Not
a day goes by in this post 9/11 period when fresh
news of some humiliating retreat in the Muslim world
does not reach us. But strangely enough it appears
that although the Muslim world might be shrinking
Islam its self is surging forward to the heart of
the non-believing world.
Without doubt Allah is the Mightiest: He brings forth
life from the un-living, brightness from the darkness
of the night, and spring from the hub of autumn. Allah
declares:
“It is likely that you dislike something, but
it is good for you; and it is possible that you like
something but it is bad for you; Allah knows and you
do not (know).”
(Al-Baqarah)
Many a time in the past, the Muslims have been apparently
thrown over by the onslaught of non-believers——but
Islam was not subjugated. In fact it conquered the
hearts of the conquerors. Take the example of the
Tartars, when that savage people completely ravaged
the Muslim world. The awe and fear of them was so
great that in those times they had a saying in Arabic,
meaning,
“If anyone informs you that the Tartars have
been defeated;
don’t believe them.”
But the world saw the turn of events when the savages
who would not be defeated by the Muslim swords capitulated
to the beauty and certainty of Islam. The same plunderers
that desecrated and pulled down sacred mosques built
many more with their own hands. The airs were filled
again with the sweet call to prayer, and the nights
alive with their sighs and supplications before Allah.
The horrendous train of events following 9/11, has
also been the harbinger of a change among the youth
of the West. It has called to attention their decay,
deficiency, and craving in things spiritual. An infested
and tampered religion like Christianity was not able
to satisfy them, intellectually or spiritually. It
is becoming clearer every day that the wool was being
pulled over their eyes and Islam being presented to
them as the flag bearer of dreariness, violence, and
extremism. But they were rudely awakened when they
saw the brutality and viciousness of the hailers of
modern civilization. The youth of the West started
to study Islam and the Quran on their own, the results
of which we see in the rise of young converts to the
True Faith.
News papers report that after the event of 9/11, the
rate of conversion has superceded any previous record.
But the sad reality is that most of the young people
are accepting Islam on account of their own personal
quest and study. The Muslims’ invitation has
had but a meager role in this auspiciousness.
Among the converts (or reverts) there are also those
who, to find out about Quran and Sunnah fall into
the hands of the Orientalists. Everyone knows that
the Orientalists are not sincere with Islam. If they
had been, why haven’t they become Muslims themselves?
Their interpretation of the Qur'an, their elucidation
of the Hadith, their research into jurisprudence and
Seerah have been prepared with a special mission in
mind. Their publications plant seeds of doubt in innocent
minds about the teachings and traditions of Islam;
about the Qur'an being a miracle and the true word
of Allah, about the prophet hood, and God forbid!
Even about the integrity of Rasoolullah (sallallahu
`alaihe wassallam).
Any one believing in the words of these Orientalists
becomes rebellious to the true Islam and goes in search
of the new edition. An edition that goes along with
the fad of the day. Have a look at the modern interpreters
and scholars of our own country who have got their
Islamic studies degrees from such Orientalists in
European universities. See how unashamedly they smear
the aslaaf, antecedents, of Islam? Give their own
explanations of Quranic text? Deny ahadith? Give credibility
to no-purdah for women? Give validity to interest?
Try to prove that the western way of life is okay
with Islam? It looks like they are busy in trying
to prepare a western and European version of Islam.
To counteract the schemes and save our younger generation
from the evil of these people; and to disseminate
the message of the Prophet and the truth of the Quran,
there is a sore need to train such inviters to Islam
who have an eye on the ancient and the modern, who
have courage and daring, who have efficiency in international
languages, specially English; who are updated to the
habits and temperament of the younger generation;
who have a nice turn of phrase and skill of _expression;
who have hearts glowing with the warmth of Faith;
who have the Islamic way of life penetrated into them;
; who have been sanctified with the company of the
true scholars and elders of Islam; and been dyed with
such a stain that would hold fast with the scorch
of materialism. They should have a good working knowledge
of the language of whichever country they go to.
A study of the Quran reveals that no prophet was sent
to a nation but he had detailed knowledge of the ways,
strengths, weaknesses, psyche, and language of that
nation. Take the example of our own Prophet Rasoolullah
(sallallahu `alaihe wassallam), his first invitees
were Arabs who had great pride in the fluency of their
tongue. That’s why Rasoolullah (sallallahu `alaihe
wassallam) was one of them who was well versed in
their history, ways, their inclinations, and their
blessings. Rasoolullah (sallallahu `alaihe wassallam)
was fully conversant with the literature and poetry
of the time, and he had a good taste in it. Rasoolullah
(sallallahu `alaihe wassallam) was a master of eloquence
and speech. He said himself,
“I am the most eloquent among the Arabs.”
Whereas the situation today is that the number of
such callers to Islam are next to none who have a
good grip of the local language and are also capable
individuals, whose tongue is western but hearts eastern,
who have not gained their knowledge from suited westerners
seated at desks, blowing rings from their cigars;
but their education has come from the old madaris,
schools, where knowledge is imparted by people who
reflect the ways and looks of our Prophet (sallallahu
`alaihe wassallam). That is because a student does
not learn only from books: but the environs of the
school, the environment, and the character and bearing
of the teachers come first. The peak of excellence
that the Sahaba-e-keram (radhiallahu ta`ala `anhum
ajma`een) reached was not by sticking to books, but
by the companionship of and alliance to Rasoolullah
(sallallahu `alaihe wassallam). This is the means
of education that has prevailed in the ummah. The
seekers of knowledge and improvement make time to
sit in the company of Ehlullah, people of Allah, observe
their days and nights, study their mannerisms, scrutinize
their character, and then try to reform themselves.
They prove to be a beacon of light to others.
How fortunate it would be if students from colleges
and universities who have an inclination towards their
faith spend a few years of their lives in a madrasah
and gain expertise in religious knowledge, we could
thus have such callers to Faith who could call to
Islam in the west in the western tongue and manner.
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