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In the Name of Allah, |
Self Purification and the Forgotten Ideal
It was the time of the
beginning of the freshman class. Students were rushing to their classrooms
anticipating their ideals to be realized. Kim was one of them. Eyes brimming
with intellect, he was walking with both enthusiasm and calmness. Some
fifteen to twenty students had already gathered in the class, when he
entered the room. The teacher cast a quick glance at him and waved his head
to take his seat.
‘Before we commence our
proceedings, I think we should be very clear in our mind where we are heading.
Let’s begin with the ideals. What are your ideals in life?’, the teacher grasped
the attention of the class with an important question. ‘I want to be a great
engineer’, one student rose and uttered his intentions. ‘That’s very ambitious
of you, sir. Ok! Keep it up’, said the teacher. ‘I want to be Bill Gates, your
majesty!’, another student unfolded his plans in a rather over ambitious
fashion. ‘But then I will not be the Majesty, rather it will be you, man’, the
teacher made it clear. ‘I will work for the supremacy of Islam’, said one
excited pupil with great vehemence. ‘Hey, that’s great’, said the teacher
sparkling with delight and not being able to control his emotions. ‘I want to be
a great leader of my country’, said another one with great determination.
‘Self-purification! This is my ideal, sir’, said Kim in rather composed voice.
‘What do you mean my dear?
Self-purification? This can’t be end in itself’, asked the teacher. For him, Kim
had said something incomprehensible.
For the common readers, the
discourse above may seem to be a strange one. Like the honourable teacher, who
failed to understand self-purification as an ideal in itself, many of us in our
society and the Muslim world do not accept it as the real objective of our life.
For a common man, either it is a minor goal of one’s life or it is something not
to be striven for. It is the goal of a saint or some super-natural being who can
afford to tread this near-to-impossible path. But if one has the courage to know
the truth, it is the brightest of the truths revealed by God. The true message
of Islam rests on this pillar. It was this pearl that was desired and cherished
by all the Divine messengers. Be it the Jesus (sws) or Muhammad (sws), all these
great people stressed on achieving self-purification. With the fall of Muslim Empire and after losing the glory that we enjoyed for nearly thousand years, we lost this golden principle as well and thereby diverted our attention from ourselves. We started concentrating on others to mend their ways instead of ameliorating ourselves. Instead of letting people come up as natural leaders, we attempted to make them leaders of need -- because for us, the only area to work for was the supremacy of Islam, as is very aptly epitomised by an expressive poet of the modern era:
Mayrī zindagī kā maqsad, tayray dīn kī sarfarāzī Mayn isī liyayn musalman, mayn isī liyayn namāzī
(The supremacy of Islam is the
objective of my life; I am a Muslim only for this purpose and pray only to
achieve this goal) But a careful thought on the message of the Holy Book will bring to light a fascinating feature of our lives. Self-purification is the most soul-satisfying, soul-embellishing of the processes that we can master. To cleanse our souls from the filth we encounter, off and on, is not something specific to extraordinary people. It is an art if we happen to understand it from within. It is not the kind of a thing that is achieved in a day; only those can experience it who start their journey towards it and who do not waste time in searching for some mentor to help. And as you gain strength during this very journey, you feel that something foul had been poured over you. And then you can’t be carried away by undesirable acts so easily. A blaming-self monitors you and warns you perpetually to be away from the path to perversion. A stage comes as you traverse further when you find yourself a great artist who adorns his masterpiece with final touches. But here he is the masterpiece himself. Despite the force of this great truth, the mist of ideas that have been spread over centuries is something very difficult to argue with. Today looking towards our inner selves with a view to reform it is considered to be an act of sheer selfishness. It is deemed against the message of Islam. But as one great eastern poet has said:
Ik tarzi taghāful hay, so woh un ko mubārak Ik ‘ardi tamanā hay, so ham kartay rahayn gay
(If they have the power to refuse
us, we have the courage to continue) But, at the same time, we can’t help a serious thought enkindling in our heart, a worry that we feel for those who vociferously advocate the supremacy of Islam as the real destination of our lives: What would happen if the Almighty asks the question on the Day of Reckoning : ‘What was your ideal in life ?’
URL: http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=499
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Read & Reflect
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The Directives of Fasting Author: Javed Ahmad Ghamidi
Tr. by Shehzad Saleem يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (٢: ١٨٣-١٨٥)
Believers! Fasting has been made for you as it was made for
those before you so that you become fearful of God. These are but a few days,
but if any one among you is ill or on a journey, let him fast a similar number
of days later; and those who have the capacity [to feed a needy] should feed a
needy in place of it. Then he who does a virtuous deed of his own accord, it is
better for him and if you fast, then this is even better for you if you but
knew. It is the month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed, as a book of
guidance for mankind and in the form of manifest arguments which are a means of
total guidance and a means of distinguishing right from wrong. Therefore,
whoever among you is present in this month, he should fast. And he who is ill or
on a journey should fast a similar number of days later on. [This leniency is
because] God desires ease for you and not discomfort. And [the permission given
to travelers and the sick to feed the needy has been withdrawn because] you can
complete the fasts [and thus not be deprived of the blessings of fasting] and
[for this purpose the month of Ramadan has been fixed so that in the form of the
Qur’an] the guidance God has bestowed to you, you glorify God and express your
gratitude to Him. (2:183-185)
In these verses, the Almighty has
directed Muslims to fast in accordance with the shari‘ah which has always
existed regarding the fast in the religions of the Prophets. The Qur’an has
stated that the fast has been made obligatory for the Muslims in the same manner
as it was made obligatory for earlier peoples. A few number of days have been
fixed for this ritual. This last statement is meant to raise the spirits. The
implication being that if the blessings of Ramadan are kept in consideration,
then 29 days or 30 days are not a long period; they are a relatively short
period and a person instead of becoming anxious should make himself ready to
fully reap their benefits. After these introductory statements, the real directive is mentioned. It is said that people who are unable to fast because of illness or travel should make up their missed fasts by either fasting later or by feeding a poor person. This directive ends with the words: فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (Then he who does a virtuous deed of his own accord, it is better for him and if you fast then this is even better for you, if you but knew it). In other words, this atonement for not fasting is a minimum requirement which should be fulfilled. However, if a person feeds more than one needy person or does some other virtuous deed as well, then this will prove better for him. And to Allah even better is that a person instead of feeding others makes up the missed fasts in other days.However, the very next verse beginning with the words شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ shows that the permission to feed a needy for a missed fast was later revoked. Consequently, the whole directive has been repeated after this verse while omitting the words beginning with وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ and ending with إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ. Since it is difficult to fast in days other than Ramadan, the Almighty did not make it incumbent until people got used to it. Hence, it has been said in the Qur’an that feeding the needy for missed fasts has been revoked so that people could keep their missed fasts and are thus not deprived of the blessings hidden in them.
This then is the real directive
of the fast. It seems that after receiving this law, certain questions arose in
the minds of the Muslims. One of these questions related to having sexual
intercourse with the wife in the nights of the Ramadan. This notion probably
originated because among the Jews, the next fast would start right after one had
broken his fast and they would consider eating and drinking and having sexual
intercourse with the wife as prohibited. Muslims thought that they too would
have to follow the Jews in this matter. However, some Muslims in spite of
thinking so deviated from the view they held. This was something unseemly
because if a person considers something to be a requisite of religion and still
does not act according to it regardless of the fact that it is actually a
requisite or not, then this is not permissible to him. The Qur’an has called
this attitude as deceiving one’s conscience and has clarified: أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَى نِسَآئِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ عَلِمَ اللّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ فَالآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُواْ مَا كَتَبَ اللّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ الصِّيَامَ إِلَى الَّليْلِ وَلاَ تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللّهِ فَلاَ تَقْرَبُوهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّهُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ (١٨٧:٢) It is now lawful for you to lie with your wives on the night of the fast; they are apparel to you as you are to them. God knew that you were deceiving yourselves. He has relented towards you and pardoned you. Therefore, [without any hesitation] you may now lie with them and [without any hesitation] seek what God has ordained for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of the dawn is totally evident to you from the black thread of night. Then complete the fast till nightfall and do not lie with them [even at night] when you are stationed for i‘tikaf in the mosques. These are the bounds set by God: do not approach them. Thus He makes known His revelations to mankind that they may attain righteousness. (2:187)
After this clarification made by
the Qur’an, the statutes on which the law of the fast and the i‘tikaf are based
are as follows:
1. The fast is abstention from
eating and drinking and from having sexual intercourse with the wife with the
intention that a person is going to fast.
2. This abstention is from fajr
to nightfall; hence eating and drinking and having sexual intercourse with the
wife during the night is permitted.
3. The month of Ramadan has been
fixed for fasting; hence it is obligatory for every person who is present in
this month to fast.
4. If owing to sickness, travel
or any other compelling reason a person is not able to keep all the fasts of
Ramadan, it is incumbent upon him to make up for this in other months by keeping
equal number of the fasts missed.
5. The pinnacle of the fast is
the i‘tikaf. If a person is given this opportunity by God, he should seclude
himself from the world for as many days as he can in a mosque to worship the
Almighty and he should not leave the mosque except because of some compelling
human need. 6. During i‘tikaf, a person is permitted to eat and drink during the night but he cannot have sexual intercourse with his wife. This has been prohibited by the Almighty.
For more URL : http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=90
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I would like to know if dowry needs to be paid in full before marriage or it can be settled after marriage. Student Affairs Depends what the bride wants, because it's a gift to her from the groom. However it should have been offered by the groom and the amount clearly mentioned and documented at the time of the nikah/marriage contract because it has been described as an obligation of the marriage contract in Qur'an; (the purpose of the dowry is to represent the importance and seriousness of this life time contract) saba2 What about the dowry system in Indo Pak sub-continent? The girl's family provides the boy with everything which they can afford starting from crockery to furniture car house etc. Isn't this practice un Islamic? ibrahim Sister, of course this is un Islamic but unfortunately we've to live with it and have to tackle this issue very wisely. It must be clear that Dowry (Mahr) is something else and as has been described above that it's an obligatory thing. It's not compulsory to be paid in full before marriage but as said earlier it must be settled before Nikah ceremony. However, at any time, wife can leave it partially or fully by her own will or she can return it as much as she wants to if she has already received it. faysal99 I have my concern on "Mahr". When religion binds men to be fully responsible for "Economics" after marriage bond, it is obvious in this directive, that, women rule in economics or financial matters of society is limited or Non-existent. And men are the sole runner of finance or economics. The trend has changed now in modern times. Women have now equal opportunities not only for technical education (which lead to highly money oriented Professions) but are also occupying hundred of thousands jobs, replacing men. Earning opportunities have scared for men and it is resulting delayed marriages and other imbalances in society. Therefore Under such conditions, it is not justified to ask men for "Mahr" or to declare them to be Wholly responsible for Financial matters after marriage. saba2 Faysal your concern is justified, women have started working and getting good education and doing better than boys sometimes, but how many get there? Very few and how many actually work even fewer. The point is the Mahr which has to be paid to the girl in our society is not paid in most cases ever it is a ritual that it is written in our Nikahnama but in practices how many men actually pay it? Then there is the stipulation that women can take it in installments or leave it, or as pointed out even return it. I think it is an obligation for men to take their responsibility seriously and understand what marriage means. ibrahim Dear faysal, besides that please also note that despite all these changes that you've mentioned and as correctly described by Saba that by percentage such cases are still in minority. The real point that must be appreciated by all Islamic social laws is that Islam wants strong base of a Family Units. That's why by asking man to take the financial responsibilities Allah has given him a leading role in the family and has told us that what must be the roles of the husbands & wife's in the society.
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General
Discussion Forum
saba2 In Pakistan we live in constant fear, violence is on the rise intolerance and isolation of factions is leading to more and more to misunderstanding. Is this going to be our legacy to our children? Will they be always looking over their shoulder? Why cant we talk to each other accept each others' point of view, can all people come together express their point of view without fear on this forum.
My first question Pakistan was created for Muslims to practice Islam and live without fear. Whose version of Islam? and are we living without fear?
aboosait quote: ..........Whose version of Islam?.........
Of course the version of the
One who named us Muslims. وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاء عَلَى النَّاسِ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَى وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ
And strive in His
cause as ye ought to strive, (with sincerity and under discipline).
"Why cant we talk to each
other accept each others' point of view, can all people come together express
their point of view without fear on this forum."
Thank you for the
warm welcome Hina.
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The Status of the Taravih Prayer Posted on: Sunday, September 16, 2009
Answer:
To the less-informed
Muslims, Tarāvīh prayer is additional, almost obligatory prayer prescribed
specially for the holy month of Ramadān. Anybody who does not say them in
congregation, it is generally believed, loses a good share of the Ramadān’s
blessings. As a result, Muslims throng the mosques for the Ishā’ prayer and make
sure that they manage to endure twenty additional rak‘ah every night. The Huffāz,
however, gifted with the extraordinary ability of briskly uttering the Message
of God in the most incomprehensible manner, squeeze long passages into as short
duration as possible. Completing the recitation of the Holy Book at least once
during these prayer is also considered an important part of this formality,
making the Huffāz a highly sought-after group as the Ramadān approaches near.
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Nazi'aat, Surah Abas, Surah Takweer, Surah Infitar, Surah Mutaffifin, Surah
Inshiqaq, Surah Buruj, Surah Tariq, Surah A'laa and Surah Ghashiyah, we have
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