08.11.06
Like Holding Hot Coals
Keeping your Muslim identity is getting difficult day and day. Having the “Muslim” label is now considered bad and evil. The enemies of Islam are widespread. The enemies of Islam are now from within. We have “experts” making irrational comments about the principles laid for to us by Islam. We have “educated” people trying to persuade us to leave our religion. We have individuals who think they know everything and love to give their “ijteehad” on certain issues. They think they know more than Allah (swt). We must realize that Allah is the best of planners. We can never let go of our principles and beliefs.
For the Prophet has said,
“Ahead of you are days which will require endurance, in which showing endurance will be like holding hot coals.”
We cannot permit ourselves to drop these “hot coals.” The coals will burn our hands and skin. They will leave marks, but we need to continue to struggle and fight under any means necessary (and permissible).
photoflo Said:
August 12, 2006 at 11:14 am
you’re right.
Irving Said:
August 14, 2006 at 6:57 pm
Alhamdulillah, that He leads His friends on the straight path. The blessed Prophet, may peace be unto him, has said, “We return from the lesser struggle to the greater struggle.” “What is the greater struggle?” he was asked. He replied: “Struggle with the Nafs,”
And so it is, It is our own nafs, our own greed and hatred and lust and need for power, and self-righteousness that are the hot coals we must carry, until love is stronger than hate, and peace more important that honor, and beauty more worthy than power.
Then the coals will become diamonds reflecting only His light.
Ya Haqq!
Munzareen Said:
August 18, 2006 at 6:02 pm
Asalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah,
So at work today my director and I were talking about this. She went to Denmark for the “Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow” conference. Anyhow, it was organized by Muslims and it was pretty sad. Not only did they not get scholars from Europe they couldn’t get Muslim leaders like Yusuf Islam or Tariq Ramadan. Can you believe who they did get? Guess.. Irshad Manji! That’s who came. And my director sat on the panel with her. We both get really upset when people who aren’t authorities on Islam become viewed as such.
But you know, it’s hard to stay on the deen but this is part of the test of our lives. There is an Arab proverb that says, “Don’t fear the path of truth for the lack of people walking on it.” Very pertinent in these times. There’s so many Muslims who are scared to be visibly Muslim. We shouldn’t. we should fear Allah above anything.
naqvia Said:
August 18, 2006 at 6:37 pm
wa ‘alaykum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakahtu,
Yes I heard about it. Read a few articles.. it seemed like the “scholars” they got were extreme, either progressive or “salafi.” Pretty sad they couldn’t get any scholars from Europe! And Irshad Manji has no authority.. she’s just a person who attended a “madressa” and is discontent with Muslims and Islam. Who’s your director? And where do you work! I wish I could talk about this during my work …
You are so right.. we should not be scared to be Muslim.
wa salaam,
Abbas
Munzareen Said:
August 19, 2006 at 5:03 am
Wa alaikum as salaam wa rahmatullah,
My director is Gulrukh Rahman. I work for Children of Abraham in Brooklyn.. Hence the travelling photo show.. I’m donig that all through my internship.
Irshad Manji may not any authority but non-Muslims at least view her as knolwledgable. You’ve got to be kidding me. Next time, I’ll write a book against Islam and become popular, too.
Anyhow, that kinda reminds me of one of the signs of the Day of Judgement where corrupt leaders will emerge and people who deserve positions won’t get them.
About keeping your Muslim identity. Can you imagine how sweet the reward is? I mean, granted I’ve only been spit at, or thrown food at, or yelled at but there are people who have gone through much worse. But the harder we try to stay Muslim, the greater the reward. And it gives us more opportunity to study our deen more thoroughly. The discord amongst us in indicative of our lack of knowledge. We speak when we don’t know anything, we argue (Imam Malik said argumentation is not part of the religiong), we create arguments amongst groups (Sunni v Shia, Salafi v Sufi, etc. etc.).
May Allah guide us and keep us on the Straight Path. Ameen.
naqvia Said:
August 19, 2006 at 10:00 am
Is there a difference between intellectual debate and arguing?
-Abbas