Often we come across Qur’anic verses and Ahadith in support of a righteous deed. Take for example the fasting month of Ramadhan. The community is bestowed countless rewards for fasting each day of Ramadhan. If you look up these rewards they are fantastic!

No one doubt’s these utterances of the Prophet (s.a.w.), but when viewed in a wider perspective one needs to understand the wisdom, purpose, goal and objective of these remarks. For example, it can be said that these daily rewards in Ramadhan are intended to encourage one to fast. It is a kind of incentive if you are a worldly person. However, from a spiritual point of view, it will not matter at all, because pleasing Allah is the real goal, regardless of whether you are rewarded or not.

Have you met people during Hajj? The normal conversation is: “How many Umrahs have you done? I did ten.” These are the people who excel in numbers. Whereas we all know that undertaking such requires sincerity, ability and good health. In fact, just one Hajj is good enough. The Prophet (s.a.w.) only performed Hajj once in his lifetime. If at all, we do go again and again, it is purely for further satisfaction and improvement.

A similar situation exists at the Plains of Arafah. We are told that the Prophet (s.a.w.) made mention that one’s sins for the previous year, the current year and the year to come, are all forgiven. Without elaboration, such could be abused in the forgone conclusion that one does not need to worry about one’s sins for the coming year because they were forgiven in advance.

So there is a need to explain in detail the various dimensional states of a Qur’anic verse or Hadith so that people can benefit from it in a wholesome manner and not purely on face value and then left to visualize the situation through their own ingenuity.

The radicalisation of Muslim youth is a global phenomenon, resulting out of injustices against Muslims, notably by Israel against the Palestinians, followed by aged old unresolved situations such as Kashmir, Southern Thailand , Philippines etc. Former PM, Mahathir was right when he said that we have to get down to the root cause of all problems if we want to resolve them. It is pointless to o0nly harp on one aspect of the issue i.e. terrorism, when in reality we also have 'legal terrorism' being conducted by the West, where its imposition of its views globally is bias, especially when it comes to Israel in comparison to Iran . However, this does not mean that Muslims should become emotional and fall prey to Islamic radicalism.

Overcoming this situation requires a new approach. It requires getting down to the basic fundamentals of Islam, and this begin with Tawheed i.e. understanding God, the purpose of existence, and our role and relationship in it with Him. This is the foundation of Islam, which these days has been replaced by an overdose of Shari'ah, Fiqh, Hukum, Haram and Halal, though essentially right, overlooks the fact that everything evolves around God and not the mere implementation or doctrination of Islamic Law. To be a true Muslim, life has to possess substance and meaning. It has to submit to the divine will of God which can only improve with submission to Him. This approach negates emotion and personal interest and replaces it with self examination, discipline and self improvement, as a means of striving for perfection in the path of Allah.

Monitoring Islamic activity is a requirement and necessary, but often it leads to indirect suppression, where freedom of speech is denied, creation an atmosphere where only one medium of expression is permitted, notably the official one enforced by governments. What is needed is a counter-insurgency based on Tawheed - the Oneness of God and the unification of everything in Him. This is only part of the issue. The real part involves resolving the Palestinian issue. Failure to do so often creates the impression that Islamic government become mere puppets of the Super Powers and the West. Finally, non-Islamic countries should give up their 'Islamic phobia' and halt their daily negative projections of Muslims and Islam, which often angers the silent Muslim majority who can help stem the tide of violence by assisting governments tackle this situation. [Mokhtar Stork]

by Abdul Sattar

So it’s happened again. They decided to republish the cartoons. Perhaps it is because they want to re-emphasize their opinions on the character and personality of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Maybe because they wish to provoke more reactionary Muslims into random acts of violence or demonstration. Maybe…just to show the world that they can, and stand proud in the gleaming light of free speech.

Anyone with a sense of justice can see that the apathetic Western reaction to these cartoons – full of hate and vitriolic sentiment targeted against the heritage, culture, and beliefs of over a fifth of humanity, is unjust – when compared to the resistance such cartoons would be met with if they were targeted at other groups.

The Muslims wonder why our community can be insulted, and threatened with deportation, our holy cities threatened with nuclear weapons by a U.S. Presidential candidate (Tom Tancredo), and our most sacred figures reviled? But if a whisper is raised against any other community – if a comedian goes off on a racist tirade using the N-word, or an award winning actor and director makes anti-semitic comments in a state of drunkenness – the entire Western world rises to say: “We will not tolerate your intolerance. We are better than your hate.” But when Muslims are lambasted across the country on conservative radio shows, urging violence against them, deportation, whole-scale attacks against their countries and forced conversion to Christianity……we hear no civilized response against the unholy right-wing war talk. When a mosque is burned down by a white-supremacist group in Columbia, TN, it does not even make the news. When the enlightened West is met with comments which declare “The Other” as inferior…..there is a complicit silence.

Muslims need to realize three things:

1. Do not be surprised or shocked, emotionally, or intellectually, that this is happening.

2:120

“…[They] will never be pleased with you until you follow their religion. Say: Surely Allah’s guidance, that is the (true) guidance. And if you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you shall have no guardian from Allah, nor any helper.” (Qur’an, 2:120)

When your Lord tells you that a group will NEVER be pleased with you, satisfied with you, or happy with you, until you follow their way, it behooves the Muslim to accept it as a fact. The continuous begging and pleading Muslims who yell: “Please don’t make fun of us! Please don’t ridicule us! We are people just like you! Please be impressed with our history!” is nothing short of pathetic – when you consider how sometimes the street mob goes to burn and attack their own streets in protest, as has happened in Pakistan, and a few other places in e Muslim world. A political cartoon painting Islam as violent – is given seeming credence when in reality, only a tiny speck of Muslims even think of reacting win such ways.

It is time for the Muslim to realize that the actions of a person who makes fun of the Prophet (s.a.w.), or even goes so far as to insult or ridicule God himself, is responsible for his or her own deeds. He or she will be held responsible for what they draw, say, or write on the Day of Judgment. It is not up to us to legislate against them in this world when they are living in their own countries, nor to beg powerlessly that they cease and desist their activities.

Should we defend our Prophet (s.a.w.)? Yes. Through teaching people who he was and spreading the Truth. But, It is time for us to stop being so emotionally surprised when Islamophobes insult Islam. They don’t believe in your Prophet. Or your religion. And they don’t like either of them, or you. We should grow up and deal with it. The Qur'an is preparing us for this reality with the verse above.

So let us be prepared.

2. If you are going to respond, respond in the manner of the Prophetic Sunnah (Tradition) which we are claiming to defend.

“And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace…” [Qur'an, 25:63]

Realize that the Islamophobes have the right to say or write whatever they want. They do. And no one will stop them. Your complaints will make them happier. They are not in a Muslim country. Our response should be a response fitting the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) which we claim to defend so staunchly.

When some enemies of Islam once walked by the Prophet (s.a.w.) in Madinah, they said to him, “As-Sa’mu Alaikum” (Death be upon you), trying to slyly make it sound like “Assalamu-Alaikum” (Peace be upon you). They didn’t write against him, draw against him – they spoke directly to him. He, with the calm demeanor of prophethood, simply responded – “Wa alaikum”, and upon you. He did not escalate or insult – he responded by reflecting their greeting, without mentioning anything negative himself or lowering his noble speech.

“And you [Oh Prophet] are upon the noblest of character.” (Qur’an, 68:4)

His wife ‘Aisha, who out of her love for him, acted in a way many Muslims today do and yelled: “May the curse of Allah be upon you, and his punishment, and his…!”

The Prophet (s.a.w.) stopped her saying: “Calm down O `Aishah, calm down. There is not gentleness in anything, except that it becomes more beautiful, and there is not harshness in anything except that it makes it ugly. So be calm oh Aisha.”

This exemplifies the Prophetic response. Calmness. Tranquility. Humility. He was active in spreading the message with “wisdom and beautiful preaching” with enthusiasm, vigor and strength, but he did not let insults take over his greatness. He engaged with those around him to teach them about God, and teach them about how to live their lives to the fullest. A model citizen. A good neighbor. A fortress of justice. An honest friend. A helper of the needy. A Messenger of God. This was his response. More than that, this was his driving mission.

“Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching.” [Sûrah al-Nahl: 125]

Also, that we engage those people who do believe in God, in working acts of righteousness and benefit for humanity.

3. It is time to stop being dependent on others to present a good image of us. They have not and will never do so reliably, save a few fair-minded individuals. Self-determination in our message, our image, and our work, is the only answer.

Yet another incident, when the Makkans used to try to make fun of the Prophet (s.a.w.) by twisting his name because of its meaning being “The one deserving of praise” , and calling him Mudhammam (belittled one) – he simply smiled and said, “They are making fun of a man named Mudhammam, but I am Muhammad!”

Rather than worrying about these insults, he spent his time propagating his message. He spent his time building his community and ensuring that every man, woman, and child could hear about what he had to say and how to worship God and come close to Him. So rather than focusing on what they produce, draw, write, and say – what has each of us done to paint the proper picture of the Messenger (s.a.w.)? Robert Spencer and Daniel Pipes are making millions painting a picture of a warlord and a “Prophet of Doom.” Why are we surprised when Allah (swt) told us it would happen, and more importantly, what have we done to spread a positive image of the Prophet (s.a.w.) actively?

Perhaps we are arguing about whether or not praying behind someone who eats McDonalds is allowed. Or whether wiping over our leather socks is permissible. Or if music with more than a duff is makrooh or haram. Or maybe our mufti “saab” teaches that I shouldn’t talk about Islam, Qur'an, or the Prophet without being in his presence or even read a book without his stamp of approval, turning us to intellectual zombies, far from the example of the Sahabah and the righteous predecessors. Maybe we are busy arguing about Tariqahs, Madhabs, Manhaj, Aqeedah, and other things which we have no understanding of beyond a few pamphlets and classes in our neighborhoods, and of course, the Internet.

I remember my father teaching me that when the Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258, the `ulema and the their students were discussing whether or not it was permissible to eat crows. Unfortunately, it seems we have not learned.

It is time for the Muslim to be a self-determined, educated, citizen of humanity and of Islam. Someone who’s character aims to mirror the Prophetic character. It is time for the sisters to put down their mascara and their foundation, and the brothers to put down the Nintendo Wii and XBOX controllers, and stand up and become men and women, and stop being boys and girls. It is time for for them to become self-determined individuals, who understand that the honor of this Deen and its Ummah, can only be given by Allah, but they must work for it. Allah says:

“God will not change the condition of a people, until they change what is within themselves.” (13:11)

It is time to stop burning flags, and start burning desires.

Stop yelling in the streets against people who are overjoyed at your anger, and whisper to Allah who will become overjoyed at your prayer.

Stop breaking, burning, and screaming.
Start building, learning, and calling.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, "The strict man is one who passes judgement on himself and works for what is after death. And the fool is one who pursues vain pleasures and counts on Allah to realise his wishes."

Sayyidna Ali (r.a.) said, "Whoever wishes to achieve his goal without effort, is a wishful thinker. And whoever believes he will reach his goal by expanding of effort, is presumptuous."

Amal (deeds) is the key here. One should ask, "How is my Amal?" Do not die wasting your time in useless matters. One needs to live and to earn a living but do so in accordance with Allah’s commands. On the Day of Judgement, Allah will ask you to show Him what good you have done.

Allah will say, "Do you think that My angels write down whatever they like? Here are the books, your records – are these not your own actions?" And if you deny them, your hands, feet, etc will bear witness against you. Allah has revealed, "On that Day, We shall set a seal on their mouths, but their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will bear witness to whatever they did (in life)." (Surah Ya-Sin 36:65).

Imam Ghazali said to his disciple, "O disciple! Live as long as you want, but you must die. Love whatever you want, but you will become separated from it. Do what you want and you will be repaid for it.

If you look at a donkey and a zebra, they look alike, the only difference is that one had stripes and the other does not. The zebra has the right to roam freely and to do what it likes on vast open plains, while the donkey is subdued and put to work. The zebra's freedom exposes it to being attacked and devoured by other animals. The donkey in turn leads a relatively subdued life but enjoy security.

Humankind is no different. Those who speak about freedom and what to live their lives like gays, lesbians, perverts, extremists and whatever you have listed under freedom of rights and speech can be compared to zebras, while those like most Muslim leaders prefer beings donkeys, submitting themselves to 'His Master's Voice' just to remain in office.

You have the choice of being either a zebra or donkey. If you want some other choice then you have to take a good look at yourself, because to be different you have to decide which type of stripes you want to acquire or what time of cross breed of a donkey you want to turn out to be.

In the business area of Mid Town MANHATTAN in New York, a new BAR is opening in the name of APPLE MECCA which is familiar to KA'BAH MAKKAH This bar will be used for supply of Alcoholic drinks. The Muslims of New York are pressurizing Government of USA to not open this BAR. Its another effort toffort to make fun of Islam. KINDLY NOTE THAT THIS INFORMATION IS VERY MISLEADING. I received an e-mail from a professor in Qatar who had this to say:

Dear brother Al Ustad Haji Mokhtar,

This photograph has been in circulation for more the two years now and I personally received it long ago so I really do not know whether it is true or just mischief...causing Muslims to start reacting unnecessarily. I think we should be careful. When first I received it was mentioned that was is Texas then somewhere in the Mid-West and then New York. so I think it is only a trick.

Salaam

saleh al-kindi

I believe that there are many serious errors concerning this topic: Islamic Holy Book. Something needs to be done over these age old errors undertaken by orientalists translator of the Qur'an. To begin with the BIBLE is not the word of God (refer Ahmad Deedat). The words Zabur, Taurat, Injil etc should be maintained. It is sinful to equate them with the Old or New Testament of the Bible (Psalms, Torah, Gospel etc). By doing so we are giving credibility to something that is not recognised as being truly revealed by Allah. There may be some similarities but the differences are great (e.g. Trinity). The Qur'an clearly also states that the Qur'an has corrected and replaced these previous books and has put right many wrong misconceptions held over Jesus Christ. Finally these previous Islamic books no longer exist.

Other serious matters that require attention is the word APOSTLE which was also introduced by the Orientalists. We have NABI and RASUL i.e. Prophet and Messenger. To use Apostle is to equate the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. with St. Paul, the Apostle, the Corrupter of Christianity...how we do such as Muslims? Muslims should stop imitating these approaches.

Another corruption is the word Qu'ran in place of KORAN another orientalist ploy of identification. Yet we all know that the word "Qaf" is "Q" not "K" - so why KORAN?

Yet another corruption is the word NASARA. This word from the Qur'an depicts a SECT of JUDAISM and not Modern Day CHRISTIANITY. Jesus of Nazareth (a town), its people were known as NAZAREENS (ESSENES of the Dead Sea Scrolls did not follow the doctrines of St. Paul. We should use the words NASARAH with footnotes attached. Jesus was a Jew observing Jewish customs ie. the SABBATH. He went to the SYNAGOGUE not to CHURCH. He was circumcised and did not eat pork.

The Preview Incorporated