I begin with the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
“And if you turn away (from Islam and the obedience to Allaah), He will exchange you for some other people, and they will not be your likes.” Qur’an 47:38
Once upon an extended period of time, Man was not worth mentioning then Allaah, may He be Exalted, brought him into existence. Not only did Allaah bring him into existence from non-existence, but also He provides for him and has not left him without any purpose. The grand purpose for which Allaah created the creation (in this case, Jinn and Mankind) is for them to worship Him Alone and do His biddings on the face of earth. Safe to say that, this is the primary purpose for which Man exists.
Notably, whatever comes after this is an acquired purpose which must be channeled toward perfecting the main purpose of man’s existence. Be it knowledge, wealth, power, authority, affluence, whatever man acquires in this world should be utilized excellently in the service of his primary purpose, which is to worship Allaah alone. No Man of sound mind will allow his primary purpose to be overshadowed by a secondary or acquired purpose.
Be it as it may, majority of Muslims today seem to have forgotten why they are here on earth. A problem which largely stemmed from the fact that they have been adequately detached from Islam and inordinately attached to materialism. If Muslims do not know Allaah and have not yet fully appreciated the need to serve Allaah wherever they are and to aid and support Islam and other Muslims, then suffice to say that they will be on a decline mission.
In a narration which has been graded as hasan lighairihi (good on account of another) by al-Dhahabi and al-Albani, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Fear Allaah wherever you are…” This command filters down from those in power to the most ordinary citizens. By implication, the leaders, the scholars, the followers from among the Muslims should fear Allaah when they are with others as well as when they are all alone. Under all circumstances, a Muslim must be on his best behavior in terms of obedience to Allaah and protecting the rights and honor of the Muslims and avoid what may displease Allaah, for Allaah is watchful of all things.
What then can explain the pathetic state of Muslims in most countries of the world today? How can a sane person wrap up his mind around the fact that in a nation of more than sixty million Muslims, the rights of a Muslim woman to put on the Hijab is still an issue of debate? Where on earth has it ever been done that those professing a religion are seen to be at the forefront of frustrating the rights of those that want to practice the religion? When will the Muslims realize that whatever status and position they are occupying today is not only for them and their families to enjoy and amass wealth but it is for them to be an ambassador of Islam, the face of Islam.
Undoubtedly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has spoken the truth when he indicated the factors that will lead to the humiliation of Muslims largely because of their own negative actions. In a narration on the strength of ibn Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) which was recorded by Abu Dawud in his Sunan, Ahamd in his Musnad, authenticated by ibn Taymiyah in Bayaan al-Daleel and by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When you engage in ‘aynah transactions (a kind of transaction intended to circumvent the prohibition on riba or usury), and you take hold of the tails of oxen and you are content with agriculture (pre-occupied with this world), and give up Jihad, then Allaah will send upon you humiliation that will not be dispelled until you return to your religion.”
Look at the state of the Muslims today, they have become extremely careless about their religion, they feel ashamed to be seen as practicing Muslims, they feel burdened to help Islam and their fellow Muslims when they attain positions and wealth in the society, they want to appear as progressives hence they are quick to compromise on their religious values. The Muslims are at the forefront of consuming Riba (usury, interest), they have become ‘Duniyafied’ (materialistic) and have abandoned striving for the sake of Allaah. The result is humiliation and a numeric number without corresponding strength.
Nothing and nothing will bring back the honor and revive the glory days of the Muslims other than following what Allaah said in Qur’an 24:55; “Allaah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion, Which He has chosen for them (Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me…”
As long as some Muslims will ride on the back of shirk (associating partners with Allaah) by engaging in blood rituals and similar acts to seemingly attain positions of authority they will not have the correct spiritual sanity to be ambassadors of Islam if they attain such positions. In conclusion, whoever amongst the Muslims turn back against Islam and Muslims when he has the opportunity to aid them, he has not set Islam back but rather has set himself back.
“And if you turn away (from Islam and the obedience to Allaah), He will exchange you for some other people, and they will not be your likes.” Qur’an 47:38
Mr Abdul can be reached on Twitter: @Penabdull, instagram: @Penabdul
