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Diving Into the Struggle, Lesser of Two Evils, Being a Muslim

Issue 331 » June 17, 2005 - Jumada-al-Awwal 10, 1426

General

Living the Quran

Al-Ankabut (The Spider)
Chapter 29: Verse 69

Diving Into the Struggle
 "And those who Strive in Our (Cause), We will certainly guide them to Our paths: for verily Allah is with those who do Right."

Application of the Qur'an: A Dynamic Process 

  • What one receives from the Qur'an, how much one understands of the Qur'an, and how much one is truly guided by it, is not a static process. It is indeed a dynamic process that is directly related to one's faith and willingness to apply the Qur'an

  • As the person learns and applies the Qur'an, his or her understanding of the Qur'an increases even further. This was precisely the case with the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)

Living in the Shade of the Qur'an: The Real Sweetness of Faith

  • Sayyid Qutb (rahimahullah) convincingly elaborates that unless we apply the Qur'an in our actions and actually begins to live in the shade of the Qur'an, we will never really taste the sweetness or experience the guidance of the Qur'an

  • "The [sweet taste] of this Qur'an cannot be tasted except by the one who dives into the struggle: The one who faces the same situations and struggles concerning which the Qur'an as revealed." 

  • "Those who just search for the meaning and evidences of the Qur'an, while they are sitting studying it as a speech or art only, will never be able to discover the reality of the Qur'an from that motionless, barren sitting, far away from the struggle and far away from the movement. The reality of the Qur'an is never revealed to those who simply sit around and watch" commented Imam Qutb in his tafseer. 

It is not a Book of Abstract Theories: 

  • Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi (rahimahullah) eloquently echoed similar thoughts, "The Qur'an is neither a book of abstract theories and cold doctrines, which the reader can grasp while seated in a cozy armchair, nor is it merely a religious book like any other religious books, the secrets of which can be grasped in oratories" 

  • "This is the Book which inspired and directed a great movement which began with the preaching of a powerful message that transformed the world!" 

It is sheer arrogance on our part to become satisfied with our deeds and claim that what we are doing is sufficient for us. We should always keep in mind that we will not enter Paradise on the basis of our deeds but only because of Allah's mercy. Therefore we should always strive to better ourselves, in order to please Allah, in the same way that many of us strive to better ourselves in our work and study.

Source:
"How to Approach and Understand the Quran" - Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo, pp. 178-182
Understanding the Prophet's Life

The Lesser of Two Evils

When interests conflict, lower interest is sacrificed for the sake of higher interest, and private interest is sacrificed for the sake of common interest, and the owner of private interest is to be compensated for his loss. Also in cases of conflicting interests, temporary interest is forsaken in favour of long-term or permanent interest; superficial interest is neglected for the sake of real interest, and sure interest is given precedence over uncertain interest.

In the Treaty of Hudaibia, we saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) give prominence to real, basic and future interests over some considerations that others would never have relinquished. He agreed to such conditions that at first glance seemed unfair or humiliating to Muslims; he agreed to the removal of the phrase, "In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate", in whose place was written "In The name of God": He also agreed not to be mentioned as the Messenger of Allah in the pact, and to write his name only as Muhammad Ibn Abdullah. The examples are many. If evils conflict and some of them are indispensable, then one should choose the lesser of two evils and the lower of two degrees of harm prescribed.

Muslim Scholars have prescribed that harm should be eliminated as much as possible and that a lesser harm should not be eliminated with a greater harm. A minor harm should be tolerated if such tolerance would make it possible to avoid a major harm, and private harm should be accepted for the sake of avoiding common harm.

Many examples of this are mentioned in books on the "rules of Fiqh" or "similarities and analogies".

If interests and evils conflict, they should be examined carefully in terms of their size, effect and duration.

  • A slight evil should be forgiven for the sake of realizing a major interest.
  • A temporary evil should be forgiven for the sake of realizing a long - term or permanent interest.
  • Even a great evil should be accepted if its elimination would lead to a greater evil.
  • In normal conditions, the avoidance of evil should come before the realization of interest.

It is not enough that we should accept this concept in theory, but rather we have to apply it in practice, for many of the differences among the active Islamist groups are related to these balances.
Teens' Deen
What's the Deal with Being a Muslim?
 
I am a Muslim; You are a Muslim. You parents are also most likely Muslims. All of us belong to the community of Islam!
 
A Muslim is an individual who accepts Islam as the way of life. Islam is his or her faith. Islam his or her way. A Muslim, whether young or old, acts as Islam tells him or her to act.
As Muslims, we follow the guidance and commands given to us by Allah, as a manual! He told us what is right and what is wrong. We accept Allah's guidance (Quran) and we follow His message by our own choice. We do this because we know they are of great benefit to us. This belief guides us in our actions.
 
If every action of a young Muslim is done to please Allah, and performed in obedience to Him, then it is an act of worship (Ibadah)! Every person is the servant (Abd) of Allah on earth. Everyone is an agent or representative (Khalifah) of Allah in this world.
 
Everything a person has is a trust from Allah. A representative does not work according to his own wishes. He follows the instructions of his Master, because he represents the Master.

Therefore, as representatives (Khalifahs) of Allah, we cannot follow the instructions of others. Nor can we have guidance from sources other than from Allah. By our choice we must obey Allah. Only then will we be Allah's true Khalifahs and servants!

Of course, we might be tempted to disobey Allah. We might decide that we want to do whatever we like. But we have to remember that if we disobey Him, we will suffer great loss. Our  life is a test for us. As Muslims, we shall not disobey Allah in any way. We must do our utmost to be successful in the test!

Source:
"The Children's Book Islam: Part Two" - M. M. Ahsan