Issue 104 » February 9, 2001 -
General
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QURAN
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Translation:
"Those who give what they have given (i.e. charity) and whose hearts are filled with fear by the very idea that they shall return to their Lord. Such people are truly racing towards their own welfare and they are the first to reach them."
[Al-Quran- Sura Al-Muminun 23:61-62]
Tafseer:
Unwavering Belief in the truth of
the Hereafter:
- This verse is describing the inner state of mind of the believers who are always conscious about the acceptance of their good deeds by Allah. They worry whether their charities are accepted or not. This concept of "fear" was the corner-stone that strengthened the sense of responsibility among the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
- There was a deep certainty in their hearts that one Day they would have to rise and account for all the worldly deeds, small or big. Their whole life was divided between hope for Allah’s mercy and fear of His punishment. Only Islam, unlike any other faith, is able to strike such a perfect balance between the two.
The Source of their Struggle and Patience:
They had already known that life,
with all its pains, was worthless when compared with the
Hereafter. Such deep convictions brought about in them a
sense of indifference to all troubles and hardships that
attended their life for the sake of Islam.
Examples of Umar and Hassan Al-Basri
(may Allah be pleased with them):
- A concrete interpretation of this verse is given by Caliph Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Although he served Allah in a way that was exemplary, yet he was so afraid of accountability to Him, as he once said, "I shall consider it a favor (from Allah), if I am neither rewarded or punished in the Hereafter."
- Hassan Al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) once said, "A believer obeys Allah and is yet fearful of Him, whereas a hypocrite disobeys Allah and is still fearless of Him!" How ironic it is.....
[Compiled from "The
Sealed Nectar" by Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
and "Towards Understanding the Quran"
by S. Abul Ala Maududi]
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6
THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR ISLAM IN 2001
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continued from issue
# 103....
6.
DEVELOP WRITING AND PRODUCTION SKILLS
Yes, it's
a cliché to say that Muslims have too many doctors and engineers
and not enough writers. But this needs to be said over and
over because it seems we've made little headway as an Ummah
in this area. English is the lingua franca of the
world, and unless Muslims develop their skills and talents
in the field of writing and communication in this language,
we will have lost a tremendous Dawa opportunity.
[Taken from www.SoundVision.com]
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>
Valentine's Day: A Muslim View <
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Chocolates,
flowers, hearts, cards, and romance: these are the ingredients
that make up the annual celebration of Valentine's Day every
February 14. On the surface, these are lovely things. But
in reality, the occasion promotes the culture of free sex
and male-female relations from a specific point of view.
Although
Valentine's Day is supposed to be a celebration in honor
of St. Valentine, who was killed because of his opposition
to free sex, its origins and its adoption by Christians
as a holiday is really a dishonor to this saint's memory.
Islamic scholar Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick (now in South Africa)
explains the pagan origins of the day in the video Holiday
Myths, produced by www.SoundVision.com.
With Valentine’s
Day coming up on February 14, men and women around the world
(this is no longer just a European or American custom),
will be shelling out millions to buy heart-shaped boxes
of chocolate, brightly decorated cards, flowers and various
other Valentine’s Day paraphernalia for their loved ones.
They will also, as is customary, make public displays of
romance and affection to their loved ones. We see lots of
kissing, hugging, gift-giving etc. especially between members
of the opposite sex.
In contrast,
look at Muslims and Muslim societies. How often do you see
couples doing the same in public? How often do you see Muslim
men hugging their kids or kissing them? Muslims look like
real sourpusses in comparison. But is Islam anti-affection?
Does Islam condemn public displays of affection?
Showing
affection and giving gifts are part of Islamic culture.
Giving gifts, showing affection, neither of these things
are un-Islamic. When it comes to giving gifts, let’s
not forget this: "Exchange presents with one another,
for they remove ill feelings from the hearts," said
the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a Hadith in At-Tirmidhi.
What
about Public Display of Affection between spouses?
Love is
beautiful. According to Islam, it's not a cheap thing on
display. It is a private thing in most cultures of the world
unless it is love towards children. But what about showing
affection between spouses amongst Muslims? This is where
many complain, Muslims are way too conservative. Some newlywed
Muslim couples, especially, meet with the disapproval of
parents or in-laws by showing affection, even in front of
family members. But other Muslims choose this way.
"No
PDA," one Muslim sister in America once warned her
husband, who was then her fiancé (PDA stands for Public
Display of Affection). Affection between spouses is something
which is usually reserved for the privacy of the home.
The Prophet's Sunnah
with regards to his wives
The one most perfect
in his faith is he whose conduct is best and the best amongst
you is he who behaves best towards his spouse. (Hadith).
The Prophet would race and watch with his wife a public
theater presentation but would not hug or kiss her in public.
Love does not equal
physical affection always
As well, one thing that
also has to be stressed is that not showing physical affection
publicly does not indicate a lack of love for another person.
While kissing and hugging our parents, kids, siblings or
spouses does indicate love, not doing so all of the time
does not necessarily indicate otherwise.
People are different,
and Islam is a religion of moderation. It accommodates the
very affectionate and the non-affectionate. While it encourages
affection amongst family members and friends, for instance,
it gives us the guidelines to know what is appropriate and
what is not.
Finally,
if you're under the illusion that this is an adult celebration,
think again. Kids in public schools are indoctrinated into
certain cultural expectations about male-female behavior
and peer acceptance -through Valentine's Day. Don't let
this February 14 pass without a greater awareness of the
story behind those lovely chocolates, cards, and flowers.
There's more to it than meets the eye!
[To read
more on the Origins of Valentine's Day and tips on dealing
with Valentine in schools, please visit: http://soundvision.com/valentine/overview.shtml ]
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15
Points on the Wisdom of Prohibition of Alcohol
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Following is a list
of reasons and wisdom behind the prohibition of drinking
alcohol in Islam:
7-
Those who drink alcohol are considered by Islam to be similar
to those who worship idols, which is also totally prohibited
in Islam.
8- When
a person consumes alcohol he or she is not considered
to be a believer.
9- Alcohol
is the mother of all evils in the society. As the Prophet
(peace be upon him) once said, "Alcoholic beverages
are the mother of abomination and filth." In another
Hadith, reported by the same authority, he said, "Liquor
is the mother of many evils and it is the most shameful
of all evils; anyone who drinks liquor will neglect the
prayer, and may commit incestuous offense."
To be continued
in the next issue....
[Compiled from "The
Adolescent Life" by Dr. Ahmad Sakr]