Seeking the Inner Muslim
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
by Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick
Surely all Praises are due to Allah, we praise Him, seek His assistance,
and ask His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of
ourselves and the wickedness of our deeds. Verily whomever Allah
guides there is none to take him astray; and whomever Allah allows to
stray, there is none to guide. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy
of worship but Allah, He is one and has no partners; and I bear witness
that Muhammad is His servant and last Messenger. May Allah send His
choicest blessing and Peace to Muhammad, his companions, family and
all those who call to his way and establish the Sunnah till the Day of
Judgment. As to what follows:
Muslims are finding themselves under great pressure today. From all
sides, and in various forms, subtle and blatant, attacks are being
launched against Muslim individuals, families and communities.
Pressure is being applied to our eyes with the scanty summer fashions
and rash of indecency on the television and in the movies. In Canada,
women have been given the legal right to walk around topless in public
places. Already, women can be seen mowing their lawns, sunbathing, or
strolling down the street without any blouse, bra or shirt. Pressure is
being applied to our ears by the constant swearing, backbiting, and
scandal that we are confronted with daily. Pressure is being applied to
our hands by the unavailability of jobs or loans and the growing
availability of interest, mortgages, and gambling. Attacks in the media
against Islam are on the increase. Muslims are blamed for slavery, wife
assault, terrorism, female circumcision, ignorance and animosity to
civilization. Recently, the Yahud in Israel have drawn pictures of the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as a pig and posted them on Muslim homes
and businesses.
Many Believers feel that their back is against the wall and the whole
earth is closing in on them. They do not see any escape or relief in the next dew decades. A1lah tells us in
the Blessed Qur'an: "And whoever keeps his duty to Allah, Allah will
make a way out for him and provide for him from where he knows not.
And whoever depends on Allah, Allah is sufficient for him. Surely Allah
will achieve His purpose. He has made a limit for all things. " (65:3)
Even the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself, who was the best of
humanity, and his Companions, who were the best generation, were
severely tested. For thirteen long years, the Muslims were tortured in
Makkah, driven out of their homes and even killed. They were afflicted
with diseases and malnutrition. One day, the Prophet (pbuh) was
passing the family of Yassir (ra) who were known for their piety and their
submission to the will of Allah. They were being savagely beaten and
tortured. Allah had not given the Muslims the right to fight back, so the
Prophet could only ease their burden by revealing to them a special
part of His mercy. The Prophet said: "Patience, family of Yassir, your
promised abode is Paradise."
The pain and suffering of the Makkan period forged a tight relationship
between the Muslims and purified their relationship with Allah. If a
person had accepted Islam for fame, glory, wealth or position, he would
soon turn back on his heels. Arrogance, pride, envy and racism were
eliminated and the Muslims came to see each other as being closer and
more important than their own families. We should remember their
struggle as we endure today's trails and tribulations.
Muslims throughout the planet are in a state of siege. Some find
themselves in a hot war where the fire of the military is all around them.
Others find themselves in a war of ideas where the bullets are
propaganda and insults. Sometimes the effects of psychological warfare
are more devastating than military warfare for they can last for more
than a generation.
In the wake of this crisis, people are making critical choices about
Islam. Many are choosing to accept Islam, for despite the negative
attacks, they realize that Islam is the only way out of the present
corruption and tyranny. Islam is the only organized way of life that can
categorically oppose homosexuality, racism and secularism. Only the
Qur'an and Sunnah have cohesive arguments and a moral system that
can be applied in conjunction with science, politics, business and every
day life. Other people are asking themselves, "Should I practice Islam
completely or should I continue being Muslim in name or by culture?"
They see Islamic practice in today's society as swimming against a tidal
wave. So they justify selling pork, liquor, gambling tickets or committing
adultery as part of modern life. They fail to recognize that "Harem" is for
everybody and for all times.
How do we bring about change in our conditions and enable those
who are undecided about practicing Islam to see the light of Allah's
guidance. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was reported to have
said, "Islam began as a stranger and will return to being a stranger
so glad tidings (or a certain huge tree in Paradise) is for those who
are strange. They asked, "O Messenger of Allah" Who are the
strangers?" He replied, "Those who rectify (themselves and others)
when the people are corrupt." (Al-Tabarani: Sahih)
Muslims who have been blessed to revert to Islam or to practice
Islam in the full sense have a great responsibility. The Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) was "Uswatun Hasanah" (a fine example) of the
practical application of Islam. He not only talked about Islam but he
lived it in all spheres of his life. In order for us to make this critical
change, we need to re-analyze our Islamic theory and practice.
Great emphasis has been placed upon "ibadat" or the ritual aspects
of Islam. Now we need to focus on Muamalat or inter-personal
relationships. How many times do we hear about a Muslim who prays
and fasts but he is untrustworthy, or a Muslim who wears Islamic
clothing yet cheats in business! We need to look at the "Inner
Muslim" and bring this personality to the surface.
In Islamic history there were many illustrious scholars who searched
for the inner aspects of Islam yet were also versed in Shari'ah. With
so much falsehood being presented today as scholarship, it is
important for us to find those scholars who were balanced and
respected by all. Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf ibn Murri ibn Hasan
an-Nawawi was in this category. He was born in the village of Nawa in
1233 CE and in his early years rose to be a recognized scholar for
his knowledge of Hadith and his piety. He recognized that the
Prophet (pbuh) was visited by the Angel Jibril and asked about Islam
and Iman. He was also questioned about Ihsan (righteousness). The
Prophet's response was that "Ihsan is to worship Allah as though you
see Him and if you cannot do this, then worship Him as though He
sees you." So Jibril asked about the inner Muslim, the conscience or
the essence of the person. Muslims today need to look into
themselves and find that inner person. We need to ask ourselves,
"Why do we pray, fast, give Zakat or go to Hajj? Are they done for
Allah or for the people's attention and pleasure?"
Imam An-Nawawi laid down five principles for Ihsan which we need to
study and implement into our lives. He also gave us an action plan
as to how to attain them.
1. Fearing Allah in the secret and the open. This is attained
through scrupulousness and being upright. The Prophet (pbuh)
once said to one of his companions, "Say, I believe in Allah, and then
be upright." We need to constantly look at ourselves and examine
our intentions for doing what we do.
2. Living according to the Sunnah in word and deed. This
state can be attained through caution and good character.
Remember that the Prophet has informed us, "Haste is from the
Shaitan." Putting Islam into our character will force us to implement
the guidance instead of just spouting it from our mouths.
3. Indifference to whether others accept or reject us. This
state can be attained through patience and entrusting
our affairs with Allah. We need to stop looking around
us and being afraid of whether society accepts us or
whether people will be angry at our Islam. If we are
right with Allah, then there is nothing to fear!
4. Satisfaction with Allah, the Most High, in scarcity and
plenty. This state can be attained through contentment with what
one has and submission to the Will of Allah.
5. Turning to Allah in happiness and affliction. This state can
be attained through having gratitude to Allah in happiness and
taking refuge in Him in affection.
May Allah give us the benefit of the scholarship and striving of this
humble yet profound thinker and may Allah help us to embody the
words and warnings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who left us in
an authentic hadith reported in Al-Tirmidhi: "Two characteristics are
not found together in a hypocrite: good manners and understanding
of religion (fiqh fi-Din)."
May Allah protect the weak and oppressed of the Ummah of
Muhammad (pbuh) and give us the strength to be shining examples
of this clear way of life. Surely Allah is the Off-forgiving and He has
power over all affairs.
Source: The Message - Canada, August 1997
Courtesy Of: Islaam.com