A beautiful reflection of the love of the Aal-e-Rasul and the Sahabah with each other.

Effectively, I am the follower of the ‘Punjtan Paak’;

they were ‘The Ahl-e-Sunnah-Wa-Al-Jamma’at’

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We as Muslims know that Islam at its core teaches us everything starting from our beliefs to our practical ways of dealing with every situation presented in life; whether personal or official, direct or indirect, and/or specific or general. The Question that arises is that what are the sources that provide us with these Islamic fundamentals?

Islam has clearly ascertained this for us by determining in the order of priority that the Qur’an being the first and foremost source of Islamic Law presenting its clear cut Rationale, Commands and Injunctions (anything that conflicts with the Commands thereby is to be considered thus invalidated). Thereafter the second primary source of Islamic Law is the Prophet (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam); his (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) direct and definite Hadith and Sunnah i.e. the practices and ways of the Prophet (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) himself; subsequently, including those actions which have been approved and endorsed by him (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam); next in the order of priority are those actions which were performed by the Sahabah and the Prophet remained silent concerning them which is thus taken as his (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) approval.

Holy Qur’an; Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 59: “O you who believe, obey Allāh, and obey the Messenger , and those entrusted with authority amongst you. Then if there arises any dispute about anything, refer the dispute to Allāh and the Messenger , if you truly believe in Allāh and the Last Day. That would be the best way and most suitable for final determination.”

The teachings of the Prophet (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) were immaculately adopted and implemented by his (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) Companions (i.e. Sahabah Radhi Allāh Unho) which include the Aal-e-Rasul (the family of the Prophet Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam; his Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam wives – the Ummahaat Radhi Allāh Unho, his Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam children and his Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam nephew/son-in-Law Ali Radhi Allāh Unho and his Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam  grand children Hassan Radhi Allāh Unho and Hussain Radhi Allāh Unho). After the beloved family of the Prophet (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam), the Companions  (Radhi Allāh Unho) of Badr outweigh in authority of any other Companion (Radhi Allāh Unho), thereafter the Companions (Radhi Allāh Unho) at large outweigh the authority of any Taba’ee (Companion Rehmat ullah alayh of the Sahabah Radhi Allāh Unho); subsequently, the authority of the Taba’een (Rehmat ullah alayh) outweigh that of their companions (i.e. the Taba Taba’een Rehmat ullah alayh). These were the three blessed generations which have established the fundamentals of Islam through practical implementation and consequently set the perfect example for us to follow.

Hadith:- "The best people are my generation, then the people who come after them, then the people who come after them" (al-Bukhaari, and Muslim).

This is our gauge, our parameter or rather measuring tool. If we find today that anyone claiming to be a Muslim Authority/Eurodite/Scholar/Imam/Peer/Spiritual-Saint/Wali-Allāh/Sheikh etc, teaching us anything whatsoever that is contrary to the teachings of the Qur’an and verified Sunnah must be rejected as a whole! The reason being that the method of spreading corruption, lies or any kind of altered notions or misgivings is by telling nine truths and one lie. Thus if anyone is teaching you one lie amidst nine verified truths, acquit yourself of the person and his teachings in its entirety and look towards a teacher or guide who would enable you as an individual to be empowered by Islam authentically from within and without a perpetual dependence on the teacher himself.

The Prophet (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) empowered every Muslim to have his own individual, internal and most personal connection with Allāh. He (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) taught us the exact etiquettes, articulate method and accurate attitude of reading and understanding the Qur’an, he (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) clearly explained through word and action each and every precise detail of Allāh’s Commands.

The Mufti and the Fuqahah have dedicated their lives to compile the practical aspect of these Commands and how they are to be implemented in our lives and the sole purpose of these various Fiqhs is to provide the common Muslim with these simplified rulings and clear definitions of the implementation of the practical elements of Islam in our daily lives; as a means of ease and convenience, conversely not to cause conflicts, disputes and eventual bloodshed. One chooses from amongst a clearly established Fiqh and for the sake of convenience regarding the implementation of Islam in ones daily life or for all practical purposes looks towards it for the injunctions and procedures defined thereby. Just like the Court of Law and the judicial system including the lawyers are there in every society; who have thereby mastered the knowledge of the concerning Laws, and as a layman we are henceforth dependant on them for guidance. Likewise the Fuqaha and the Mufti are masters of the Islamic Laws; jurisprudence and implementation of the practical elements of Islam in our daily lives. However, for our beliefs and fundamentals concerning our rationale the Qur’an and Sunnah are enough.

I believe it is the dire need of our Ummah to finally reunite. It is time we resolved our differences by recognizing what is evidently true and letting go of all that is not validated and/or lacks validity. Recognizing the facts for what they are and letting go of all historical hearsay, is perhaps the only way forward and the only way to ensure religious-political harmony. We need to return to the teachings, ways and mannerisms of Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) which were followed by His (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) Beloved Family and His (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) Beloved Companions alike. Essentially we need to make our utmost individual efforts to revive, the mutual love that was shared amongst them all and renew the beautiful harmony, peace, affection and mutual concerns they imbibed in the community they evolved and established as an example for Muslims of all times to come.

We need to ask ourselves who defines our Rationale for us, individually; society or the television or family or culture or media or the west or ourselves or some saints or clairvoyants or teachers etc? We need to redefine our thoughts and our basic Rationale in accordance to the Qur’an and Sunnah and that seems to be the only way forward!

GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS…

Reverting to only the Qur’an & Sunnah!

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Why is everyone going around killing each other? What has become of our Ummah? What happened to the society the Khair-ul-Qurun established and the values they upheld? What of the peace and harmony that Islam spread? When and where did this bloodshed and devastation infiltrate into our Ummah? Why are we all fighting, especially amongst each other? Do we as educated Muslims ever concern ourselves with these questions and the reasons thereof; beyond drawing room, facebook or network conversations? Do we reflect on how we can individually correct or impact this? Do we feel no responsibility or burden thereof when innocents are killed, especially children? What has happened to our inner selves and emotions? What has driven us to such desensitization, such insensitivity and callousness? Do we no longer think? Are we, the educated masses, no-longer a people of rationale? What is our rationale? Where do we as Muslims find the core of what is True or False, valid or invalid, good or bad, right or wrong? Who determines our basic values?

If we haven’t been asking ourselves these questions or thinking on these lines, I think it is about time we did it. How much more bloodshed and loss of lives will it take for us to finally feel the pain of all the injustice, wrongdoing and brutality going on around us. For those of us who have been thinking on these lines and perhaps even making somewhat of an effort to denounce or condemn all this, must recognize that whatever we have been doing is obviously not even close to being enough; had it been so, then taking into consideration the amount of people condemning these acts, it would have in the least, brought about some reduction in these events. Albeit gradual, yet nonetheless at least the slightest decrease or retardation in the stupefying pattern of climb or increase would have come about. However on the contrary it is only on an astounding rise and there is nothing gradual about it. We need to do something drastic within our own selves to halt this progress. We need to fix something within us at an individual level first and foremost to be able to make a difference at an eventual global level. For this we need to recognize and ascertain what are the fundamentals of our beliefs and rationale and who has determined them for us.

As per the injunctions of the Qur’an, I believe the dire need of the time is to go back to the basics; for that is where the solution to our problems rests, especially that of a sectarian nature. We need to go back to our roots, before the Islamic sectarian divide began and unify at the core. Leaving aside all historic events or references or issues or concerns that we may or may not be able to even verify or validate.

Holy Qur’an; Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 59: “O you who believe, obey Allāh, and obey the Messenger , and those entrusted with authority amongst you. Then if there arises any dispute about anything, refer the dispute to Allāh and the Messenger , if you truly believe in Allāh and the Last Day. That would be the best way and most suitable for final determination.”

Explanation: The Arabic word 'ati' means obey. In the above aayah, Allāh commands the believers to obey Allāh, and obey the Messenger , and those entrusted with authority (olil-amr) amongst you. The above verse is extremely clear whereby Allāh says:

'Ati-Allāh' meaning 'obey Allāh'

'wa ati-ar Rasool' meaning 'obey the Messenger '

'wa olil-amr minkum' meaning 'and those entrusted with authority amongst you.'

Allāh does not say 'wa ati olil amr minkum'. The command 'ati' (obey) is not placed independently before the 'olil-amr'. And anyone who knows even basic Arabic grammar will confirm with you that because the word 'ati' (obey) is not placed before 'olil-amr' (those entrusted with authority), then it becomes a 'mashroot' (condition), that you have to obey those entrusted with authority amongst you, ONLY IF THEY OBEY ALLĀH AND THE MESSENGER !

Then Allāh states in the same aayah, that if there arises a dispute about anything, refer the dispute back to Allāh (the Qur’an) and the Messenger  (His Sunnah or Way). If you truly believe in Allāh and the Last Day.

Hence for the time being, we need to revert only to the Qur’an and the Sunnah; i.e. that which Allāh has taken upon Himself to protect!

Holy Qur’an; Chapter 5 Surah Al-Maidah verse 3: “…This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”

Explanation: This ayah embodies a clear statement that the deen has been completed and thus has no need of addition or deletion.

Furthermore the Qur’an reiterates that: 

Holy Qur’an; Chapter 53 Surah An-Najam verses 3- 4: “hedoes not speak of hisown desire but it is a revelation sent down to him.” 

Allāh praised the Prophet Muhammad  by saying in the Qur'an:

Holy Qur’an; Chapter 68 Surah Al-Qalam verse 4: "And verily, you have an exalted standard of character."

It is our belief that the Prophet Muhammad  was an embodiment of the Qur’an. He  was a perfect personification of Allāh’s Word and Command. We believe that he delivered the Message of Allāh not only in word but also through his  actions. Furthermore, we believe that anyone who has the remotest of doubt concerning this matter, is not a believer, and has undoubtedly either not yet entered the fold of Islam or has in fact taken himself out of the folds of Islam.

The History of the Protection of the Quran                                            Mufti Yusuf Danka Al-Kauthar

Allāh says: Verily, it is we who have sent down the Dhikr (Quran) and surely, we will guard it (from corruption) (15:9)

The revelation of Quran was from Allāh and until the day of Qiyamah Allāh (swt) has vowed to safeguard the Quran from any sort of corruption. For this very reason, 14 centuries have passed and the beauty of the words and the orders of the Quran have remained the same. In the past, many rulers and kings have passed who tried with all their efforts to alter the order and words of the Quran, yet not a single verse has been changed despite all this. 

A European research has stated: ‘We have firm belief that the Quran (its text) are the very words spoken by Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam), just as the Muslims have a firm belief that it is ‘Word of God’.

In every era, the scholars who specialise in the Quran and its knowledge have always been large in number. And millions of memorisers of the Quran all over the world do not differ in their recitation of this Holy Book. Allāh has made the memorising of the Quran so easy that a young boy of 10 years old who cannot memorise 3-4 pages of his mother tongue, today, is able to memorise 30 chapters of the Quran. Allāh has not vowed to safeguard the revelation of any of the other Holy scriptures. Therefore we see that not only a sentence, but the very language in which they were revealed has been altered. The truth of the above stated verse of the Quran is apparent throughout the World to see. (Tafsirul Uthmaani)

Allāh says: … ‘if Mankind and Jinn were together to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like thereof, even if helped by one another.’ (17:88)

Allāh revealed the Quran to Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) through the angel Jibrail (as). At that time the collection and safeguarding of the Quran was placed on the memorisation of Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) from what was revealed to him. In the beginning when revelation would be received, Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) would repeat the words quickly revealed to him. Allāh revealed the verses:

… ‘Move not your tongue concerning the Quran, O Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam)! To make haste therein. It is for Us (Allāh) to collect it and give you the ability to recite it’. (75:16-17)

On one side revelation was received and on the other side the Quran was placed into the mind and heart of Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam). Apart from Nabi (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) there were many companions (Radhi Allāh Unho) who were also memorisers of Quran and as revelation would be received. Nabi (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) would call for the scribes of Quran and get that portion written down. There was not even the smallest amount of fault by Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) in its recitation, even so, every year in the blessed month of Ramadan, Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) would recite the portion of Quran revealed to him to Jibrail (as). In the year Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) passed away he had recited the memorised Quran to Jibrail (as) twice instead of the regular one recitation during Ramadan (Fathul Bari, Vol 9, p36).

Other than that, many of the companions (Radhi Allāh Unho) would have a great zeal to learn and memorise the Quran that each one would want to excel the other in this task. Some women also took the memorisation of the Quran as dowry instead of the usual gold and silver. And in the Mosque of the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) the voices of those teaching and memorising Quran became so loud that Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) had to order that they lower their voices. (Manhilul Irfan, vol 1, p234)

The Quran being the word of God, had such an effect on the people that even the non-Muslim arabs were also affected by its eloquence and inimitability. This can be deduced from the following narration:

Amar bin Salma (Radhi Allāh Unho) was a young companion in the time of Nabi (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam). His house used to be situated near a spring and this would mean that many travellers would pass by this place. He states that he would ask the Muslim travellers who passed by if they had heard any of the Quran that was revealed to Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam). When they would recite the newly revealed verses, he would memorise them and states that he, in this manner, memorised a large portion of the Quran even before becoming a Muslim. (Bukhari)

The king of Ethiopia was a devout Christian, when a few verses of Surah Maryam were recited before him, he could not find comfort until he accepted Islam and brought Iman. In the same way, when Umar ibn Khattab (Radhi Allāh Unho) set out with the mission of assassinating the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam), when a few verses of Surah Ta Ha were recited in front of him. Instead of wanting to kill the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) he was ready to accept Islam and sacrifice his life in the service of Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam).

In the time of Abu Bakr Siddique (Radhi Allāh Unho) a large number of those companions that had memorised the Quran were martyred. At this incident Umar Farooq (Radhi Allāh Unho) gave the advice that the Quran should be compiled from those that have memorised it and those that had written it down, in one text as a book. This is due to the fact that the Quran was written by many different companions and each portion was kept with the scribe. Abu Bakr Siddique through this advice ordered Zaid bin Thabit (Radhi Allāh Unho) who were himself a great scribe of Quran, together with Umar Farooq (Radhi Allāh Unho) to compile the Quran with the assistance of the other companions.

In the Quran, Allāh challenges many times to the people to try and bring a verse like thereof. It has been proven that the Quran is such a book that over 23 years it was revealed to Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) and over the years has changed tribes, nations and countries and the like of it will not be seen until the Qiyamah.

May Allāh guide to respect, revere and act upon the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) as the Sahaba, Tabi’en and Pious predecessors did, for this is itself a means of safeguarding the teachings of the Quran. Ameen!

Saying “NO!” to Islamic Sectarianism once and for all

Holy Qur’an; Chapter 5 Surah Al-Maidah verse 3: “…This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”

This blog is focused to eradicate Islamic Sectarianism, especially from amongst the educated masses; i.e. the supposed people of rationale. The least that we as educated Muslims can do is, own our religion as it ought to be owned and snatch it back from those supposed ‘Religious Scholars’ who we empowered due to our religious indifference and lack of concern with acquiring authentic knowledge and education of Islam in its very entirety. Leaving these pseudo scholars at large to use their supposed knowledge of religion for vested purposes; manipulating the masses, coercing them and religiously blackmailing them into following a ‘self made depiction or translation of Islam,’ henceforth creating factions and fueling sectarianism for their self interest and according aim of ‘divide and rule’.

Holy Qur’an; Chapter 3 Surah Aal-e-Imran verse 103: “Hold fast, all of you, to the cord of Allāh, and be not divided. Remember the blessing of Allāh upon you: When you were enemies to each other, and He brought your hearts together, so that, you became brothers through His blessing. You were at the brink of a pit of Fire, then He saved you from it. This is how Allāh makes His signs clear to you, so that you may take the right path.”

It is time we take control of our Religion, no-longer allowing it to remain hi-jacked by such who alter the Message of the Qur’an and disregard the Sunnah. We need to make our utmost effort to come clean and reject all the teachings, ideologies, rationale, thought patterns which do not conform to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. We need to recognize that the Qur’an and Sunnah are the only ‘facts’ as we know them, the rest is just history and historic points of view which hold no significance in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Hence anything that which conflicts or contradicts or clashes with the Qur’an and established teachings of the Prophet , must be set aside and deleted from our own personal thought patters cleansing us such that we are finally able to understand and apply the Qur’an and Sunnah in its true and very pure, Essence as well as Command.

Holy Qur’an; Chapter 22 Surah Al-Hajj verse 78: “And strive in His cause, as you ought to strive. He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in this way; it is the way of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this revelation, that the messenger may be a witness for you, and you are witnesses for humanity. So establish prayer, pay zakat, and hold fast to Allāh. He is your Protector, the best to protect and the best to help."

We need to avow to quit sectarianism at a personal level and become pure ‘Muslims’ and denounce living under any other label other than the one Allāh has chosen for us.