such a person.]
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Reflections
on Tazkiya and Self-Development
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Tazkiya-
Your Personal Responsibility!
As
you proceed on your journey along the new path, in your
quest of the ultimate goal of Paradise, you will encounter
difficulties and hardships. These may often seem insurmountable.
Overcoming them may be made easier by a good early grasp
of the following prerequisites of Tazkiya:
1-
Tazkiya- Your Personal Responsibility:
You
must accept that Tazkiya is a highly personal process and
that it demands taking personal responsibility for carrying
it forward. You can only see the results of Tazkiya through
your own realization, your own personal efforts, and your
own exertions. No one else can purify your heart or soul
for you. No organization, no leader, and no teacher can
replace your own responsibility. God says, "And no
bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another's burden;
and if one, weighed down by his load, calls upon (another)
to help him carry it, nothing thereof may be carried (by
that other), even if it be one's near of kin." [Sura
Al-Fatir 35:18.]
This
sense of personal responsibility is basic to the whole purpose
and approach of Islam. Ultimately, we are judged individually
for discharging our own responsibilities. Some people allow
themselves to be dictated by others. The Quran states that
the weak will say on the Day of Judgment that they were
forced into following the dictates of others, but Allah
will reply that the excuse is not legitimate because the
decision to deviate from the Straight Path was their own.
Even Shaytan (Satan) will not take the blame for
trapping us into evil!
Taking
charge of your own affairs may certainly seem a daunting
task, but one which you will accomplish with distinction
if you appreciate and take advantage of the human potential
Allah has blessed you with.
To be continued
in the next issue....
[Taken from "In the Early
Hours" by Ustadh Khurram Murad (Rahimahullah),
edited by Riza Mohammed]
[A book review of "In the Early
Hours" is available at: http://www.youngmuslims.ca/bookreview/default.asp]