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From Issue: 393 [Read full issue]

Living the Quran

Al-Anbiyah (The Prophets)
Chapter 21: Verses 16-17

Not A Joke
"Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and all that lies between the two. If it had been Our Will to find a pastime, We would have found one near at hand, if We were inclined to do so!"

The argument in these verses is put forth by God to those who either find it difficult to believe in the existence of God or those who think life is just play and entertainment, devoid of any purpose.

As believers we know Allah gives us a definite purpose and vision of life: "I have not created the Jinn and human being (for any reason) except to serve Me." We also know, in the Quran, Allah has called a human being and a believer His Khalifah (Vicegerant or Representative) on Earth, which by itself is a serious responsibility, and not a joke. Allah has also asked the believers to be 'Witnesses unto Mankind' (shuhada 'alan naas) and 'Witnesses of Truth'. How could God have assigned such an immense role to us had He created this life for enjoyment?

In verse 16 Allah explains: Had God intended creation to be merely for sport, surely, He Himself would have engaged in it. In which case, He would certainly not have brought into being a creature endowed with feelings, consciousness, and a sense of responsibility. Nor would God place him in a state whereby he is engaged in a constant tug-of-war between right and wrong. God could have done much better if the purpose was merely to entertain Himself! God did not create this world to serve as a coliseum, to offer thrilling spectacles of bloody sports where the spectators clap deliriously at the sight of humans being torn to pieces by ferocious beasts.

Source:
"Towards Understanding the Quran" - Abul Ala Mawdudi, pp. 257-258

Understanding the Prophet's Life

Like A Feather

The issue of people’s hearts is an important and sensitive issue. The heart is called al-qalb in Arabic because it changes so quickly and frequently (taqallub – alteration, variation, ups and downs). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"The heart (qalb) takes its name from its constant changes (taqallub). The likeness of the heart is that of a feather at the root of a tree, being turned over and over by the wind." [Reported by Ahmad 4/408].

Man’s heart changes constantly, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) described: “The heart of the son of Adam changes more quickly than a pan of rapidly boiling water.” [Kitab al-Sunnah, no. 226]. Allah is the One Who turns hearts around and controls them. Abd-Allah ibn Amr ibn al-As reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: “The hearts of the children of Adam are as one between the fingers of the Most Merciful, and He turns them in whatever way He wills.” Then he said: “O Allah, Controller of the hearts, direct our hearts to obey You.” [Reported by Muslim, no. 2654].

Source:
"Weakness of Faith: Causes and Cures" - Shaykh Salih al-Munajjid

Blindspot

The World of Associations

In the course of their settlement in the West, Muslims have passed through several stages in the creation of associations. In the first period, it was a question of gathering together either on the basis of common origin (by creating organizations for people coming from the same country) or, more often with the aim of carrying out a project such as the establishment of a mosque. These were the two axes that most attracted new arrivals. Slowly, new kinds of structures came into being, more oriented toward education, social work, and more specialized activities (e.g. for young people, students, women) or toward Muslim representation at local and national levels.

These organizations are essential, and they must remain present and active in Western countries because they help to normalize the presence of Muslims in the West. However, it is important, at least in those countries where the Muslim presence is the most long-standing, to consider embarking on a new phase in the type of organizations invented and founded by Western Muslims. This third stage of associational structures for Muslims should make it possible for them to create new organizations that, while complementing what is already being done in the field, will be set up around shared values, social projects, and causes and will not be based simply on the Muslim identity of its founders. These will not be partnerships with other associations but, taking one step further, will represent shared commitments within one association.

This type of involvement is more complex on the ethical level because, in a situation where we are not "among our own," we must sometimes face situations or behaviour that are not in harmony with our values or codes of conduct. By making time for dialogue and explanation, by defining clearly the boundaries of commitment, it is possible to find areas of agreement.

Many Muslims, still unsure of their identity and of what people think of them, are afraid of going too far in this direction, but in the end this is the direction in which the Islamic association landscape in the West is bound to evolve - Muslim citizens distributed among cultural networks, working in specialized "Islamic associations," and ultimately participating in bodies that unite those with pluralistic beliefs and common values. In the end, this is the universal dimension of Islam, integrating pluralism and human diversity.

Source:
"Western Muslims And The Future of Islam" - Tariq Ramadan, pp. 157-158

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