 By Amjad Rafiq
An analysis of the reasons for what ails the Muslim nation.
So the knowledge has disappeared and the common people like ourselves are lost, devoid of the correct knowledge, unable to make sense of the confusion and separation we find ourselves in.
Indeed All praise belongs to Allaah. We praise Him, seek His aid and His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from the evils of our souls and the evils of our actions. Whomsoever Allaah guides there is not to misguide and whomsoever Allaah misguides there is none to guide. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, without any partners and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.
If we look around at the state of affairs with perception we will find that we Muslims have strayed from the clear path, have become confused and ignorant of the knowledge which was revealed to Muhammad (saws). This is something which had been forewarned by the Messenger (saws).
The Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said:
Verily Allaah does not take away the knowledge by snatching it from the people but he takes away the scholars until there remain no scholars and the people take the ignorant ones as their leaders so they are asked and give judgement without knowledge so they go astray and lead others astray [Muslim]
Abu Dardaa' said: We were in the company of the Messenger (saws) when he fixed his gaze to the sky and said:
The time is coming when knowledge will be taken away and people will be unable to acquire it
The Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) also said as is reported in Bukhaaree:
From among the portents of the hour are :
that religious knowledge will be taken away
religious ignorance will prevail
drinking of alcoholic drinks
and a prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse Bukhaaree
Al-Awzaa'ee one of the great scholars of the earliest generation of Muslims explains what is knowledge: "Knowledge is what the companions of Muhammad (saws) conveyed. Anything other than that is not knowledge"
and Ibn Qayyim al Jawzee explains: "Knowledge is the realisation of guidance with its proof"
So the knowledge has disappeared and the common people like ourselves are lost, devoid of the correct knowledge, unable to make sense of the confusion and separation we find ourselves in.
This not due to anything except the abandonment of the clear guidance which was left by the Messenger (saws)
Listen to the words of Muhammad (saws)
I have left you upon clear guidance (whiteness: clarity, clearness) its night is like its day. No one swerves or deviates from it except that he is destroyed
My brothers and sisters ask yourselves: since the Prophet (saws) departed who has been destroyed and is being destroyed. In every century it has always been the Muslims who have been destroyed whether by means of oppressive rulers like al-Hajjaaj ibn Yoosuf the tyrant or nations like the Mongols and the tartars or the crusaders and also in modern times where Allaah has mobilised His disbelieving servants against us. Has given the disbelievers strength and power and unleashed them against us.
Allaah the Exalted said:
{Mischief has appeared on the land and the sea because of what the hands of men have earned in order that Allaah may give them a taste of the actions they have committed and in order that they may return}
Return to what:
To the sincere and correct 'Ibaadah for which we were created and upon which all matters revolve, upon the clear straight path left for us by the Messenger (saws) which doesn't deviate to the left or to the right and which has been preserved by the Mercy of Allaah {in order that we may return to it}
So without a doubt we have gone astray, on an individual level and a collective level and as a result the correct beneficial knowledge has disappeared, has been taken away and nothing remains but ignorance.
So when we look around us and look at our sad state of affairs we try to find solutions to our problems with our opinions and intellects, based upon ignorance, completely divorced from the clear path of the Messenger (saws) that is his authentic Sunnah.
Every one of us seems to have his own opinions as to what he thinks and it doesn't concern him whether something exists from the words of the Messenger (saws) from his pure and preserved Sunnah, which contain guidance about a particular matter.
Listen to the words of Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood: "You are in a time whose scholars are many and its speakers few and after you will come a time whose scholars are few and speakers are many"
Knowledge was much then and speech was little and that was because of the fear of Allaah and now knowledge is little and speaking is much and that is due to the lack of the fear of Allaah and lack of understanding and perception because we no longer hold onto, with our molar teeth, like we have been advised by the Messenger (saws) the guidance left for us.
There is nothing which has a greater effect on the hearts and minds of the people except the pure words of Allaah and His Messenger (saws) and the words of the Companions and those after them who had keen insight, clear perception (as a result of the knowledge they possessed and acted upon). So they had clear perception so powerful that they could discern:
Truth from Falsehood no matter how subtle the difference,
Tawheed from Shirk, no matter how subtle the difference,
Sincerity from Hypocrisy no matter how subtle the difference,
Revelation (wahee) from the products of peoples minds and intellects no matter how eloquent, rational and logical the opinions of people may be,
Sunnah from Bid'ah no matter how beautiful, pleasing and luring the latter might be,
what is Beneficial from what is Harmful no matter how hidden the latter might be,
what is Guidance, the clear straight path left by the Muhammad (saws) which doesn't deviate to the right or to the left, from what is Misguidance
All this as a result of the beneficial knowledge which was learnt and acquired and acted upon in the right order with the right priorities
But now The beneficial knowledge has disappeared and ignorance has prevailed and priorities have been lost and the clear sharp vision of those before us has faded and become blurred and as a result the blindness and darkness of peoples opinions, ideas, solutions and remedies have become dominant and the revelation of Allaah, the clear guidance of Muhammad (saws): their words have been made redundant, of no use, and subjected and overridden by peoples intellects.
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All Praise is due to Allaah and Peace and Blessings upon His Messenger
In the first part we made ourselves aware of a number of things.
Firstly that the religious knowledge has been taken away and ignorance prevails.
Secondly that this is due to our abandonment of the clear path left for us by the Messenger.
Thirdly as a result of this mischief and oppression and confusion and division has appeared amongst us.
Fourthly that a consequence of all this we speak without knowledge and try to find solutions to the problems with our own minds and opinions and abandon the words of Allaah and His Messenger and that is why nothing changes, because the causes of downfall and correction, reformation have been left for us by the Messenger (saws)
Inshaa'allaah we will just mention one cause from the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger (saws) and from the Companions and from the Salaf and we will see how truthful and concise and wise these words are as opposed to the long winded speeches which are devoid of guidance nowadays
The Messenger (saws) said:
The very first thing to be raised from this Ummah is Khushoo' (awe, fear of Allaah) until there is not a single person in it with khushoo'
He also said:
The first thing to be raised from the people is Khushoo'
Therefore the removal of Khushoo is the single factor in the downfall of the Muslims. The single factor In our oppression, injustice done to us, the confusion amongst us.
This is what we have been taught by our Messenger (saws)
Abu Dardaa' said to one of the companions: "If you wish I will tell you what the first type of knowledge taken from the people will be - it is al-Khushoo' (the fear of Allaah- humility, submissiveness) such that if you enter a Jaami'ah Masjid and you will not see a single man who has Khushoo'"
If that is the case then the very first thing to bring back is al-Khushoo'
There are people who say weak economy is a cause, lets improve it and become as strong as the disbelievers. But Muhammad (saws) has informed us from Allaahs knowledge Inna awwala maa yurfa'u.... Weak economy is a symptom NOT a cause
There are people who say that we are politically weak. That is the cause. Lets infiltrate the political arena and gain positions of authority, But Muhammad (saws) informed us from Allaahs perfect knowledge -inna awwala maa yurfa'u min.... political weakness or lack of power is a symptom NOT a cause
There are some people who say we are intellectually defunct and this is a cause. Lets become intellectuals and use our minds to find solutions But Muhammad (saws) informed us inna awwala maa yurfa'u... Intellectual impotence is a symptom not a cause
This confusion between what is only a symptom of the problem and what is the real cause of the problem has arisen because the clear guidance of Muhammad has been lost, abandoned and other easier paths chosen.
The of Muhammad is a path of patience and discipline upon the knowledge which was revealed and all other paths are paths of hastiness, emotion, ignorance. Listen to the hadeeth of Khabbaab and see what the path of knowledge upon the Sunnah of Muhammad requires ....
We complained to the Messenger (saws) while the Messenger was sitting in the shade of the ka'bah leaning upon his cloak. We said to him "Will you not seek help for us? Would you call upon Allaah for us? He replied (listen to the request made and listen to the reply given):
Amongst those before you a man would be taken and would have a hole dug for him and he would be placed in it. Then a saw would be brought and placed on his head and it would be sawn in half, yet that would not make him abandon his religion, and his body would be torn with iron combs - the flesh from his bones and nerves being removed - yet that would not make him give up his religion. By Allaah this Deen will prevail till a rider will trave from San'aa to Hadramaut not fearing anything but Allaah and the wolf which may attack his sheep, But you people are a hasty, impatient people
What was the request of the companions?
And listen to the response of the Messenger (saws)
Being economically strong alone does not mean that such fear of Allaah and patience will develop, being politically strong alone does not mean that such patience will develop, being intellectual does not mean that such patience and firmness will develop but developing khushoo, awe fear of Allaah will in turn develop such patience and strength.
{The believers will prosper those who have khushoo (are humble submissive and hold Allaah in awe in their prayer)}
If any of you looks around carefully he will find that more than half us or even more are neglectful in their prayers. Not praying upon time People are looking to the right to the left up to the sky (no fear of Allaah) and are playing with their clothes making sure that they look alright and playing with their beards those who have them.
We are not moved by the words that we recite
Sayyid ibn Al-Musayyab commented on a man who was playing with his beard and clothes during his prayer: If this mans heart had khushoo' then his limbs would also have had khushoo'
This Khushoo is not caused by anything other than beneficial knowledge...
As Allaah the Exalted said: Indeed only those fear Allaah from among His servants those who have khushoo'
And the Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to His companions : Indeed I am the most knowledgeable amongst you regarding Allaah and I fear Him the most
Ibn Rajab (rh) a great scholar of the twelfth century says :
The beneficial knowledge all of all types of knowledge is to take possession of the precise texts of the Book and Sunnah and to understand and comprehend their meaning and to limit themselves to what is reported from the Companions, the Taabieen and the followers of the Taabi'een regarding the meanings of the Qur'aan and the Hadeeth and in what has been reported from them regarding the matters of halaal and haraam and Zuhd (not being too attached to the world and the heart affecting matters and striving to distinguish the what is authentic from what is weak firstly, then striving to understand and comprehend it secondly. and in this there is enough for the intelligent one who busies himself with this knowledge and he who stops at that and makes his intention purely for the sake of Allaah then Allaah will help him and guard him and grant him success, satisfaction, understanding and inspiration. then he will take the benefits of this knowledge which can only be obtained by this knowledge and that is the fear of Allaah (khashyatillaah) Just as Allaah azzawajall mentions
Innamaa yahkshallaaha min ibaadihil-'ulamaa'u - Indeed only those fear Allaah from among His servants those who have khushoo
then he quotes:
Ibn Mas'ood (ra) said "Knowledge is enough for the fear of Allaah and ignorance (of this knowledge) is enough for deception"
and he says: some of the Salaf used to say: "knowledge is not by reporting much (i.e speaking a lot) but knowledge is nothing but the fear of Allaah"
and some of them used to say:
"Whoever fears Allaah then he is an aalim and whoever disobeys him then he is a jaahil
Then he goes on to say that the beneficial knowledge is based around two things
1. The knowledge of Allaah and what He is deserving of from the names and attributes and highest forms of example so when one knows this in depth then it forces him and pushes him into holding Allaah in awe and reverence and fear of Him and loving Him and hoping in him and relying upon him and being satisfied with his qadaa and having patience with His Qadr (His decree)
2. Knowledge of what Allaah loves and pleases Him and Knowledge of what Allaah hates and angers Him from among the beliefs and actions both inward and outward.
So whoever knows these things it makes him rush towards whatever Allaah loves and flees and keeps away from whatever Allaah hates.
So only when this happens, only when this happens is the knowledge beneficial and only then has the person benefited from his knowledge.
This is the knowledge of Khushoo and this is the Knowledge which The Messenger (saws) said would be raised and many of the companions said likewise.
So it is upon every single one of us to attend to the beneficial knowledge and to act upon it and to gain the benefits of it and not to make it a proof against us on the Day of Judgement by neglecting it or not acting upon it like the poet said:
Behold! Knowledge when it is not acted upon is a proof against you
So to conclude and summarise
Every one of us has to
1. To correct his situation in the proper manner upon the guidance of the Messenger upon his clear path
2. to limit ourselves to what has been mentioned in the Sunnah about the causes of downfall and division and humiliation of the Muslims and throw away the opinions and empty slogans and words of the philosophers of this Ummah. The best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad that is his sunnah and the truest of all creation is the Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)
3. and when we have realised that, to reform ourselves individually and collectively in order to remove the causes of downfall. to remove the blame from ourselves on the Day of Judgement:
Just like the poet said
falaa ta'man su'aalallaahi anhu - bitawbeekhin 'alimta fahal 'amiltaa
So do not feel secure from Allaah's question regarding it - As a rebuke: You knew, so did you act?
4. That the single most significant cause in the downfall, individual and collective, is the removal of Khushoo' that is the beneficial knowledge.
So any call or shout that you hear from any of the Muslims or any group or party for reform or correction which attaches little or no importance to this, that is the correct authentic knowledge of the meaning of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah and how it was conveyed and understood by the companions and acting upon it to revive the Khushoo' which is the determining factor, any call which attaches little importance to this is futile will not work, is a deception and another trial for the Muslims.
So brothers and sisters busy yourselves in finding the beneficial knowledge and acting upon it just like our pious predecessors, the people before us did, and let it have an effect upon you just like it did upon them.
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