Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Reason to Reflect
Al Fatir (The Creator) - Chapter 35: Verse 37 (partial)

"Didn't We give you enough of a lifespan already, so that whoever would accept a reminder could have been reminded? The warner already came to you, as well, so now you will suffer! The wrongdoers will have no one to help them!"

In this verse Allah the most Exalted addressed the non-believers reprimanding them for wasting their lives, spending them in a state of disbelief, and not leaving their state of disbelief to a state of belief despite the blessings of long lives that Allah bestowed upon them.

He, the most Glorified, has made the blessing of a long life a reason for one to reflect and ponder, and has made one's life as proof against him, as He has made messengers and warners proof and witnesses over him as well. Qatada said: "Know that the length of one's life is a proof against him, so we seek refuge in Allah from being mocked and blamed due to our long lives."

Al-Bukhari narrated on the Authority of Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Allah will not accept the excuse of any person whose instant of death Allah had delayed till he is sixty years of age."

Compiled From:
"The Holy Quran: Guidance for Life" - Yahiya Emerick, pp. 312, 313
"The Value of Time" - Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah, p. 4

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Small Charity

"If someone gives in charity the equivalent of a date from his lawful and good earnings - and Allah only accepts what is lawful and good - Allah will take it in His right hand and raise it for its giver, in the same way that one of you raises his small colt, until it becomes similar to a mountain." (Bukhari)

This hadith demonstrates how pleased Allah is with a person's sadaqa. It also demonstrates that the amount that is given does not have to be large. A person may not have much that he can give in charity. However, that does not matter. He should still be willing to give in charity for there will be a great reward for him, Allah willing. Indeed, the little that he is able to give in charity may be enough to protect him from the Hell-fire. The Prophet, peace be upon him, advised his Companions and all Muslims by saying, "Protect yourselves from the Fire, even if by just half a date [given in charity]." (Bukhari, Muslim)

In fact, depending upon a person's situation and his desire to please Allah by giving charity, a small amount of charity may be rewarded in a greater fashion than a large amount of charity.

Compiled From:
"Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi" - Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo, p. 887

Blindspot!

Honest Discourse

The Muslim world is still lacking intellectual exactness. Very limited in number are those voices that go to the limits of honest analysis, that refuse to say something and then keep quite when they see its contrary being applied, that denounce events, governmental policies and silent conspiracies.

One does not protect oneself from one's enemy by concealing from him, and by hiding from oneself, one's defects. On the contrary, it is appropriate to be completely aware and clear about one's own shortcomings. Those who consider the West as an enemy feel that any criticism directed at Muslims is a kind of dishonest compromise especially if it is enunciated in the presence of Westerners. Keen to appear "unwavering", they forget themselves. Yet, to elaborate a critical denunciation in no way means making an "alliance" with the West. It is before anything else remaining faithful to the Message of Islam which, above all, imposes justice and equity. We are opposed to the economic and strategic policies of the West, and this does not mean that the West, in itself, is the enemy. There exist a great number of intellectuals, journalists and researchers who have a genuine concern for understanding and who need to hear, read and refer to an honest and well-thought-out discourse and bring to the fore, without complacency, the gaps and betrayals in the Muslim universe. This, unless we want to persevere in a confinement that neither the Quran nor the Sunna have prescribed.

Compiled From:
"Islam, the West and the Challenges of Modernity" - Tariq Ramadan, pp. 288-290