The writer, Al-Hajj Khalil Champsi (Toronto, Canada) is a professional engineer, PMP certified, and a community volunteer.
The challenges facing the community are many and have been addressed eloquently by esteem panelists in a detailed and comprehensive manner.
The issues has been very nicely documented and some of proposed solutions can be applied in a very practical manner God in Quran has provided human being with a barometer of guidance. In Sura Al-Baqara chapter 2 verse 213 he says,’’ (All) people are a single nation; so Allah raised prophets as bearers of good news and as warners, and He revealed with them the Book with truth, that it might judge between people in that in which they differed; and none but the very people who were given it differed about it after clear arguments had come to them, revolting among themselves; so Allah has guided by His will those who believe to the truth about which they differed and Allah guides whom He pleases to the right path’’.
Idolisation and celebrity culture is a culture which is very predominant around us. Whether it is in the area of sports ,politics and even Shia community .To overcome this menace one has to track back to Madina 1400 years ago when the Prophet (saw) had visitors from other regions or countries and when they came inside Masjide Nabawi,they would look for someone who resembled like our present time rulers but could not find one .In Fact this culture of idolization can also been seen in the social media too.
The use of social media and its negative impact has consequences but one has to adapt by having a deaf ear or one having a thick skin. Sensitively means, One does have to sensitive to the needs of others but when issues are being discussed or forwarded as information this has to be vetted and not necessarily be taken as world of Gospel and should do have any impact oneself.
As the cities developed and families started living apart, there has been and Erosion of empathy. This is very evident in the affluent societies and the culture of the West having moved to the East the once closely knitted families have disintegrated.
The Challenges were very evident during COVID pandemic and this caused more erosions to closeness and emotional connections God speaks of 3 Generations in the Quran Sura Ahqaf Chapter 15 verse 15 ‘’My Lord! grant me that I may give thanks for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good which pleases Thee and do good to me in respect of my offspring’’.
This Dua can be a template of Grandparents, parents and children living under one roof and a close relationship with extended families and communities at large. In the world of Social media, everyone wants to have instant recognition. Instead of looking at happiness from within, one seeks approvals from other people.
Peace of mind comes from being content with ourselves & being grateful for what we have with us.
There is a peaceful way of going through life, but all depends on our willingness to change our attitude towards everything in life. Cultures and Tribal divide can be harmful and unhealthy to foster the growth of a community. Lessons learnt from the past can help overcome challenges which the roof cause of any type of divide.
When Tanzania became independent ,the first thing Mwalimu Nyerere did was to provide the country with a constitution in treating everyone as equal irrespective of ones Colour ,Tribe and Religion.This translates into a most peaceful country in East Africa where every community or tribe derived strength and support from one another.
In Sura ar-Room ,Chapter 30 verse 22 God has created the diversity as one of his signs, he says, ‘’And one of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colors; most surely there are signs in this for the learned.
However the diversity is means of recognition of God’s wonderful creation rather then divide in the communities.One can adopt a best prescription of Imam Ali (as) in his letter to Malik Ashtar when he appointed him as a Governor of Egypt .He advised him ,’’They are either your brethren in religion or your brethren in kind. They are subject to infirmities and liable to commit mistakes.
Some indeed do commit mistakes. But forgive them even as you would like God to forgive you. The sheer volume of information available on the internet can be overwhelming, making it difficult for individuals to sift through what is credible and what is not.This itself has caused mis-information and dis-informaton to spread especially by forwards one generates thus causing more confusion in the recipient’s mind.
Islam has a concept of Shubha ( grey area- ???? doubt, obscurity, or mis-grounded conceit). Islam stresses the importance of seeking knowledge to clarify doubts. If a person encounters a Shubha, it is recommended to ask knowledgeable scholars or refer to authoritative Islamic texts to dispel the confusion.
The safety principle in Islam is to avoid actions that create doubt, particularly when it comes to matters of worship, financial transactions, or ethical conduct.Similarly one should avoid listening and reading and forwarding contents which falls under the grey area.
Mental health has always been an issue and it was until recently a taboo subject to discuss. Mental health has historically been associated with significant stigma, but attitudes are shifting. This has been very well documented in the previous article by Dr.Hasnain Walji.
However, increasing awareness, advocacy, and open conversations—along with changing representations in the media—are slowly changing perceptions and reducing stigma. As society continues to evolve, it is hoped that mental health will eventually be seen as an integral aspect of overall health, without shame or judgment.
What is required is Education and advocacy, therapy and mental health awareness, media correct representation and finally workplace and community support.
In conclusion I would suggest a balanced approach in every aspect of one’s journey in exploring various issues discussed. God ,the mighty and the wise says in holy Quran ,Sura Ale-Imran verse 110, You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah; and if the followers of the Book had believed it would have been better for them; of them (some) are believers and most of them are transgressors.
The writer, Al-Hajj Khalil Champsi (Toronto, Canada) is a professional engineer, PMP certified, and a community volunteer.
