The PPK Muslims (Proud, Practicing, Knowledgable)

Response of a Concerned Muslim to my "An Appeal to the Conscience of Muslims"

Response of a Concerned Muslim to My

"An Appeal to the Conscience of Muslims"

I got a good, long and emotional response to my article “A challenge to the Conscience of Muslims” (copied hereunder). I would like to respond to him through this blog.

Dear Hasan,

AoA and thanks for responding. I agree with you and your assessment given out with great passion. I have a little different take on it, however. The present state of Muslims is very heartbreaking. But our response to this, in my humble opinion is worst. Instead of a real and good soul searching, most of us are inlined to morn and groan about our surroundings. Instead of even trying to light a candle, we ceaselessly curse the darkness. Yes, the media have a very dirty agenda of their own. But like every where else, the media also have sincere people conducting good and correct reporting. In this case the broad facts are clear and very disturbing. It involves a boy of eighteen, trying to air his views and organize protests for them which is illegal in Saudi Arabia; he is arrested and detained in a Police State Style, no due process of law, no trial and condemned to death and crucification. This is horrible and un-Islamic. It affects you and me, Hasan because it is shaping up under the watch of Khadimain Harman Sharifain in a land which is so dear to all of us. As such, it casts Islam in a very ugly shape. I feel, the great injustices (as you have pointed out) that “others” are doing to us should not have any bearing on our assessment of this case. This is wrong, very wrong and we should stop it with our hands, if not declare it openly as wrong and finally if not then at least consider it as completely wrong in our hearts as is incumbent on every Muslim by the famous hadith of our beloved Prophet.

A point or two about the current political climate around us which you have discussed very well and emotionally. The tyrannical and atrocious occupation of Palestine is a constant sore for more than three decades. One sided and totally biased and unprincipled American support of Israel plays a major role in the continued torture and torment of the Palestinians. Starting with Al Qaeda and Afghanistan spreading over to Iraq, Syria, Libya, appearance of ISIS on the scene, the attitude and interests of Western powers, the internecine, sectarian and ethnic fights of the local population (by the way 79 % of Iraqis - 62 % Shia and 17 % kurds - had approved and encouraged American intervention in Iraq for very obvious reasons) are collectively responsible for the inferno in the Middle East causing widespread death and destruction. You think they — the West — are dong it; I would like to think the same. And both of us will agree that most of our 1.6 billion Muslim brothers and sisters feel the same. However every actor on the stage thinks that he is right and that the other is responsible. What is the solution? The combined might of the Arab countries could not last for more than six days in 1967. Cursing them and vilifying them --the West -- in our discussions will not help. We must acknowledge that they will do what they think right and they have the strength and power to do that; unfortunately they are able to decide what is right even for us!

As you have pointed out very correctly, the solution is to charge and surround our own political and religious leadership and our Ulema, scholars and intellectuals to come out with a ten year plan — as the Japanese and later Chinese have done in the past— to organize the Ummah on a constructive plan; paranoia about Western excesses must simple stop. Out of our hostility towards the West we tend to make heroes out of Osama Bin Laden, Saddam, Gaddafi, Bashar al-Assad, ISIS and the likes. This is simply wrong. We should not have any hesitation to discard them completely; no ifs and buts. instead of being romantic about Ummah, we should be practical and start with working on individual administrative units of Ummah i.e. each country and design a long term plan for its development — social, educational, inancial, political. Hopefully these will grow and unite into a strong Ummah.

Copy of the letter from Hasan Chand:

Khalid Bhai, Salaam.

The World politics has gotten rotten & worst the past few decades, more rapidly in recent years. The Powerful continue to Rule and dictate as they find greedy politicians everywhere, sadly more easily in Muslim countries, ready to bend over & comply.

Surely, the KSA Court decision, as reported in western media, is one of those that could be called "Do as the King says". Islam (& all Abrahamic religions) values human life more than any other religion but look at what we all do! The King must rescind the Court decision & if the man is truly guilty of Treason (does not appear provable) then a Life sentence may be the answer, but to kill & hang the body? No, No & No.

The Wester Media & Politicians mostly look the other way when Israel's Gaza atrocities kill, maim & destroy Life, as Muslim States give it lesser lip-service than the western leadership; mentioning Israel's stockpile of nuclear arsenal is taboo as is mentioning the "holocaust". Let Palestinians (&Muslims) die, sending more troops to Iraq (after the totally unjustified Iraq affair of GWBush & Tony Blair, which the is now -- after hundreds of thousands of Iraqi & other human beings having been killed, claiming to have been a "mistake but worth getting rid of Saddam! BULL SHIT! Was Saddam that Dangerous for the World, & that too after his instigated attack on Iran & Kuwait? Today' news says Obama has reluctantly authorised sending less than 50 Special Operations troops and further say : "While the deployment was small in scale, it was large in importance for a president who had refused to commit American ground forces inside Syria beyond quick raids. White House officials said the troops would advise local forces fighting the Islamic State and not play a direct combat role, but they left open the possibility of sending more in the future."

Yes, we all need to make ISIS non-existent, if they cannot be trained to follow the Real Islam of the Quraan & Sunnah. However, look at the 4 year "WAR" raging in the area, the number of people killed, multiple thousands made homeless & Refugees many of whom, rather than be provided shelter in Muslim countries, are going thru dangerous means to reach Europe. Is there no real danger when they settle in non-Muslim European lands where there is already some resistance from locals and, besides, the possibilities of forced or unforced conversions?

Sorry, Khalid Bhai, I feel very disturbed sometime, more at our Muslim Leadership --- political, religious as well as "Educated" intellectuals. In Pakistan, I see more of a status quo to ensure a 2 class society where the Rich live in (un-earned) luxury not cognisant of their DUTY, & the poor class lost in making their daily needs come to fruition, willingly or un-willingly acquiescing to reality of poverty, to which they have been pushed in various ways like lack of proper education, health facilities, infrastructure etc.

This has become too long & I know nothing will come of it at the circles where it could at least get some attention.

Regards.

Hasan Chand

A Challenge to the Conscience of Every Muslim

Why every Muslim? Because it is happening in the land of the Khademain Harmain Shareefain. A land every Muslim has an intense desire to visit, not once but again and again.

Nicholas Kristof has published an essay today, October 29, 2015 "Sentenced to be Crucified" in the opinion pages of The New York Times.

Let me quote the relevant parts of the article to save some time for you:

"Any day now, our Saudi Arabian allies may behead and crucify a young man named Ali al-Nimr.........Nimr’s offense? He was arrested at age 17 for participating in anti-government protests...... the only known evidence is a confession apparently extracted under torture that left him a bloody mess.......Nimr was recently moved to solitary confinement in preparation for execution..... In Britain, where the sentence has received attention, the foreign secretary says he does “not expect” it to be carried out. But Nimr’s family fears execution could come any day.......It’s time for a frank discussion about our ally Saudi Arabia and its role legitimizing fundamentalism and intolerance in the Islamic world. Western governments have tended to bite their tongues because they see Saudi Arabia as a pillar of stability in a turbulent region — but I’m not sure that’s right......... Sadly, Saudi Arabia is a gift to Islamophobes; it does far more damage to the reputation of Islam than any blaspheming cartoonists........Granted, many Saudis are pushing for reform. One bright young writer, Raif Badawi, 31, called eloquently for women’s rights, education reform and freedom of thought, and Saudi Arabia has sentenced him to 10 years in prison, a $267,000 fine and a flogging of 1,000 lashes (50 at a time, with one session administered so far). His wife, Ensaf Haidar, tells me that his flogging is to resume soon after a long suspension, and that she fears he will not survive the entire lashing........The United States government has largely averted its eyes from all this, at least in public, merely expressing deep concern about the crucifixion sentence even as it provides weaponry to enable the Saudi assault on Yemen."

The article gives a link if you want to add your signature for a petition in defense of Ali Al-Nimr. You will also see the innocent faces of Ali and his wife.

REPRIEVE, US has given more details about this case.

Some quotes from there: "He was accused of participation in an illegal demonstration and a large number of other offenses. These include “explaining how to give first aid to protestors” and using his blackberry to invite others to join him at the protest…….Ali was tortured and forced to sign a false confession. This was the only evidence brought against him. He was sentenced to ‘death by crucifixion,’ which in Saudi Arabia involves beheading and public display of the body……Ali’s final appeal was held in secret, without his knowledge. This was the last remaining legal obstacle to his execution, and now Ali can be crucified at any time……Ali was arrested without a warrant. He was held in pre-trial detention for two years, and at no point was he allowed to contact his lawyer. Ali was tortured and forced to sign false confession. Throughout his trial, Ali was denied access to the evidence against him. He was not even informed of the charges until half way through the proceedings. His forced confession was the only evidence brought against him. He was sentenced to ‘death by crucifixion’…….Ali’s final appeal was held in secret, without his knowledge. This was the last remaining legal obstacle to his execution, and now Ali can be crucified at any time. The authorities may not even give prior notification of his family. His execution would be illegal under international law."

A good assessment of the New Middle East, But..........

A Good Assessment of the New Middle East, But......

Shadi Hamid has written a beautiful analytical article in the Atlantic http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/middle-east-egypt-us-policy/409537/ …on the present state of affairs in the Mid East -- balanced and informative. However the focus is mainly on America: what it does, why it does, what it does not do, what it should do, what it must do etc. While all this is important and essential, it is not enough for the people of the area and the Muslims in general. If the Arabs and Muslims of the present day cannot be any thing more than poor, ignorant and impotent puppets then this approach is valid. However if the aim is to take a step towards uplifting ourselves from our inertia and stagnation then we have to stop harping about America and West. Instead of mourning and groaning about "Islamophobia" all around us our minds an muscles should work towards gradually producing an educated and prosperous believing Muslim which in turn will build strong and stable States which in unison will becom a prosperous and powerful Ummah. Odds are very high needing very strong and concerted efforts in face of fierce counter currents.

RIGHTEOUS DEEDS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF EEMAAN IN THE ISLAMIC SHARI'AH. SOME QURANIC INJUNCTIONS FOR MUNDANE MU'AAMLAAT

October 19, 2015

ABSTRACT

We Muslims are aware of and duly stress and devote lot of time and energy to be up to date in theology. However we and our Ulemaa and scholars tend to down play one very basic commandment of our Deen. The Quran almost always follows the proclamation of Eemaan with the injunctions for righteous deeds. Faith and good deeds go hand in hand. The article quotes ayahs to support this view. In our Shari’ah, therefore Huquq-ul-lah (the rights of Allah) have been equated by our Lord Creator with Huquq-ul-Ibaad (the rights of humans). In other words Ibaadaat and Mu’aamlaat (human dealings) are equally balanced in our Shari’ah. “ “Religion does not consist in hard religious exercise, but in living a good life in which due regard is paid to the rights of others”. Hence our Holy Scripture is full of instructions and guidance for mutual human — Muslims and non-Muslims —interactions. The article is discussing one such ayah: “O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others:1 It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.” The verse prohibits three social evils: [I] ridiculing one another; [2] finding fault with one another; and [3] reviling one another with nicknames. These are elaborated for better understanding. Imam Razi has pointed out that this attitude of insulting others in effect tarnishes even his/her own Faith (eemaan) as deduced from the Quranic statement: “Those who have attained to faith, and who have not obscured their faith by wrongdoing - it is they who shall be secure, since it is they who have found the right path!” Time and again we are reminded in our Holy Text that so far as our Faith/Eemaan remains confided to our heart and mind it is incomplete; it is registered at the Divine University but not activated. Our Faith has to manifest in our actions to be activated and rewarded in the Hereafter. The nuances in translating and comprehending the Divine language of the Holy Quran is exemplified. It simply cannot be over emphasised that Eemaan is not just a verbal profession; it has to manifest in our behaviour with our fellow human beings.The ayah ends with a warning to those who commit one of these crimes that they will be held as unjust and evil-doers unless they desist and repent.

Read ONLY, IF AND WHEN you have time and mood for:

“An Ayah of the Quran for 30 Days” -- September 2013

Choose the section you have time, in the next 30 days to read this ayah:-

Prelude: Recurrent Primary Message 1st. Page

Starting Dua, a note & The Ayah 2nd. Page

A Short Summary: For the Busy Bee Four Pages

The Main Story: Recommended Two Pages

Footnotes: For the Perfectionist One Page

PRELUDE

From the Pen and Perspective of a self-styled PPK Muslim (Proud, Practicing, Knowledgeable) with a humble submission that Islam totally rejects Blind Following BUT vigorously focusses on the Limitations of Pure Human Reasoning..............and clearly and comprehensively AlLAH knows best.

In the beginning of the seventh century C.E., the folks of Mecca and Medina had a fascinatingly unique window: they had direct access to the Heavens through one of their own. They were blessed with a regular stream of Divine counseling and guidelines. Question and answer sessions were part of the program. Even individual questioner was graced by an answer. In the short Introduction to this scheme they were assured that at the end of this twenty-two year project, Divine Directions and Admonitions will continue through the agency of the PEN. The whole discourse has been preserved and archived till eternity under the guarantee of our Lord and Creator. This record in known as the Quran.

It should sound unbelievable but factually appears to be true: Many of our prevalent, widespread and important concepts and opinions about religious matters do not have a basis in the Quran and sometimes even appear to be in obvious conflict with the teachings of the Quran. It would be very educative and helpful to discuss an Ayah once a month to see if it supports or rejects our views and actions in our daily life. I wish and hope this email generates a fruitful interactive discussion.

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

In the name of Allah, we praise HIM, seek HIS help and ask for HIS forgiveness. Whosoever Allah guideth none can misguide; whosoever HE allows to fall astray, none can guide him right. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah alone and we bear witness that Mohammed, SAW is HIS slave-servant and the Seal of HIS Messengers.

Further, we recall that Allah Ta’aala has declared in HIS Book¹ “He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message (or remember or receive admonition) but men of understanding (or intellect)” and we also recall that he has warned us about the day of judgement² “Then on that day you shall most certainly be questioned about the boons (joy, pleasure).” We realise, that there cannot be a greater boon or blessing or benefit than wisdom and we wonder if this should be a timely reminder to very many of us sincere and practicing Muslims who use our critical thinking to enhance the mundane for ourselves and our families but resort to compulsory following -- taqleed, doctrine of classical Sunni Islamic Fiqh -- in matters religion.

(NOTE: I have filtered out the proofs and details into the Footnotes for those who have the time and interest for them. The main email will then be reasonable length, hopefully for the majority. The short version will suit the real busy folks. What follows is not a sermon; I do not feel qualified to give one, anyhow. I wish, it may provide a food for thought. A caveat seems in order: If the ayah selected pertains to issues we face in our daily life with our family, friends, neighbours or peers it may affect us personally and lead to some self analysis and soul searching which in turn could be divisive and distressing. If taken in the right spirit, it can be a humble attempt towards finding the “straight path”.)

THE AYAH

Surah Al-Hujuraat 49 Ayah 11

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا لا يَسخَر قَومٌ مِن قَومٍ عَسىٰ أَن يَكونوا خَيرًا مِنهُم وَلا نِساءٌ مِن نِساءٍ عَسىٰ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيرًا مِنهُنَّ ۖ وَلا تَلمِزوا أَنفُسَكُم وَلا تَنابَزوا بِالأَلقابِ ۖ بِئسَ الِاسمُ الفُسوقُ بَعدَ الإيمانِ ۚ وَمَن لَم يَتُب فَأُولٰئِكَ هُمُ الظّالِمونَ

“O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others:1 It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.” Yousuf Ali

A SHORT VERSION

“I am convinced about the veracity of my opinions, but I do consider it likely that they may turn out to be incorrect. Likewise, I am convinced about the incorrectness of the views different from mine, but I do concede the possibility that they may turn out to be correct.” — Imam Shafa’i

A short preface before I discuss this ayah seems to be in order. We Muslims are aware of and duly stress and devote lot of time and energy to be up to date in theology………However we and our Ulemaa and scholars tend to down play one very basic commandment of our Deen. The Quran almost always follows the proclamation of Eemaan with the injunctions for righteous deeds. Faith and good deeds go hand in hand. Whenever Allah Ta’aala has warned us of a catastrophe for humanity, the prescription offered by HIM to avoid it is usually a package of Faith in HIM and good deeds for HIS servants. The Holy Quran declares:³……… (see the main story). In our Shari’ah, therefore Huquq-ul-lah (the rights of Allah) have been equated by our Lord Creator with Huquq-ul-Ibaad (the rights of humans). In other words Ibaadaat and Mu’aamlaat (human dealings) are equally balanced in our Shari’ah. “Hadith related in this chapter begin with the basic fact that religion does not consist in hard religious exercise, but in living a good life in which due regard is paid to the rights of others…….” says the eminent scholar and prolific writer Maulana Mohammed Ali in his outstanding book “A Manual of Hadith” while commenting on the chapter of “ Iman (Faith) and Islam (Submission)”. Hence our Holy Scripture is full of instructions and guidance for mutual human — Muslims and non-Muslims —interactions and dealings— the Mu’aamlaat as opposed to Ibaadaat. The index ayah is one such ayah.

The ayah counts few of the golden rules for human dealings which if followed would make human society so much more of a pleasure. The verse prohibits three social evils: [I] ridiculing one another; [2] finding fault with one another; and [3] reviling one another with nicknames

“Those who have attained to faith, and who have not obscured their faith by wrongdoing - it is they who shall be secure, since it is they who have found the right path!”

Time and again we are reminded in our Holy Text that so far as our Faith/Eemaan remains confided to our heart and mind it is incomplete; it is registered at the Divine University but not activated. Our Faith has to manifest in our actions to be activated and rewarded in the Hereafter.

The next segment of the ayah, which is a comment on this practice of nicknaming illustrates beautifully the nuances in translating and comprehending the Divine language of the Holy Quran. The Text says “bi’sal ismul fusooq”. These are three separate words put together and meaning as per lexicon:

wretched — the name — disobedience

Now let us see how nine scholars have rendered this part of the ayah:

Bad — is the name — of sinfulness
It is an evil thing — to gain notoriety — for ungodliness ……….(see full story)

The meaning as I can understand is that any suggestion of sinfulness, ungodliness, iniquity, immorality, lewdness, disobedience or wickedness ( all embraced in the word “fusooq”) is bad, evil, miserable, ill seeming or wretched. As this segment follows immediately after discussing nicknames, it could mean that calling by bad names (nicknames) is immoral and wicked. As we have just read, one of the scholars has translated this as “How bad is it to insult one's brother”. Muhammad Taqi Usmani has an interesting approach……….

This is a general rule for all humanity. However a much more important Divine message is conveyed to us Muslims by the two words that follow these three words “ba’dal eeman” meaning after Faith. It emphasises that once you have embraced Faith this type attitude is just not acceptable. This principle is now part of our Faith. After we laid a claim to Faith, any such activity will erode on our Faith itself. It simply cannot be over emphasised that Eemaan is not just a verbal profession; it has to manifest in our behaviour with our fellow human beings.

The ayah ends with a warning to those who commit one of these crimes that they will be held as unjust and evil-doers unless they desist and repent.

........and Allah knows best.

May Allah Ta’aala bless us with true understanding--“fahm”--of our Deen, Aameen.

THE MAIN STORY

A short preface before I discuss this ayah seems to be in order. We Muslims are aware of and duly stress and devote lot of time and energy to be up to date in theology. We are very particular to know every aspect of ritual practices - the ibaadaat. We are very protective of our Beliefs and Eemaan. However we and our Ulemaa and scholars tend to down play one very basic commandment of our Deen. The Quran almost always follows the proclamation of Eemaan with the injunctions for righteous deeds. Faith and good deeds go hand in hand. Whenever Allah Ta’aala has warned us of a catastrophe for humanity, the prescription offered by HIM to avoid it is usually a package of Faith in HIM and good deeds for HIS servants. The Holy Quran declares:³

“Verily, We create man in the best conformation (mould) and thereafter We reduce him to the lowest of low”.

In other words Allah Ta’aala has created mankind for lofty ideals but most of humans aim for the abyss and court disaster. The very next ayah spells out the cure and antidote for this calamity:⁴

“Except such as believe and do righteous deeds: for they shall have a reward unfailing”.

Similarly, our Lord Creator declares in HIS master piece of brevity Surah that all humanity is in peril⁵

“By (the Token of) Time, Verily Man is in loss”

and then goes on to announce for us the solution to get out of this danger in the next ayah⁶

“Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds…….”

In our Shari’ah, therefore Huquq-ul-lah (the rights of Allah) have been equated by our Lord Creator with Huquq-ul-Ibaad (the rights of humans). In other words Ibaadaat and Mu’aamlaat (human dealings) are equally balanced in our Shari’ah. “Hadith related in this chapter begin with the basic fact that religion does not consist in hard religious exercise, but in living a good life in which due regard is paid to the rights of others. Good actions, it is further stated, spring from a good heart and hence the need of faith which rules the heart. Iman (faith) and Islam (submission to Divine law) are often used but Iman strictly indicates the acceptance of a principle which is the basis of action - the theoretical side - and Islam action itself - the practical side of man’s life. But theory and practice here go hand in hand, and the actions that spring from faith are also called faith. One’s faith is therefore (greater or less) as one’s actions are (more or less) beneficial to humanity….” says the eminent scholar and prolific writer Maulana Mohammed Ali in his outstanding book “A Manual of Hadith” while commenting on the chapter of “ Iman (Faith) and Islam (Submission)”. Hence our Holy Scripture is full of instructions and guidance for mutual human — Muslims and non-Muslims —interactions and dealings— the Mu’aamlaat as opposed to Ibaadaat. The index ayah is one such ayah.

Laugh with others but do not laugh at them. Men and women are here addressed separately to emphasize the importance of it. Both the genders are warned against a superiority complex over others. I am sorry I cannot agree with the great scholar Maulana Maudoodi when he says “To make mention of the men and the women separately does not mean that it is lawful for the men to mock at the women or the women to mock at the men. The actual reason for making a separate mention of the two sexes is that Islam does not at all believe in mixed society. Ridiculing each other generally takes place in mixed gatherings and Islam does not permit that non-mahram males and females should meet in such gatherings and make fun of each other. Therefore, in a Muslim society it is inconceivable that the men would mock a woman, or the women would mock a man in an assembly.” Maulana Mufti Mohammed Shafi has a similar opinion. In this ayah Allah Ta’aala reminds us — men and women — that they may actually be better than ourselves and therefore we should not laugh or mock at others. Mocking can be by words or mimicking somebody, making pointed references or laughing at his words, works, appearance, dress and worst still inviting others to laugh at him. As Zamakhshari and Baydawi have put it the implication is that believers, whether men or women, shall never deride one another. Mufti Mohammed Shafi quotes Qurtub to describe some practical examples “mocking or scoffing does not only connote mocking with the tongue, but it also implies mimicking someone, making pointed references to him, laughing at his words, his works, his appearance, his dress or calling people's attention to some of his defects, so that they may laugh at him. Mocking includes all of this. By the clear text of the Quran, poking fun at someone or ridiculing him is absolutely forbidden.” He further elaborates that “no one dare make mockery of a person whose body, face, shape and stature are defective, imperfect, impaired or deformed, because he does not know that the other person, in the sight of Allah, might be better than him on account of his sincerity and purity of heart.” and supports this view by quoting a beautiful Hadith: “It is recorded in Sahih of Muslim on the authority of Sayyidna Abo Hurairah that the Holy Prophet said: "Allah does not look at your faces and your wealth; He looks at your hearts and your works.” (Please note “heart” is immediately followed by “works” highlighting the fundamental principle of our Deen: eemaan and good deeds go hand in hand) Imam Razi has pointed out that this attitude of insulting others in effect tarnishes even his/her own Faith (eemaan) as deduced from the Quranic statement⁷

“Those who have attained to faith, and who have not obscured their faith by wrongdoing - it is they who shall be secure, since it is they who have found the right path!”

Next, in this ayah we are ordered not to “talmezoo” amongst ourselves. This word has been translated as to defame, be sarcastic, taunt, find fault or insult. Yousuf Ali adds “A cutting, biting remark or taunt of sarcasm is included in the word lamaza.” Maudoodi is very explicit in defining this term “the word lamz as used in the original is very comprehensive and applies to ridiculing, reviling, deriding, jeering, charging somebody or finding fault with him, and making him the target of reproach and blame by open or tacit references.” Our Shari’ah demands a very high moral standards in human dealings. We should avoid insulting others in our speech and writing or give this impression by our actions. It should be realized that this sort of behavior is responsible for mutual ill feeling and distrust leading to a rift in relationship. This is highly undesirable and harmful for the health of the Community of Faith.

Next Allah Ta’aala orders us “laa tanaabazoo bil alqaab”, literally meaning not to call by nicknames. It means, by consensus not to “revile or insult” anybody by “offensive” nicknames. Calling somebody as a sinner or hypocrite to humiliate him is undesirable. It will not be proper to name a person even after a real defect, blemish or an attribute in him or the parents or the family. The lame one, the blind, the one eyed one, the black man or the “goraa" are some common examples. To call somebody as a Parsee or a Hindu after conversion to Islam is a striking and common example of total disregard of this injunction. Some titles though apparently offensive are in fact harmless and acceptable to all concerned like Abu Hurairah (father of the kitten) and Abu Turab (father of the dust).

wretched — the name — disobedience

Now let us see how the various scholars have rendered this part of the ayah:

Bad — is the name — of sinfulness
It is an evil thing — to gain notoriety — for ungodliness
Evil is — all imputation — of iniquity
Miserable — is the name — evident immorality
How bad is it — to insult one's brother
Bad — is the name — of lewdness
Wretched — is the name — of disobedience
Evil — is a bad name
Ill-seeming — is a name — connoting wickedness

The meaning as I can understand is that any suggestion of sinfulness or disobedience is bad and evil. As this segment follows immediately after discussing nicknames, it could mean that calling by bad names (nicknames) is immoral and wicked. As we have just read, one of the scholars has translated this as “How bad is it to insult one's brother”. Muhammad Taqi Usmani has an interesting approach “It means that calling others with bad nicknames is a sinful act, and the real bad name for a person after embracing Faith is that he is known among people for sinful acts. Therefore, if a Muslim commits the sin of calling others with bad nicknames, and it is known among people, then the real bad name is earned by himself, and not by the person whom he has abused with that nickname.”

The ayah ends with a warning to those who commit one of these crimes that they will be held as unjust and evil-doers unless they desist and repent.

........and Allah knows best.

May Allah Ta’aala bless us with true understanding--“fahm”--of our Deen, Aameen.

FOOTNOTES

(1) Surah 2/269

يُؤتِي الحِكمَةَ مَن يَشاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤتَ الحِكمَةَ فَقَد أوتِيَ خَيرًا كَثيرًا ۗ وَما يَذَّكَّرُ إِلّا أُولُو الأَلبابِ

(2) Surah 102/8

ثُمَّ لَتُسأَلُنَّ يَومَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعيمِ

(3) Surah 95/4

لَقَد خَلَقنَا الإِنسانَ في أَحسَنِ تَقويمٍثُمَّ رَدَدناهُ أَسفَلَ سافِلينَ

(4) Surah 95/5

إِلَّا الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ فَلَهُم أَجرٌ غَيرُ مَمنونٍ

(5) Surah 103/1-2

وَالعَصرِإِنَّ الإِنسانَ لَفي خُسرٍ

(6) Surah 103/3 (part of ayah)

إِلَّا الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ

(7) Surah 6/82

الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَلَم يَلبِسوا إيمانَهُم بِظُلمٍ أُولٰئِكَ لَهُمُ الأَمنُ وَهُم مُهتَدونَ

Breaking News: Fareed Zakaria discovers a New, Fully Formed "International Statesman"

Breaking News: Fareed Zakaria discovers

A New, Fully Formed "International Statesman"

I love GPS. It is a highly educational, very well designed and balanced program with carefully and appropriately selected menu for each version. It is simply fun to watch. No wonder I was taken aback when Netanyahu is honored as an "International Statesman". Does he not remind you about Mahmood Ahmedinijad in his speeches, outlook and approach. Mind you, we are not discussing the State of Israel; we are talking about its present leader. He has a very myopic view in his dealings outside Israeli borders, an antithesis of international approach and does not hesitate to act as a cheap politician, completely contrary and insulting to a statesman.

Myopic, because he regards Israel not only as the center of our world but the only respectable part of the the planet worth considering. He is extremely ungrateful: First, he knows that he owes his present position to the strong support of the international community in 1949, yet he persistently and regularly treats international opinion with disdain forcing USA to compete with Russia and China in the use of veto in the security council. Second, he enjoys total and across the board support of our country as our "most important ally" yet when our President advises him to stop expanding the obviously illegal settlements, he unabashedly turns against him personally and cleverly uses our partisan divide for this purpose. Only a dirty politician will declare two days before election that there will not be a Palestinian state under his watch and then have the temerity to twist around it the very next day. Finally, Fareed he has used his present position to govern Israel as a tyrannical occupying force for a large part of its population.

Senator John McCain, do not let your emotions against President Obama insult your Intelligence and Character

Senator John McCain

Do not let your Emotions against President Obama

Insult your Intelligence and Character

Calling a President of a sovereign country - a powerful adversary - as "rogue dictator" and "a thug and a bully" (between you and me, I do agree with these epithets) in the street would be regarded as a juvenile rant. However to hear this on the floor of Senate of the most powerful democracy by a senior, seasoned and respectable politician betrays total lack of political insight and propriety. It can be even characterized as reckless and irresponsible and rather disgraceful for once Presidential aspirant and his country.

Which Hijab? The Original of the Ninth Century or the Modern of Late Twentieth Century or Neither

Which Hijab? The Original of the Ninth Century

Or the Modern of Late Twentieth Century

Or Neither

This article http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/the-hijab-fashion-industry-its-place-in-islam/ …is suggested by Dr. Bilal Philip on the Twitter with a question: "Can both Hijab and fashion have a place in Islam?" "We don't need to resort to Hijaab Fashion Posts to look beautiful" is well written and informative paper. However it raises some questions and comments.

It is not very clear what is meant by "Hijab". Is she referring to the original Hijab
recommended unanimously by all the Four Schools of Jurisprudence of Sunni Islam. According to the eminent scholar Maulana Mufti Mohammed Shafi in his classical exegesis Ma'aariful Quran this hijab starts with segregation of the genders. Women to stay in and take command of the house and home. If they have urgent reason to step out then they must cover themselves from head to toe in long, flowing loose garment; preferably only one eye should be exposed. Imam Abu Hanifa considers covering the face as optional; later Hanafia scholars called it optional but recommended. The other three schools regard the veil as compulsory. This original description of Hijab has been eroded in bits and pieces over the centuries till its final metamorphosis in the late twentieth century. This modern "hijab" refers only to a headscarf. Nothing else is required. A girl in skinny jeans and a short shirt is regarded as "hijabi" if she has a scarf on her head. I wonder if the article by Ms. Sana Gul is referring to this modern "hijab" which in my humble opinion has no basis in Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh). It is mainly a geo-political phenomenon of the 1970's as a way of self-profiling to distinguish"us" from "them" - West, Americans etc. The media is very eager to show these "Muslim nuns" on the screen whenever it needs to depict Islam. It is a product of and propelled by the very justifiable sentiments of the Muslim Ummah against the territorial and now cultural and economic colonialism of the West.

I would agree it is difficult to reconcile fashion with both these types of hijab. But hijab is not a dress code. It is not about a chador or a headscarf. The hijab as designed by our Shari'ah demands a certain level of modesty, decency and shyness in our dress, behaviour and movement. The details depend on the time, location, occasion and the audience. Ms. Sana states "Isn’t it actually pulling us away from the basic message of hijab, which is covering ourselves in a way that is not attracting attention?" In this day and age a burqua or headscarf positively attracts attention. Anyhow that is besides the point. The basic message of our Shari'ah is clear: Do Not look suggestive, seductive or erotic as this leads to "fitna". As far as I can see our Shari'ah has no problem if our sisters, wives and daughters look pretty and attractive and behave gracefully.

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