Introduction to topics 1 to 7 (concluded)

The objective of peace was never lost sight of. The Prophet of Islam not only agreed for truce on equal terms but even if any humiliating condition was imposed, as was the case in the truce of Hudabiya, he readily accepted it. “….and who, whenever tyranny afflicts them, defend themselves. But [remember that any attempt at] requiting evil may, too, become an evil:” cautions the Quran in 42:39,40 “hence whoever pardons [his foe] and makes peace, his reward rests with God – for He does not love evildoers.” I.e.,those who give in to the temptation of indulging in under acts of revenge against their former oppressors.

In addition, for strict adherence to humanitarian behaviour and never giving in to excess, Islam established code of conduct in warfare. For the first time, distinction between noncombatants and combatants was clearly established: “fight in God’s cause against those who wage war against you,” the Quran says, “but do not commit aggression – for, indeed, God does not like aggressors” (2:190). This, as well as verse 2:194 cited last week, absolutely banned killing of noncombatants under all circumstances; killing or in any way hurting of women, children, the elderly, the sick, as well as monks, rabbis and diplomats was strictly forbidden, as was demolishing of churches, synagogues, cloisters and mosques and destruction of the dwellers of unresisting inhabitants and means of their subsistence; prohibited was any kind of sexual violence and the mutilation of the dead and torture of prisoners of wars; ( the Prophet had even instructed to feed and to clothe prisoners of war as the captors ate and clothed themselves) --- regulations that were all eventually included into the modern international laws of war.

Quite clearly, the widespread misconception that Islam places to the un-believers the alternatives of “conversion or the sword” is absolutely erroneous. Quran disposes it further by the verdict that “There shall be no coercion in matters of faith” (Q.2:256). Forcible conversion is under all circumstances null and void. “Do you think you can compel people to believe” says the Quran (10:99). Further, man who is made fully aware of the consequence, is left free to use his God-given reason as well as freedom of moral choice: “The truth [has now come] from your Lord”, Quran says in 18:29: “let, then, him who wills, believe in it and let him who wills, reject it”. Believers are even asked to say to those who do not believe: “Unto you your religion, and unto me, mine” (109:6).

Go through the entire Qur'an and you will understand that in Quranic terms Jihad stands for 'Peaceful Ideological Struggle'. The few verses giving permission to war in defense apply only when condition of war already exists.

In addition, Islam gives permission to declare war for defense only to the State and not to any individual or organization.

Introduction to topics 1 to 7 (to be continued)

The object of Islam is peace. Peace with self and peace with others. For peace with self, one must fight with one’s baser instincts: this being the greater fight, as the Prophet of Islam said.

Fight to restore peace against self is called `Jihad’, (misinterpreted by media as aggression) an Arabic word derived from ‘Jahadoon’ meaning to strive or struggle. For instance, “Whoever strives hard does so for his own soul”(29:6) and further on, “Those who strive hard in our cause”, the Quran says, “We shall certainly guide them onto paths that lead unto Us: for, behold, God is indeed with the doers of good.”(29:69) According to the Prophet, “cleanliness, prayers, and worshipping of God with perseverance, is your Jihad in God’s cause ” and, “One who strives for the widows and the poor”, the Prophet said, “is like one who struggles in the way of God”.

Quranic view of Jihad against others is clearly expressed in 25:52 “strive hard against them, by means of this [i.e., the Quran], with utmost striving”, and the way to do it is expressed in 4:63 “speak to them a word to reach their very soul”. Quran does propose a peaceful and positive change. For that it appeals to the intellect of man. There are more than seven hundred verses inviting man to think and ponder , many more than verses for does and don’ts.

For maintaining peace with others, however, even if one has to fight for defense against any aggressor, Islam gives permission to do so -- “permission to fight is given”, the Quran says, “to those against whom war is being wrongfully waged” (22:39). It constitutes the earliest (and therefore fundamental) Quranic reference to fight, undoubtedly for self defense. This rule of defensive character of a fight has been maintained throughout the Quran as the only possible justification of war: “Thus, if anyone commits aggression against you,” Quran makes it explicit in 2:194 “attack him just as he has attacked you – but remain conscious of God,” i.e., when fighting for your defense, abstain from all atrocities, including the killing of non-combatants.

2.41. SELF DEFENCE

God says

“… oppression is more awesome than killing.”… Q.2:217

No human being can die save by God’s leave at a term pre-ordained… Q3:145

Yet indeed, as for any who defend themselves after having been wronged – no blame whatever attaches to them: blame attaches but to those who oppress [other] people and behave outrageously on earth, offending against all right: for them there is grievous suffering in store! -- Q.42:41,42


Prophet said

“….on the Resurrection Day God will increase honour of one who pardons an oppressor, seeking thereby the pleasure of God..” – H: Tirmizi. N: Abu Kabsha ‘Aamiri.

“A mischief monger (causing discord) shall not enter paradise.” -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Huzaifah.

END OF SECTION 2

Friday posting of Sections 1 and 2 is completed while hoping that the Word of God and His Apostle would enlighten those who send it and as well as those who receive it; and that it would result in them a growing realization of living in the sight of God. With the same hope, InshaAllah section 3 will commence next Friday.

2.40. THE DAY OF ACCOUNTABILITY (to be continued)

God says

O you who believe! Remain conscious of God; and let every human being look to what he sends ahead for the morrow! And [once again]: Remain conscious of God, for God is fully aware of all that you do! -- Q.59:18

Only firm belief in God and in that He is aware of all that we think and do, and firm belief again, can keep us on guard and be critical of our thoughts and our actions. He says, “whether you bring into the open what is in your minds or conceal it, God will call you to account for it”(Q.2: 284). The Prophet had said, ‘God will not look upon your forms, nor upon your deeds, but will look into your hearts and your intentions’. He even said. ‘Niyat-ul-momin khair-um min ‘amlehi’ i.e., the intention of the believer is better than his action!

And [always], O you believers – all of you – turn unto God in repentance, so that you might attain to a happy state!* -- Q24:31(last sentence)

*The implication of this general call to repentance is that since “man has been created weak”(4:28), no one is ever free of faults and temptations – so much so that even the Prophet used to say, “I turn to Him in repentance a hundred times every day” -- (Ibn Hanbal, Bukhari and Bayhaqi, all of them on the authority of Abd Allah ibn ‘umar).

The following is recommended in view of the above:

(1) Very brief calls to repentance.100 times each morning and evening. If you can’t, then you may do one in the morning and the other in the evening.

“Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi, astaghfirullah, wa aatoobo elaiyh”.

“Rabbighfir warham wa anta Khair- ur- Rahemeen”.

(2) Include in your supplications after every Farz prayer:

Alla-humagh-firli wale-waledayya wa le jamee-il momeneena wal momenaate wal muslemeena wal muslimaatin al-ahyaaa-e minhum wal amwaat. Birahmateka ya Arhamar Rahemeen.


Prophet said

“….on the Resurrection Day God will increase honour of one who pardons an oppressor, seeking thereby the pleasure of God..” – H: Tirmizi. N: Abu Kabsha ‘Aamiri.

“A mischief monger (causing discord) shall not enter paradise.” -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Huzaifah.

2.40. THE DAY OF ACCOUNTABILITY (to be continued)

God says

True piety does not consist in turning your faces towards east or the west* -- but truly pious is he who believes in God, and the Last Day, and the angels, and [divine] revelation, and the prophets; and spends his substance – however much he himself may cherish it – upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer,** and the beggars, and the freeing of human beings from bondage;*** and is constant in prayer, and renders the purifying dues; and [truly constant are] they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are patient in misfortune and hardship and in time of peril: it is they, they who are conscious of God. –Q.2:177

*Thus the Quran stresses the principle that mere compliance with outward forms does not fulfill the requirements of piety. The reference of turning one’s face in prayer in this or that direction flows from passages, earlier in this surah, with the question of qiblah.

***The expression ibn as-sabeel (lit., “son of the road”) denotes any person who is far from his home, and especially one who, because of this circumstance, does not have sufficient means of livelihood at his disposal.

****The expression fi ‘r-riqab denotes “in the cause of freeing human beings from bondage”. It applies to both ransoming of captives and the freeing of slaves. By including this kind of expenditure within the essential acts of piety, the Quran implies that the freeing of people from bondage – and, thus, the abolition of slavery which was, then, an established institution throughout the world – is one of the social objective of Islam.

Never shall you attain to true piety unless you spend on others out of what you cherish yourselves; -- Q.3: 92


Prophet said

“There is no wisdom like effort, no piety like self denial, and no goodness like self conduct” – H: Baihaqi. N: Abu Zarr.

Next Friday, inshaa’ Allah, will be the last of the “The Day Of Accountability”. There will be two verses: golden rules for our existence.

2.40. THE DAY OF ACCOUNTABILITY (to be continued)

God says

Truly man is to his Lord, ungrateful; and to that (fact) he bears witness (by his deeds); - Q.100:6-7

You are obsessed by greed for more and more until you go down to your graves.*
--Q.102: 1,2
*The term takasur bears the connotation of “greedily striving for an increase”, i.e., in benefits, be they tangible or intangible, real or illusory. In the above context It denotes man’s obsessive striving for more and more comforts, more material goods, greater power over his fellow-men or over nature, and unceasing technological progress. A passionate pursuit of such endeavors, to the exclusion of everything else, bars man from all spiritual insight and, hence, from the acceptance of any restrictions and inhibitions based on purely moral values – with the result that not only individuals but whole societies gradually lose all inner stability and, thus, all chance of inner happiness.

Woe unto every slanderer, fault-finder!* -- Q.104:1
*I.e., everyone who tries to uncover real or imaginary faults in others.

Beware of the inner self because “verily, man’s inner self does incite [him] to evil,”(12:53) – i.e., it's impulses often clash with morals-- “saved are only they upon whom my Sustainer bestows His grace. Behold, my Sustainer is much forgiving, most gracious!”


Prophet said

“A man says: My property, my property! But, verily, his properties out of his wealth are three: what he puts on and is worn out; what he gives away (in charity) out of what he has hoarded; what is besides that is perishable and he will leave it for people.” -- H: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

A number of verses given in the series of The Day Of Accountability are not about the Day itself but given as reminder of the Day, in order to prepare for it, now that we still have time. For the same purpose next Friday, insha Allah, will be given one verse.

2.40. THE DAY OF ACCOUNTABILITY (to be continued)

God says

“….and on that Day you will most surely be called to account for [what you did with] the boon of life!” -- Q.102:8

Prophet said

“Call yourselves to account before you are called to account, and weigh up your deeds before they are weighed for you” -- Hadith quoted by Tirmizi.

Best time to do this is in the night just before sleep: going over day’s actions, repenting and begging forgiveness for the wrongs committed. God is much forgiving, most gracious!

What you simply know of right and wrong is only knowledge, which is like sugar: one cannot know unless one tastes it. Knowledge should lead to belief and belief to action.

Infirm belief in the hereafter tends to make one forget that one will have to give account for whatever one does. Make sure.

“The astute man is one who passes judgment and works for what is after death, and the fool is one who pursues vain pleasures and counts on God the Exalted to realize his wishes” – Hadith quoted by Tirmizi, Ibn Maja and Ibn Hanbal.

Of the 2892 minutes in a weekend it would take barely 10 minutes to go through the Friday Post. Then the whole week to imbibe and shape one’s course! Is that too much to save the Day?