Bismillah, wa-Salaatu wa-Salaam 'ala Rasulillah.
Peace unto those who heed the righteous guidance. The Mercy and Forgiveness of the Most High unto those who turn to Him with a sincere and sound heart after having turned away. Our beloved, holy prophet, the greatest worshipper and human example to exist on this planet, and Allah's final messenger to man has taught us that there is not a single descendant of Adam (alayhi salaam) except that he or she is a sinner, but the best of sinners are those who repent. Muhammad ibn Abdullah has told us that everyone will go to Jannah (Paradise) except those who do not want to go. With befuddled ganders from his companions, the Sahabah, he was asked, "Ya Rasulillah" (O Messenger of Allah), who doesn't want to go to Jannah?" To which the response of our beloved prophet was: "those who do not want to obey their Lord."
O Muslim, do not be shy or apologetic about our Deen. We know it is the answer and solution to humanity. The only way to Allah and the only way He has sent down to His prophets and messengers that we should adhere. The only means to achieve true peace, success and happiness in this life and the Hereafter. Not just temporal peace and happiness, but inner and outer, complete and lasting peace and happiness whose side effect is only unfathomably greater peace and happiness. Not hangovers or guilt. May we be grateful and proud of being Muslim in this day as we will, in'sha'Allah, on THAT Day. May Allah continually increase in iman, taqwaa, hikma and knowledge of His Deen whosoever wants it. Ameen.
Indeed Almighty Allah, azza wa jall, is praised whether we praise Him or not, yet humbly we praise Him and are penitent to Him. We seek refuge in Him from the evil of ourselves, our own desires and ego in that we aren't so invested and concerned with the dunya, even the helal, that it distracts us from al-Akhira. Recalling our purpose and responding to our goal. For what good is knowing when we act as though we know nothing at all? We seek refuge in Allah from the evil consequences of our deeds. Whomever Allah, who is independent of all while all are dependant on Him, guides none can misguide, yet whoever Allah allows to be lead astray none can guide. And whoever is left to their own path will always be misguided. I bare witness that there is nothing, not a deity, object, entity or organism worthy of worship except Allah. And I testify that Muhammad, alayhi salaatu wa salaam, is the best among His servants and final Messenger.
To proceed...
My intention here is to share a direct challenge to us, Muslims in the West, from respected speaker Sh. Yasir Qadhi as to what our goal should be as a religious minority in secular lands. Establish Hijrah? Establish a Caliphate? I believe in a land where secured the right to follow Deen ul-Haqq (the way of Truth), to practice the religion of Allah through the submission and worship of Allah, then we should do precisely that. The more we practice by not only praying, fasting or giving charity, but by assisting others in need and standing for justice. Even cooperating and protesting alongside non-Muslims in matters of justice and righteousness as Allah urged us in ch.50 v.2 of the Qur'an where He has said what means: "help ye one another in righteousness and piety..." By exhibiting our disproval of injustice and oppression, exhibiting our desideratum for peace, fairness and goodness among humanity and animals as Islam calls us to will only intrigue and draw others to the perfect guidance.
The best dawah and our finest argument is indeed the practice of our beautiful religion. Through the implementation of Islam will others more effectively become receptive to the message of Islam. And what is naturally to occur in a secular dimension where the majority has embraced the perfect guidance of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala? This goal is only theoretical at this point and what's immediately critical is that we simply exercise our right to be Muslims. Not all of us are in consensus on this issue, but it is good to engage in a respectable dialogue as to reach a conclusion. Brother Yasir Qadhi puts it very well in his speech I will include below, enjoy:
I encourage feedback and ideas of all sorts among our Western Ummah with regards to this matter. Jazakum'Allahu khayran.
Can it be that I've raised an eyebrow or two with my seemingly apathetic and one-may-argue "radical" stand in these coming elections? Perhaps I've disengaged a mandibular joint? Allow me to first be especially clear that I'm not implying voting is haraam or that one is sinful for casting a vote. Unless any evidence from Qur'an or Sunnah I'm not aware of should come to my attention affirming such, this is not my suggestion.
I would encourage all Muslims be politically active within their States and local bounds. As it is practically an article of our faith to value family, education and religious rights, we should investigate and support local candidates of State and Board of Education Offices we feel best serve our interest. However, on a federal level, the voting process is much too shifty for my taste.
Once upon a time voting was the right solely belonging to wealthy, landowners who a century later extended voting rights as a means to pacify a raging working class and disgruntled groups and control the rebellions they were subsequently verging. And to underhandedly ensure the elite sustained the final call as to who gets elected, they employed the Electoral College. We, the people did not vote nor was our opinion even inquired on the matter of the Electoral College. In this case, the popular vote does not elect the President. In this case, not every vote counts, or at least, not every vote counts EQUALLY.
Also, no matter how promising, reforming and well-intended a President may be. They can only change but so much. It should be noted that Congress is vested all legislative power. And overall, we should always be leery of how this government invests its foreign interest. We must consider our Ummah and think universally.
And what kind of staggers the line of relevancy and offhand in light of this topic is the imperativeness of recalling our status as being Muslim first. Our Islam is to take precedence over every other consequential aspect of ourselves. Regardless of our occupation, nationality, ethnicity, ancestral claim, quirks, preferences, etc... it should all facilitate our Islam. "La ilaaha ill Allah" reminds us that our obligation is first to Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala. And the more we improve and perfect as servants to Allah, the more we improve in our roles as spouses, parents, workers, brothers, sisters, friends and so-forth in turn.
"La ilaaha ill Allah"... what better way to keep things in perspective?
"...I ask you: 'are many lords differing among themselves better, or the one Allah, Supreme and Irresistible?'" -Qur'an (interpretation of the meaning) 12:39
All praise and gratitude belong only to Allah. As enticing as it may be to get up, get out there and vote for "a change we can trust", my stance as presented in my "Let's Talk, America" Myspace blog remains. Indeed. Even in the face and height of this economic crisis, corporate hysteria, the madness over who's more qualified, nail-biting poll projections, "maverick", "ticket", "they just don't get it", concern or lack thereof over policies and issues, who's going to do what about whatever, historical election, the most important election in history and McCaine/Palin yard signs in my neighborhood so grandiose they're actually billboards, no problem have I to shamelessly announce that A.V. still stands for Ain't Voting.
Reason number one, as Muslim, as Abdul Vakil --Servant of the Trustee and Dependable-- I bare witness that Allah alone has the right to legislate and I place my complete reliance, tawakul, in Allah, azza wa jall, alone. Number two, both "tickets" have an outspoken, unwavering support for Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine, the Saudi Family's oppressive dictatorship over the Arab people and the many military bases implanted and scattered throughout the Middle East which, ironically, produces more and more terrorists and vehement hatred against our country counterproductive to the very agenda it's government claims to carryout with regards to reducing and ultimately eliminating terrorism altogether.
Granted, as Americans, we're always presented with the choice of casting a vote for the lesser of two evils, but frankly, personally... I'd rather not condone or support evil on ANY level so long as I'm not subject to compulsion. Alhamdulillah, I have the American constitution's support in keeping my hands clear of any of its agendas causing the suffering and deaths of thousands-to-millions here and abroad. We are free to worship Allah for the betterment of ourselves and our condition in the Hereafter. And may the suffering and unjust killing of those faithful to Him be sufficient for His Mercy to grant them Jannah. Ameen.
With the above disclosure aside, I have no doubt that nothing is to stand in the way (even my refusal to vote) of the force that is Sen. Barack Obama from winning the White House, presiding as this country's 44th president. Again, I'm not voting, I'm not endorsing, I'm not placing any bets and I'm not claiming prescience or to have obtained inside information of any kind from any source. I couldn't start to explain why, and as much as I hate and would like to avoid sounding astrological or mystic (au'du billah), but it just "feels" like that's the only conclusion to which this whole barnstorm will arrive.
Although it doesn't matter, either to me or this system who gets in, if it should turn out the way I "feel" then I think on the face of such an event will at least have a healthy, positive effect and impression on America's youth and documentary. Or it may do so for a protracted period before we realize how cruel and deceptive of a joke it was. Our country's conquest and Machavellian strife for global dominance will remain either way. Yes, even the president has strings.
Depicted aside is the 11th century Muslim scientist, preeminent in his field, developer of the scientific method and pioneer of optical physcis, Ibn al-Haytham. He, however, is not the main point of discussion in this blog. I'm merely dishing that in here as a bit of a "did you know..." fun fact kind of thing. An astronomical point in history, needless to say.
No. Quickly, I just wanted to share a short encounter and the particular thought which derived from said encounter.
I'm quite crafty about advancing the slightest excuse to slide in a little da'wah in any conversation I find myself engaged. This way I invite to the truth and so that no one who knows me will not be able to curse me for not informing them about it on that Promised Day.
And so a colleague brings up childbirth, we had just found Celestone ordered for a delivering patient after a frantic search so naturally the subject arose. I then come around to sharing verses in the Qur'an alluding to embryonic development, which swiftly led to glossing over its revelation of the water cycle, the invisible barrier preventing the fresh water from mixing with the salt water in the meeting of oceans, it's allusion to the Great Explosion and Big Crunch theories and it's mention of the universe expanding. Impressive remarks having nothing to do with our life purpose and salvation, I know, but these signs of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, are captivating to those who reason.
After our discourse they asked if I thought science proved my religion. To which I responded: "No. It's absurd to suggest science proves my religion." And with my best impersonation of Denzel Washington impersonating Malcolm X I said: "Science doesn't prove my religion. My religion proves science!"
I share this to remind us to avoid the mistake of claiming that science or scientific fact supports Islam. It is in fact the other way around whereas it's Islam that supports science or scientific fact. Before science as a field of study was even conceived, Islam already was and has since the moment Allah commanded: "kun".
