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Muslim Degeneration and its Only Remedy
by Maulana Ihtishamul Hasan Kaandhlawi
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلوة السلام على سيد الأولين والآخرين خاتم الأنبياء والمرسلين محمد وآله وأصحابه الطيبين الطاهرين
by Maulana Ihtishamul Hasan Kaandhlawi
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلوة السلام على سيد الأولين والآخرين خاتم الأنبياء والمرسلين محمد وآله وأصحابه الطيبين الطاهرين
Past History:
About fourteen centuries ago, when the world was sunk in the darkness of ignorance, sin and impiety, a light of true knowledge and guidance rose from the horizon of the rugged hills of Batha.* Its rays spread to the East, West, North and South; they reached every corner of the earth and within the short period of 23 years, the way was paved through that light for the mankind to move to such heights of glory as had never been attained before. It enlightened Muslims and created in them the urge for taking the right counsel, which would ultimately bring them their salvation. By following the right path and the guidance emanating from that light, the Muslims moved from success to success and attained the highest pinnacle of glory in history. For centuries, they ruled on this earth with such grandeur and strength that no contemporary power had the courage to challenge them and, if someone dared to do so, he did that at the risk of being annihilated. This is the historical truth, which cannot be-erased. But, alas! this fact of history has only become a myth, an ancient tale, to narrate which may sound meaningless and ridiculous, particularly in the context of the present day life of Muslims, which obviously is a blot on the brilliant performance and achievements of their ancestors, the early followers of Islam.
*Batha: Name of hills around Makkah
The Disease:
The history, even up to the end of the thirteenth century Hijri, will reveal that the Muslims were the sole possessors of honour, dignity, power and grandeur, but when one turns his eyes away from the pages of the history books and looks at the Muslims of today, one sees the picture of a people sunk in misery and disgrace, a people who possess no real strength or power, honour or dignity, brotherhood or mutual love, and reflects no virtues or moral character worth the name. One cannot find any sign in them of those noble deeds which at one time used to be the symbol of each and every Muslim. Now-a-days, there can hardly be a living person who can be said to have the purity or the sincerity of conscience. On the contrary, Muslims are sunk in vice and sin. They have wandered away so much from the path of virtue which at one time used to be their "hallmark", that the enemies of Islam talk and discuss their affairs with delight, contempt and ridicule. Unfortunately, the matter does not end here. The Muslim youth of the new generation, which has been affected and influenced by the so-called modern trends or the Western way of life, take pleasure in laughing at the very ideals of Islam and openly criticize the sacred code of "Shariat" as being out of date and impracticable. One wonders at such behaviour and finds that a people, who once gave strength, happiness, honour and peace to the entire mankind, have now become completely demoralised, apathetic, shallow and helpless. Those who had once taught the world the golden lessons of etiquette and culture are today found wanting in these very adornments.
Earlier Attempts Towards Improvement:
For a long time, some distinguished thinkers and preachers of Islam have been seriously pondering over this unfortunate plight of their people and have been striving hard to reform the Muslim society, but alas!
About fourteen centuries ago, when the world was sunk in the darkness of ignorance, sin and impiety, a light of true knowledge and guidance rose from the horizon of the rugged hills of Batha.* Its rays spread to the East, West, North and South; they reached every corner of the earth and within the short period of 23 years, the way was paved through that light for the mankind to move to such heights of glory as had never been attained before. It enlightened Muslims and created in them the urge for taking the right counsel, which would ultimately bring them their salvation. By following the right path and the guidance emanating from that light, the Muslims moved from success to success and attained the highest pinnacle of glory in history. For centuries, they ruled on this earth with such grandeur and strength that no contemporary power had the courage to challenge them and, if someone dared to do so, he did that at the risk of being annihilated. This is the historical truth, which cannot be-erased. But, alas! this fact of history has only become a myth, an ancient tale, to narrate which may sound meaningless and ridiculous, particularly in the context of the present day life of Muslims, which obviously is a blot on the brilliant performance and achievements of their ancestors, the early followers of Islam.
*Batha: Name of hills around Makkah
The Disease:
The history, even up to the end of the thirteenth century Hijri, will reveal that the Muslims were the sole possessors of honour, dignity, power and grandeur, but when one turns his eyes away from the pages of the history books and looks at the Muslims of today, one sees the picture of a people sunk in misery and disgrace, a people who possess no real strength or power, honour or dignity, brotherhood or mutual love, and reflects no virtues or moral character worth the name. One cannot find any sign in them of those noble deeds which at one time used to be the symbol of each and every Muslim. Now-a-days, there can hardly be a living person who can be said to have the purity or the sincerity of conscience. On the contrary, Muslims are sunk in vice and sin. They have wandered away so much from the path of virtue which at one time used to be their "hallmark", that the enemies of Islam talk and discuss their affairs with delight, contempt and ridicule. Unfortunately, the matter does not end here. The Muslim youth of the new generation, which has been affected and influenced by the so-called modern trends or the Western way of life, take pleasure in laughing at the very ideals of Islam and openly criticize the sacred code of "Shariat" as being out of date and impracticable. One wonders at such behaviour and finds that a people, who once gave strength, happiness, honour and peace to the entire mankind, have now become completely demoralised, apathetic, shallow and helpless. Those who had once taught the world the golden lessons of etiquette and culture are today found wanting in these very adornments.
Earlier Attempts Towards Improvement:
For a long time, some distinguished thinkers and preachers of Islam have been seriously pondering over this unfortunate plight of their people and have been striving hard to reform the Muslim society, but alas!
مرض بڑھتا گیا جوں جوں دوا کی
(The treatment only aggravated the disease).
(The treatment only aggravated the disease).
The situation is fast deteriorating and the future looks darker still. Inaction and complacency on our part in these circumstances will be an unforgivable sin and crime. But, before deciding what is to be done, it will be necessary to look closely at the root cause of this sad state of affairs.
People have assigned several causes to this degeneration and have adopted numerous measures for arresting the rot, but unfortunately all efforts so far have only brought further frustration. Instead of improvement, despair and confusion have resulted, particularly so in the ranks of learned preachers and "ulema". The basic truth of all this is that the root cause of the real disease has not been diagnosed. Until this is done, no proper treatment can be prescribed or administered, hence no cure or improvement can be expected. Any step lacking proper diagnosis and correct treatment would amount to making a chronic situation more chronic, and further increase confusion and despair.
The Approach:
It is the proven claim of Islam that the "Shariat" is the Divine Code, which lays down a complete way of life outlining every possible measure for advancing and progressing on the path of true success and righteousness. It very clearly describes the proper course of action and indicates methods to check and re-orientate in the event of losing direction or going astray. In other words. "Shariat-e-Muhammadiah" assures its followers their spiritual and material well-being and advancement for their whole life in all situations, right up to the last day of life on this earth. Obviously, therefore, it would be futile to look for the cause and the cure for the prevailing degeneration outside the dictates of "Shariat". For this, of necessity, we must look closely into the "Quran-i-Hakim" which is the fountain source of "Shariat" and of all knowledge and guidance for the whole of mankind. In fact, it is the only source of wisdom for man. We ought to seek its help in finding out what our troubles are and how they are to be removed, if we really desire to attain full recovery. Once we come to know about that, we must cling to the solution and solemnly resolve to adopt it. Certainly, the wisdom and guidance from the "Quran" will never fail us, particularly at the critical juncture and in the difficult times through which we are passing nowadays. Let us look and search for the right solution in the "Quran" and "Sunnah".
The Diagnosis:
The Creator of the universe, Allah Ta'ala, remains avowedly committed that the kingdom and His vicegerency on earth are only meant for the true Muslims (momineen).
This is clear from the following verse:
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الْأَرْضِ
"Allah has promised to those from amongst you who believe and do righteous deeds that He would surely make them His vicegerents on earth." [Surah An-Noor: 55]
وَلَو قَـٰتَلَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوَلَّوُاْ ٱلأَدبَـٰرَ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُونَ وَلِياًّ وَلَا نَصِيرً۬ا
"And if these non-believers had given you a battle, they were sure to turn on their heels, and they would have found no protector and no helper." [Al-Fath: 22]
وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَينَا نَصرُ المُؤمِنِينَ
وَلاَ تَهِنُوا وَلاَ تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
وَلاَ تَهِنُوا وَلاَ تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
"And it is our bounden duty to render succour to the true believers." [Ar-Room: 47]
"And do not give way to despair, and do not grieve, and you only shall dominate, if you are true believers." [Aal-Imran: 139]
"And honour is only for Allah, His Prophet (sallallaho alaihe wasallam) and those who believe." [Al-Munafiqoon: 8]
وَالْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
"And let Time be witness: verily man is in a great loss except, of course, those who believe and do righteous deeds and who rejoin truth and enjoin patience." [Al-'Asr: 1-3]
سيأتي على الناس زمان لا يبقي من الإسلام إلا اسمه، ولا من القرءان إلا رسمه [مشكوة]ـ
"An era will come in the near future when Islam will exist merely in name and Quran will exist merely in phrase." [Mishkat]
- as the right type of faith, which can have the approval of Allah Ta'ala and His Apostle and which will bring us spiritual and material advancement, is not to be seen anywhere, what will be the means of acquiring that true faith; and
- what are the factors which have caused the extinction of that faith, and with it the true life of Islam, from our midst?
A study of the Holy Quran clearly reveals that the capacity to maintain the required level of the true faith of Islam, and the ultimate ascendance to exaltation and glory through it, are dependent on the fulfilment of a special task which has been so graciously assigned by Allah Ta'ala to the Muslims alone. It is for this that they have been given, in the Quran, the distinguished position, "Khair-ul-Umam" (the best of all peoples).
According to the faith of Islam, the main purpose behind the creation of this world was to establish and prove the Divinity, the Oneness, and the most exalted existence of Almighty Allah Ta'ala, and to reflect His unlimited Powers and boundless Attributes through man, who was to be guided by the light of true knowledge. It was impossible for man to conceive and utilize that knowledge without his first being purified of impiety and obscenity. Only after that purification, is he to be adorned with fine virtues, excellence of conduct and the eventual capacity to act righteously. It was for this purpose of bringing about this purity and power in the ranks of mankind that thousands of Prophets and Apostles had been deputed by Allah Ta'ala. The last in the series, came the "Sayyed-ul-Ambia wal Mursalin" (the greatest of all the Prophets) Mohammad (sallallaho alaihe wasallam). It was through him that man reached the high state of development of mind and body leading to the final stage of purity. It was then that mankind received the glad tidings in the following verse:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا
"And today we have perfected your Religion for you and completed our bounty upon you." [Al-Ma'idah: 3]
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ
"O you (followers of Mohammad): you are the noblest of peoples, in that you have been brought out for fthe benefit of) mankind. You enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and you believe in Allah." [Aal-Imran: 110]
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
"And it is but meet that amongst you there should be a group devoted to inviting people towards righteousness and enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, and it is only those who do this that prosper." [Aal-Imran: 104]
لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُواْ يَعْتَدُونَ كَانُواْ لاَ يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَفْعَلُونَ
"And those amongst the people of Israel who rejected Allah's commands were cursed by Allah through the tongues of Dawood and Isa, son of Mariam. And the curse was because they rebelled against Allah's commands and transgressed the limits and did not desist from the evil that they were doing; and verily it was a grievous lapse on their part." [Al-Ma'idah: 78,79]
- It has been narrated by Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud (radi Allaho anho) that the Holy Prophet (sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was pleased to say;
"Amongst peoples gone by, when somebody committed a sin, the other would reprimand him and would say: "Fear Allah"; but on the following day would befriend him and mix with him as if he had never seen him committing the sin. And when Allah saw them behaving thus, He confounded the hearts of some with those of some, and cursed them through the tongues of Dawood and Isa son of Mariam; and this because they rebelled against Allah and transgressed His limits. I, Mohammad swear by Him, Who has control over my soul: you must enjoin the good and forbid the evil and force the ignorant wrongdoer into the path of rectitude; else Allah will confound your hearts and you will be cursed, as were some of the peoples gone by."
وفي السنن والمسند من حديث عبد الله بن مسعود قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إن من كان قبلكم كان إذا عمل العامل فيهم بالخطيئة جاءه الناهي تعذيراً ، فقال يا هذا إتق الله، فإذا كان من الغد جالسه وآكله وشاربه كأن لم يره على خطيئة بالأمس، فلما رأى عز وجل ذلك منهم ضرب قلوب بعضهم على بعض، ثم لعنهم على لسان نبيهم داود وعيسى ابن مريم، ذلك بما عصو وكانوا يعتدون، والذي نفس محمد بيده لتأمرن بالمعروف ولتنهون عن المنكر ولتأخذن على يد السفيه ولتأطرن على الحق أطراً أو ليضربن الله قلوب بعضكم على بعض ثم ليلعنكم كما لعنهم
- Hadhrat Jareer (radi Allaho anho) has narrated thai Hadhrat Mohammad (sallallaho alaihe wasallam} was pleased to say: "When an individual of a community sins, and the community, in spite of its authority over him, does not prevent him from sinning, Allah's punishment descends on them even before death, i.e., He subjects them to various tribulations in this very world."
وفي سنن أبي داود وابن ماجة عن جرير بن عبدالله قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: ما من رجل يكون في قوم يعمل فيهم بالمعاصي يقدرون على أن يغيروا عليه ولا يغيرون إلا أصابهم الله بعقاب قبل أن يموتوا
- Hadhrat Anas (radi Allaho anno) has narrated that Hadhrat Mohammad (sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was pleased to say, "The Kalimah La ilaha Illallaho always benefits the individuals who proclaim it, and keeps away from them woes and troubles, unless, indeed, its rights are ignored." The companions inquired: "What does the ignoring of its rights mean?" Replied the Prophet: "It means that when sins are being committed openly they do not prevent or stop them."
وروى الأصبهاني عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لا تزال لا إله إلا الله تنفع من قالها وترد عنهم العذابَ والنقمة ما لم يستخِفوا بحقها قالوا يا رسول الله وما الاستخفاف بحقها قال يظهر العمل بمعاصي الله فلا يُنكر ولا يُغير [الترغيب]ـ
- Hadhrat Aisha (radi Allaho anha) says: "The Holy Prophet, (sallallaho alaihe wasallam) came to me and I could read from his noble countenance that something extraordinary had happened. He did not utter a single word but, having performed ablution, repaired straight to the mosque. I, too, stood by the wall of the mosque to hear what he had to say. The Prophet of Allah ascended the pulpit and, after the usual holy exordium, said: 'O people, Allah has ordained you to enjoin the good and forbid the evil, lest a time should come when you call and He may not respond, you ask for a favour and He may not grant it, and you call for help and He may refuse'."
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: دخل علي النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فعرفت في وجهه أن قد حضره شيء فتوضأ وما كلم أحدًا ، فلصقت بالحجرة أستمع ما يقول ، فقعد على المنبر فحمد الله وأثنى عليه وقال : " يا أيها الناس ، إن الله تعالى يقول لكم مروا بالمعروف وانهوا عن المنكر قبل أن تدعوا فلا أجيب لكم وتسألوني فلا أعطيكم وتستنصروني فلا أنصركم " فما زاد عليهن حتى نزل [ترغيب]ـ
- Hadhrat Abu Huraira (radi Allaho anho) has narrated:
عن أبي هريرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "إذا عظمت امتي الدنيا نزعت منها هيبة الإسلام، واذا تركت الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر حرمت بركة الوحي، واذا تسابت امتي سقطت من عين الله" (كذا فى الدر عن الحكيم الترمذي) ـ
"Said the Prophet (sallallaho alaihe wasallam): When my "Ummat" (followers) begin to attach more importance to the world and to regard it as a source of glory, the awe and importance of Islam will vanish from their hearts. When they give up the practice of enjoining good and forbidding evil, they will be deprived of the blessings of Revelation, and, when they begin to indulge in mutual recrimination, they will fall low in the eyes of Allah."
To be continued inshaAllah...
