By Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif
Allah says in the Quran, "Thus we have made of you an ummah justly balanced,
that you might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness
over you. (HQ 2:143) The Prophet (saaw) reportedly said, "Beware
of excessiveness in religion before you have perished as a result of such
excessiveness in religion. (Reported by Ahmad). Allah states in the
Quran that He, "Intends every facility for you; He does not want to put
you in difficulties". (HQ 2:185)
"Religion," the Prophet is reported to have said, "is very easy, and
whoever overburdens himself will not be able to continue in that way. Be
right (without excessiveness or negligence), near perfection, and have
good timing (in being rewarded for your egular deeds)."(Bukhari) The people
of the Book were warned: " O people of the Book, commit no excesses in
your religion, nor say of Allah anything but the Truth...." 4:171.
He warns the Muslims likewise: " O' you who believe! Make not unlawful
the good things, which Allah has made lawful for you, and commit no excess;
for Allah loves not those given to excess. (HQ 5:87) Until recently Muslims
in America have been spared much of the tradition-bound and sectarian division
that have led to violent oppression and fratricidal warfare among various
Muslim proponents, leading often to mutual slaughter, "In the Name of Allah."
DISTORTIONS OF AHADITH
Allah forbid that they should invoke His Name or the name of the Prophet
as "partners" in their mutual disputes and violence. These are "inventions
against Allah's Name." Just as the early pagans and their partners acted,
making "alluring the slaughter of their children in order to lead them
to their own destruction and cause confusion in their religion." Allah
warned them that "He will requite them for their 'invention." (HQ: 5:137-8)
Unfortunately this "traditional baggage" has now entered into the ethos
of the Islamic growth in America, where we find innocent Muslims being
caught up in the negligence and excesses of the worldwide 'Ummah" following
them in their schisms, ranging from claims of "sacred" cultural mores to
disputes of the interpretation of the Sunnah (and ahadith) of the Prophet
(saaw), to claims of the supremacy of ahadith over the Quran. Allah, Forbid!
Then we now have claims of supremacy of one
"School of Thought" over the others. And again claims of supremacy
of one community over the other in the knowledge of Quran and Sunnah.
How are we caught up in this? Allah forbid. We fear that we stand in great
danger of going the way of societies before us unless we pause and take
heed to Allah's command: "hold fast all together, by the rope which
Allah stretches to you, and be not divided among yourselves... (HQ
3:103) Allah has warned: "And obey and His Messenger; and fall not into
disputes, lest you lose heart and your power depart..." (HQ 8:47) Allah
warns in another Ayah: "(their doom is) because Allah sent down the Book
in truth but those who seek cause of dispute in the Book are in schism,
far (from the purpose). (HQ 2:176). As He said of the People of the Book:
"there is among them a section who distort the book with their tongues.
You think that it is a part of the book, but it is no part of the book,
and they say, "This is from Allah, but it is not from Allah. It is
they who tell a lie against Allah." (HQ 3:48) (see next page)
MUSLIMS IN AMERICA
Should not Muslims in America reflect upon the relevant examples in
the Quran? Why should Muslims in America take on the historic and manifest
failures of the ummah, following their manifestations of divisions and
disputations over this or that fatwah, this or that purported hadith, in
contradistinction of another? Muslim opponents have taken delight in this
and have come to mock the Muslims in America and elsewhere for these circus-like
conflicts. Should Muslim in America become partisans to these conflicts
between proponent of the so-called schools of thought, or to the Sunni/Shii
disputes (and more recently, Allah forbid: Sunnah v. Quran conflicts. When
these parties are question about their circus-like tendencies and the exaltation
of traditions canonized by their fathers, they retort to reckless slander:
charging
that the people who question them do not believe in the Sunnah. At
the other extreme there are those who reject, out of hand, the Quranically
confirmed traditions of the Prophet (saaw) (i.e. where the sayings and
actions of the Prophet are underpinned by an overriding principle that
has been, beforehand, clearly established in the Quran---an example
being Salat. Thus we should be careful not fall in the trap laid
by the evil seducer, Shaitan, himself, who "whispers, then withdraws--then
comes later as an arbitrator to settle the disputes with cunning and flowery
speech. Let us not be deceived, nor think that we can out-flank Shaitan
while indulging in the schisms he sets up. Allah says that Shaitan "and
his tribe watches you from a position where you cannot see them..." (7:27)
Cannot we see that these forged disputes are an attempt to move the innocent
Muslim away from his commitment to take in the orphan, to feed the poor,
to clothe the naked, to feed the homeless, and to build a balanced community?
His "religion" has thus become one of riticizing and attacking Muslims
with whom he differs, often on insignificant issues.
Unfortunately from these individual differences, exploited as such,
grows the seeds of sectarianism and shirk, followed by fitnah (subversion
and rebellion). This is shameful, indeed! "HE HAS NO PARTNERS" Let us beware:
Remember those before us who took idols, angels, and even prophets, making
them partners with Allah and equal in the Godhead. They began to
mention their names at every mention of the Name of Allah. "When Allah
the One and Only is mentioned the hearts of those who believe not in the
Hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; but when (gods) other than
He are mentioned behold they are filled with joy!" (HQ 39:45) Think of
the case of Issa, saaw) They began by declaring stories (ahadith) written
about him, such as the 'New Testament by Mark, Luke, John and Paul) to
be Divine, or in fact the
Injil (Revelation) itself. Gradually, over time, they began to
include Issa as a co-equal with Allah Himself. They have thrown the Injil
behind their backs just as they threw the Torah behind their backs. Allah,
however, has cleared His Prophet Issa (saaw) of any such charge. May Allah
be praised forever! He distinguishes His Revelation from all else. He is
One. His Revelation is One. He is Allah. None is like Him. No partners,
No associates. Muslims in America must be aware of the "baggage" of extremism
exported to North America as legitimate Sunnah and fiqh. This "baggage"
is propagated by zealots (innocent and otherwise) who insistently accuse
others of "bid'ah" (innovation in religion), wantonness, unbelief and deviation.
They are known to claim piety for themselves, exalt the Sunnah over the
Quran and engageothers in endless arguments.
HAIR SPLITTING
Imam al Nawawi reported that the Prophet (saaw) repeated three times:
"Ruined are the people who indulged in hair-splitting. Thus it is important
to identify the mode operandi of these mercenaries because of the harm
they bring to the innocent Muslims in America. We find that they make a
grandiose show of their recital of selected ahadith in
Arabic; often diaf (weak) or highly contextual in time and circumstance.
Their display of their "erudition" is supposed to confirm their "hikma"
(wisdom or implied piety) in the Deen Al-Islam). Yet Sincerity lies in
the heart and breast. They make an impressive show of embellishing
their arguments with Arabic, particularly to the new Muslims who understand
little more than As-Salaam-Alaikum and Al-Faatihah. Yes, it IS time for
the (balanced) Muslim communities to
put a stop to the purveyors of deliberate confusion and disunity. Please
note: In no way does this imply that learning to read and recite the Quran
in Arabic is not essential to the deeper understanding and practice of
our Deen. IT IS, and Muslims must strive to acquit themselves, especially
in the study of Quranic arabic. No excuse, however, can be given
to those whose intent is to obfuscate. (HQ: 3:78)
WHAT MUST BE DONE?
What then must be done? How may we express our differences? How do we
correct a wrong? We take note here of the utter abuse and misapplication
of the reported Hadith of the Prophet (saaw) i.e.: to
correct a wrong with your hand, your heart or your tongue. Often lacking
adequate knowledge, we tear into others with the belief that our
particular perspective or rendering of an issue, ritual, or interpretation
of Hadith or Quran is unquestionably right or authentic. This crude
approach often masks, or excuses an aggressive, ill-reasoned action or
response to something we differ about that has long been in question, even
at the highest levels of the scholarly ummah over the centuries. Another
over-worked hadith is that the scholar is "worth more than a thousand ignorant
worshippers." In most cases it is exalted by those whose scholarship
has become the end goal, rather than the means.
SCHOLARSHIP/DIALOGUE
It (scholarship) has become the objective, and not for the pleasure
of Allah. Allah is no longer the goal of such pursuers, but sophistic scholarship
is! Thus we have fallen into disputes of the so-called "learned": like
that of Western Philosophers, i.e.: "How many angels can sit on the head
of a pin?" These "extremes,'" among the literate and the illiterate becomes
a perverse "religion". Yet they understand not. Allah knows best: whenever
we begin to exalt anything as equal to Him or His Words (Guarded Revelations),
then we are truly gravitating toward Shirk. Let us consider the advice
found on page 428 of the Encyclopedia of Seerah, (vol. 6) The author writes:
"If there is any difference of opinion, it cannot be on the Truth of the
Quran and its Message, which is one and the same for all time. If there
is a difference among Muslims, it can only be in their imperfect understanding
of the Quran and its Message; but if this difference of opinion is within
limits of acceptable interpretations, it is not bad nor evil, nor is it
dangerous
or injurious to the collective. If however, people go beyond the acceptable
limits and start arguing on a
political, sectarian, or sophistic basis (for argument sake)then there
is no cure for such disputes and wrongdoing.
THE WAY OF THE COMPANIONS
The different opinions of the companions of the Prophets, were of the
former (above). This type of difference is called a mercy. But if these
differences or details are considered as al-din (compulsory) and made the
means of dispute between different sections of people, then even this type
of difference becomes condemned. Truth is only the Quran and people's opinions
are only opinions, and as such may be right or wrong. According to
Ibn Kathir, Allah's Prophet disliked these things: first, unnecessary disputes
and arguments, questioning and inquiring without any need, and wastage
off wealth." Having grown weak from disputes, many Muslims have lost their
sense of purpose in bringing glad tidings to the believers and warning
the rulers and citizens of the land, both yesterday and today. They are
content to rail, and mock, becoming obsessed with simply calling others
"Kafur." They exhibit little evidence of dawah, such as feeding the poor,
or working collectively with any Muslim community to establish a good life
in society. Rather they are bent upon trying to "convert" the
converted. They demonstrate a lack of Iman by raising doubts of others.
Could this be hypocrisy, in disguise? Could this be subversion, in disguise?
Allah Knows. Muslims are obligated to warn and to argue in the best manner,
i.e.: (words, manners, and conduct). Furthermore Muslims are obligated
to call for justice, for the release of the slave, for the feeding
of the hungry, for the housing of the homeless and for the sharing of wealth.,The
Muslims must warn against Riba, against arrogance, against mis-education,
against waste and lack of economic productivity. Cannot
we hear? Cannot we understand? Do we not know that we have Watchers
over our souls?
Masjidush-Shura
3109 MLK Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032
(202) 574-8417 e-mail:gkashif@salaam.net