Eid: Celebrating the Devotion of Ibrahim (as)

I quote a few verses to show that the rank and style of worship of Ibrahim (as) are the essence itself of Islam.

When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit,’ he said, ‘I submit to the Lord of the Universe’. (Al-Baqara 2: 132).

God told Abraham (as) that he should believe in Islam, that is to say, to submit himself exclusively to Him. Then Hazrat Ibrahim (as) replied: “I believe and therefore I submit.” And when Allah ordered him to submit, then Ibrahim (as) was prepared on the spot and declared that there was no dissension between the command/ order of Allah and his own submission. He proclaimed: “Yes, I submit myself to the Creator, the Lord of the Universe.” This was the first example of Islam mentioned in the Holy Quran and no other book mentions such acceptance of Islam.

In another verse of the Holy Quran, Allah says: 

“Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian but he was continually submissive to Allah and was a Muslim. And he was not among the polytheists.” (Al-Imran, 3: 68).

“Wa maa kaana minal mushrikiin”

And he was not among the polytheists (he did not set up equals to Allah). (Al-Baqara 2: 136 & Al-Imran 3: 68, 96)

This definition of Islam refers to the aspect of idolatry, meaning that man should submit only to Allah and to none other than Him. Man (humankind) must remain “Hanif”, that is to say, exclusively turned to Allah without conferring the same importance or the same worship to other (false divinities) except to Him (the true and unique God). Hazrat Ibrahim (as) personified this exclusive worship to Allah.

Religion (or Faith/ Community) of your father Abraham. (Al-Hajj 22: 79)

This is a body of disciples who form the “Ummah” (Community) of your father, Ibrahim (as).

“Huwa sammakumul-muslimiin... ”

It is He (Allah) who has named you ‘Muslims’ ... (Al-Hajj 22: 79)

“... min qablu wa fii haaza ”

... Before (this book) and in this (Book, i.e., the Holy Quran). (Al-Hajj 22: 79)

Hajj: A Sacred Tradition-I

Surely, the first House ever to be built for mankind is that at Bakkah (Mecca), blessed and a guidance for all nations. 

In it, there are clear signs; it is the place where Ibrahim stood; and whoever enters it shall be safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty which mankind owe to Allah, (especially) those who are able to accomplish it; and whoever disbelieves, then surely, Allah is Self-Sufficient, relying not on temporalities. (Al-Imran, 3: 97-98).

In these two verses, Allah speaks of the First House which was founded for mankind, that is to say, that of Mecca “Bakkah” which is abundant in blessings “Mubaarakan” and a guide to all peoples “wa hudal-lil-’aalamiin”.

Allah also says: “Fiihi ‘Aayaatum-Bayyinaatum” – Therein are Manifest Signs. By “Aayaat”, Allah refers to those signs that lead to Allah and which come from Allah. These signs can be found in the “Maqaamu ‘Ibrahiim” ​​(the rank of Abraham).

“man-dakha-lahuu kaana ‘aamina” - All who enter it will find peace.

“Wa lillaahi ‘alan-naasi Hijul-Bayti” - the pilgrimage to the House is a duty to Allah, incumbent on all people, at least those who can find the means to get there (to accomplish it).

“Wa man-kafara” - Anyone who denies this duty and is ungrateful,

“fa-’innallaaha Ghaniy-yun ‘anil-’aalamiin” - should remember that Allah is Independent of all creatures, Allah is Self-Sufficient.

Here the word “‘aalamiin” that has been taken is related to the “‘aalamiin” from the “mubaarakan-wa hudal-lil-‘aalamiin”. “Allah has built this House in order to make humanity benefit from the divine grace. If we take the word “‘aalamiin” which says that Allah is independent of all creatures, we can then ask the question as to what is the importance of this House. This means that He cares about humanity and wants them to receive His blessing. But those who refuse His support are the only ones to be blamed.

Divine Revelations and Actual Signs

There are scientists who say that the earth on which we live is very small. Compared to other divine creations, for them the earth is only an insignificant thing. Verily, neither what they say is accurate, nor is it our belief that God reveals Himself only through a particular nation or sect. God has no connection or special love for a particular nation. 

What is correct (to state) is that God, the God of the universe as a whole has created the means to physically nourish and develop everything that He has put on earth without distinction, and according to our faith, that same God (Allah) is “Rabbul Aalameen”, that is to say, He is the One Who provides the whole universe everything we need; it is He who gives us all sorts of favours/ benefits. He has provided cereals (i.e., food and also drink), air, water, light, etc. to all His creation.

Similarly, in every period of human existence and to every nation He has, from time to time sent reformers to reform peoples. As stated in Surah Fatir of the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty is the God of the universe. 

In fact, in this regard, we find no contradiction in the scriptures that were given to the nations from time to time. This is so because the advent of a reformer is a necessity when the world tends to indulge in evil and unethical practices such as lying, stealing, quarrels and general immorality that lead people to move away from purity and virtue and to be enslaved by selfishness. Their submission to such wrong practices/ to such evils is such that they abandon the worship of God and they indulge in idolatry.

God takes care of the physical and spiritual well-being of man. His Munificence requests that in such times of spiritual darkness, He needs to appoint a person to reform (mankind) and the concept of such a representative (of God) does not affect any law of nature.

Time: A Precious Asset

“O you who believe! Fear Allah and let every soul look to what it has put forward for tomorrow, and fear Allah, for Allah is Aware of what you do.” (Al Hashar-59: 19).

Months, years, nights and days are times for action and measuring the length of life; they all end and pass very quickly.

Night and day follow each other incessantly. Time causes to move closer that which is far, it wears out what is new and even weakens the strongest. How much was expected in the future and has never materialized? And how much is hoped for tomorrow which shall not materialise?

“Allah does not grant respite to any soul when its appointed term has come. And Allah is Aware of what you do.” (Al-Munafiqun 63: 12).

In three months, a year of our life shall come to an end, to remind us that this world is not eternal. Rather, this world is a trap; how many times has it deceived people who thought that they shall live therein forever! And how many times has it killed those (people) who were immersed in it! Abdullah Ibn Umar (ra) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) took me by the shoulder and said: “Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer.” 

And Ibn Umar (ra) used to say, “In the evening do not expect (to live until) the morning, and in the morning do not expect (to live until) the evening. Take (advantage of) your health before times of sickness, and (take advantage of) your life before your death.” (Bukhari).

Years went by being a witness for us or against us; it is for us now to increase good deeds in our life, to catch what we missed and enjoy the time we have left before the destroyer of pleasures (i.e. death) overcome us.

Jabir (ra) narrated that he heard the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said to a man and he was admonishing him, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your leisure (free time) before your work, and your life before your death, because there is no forgiveness after the life of this world, and there are no home after this world except heaven or hell.”

On the authority of Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari (ra), the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Every person goes out in the morning to sell his soul, so he either frees it or destroys it.” (Muslim).

'Muslims, Stand Up for Refugees'

THE THREAT TO ISLAM

Islam does not accept the idea, widespread amidst the West (mainly the non-Muslims), of a boundary between the inner life of man and his public actions. This belief (i.e. the Islamic belief that there is no boundary between the inner life of man and his public actions) may become a sure force that will convince non-Muslims to rediscover the link between daily life and a moral order. But in doing so it goes against the current conventional Western wisdom. For some time already, the very notion of Islam makes the non-Muslims tremble. They think that the Muslim world is heading towards a confrontation with the other parts of the world who do not share its beliefs. This thus makes the European and even the US (Americans) very nervous. A quick analysis of the current situation where Islam is seen as a blood-thirsty religion only reinforces this fear. But they forget the many wrongs, the murders of poor and defenceless Muslims which they committed in order to conquer lands and properties, but primarily to eradicate Islam from these places.

In Europe, more than twenty years ago, Bosnian Muslims were, for a long brutally mistreated by the Serbians who theoretically are Christians. On the border between Europe and Asia, Armenians Christians annihilated Azerbaijanis (Azeri) Muslims, and Jews and Muslims to this day continue to kill each other in Palestine. Further to the East, there is the brutality of the Indian army in Kashmir, and the destruction in 1992 of the Ayodhya mosque by the Hindus. Such bitter experiences suggest to the Muslims that the world is against them. If this is the case, so they are against the world. This explains the xenophobia that foreigners are murdered by terrorists who brandish Quranic verses in Iraq and Syria and in other Islamic states.

'Terror' is Not 'Jihad'

THE TRUE JIHAD

In this modern day and age, when the world has become considerably smaller because of the technological advancement of the various forms of media, a word has arisen clouded with doubt, distortion and mysticism from the East to the West, before finally gaining international attention. This word is “Jihad”, or as it is better known in the West, ‘Holy War’. 

The actual root of the Arabic word ‘Jihad’ is ‘Jahd’ which signifies endurance or rigorous conditions. Thus, in essence Jihad means to strive to the utmost for the achievement of a purpose and to leave nothing undone in its pursuance. Its Islamic conception is first introduced in the following verse of the Quran.

“Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them.” (22: 40).

This verse throws a flood of light on what the Islamic concept of Jihad actually purports and it clearly shows that Jihad is fighting in defence of Truth. But whereas Islam, like I have told you before, allows no aggressive war, it regards the waging of it to defend one’s honour, country or faith as an act of the highest virtue. According to Islam, man is God’s noblest handiwork. He is the cause of His creation, its aim and end. Therefore, it is only natural that the religion which has raised man to such a high pedestal should also have attached very great importance and sanctity to honour life. Of all things, man’s life, according to the Quran is most sacred and inviolable. It is a sacrilege to take it except under rare circumstances which the Quran has specifically mentioned in the following verses:

Signs of Trial: Diseases, Calamities

THE APHTHOUS FEVER 2016

Like you all know, since July and beginning of August 2016, Rodrigues Island witnessed a major foot/ hoof and mouth disease, that is, the Aphthous Fever among its cattle. 

This is a highly infectuous virus which has rapidly attacked the cattles of Rodrigues, making it necessary to cull them (about a thousand animals from Rodrigues and Mauritius were slaughtered). And as a part of our cattle also originate from Rodrigues, during an investigation, it was found that a cargo of cattle originating from Rodrigues already reached Mauritius, but it was put in Quarantine. From that day on, a psychosis among the Mauritian farmers and also the Mauritians in general has settled.

EID-UL-ADHA 

As the Eid-ul-Adha is coming in a few days, the Muslims have made heard their worry concerning the Qurbani/ Udhiya. While some Muslims have negotiated to import cattle from Africa, nevertheless, the fear of contamination and sickness due to the virus is worrying the Muslims and the Mauritians in general. Many are taking precautionary measures and not participating in Qurbani this year.