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Compiled by: Azeem Ayub |
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The Ailment of Self-Righteousness
Humility is the key to scholarship and self-righteousness is perhaps the greatest impediment to it. In the study of religion, contemporary Muslims scholars have generally adopted the latter approach. It is the opinion of this writer that this approach has contributed significantly in promoting sectarianism and dogmatism.
A student admitted to a conventional Madrasah is indoctrinated with the notion of self-righteousness throughout the years he studies there. From the very first day, he is labeled as an orthodox follower of a particular sect. His destiny seems to be carved out beforehand as one of a devout denouncer of every other sect and an ardent acclaimer of his own. He is made to believe that only his brand of beliefs is in direct conformity with the Qur’ān and Sunnah. An inference attributed to a highly revered scholar of his sect stands supreme till the Day of Judgement. That it can be challenged by cannot be dared thought of.
The time has come to realize how wrong this attitude is. As Muslims, we must understand that self-righteousness is actually a declaration of the infallibility of human intellect. Obviously, no human being can make such a claim. So if Muslim scholars want to become men of scholarship and erudition, they must abandon this approach. They should instead reflect, deliberate and then humbly submit their inferences to criticism. They must always think that the religious opinions they present are not the last word.
No scholar can ever be totally sure that he has stumbled upon the final truth in matters that require interpretation of the scripture. So he must be keep his eyes and ears open and his intellect tuned to change for the better.
Author: Shehzad Saleem
Topic URL: http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=405
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Reflections |
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Debate & Discuss * Discussion Forum: Understanding the Sunnah | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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* General Discussion Forum: Namaz
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Read and Reflect |
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The Signs and Events of the Day of Judgement
Author Javed Ahmad Ghamidi (Tr. by Shehzad Saleem)
The Signs
When will the Day of Judgement come? The Qur’ān has made it clear that no one except God has knowledge of this. Only He knows when it will come and He has not disclosed this matter even to any of His prophets and angels (7:187, 20:15, 41:47). However, the signs and portents which will signal its advent are mentioned in the Qur’ān and the Hadīth and also in previous divine scriptures. Some of these signs are very general and others are in the form of specific incidents and happenings. The signs of this first category are not mentioned in the Qur’ān. Only the Hadīth literature mentions them. Of the signs of the second category too, only one is mentioned in the Qur’ān: the onslaught of Gog and Magog. Therefore, this only is the certain sign. Other signs which are generally known in this regard are found in narratives which the scholars of Hadīth technically regard as sahih. Some of these signs have already manifested themselves and others, if their ascription towards the Prophet (sws) is correct, shall definitely manifest themselves in future.
The signs of the first category relate to the moral degradation that will appear in the whole world before the Day of Judgement. Thus it is reported that knowledge will be lifted, ignorance will increase, fornication, drinking and killings and lootings would become rampant so much so that innocent people would be killed; women will outnumber men to the extent that the affairs of fifty women will be entrusted to one man; only evil people will exist in this world and it will become devoid of people who take God’s name. 1
Of the signs of the second category, the most important is the onslaught of Gog and Magog. The Qur’ān says:
حَتَّى إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنسِلُونَ وَاقْتَرَبَ الْوَعْدُ الْحَقُّ فَإِذَا هِيَ شَاخِصَةٌ أَبْصَارُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا قَدْ كُنَّا فِي غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَذَا بَلْ كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ (٢١: ٩٦-٩٧ )Until the time arrives that Gog and Magog are let loose and they launch an onslaught from every hill and the certain promise of the Day of Judgement nears its fulfillment then behold that the disbelievers shall stare in amazement; At that time, they will say: “Woe betide us! We remained indifferent to it; in fact, we have wronged our souls.” (21:96-97)
Gog and Magog are from the descendents of Noah’s son Japeth who inhabited the northern areas of Asia. Later, some of their tribes reached Europe and after that settled in America and Australia. In the book of Ezekiel, they are called the leaders of Russia, Moscow and Tobalsac (Rush, Meshech and Tubal are present day Russia, Moscow and Tubalsac):
The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him. (Ezekiel, 38:1-2)
Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north. (Ezekiel, 39:1-2)
Read URL: http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=712
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Course Forums: Understanding the Sunnah
Topic: Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (sws)
Lofty If people of pre-arabia can corrupt the Sunnah of Prophet Abraham (as mentioned in module 1 course notes), what guarantee do we have that Muslims will not or have not corrupted the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad?
mariam_78 I do not know if I am knowledgeable enough to help you answering this question but I think to avoid from being led astray from the straight path it is very important to check the sources of to where we get our knowledge from. And also look at the chain of people who narrated the hadith or sunnah of nabi (saw)
Insha'Allah if what I said is correct it is from Allah t'ala and whatever is wrong it is from me
Lofty I am afraid that does not answer my Question Mariam. May be question was not so clear. It is clear from the course notes that people of pre-Islamic era had corrupted the Sunnah of Prophet Abraham. Prophet Muhammad only revived the Sunnah of Abraham, after some addition and deletion. Who is going to revive the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad if Muslims distort it, and what guarantee do we have that Muslims have not or will not corrupt it just like pagans. I was hoping Mr. Tariq Hashmi will answer my questions on course forums. No body seems interested in course forums either any more.
Tariq Hashmi (Moderator) Sorry for not responding to the questions earlier. I did not notice that there were posts which need my attention. Please excuse me.
Ibrahimblicksjo We can never be guaranteed that the books or collection of ahadeeth has been tampered with, or that someone tells lies about what Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) have said or done. Allah has promised to protect the Holy Qur'an and no the ahadeeth. BUT since Allah protects the Qur'an we are helped. When 'Aisha (raa) mother of the believers, was asked about the character of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) she answered that he was a walking (living) Qur'an. So in view of this, if any act of Sunna that you read about goes against the Qur'an, then leave it. About the ahadeeth, that is a whole since in itself. I suggest you stick to the Seven sahihs and take the course on haddeth at this website and you will see what I mean about the "science" part.
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General Discussion Forum
Topic: Namaz
Nuttynum I would like to now if we can read small namaz, meaning can we shorten it. If we can, wot can we read. Also when reading kiza namaz can we read kiza namaz with any namaz.
Also do we have to wake up for sehri, when we are keeping a fast? I would really appreciate it if my questions are answered.
Tweety You can shorten your namaz by praying fard and leaving out the Sunnah if you have to but if your outside a radius of 40miles**different opinions about distance and time but its more about how convenient it is for you really** from your home then u can do qasar **in a journey**
and you can pray
kaza salah if u have missed it but try not 2 make it a habit
oh and you don’t have to wake up 4 serhi...sumtyms i can’t be bothered either but the prophet (saw) encouraged sahur and sed thers a blessing in it- medically and spiritually advised
Jhangeer Hanif (Moderator) If any Salah has been missed for some reason, it must be offered and we should also seek forgiveness from Allah.
It is better that we say the missed prayer first and then go on to offer the other Salah.
xxbasxx yeah thats what I do, if I have been a daft nut and prayed Asr after the Maghrib Azaan, I pray Asr before Maghrib. This isn't happening to regularly Alhamdullillah.
Loveall What are the explanations of the followings?
1. Salahtal wusta [Middle Salah (Namaz)]- Al-Quran.
2. La Salahta illa be hazooril qalab [No Salah (Namaz) without present heart]- Hadith
oosman So what happens if a Muslim intentionally does not do salat (namaz)? Does he/she get punished for it?
Ibrahim (Moderator) Here are the answers of your Questions according to my little knowledge:
1. Surely the literal meaning of "Salaat ul Wusta" is Middle Prayer (Namaz) & "Asar" Prayer is The "Salaat ul Wusta" as it Comes in the MIDDLE of the Day & Work.
2. the Hadith "La Salahta illa be hazooril qalab [No Salah (Namaz) without present heart]" means that One should try to be attentive TOWARDS Allah in one's prayer as Much as Possible.
and
Dear Brother
OOSMAN
I hope this Helps
Topic URL : http://www.studying-islam.org/forum/topic.aspx?topicid=1100&lang=&forumid=1
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Pause
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Question: My problem is that I feel hopeless all the time not just because I think too much but because whatever happens to me is against my will. It is okay if it happens once or twice but it seems to happen chronically. My second question is that I am not good in communication also. I want to become assertive but I think my fate doesn’t help me with this as well. Answer: As long as the wheel of life is destined to move on, problems and difficulties will keep popping up. The Almighty has sent us in this world in order to test and try us. The nature of this trial of life varies from person to person. Some people are placed in difficult times and others in prosperous ones, according to the just and wise scheme of the Almighty. The underlying objective, however, remains to test them which one of them is good in deeds. So, the befitting attitude is to submit to the scheme of Allah because it will lead us to the Garden of Paradise. The benefit, we shall reap, in this world because of this submission, is to be contented and satisfied. Try as hard as we may, we cannot undo whatever Allah has willed for us. However, if we learn to see our happiness in the failures that He has willed for us it will not only earn us entitlement to Paradise but also give us a contented heart.
The second question must also be understood in the perspective of the explanation delineated above. Allah has created people of varying skills and capabilities. Some people are awarded the ability of articulation as good as to become immortal orators and some are deprived of the very ability of speaking. While the former group of people is supposed to prostrate themselves in gratitude, the latter group is required to prostrate themselves in submission to God’s will. I think it is rather difficult to be a good Muslim when you are engulfed by God-gifted talents and skills. Our misery and deprivation remind us of Allah and help us to be closest to Him. So the deficiency that you have related is not to be feared. Moses (sws), the great Prophet of Allah, had problems with communicating the message of Allah to the people. What he did is that he prayed very sincerely to the Lord to compensate for the lack of it:
O Lord, relieve my mind, and
ease my task for me and loose the knot from my tongue that they may understand
my saying. (20:25-8) wassalam
Jhangeer Hanif
URL: http://www.studying-islam.org/querytext.aspx?id=912
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