Friday Nasihat 7 July 2007

SOURCE: http://www.fridaynasiha.com Jumada al Thani 21, 1428, A.H. - July 7, 2007, C.E. Living the Quran Al Najm (The Star) Chapter 53: Verse 28 Original Divine Message "They [the unbelievers] have no knowledge whatsoever of the claims they make; they merely succumb to conjecture, and conjecture is no substitute for truth." Throughout the ages, religion, revealed and unrevealed alike, has been the subject of much abuse, distortion, and corruption. Myths and superstitions about the Divine Being have crept into many religious beliefs, bringing religion into direct conflict with science. Religion and science are legitimate means for seeking the ultimate truth, but human caprice and tendentious manipulation have, in many cases, distorted the original and pristine divine message. Religious knowledge is absolute knowledge, upheld and protected by divine revelation, based on rational argument and common sense. Any religious proposition or argument that does not stand up to rational and intellectual examination is not worthy of being approved or believed. Source: "A Thematic Commentary on the Quran" - Muhammad al-Ghazali, p. 595 Understanding the Prophet's Life Real Equality In the eleventh year of hijrah, the Prophet, peace be upon him, decided to send and expedition to the north, near Mutah and Palestine, where a few years earlier Jafar, Abdullah, and Zayd had been killed. To everyone's surprise, he gave the command to young Usamah, Zayd's son, who was only twenty years old, though this three-thousand-strong army included such men as Umar and other experienced Companions. The choice gave rise to much criticism, but the Prophet reacted very promptly and put an end to all arguments when he proclaimed: "You criticize the choice of Usamah to command the army, as you had formerly criticized that of his father Zayd. Usamah is truly worthy of the command I entrust him with, as his father was before him." In the past, some Muslims had reacted to the choice of Zayd because they still considered him as a slave, though he had been freed; now some opposed the choice of his son, perhaps because of his father, but mostly because of his young age. By confirming his choice the Prophet informed them that neither a man's social origin nor his age should prevent him from exerting authority and power if he possessed the spiritual, intellectual, and moral qualities required. One had to show sensitivity by offering the most destitute in society real equality of opportunity and trusting the young so that everybody could express their skills and talents. On a more general level, this was a fine lesson in humility addressed to older Companions: they were to experience the inner, greater jihad of obeying a man who could have been their son, and in so doing remember that their time was limited, like any man's. By that choice, the Prophet taught them that time naturally erodes one's energy, and one must be wise enough to learn to step aside, to delegate authority to those who are young and strong enough to create and build. Source: "In the Footsteps of the Prophet" - Tariq Ramadan, pp. 200, 201 Blindspot! Love Muslims have ignored the task which should be their specific concern, namely love of God and the strengthening of the ties of love among people for His sake. If a person should succeed in this task he would have set the firmest foundation in the depths of soul, sown the seed for every flourishing virtue and established an impregnable fortress against most external threats and tests. The word 'love' which people have so misused and abused, is that mighty word which distinguishes the followers of the Prophets and on which their societies were built. It is the 'elixir' which binds these followers to goodness, creating a true bond which even makes suffering seem sweet in its pursuit. By the same token it has fashioned the ties that bind them together - ties of soul over and above the intellect, ties which are not subverted by differences of opinion. These ties are above materialistic interests and are not swayed by any particular passing whim. Source: "Watering the Seeds of Love" - Said Ramadan