Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Personal Dignity
Al-Imran (The House of Imran) Chapter 3: Verse 84

"Say: We believe in God and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, and in the scriptures that God sent to Moses and Jesus, and the Prophets. We make no distinction between them and we are Muslims."

The Quranic recognition of the truth and essential unity of the revealed faiths is not confined to Christianity and Judaism but extends to all the Prophets preceding Moses and Jesus and their teachings. Thus it is stated that belief in all of them is an integral part of the Muslim faith.

Affirmative references to other revealed religions is one of the major themes of the Quran. These recur in several places in the Book and they consistently confirm that Islam does not deny the followers of other faiths the freedom, both within and outside the territorial domain of Islam, to choose, retain and practice the religion they wish to follow. This is precisely the conclusion that commentators have drawn from the totality of the Quranic evidence. Referring to these verses, Fathi Uthman writes that 'Islam rejects compulsion even if it be the only way to Islam itself ... for worshipping God and the enforcement of His law cannot be properly achieved unless man is free from fear ...'.

The Quran is most explicit on the dignity and nobility of man, both individually and collectively, and it repeatedly expresses the theme that a person's dignity is ultimately related to his or her freedom - particularly freedom of conscience. In sum, the Quran is consistent in its affirmation of the freedom of belief and it fully supports the conclusion that the objective of the Shariah cannot be properly fulfilled without granting people the freedom of belief, and the liberty to express it.

Compiled From:
"Freedom of Expression in Islam" - Mohammad Hashim Kamali, pp. 102, 103

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Ridicule

One major cause of social discord is ridiculing others, especially in being contemptuous of others. One's superiority complex prompts one to belittle others. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has provided a graphic account of him who mocks others, as he will face a penalty in the Hereafter: "Those mocking others will be shown a door to Paradise and be asked to enter. As they reach the door it will be closed and the same will happen again. This will be done so many times that they will lose strength and spirit to approach any door." [Bayhaqi] Some resort to imitating others as a means of mocking them. The Prophet took strong exception to Umm al-Muminin Aisha's (may Allah be pleased with her) mimicry of someone, saying: "I do not approve of this, even if I am given any material thing as an incentive for doing so." [Tirmidhi]

Compiled From:
"Inter Personal Relations" - Khurram Murad, p. 24

Cool Tips!

Islamic Call

[.. continued from previous issue]

The five means of propagation

First: the individual method; that is, to invite the person individually if the matter pertains to him specifically.

Second: public or mass propagation such as in lectures or exhortations that benefit the generality of people.

Third: private lessons to students each in his specialty. This is the task of the scholars who specialize in their disciplines.

Fourth: propagation through writing, correspondence and authorship with guidance and benefit for those who are called.

Fifth: propagation using modern means of communication to advance the cause of truth or any means within your own individual capacity.

[to be continued]

Compiled From:
"Thirty Lessons For Those Who Fast" - A'id Abdullah al-Qarnee