Mohamedarif Suleman (Nairobi, Kenya)
The Holy Qurán:
Allah (SWT), with His profound eagerness to guide humankind to eternal prosperity and ensure that the species passes the mundane test with flying colours, did not leave any stone unturned when it came to both implicit and explicit instructions in the Holy Qurán. And yet, when we often murmur to one another that the Holy Book is a complete code of conduct, we seldom appreciate the weightiness of such a statement.
Using clear instructions and disguised sentences, Allah (SWT) reminds man of the vitality of eternal salvation over worldly taste and greed from start to end. In typically noteworthy discourses to momineen in Nairobi, Alhaj Mohamedraza Datoo, covering an open-ended subject “Wake Up Call”, recently covered these points with efficiency and fluency. He cited various avenues where the Book mentions parables and similes to convey to mankind the issue at hand.
In Sura 5:6 of the Holy Qurán, it is stated: “This day is (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the people of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the people of the Book, revealed before your time, when you give them their dowers and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues. If anyone rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).”
A closer look at the extensive verse will reveal various keywords (Lawful Food, people of the Book, Chaste Women, Lewdness, Dowry or Bride Price and Faith). It is a fairly light-minded verse which does not require much interpretation by a cleric. Even then, if Muslims, on the one hand proclaiming unanimous love for the Holy Qur’an, indulge in the very things that have been categorically mentioned in such a verse, what would be one’s judgement about Muslims? This verse is just one example where we choose to exercise oblivion to the teachings of the Lord. Perhaps, most of the time, many do not even know that even such things have been mentioned.
And that is alas the biggest tragedy of our generation. Muslims themselves, having failed to learn and practice their religion, have surrendered willfully to the vicious practices of the materialistic kingdoms of our time. When Muslims suffer at the hands of their brethren, when there is female oppression in Muslims more than in any other religious communities (despite the highest accord of women in Islam more than in other schools of faith), and when there is moderation and convenience of practice, why on earth should anyone blame an outsider for their misdemeanours against Islam and Muslims?
Then, on a trip to the UK, tucked away from any gazes, we would partake in a big slice of a Big Mac (lawful?), or engage in marriages with members of the idol-worshipping sects (People of the Book?), and also prefer more “modern” women over the hijab-donning woman, and expecting lewdness at times (refer the rich Arab society), (Chaste?)
So, what is the bottom line? What is all this hype about blaming outsiders when the real people to blame are we? On the Day of Judgement, there shall surely be an accounting for our active preference of luxury and pleasure of this world, of name and fame here, over any privileges that we so ardently pray for (with understanding?) during the month of Ramadhan after Dua Al Iftitah. Or are there other interpretations, such as the one that we have today seen with Jehad being to destroy and destruct, rather than to struggle and to strive? Do we now see why it is so easy for outsiders to conquer Muslims?
More from this Writer
