Term & Age limits: a short musing on political and religious leadership

 Introduction

For our readers, I think it is safe to say that in general, United States president Donald Trump's term in office, particularly the second (and current) term has been marked with chaos, irrational actions and statements. Foreign policy has been a mess, an illegal war upon Iran, with shifting rationale and goals, whose main beneficiary is of course Israel.  His supporters, in a similar vein, totally ignore the EPSTEIN FILES and seemingly have even elevated him to a Christ-like status, as illustrated in the defense given by Pastor John Marks Burns (an advisor to President Trump himself) of a golden statue of Trump, unveiled recently at a Miami golf-course.

These, and his many famously other actions, have prompted me to think on many topics, among them the impact of age on a leader. This question has also been posed (at least in my mind) in other areas that have little political impact, such as within the religious and social realms. In particular, of late I have been in rather deep study of a particular figure's published thoughts on Islam, in particular scriptural understanding. I am the first to admit that there is a great amount of freedom in terms of analysis and conclusion, on the hermeneutics of Scripture, even within Islam, and while I consider myself open-minded and fair in my judgement, some of the conclusions made by this particular figure are far beyond the pale in terms of not only the boundaries of normative Islam, but even of rational and reasonable thought! In respect to the overarching good works that that particular figure has done, I will not name him, but in all honesty I think that, just as with President Trump, some level of cognitive dysfunction has created  these negative consequences. 

Term limits

In an American context, particularly for the highest office of the land, the  maximum amount of time to serve has been two terms, each term being four years.  The 22nd amendment to the United States constitution has been officially in place in order to prevent the emergence of a dictator. Of course, other nations have their own rules, many of which have no term limits for their leaders.

I believe there is great wisdom in this approach, particularly in a nation whose history is as complex as that of the United States. The USA was founded as a rebellion against the tyranny of the British royal family, as well as a safe haven for  victims of  religious persecution within Europe.  

Should there be age limits?

On the global scene, both political and non-political contexts, there has not been an age cap for leaders. Advanced age is traditionally associated with wisdom and experience, generating respect and veneration. Obviously, the format of the above varies from culture to culture.

From an Islamic perspective, meaning from the Qur'an and Prophetic statements (ahadeeth), I cannot find any set-in-stone texts on an age cap. This makes sense when we consider that the Islamic guidance is more on a general level, leaving specific questions such as that to be answered by the social norms and healthy mechanisms that exist within a particular society.

What about an "elderly" political/social system?

This is actually a more interesting question. If we were to take Italy, as an example, it is a nation in which at least a quarter of its population is deemed "elderly", second only to Japan. It is logical that a generation of people, with entrenched mindsets and an established political order, would be slow to accept change, even if such change is positive. It is also understandable that both the leadership and the general population would be reluctant to hand over the keys to others. 

In such a context where younger people are either not present or are a political minority, perhaps the best course would be to simply wait for nature to take its course. Nothing lasts forever, including centers of power. This is taught to us not only from history, but also from the Qur'an. 

"and to every 'ummah' a time limit (has been decreed).(ft.1)"  (Q 7:34)

Sooner or later, the systems fall to a fresh and more relevant way of thinking and doing.  This can have application in the context of those who hold the keys in the social and religious realms. In the case of politics, where figures and ways of thinking are often entrenched, where corruption and narcissism are prevalent, it is usually the case that such a system will break down under its own Fasaad! This was precisely the case with the Roman empire, and even as recently as the British empire (which occupied most of the globe, to the extent that the maxim "the sun never sets on the British empire" was born) and the Soviet Union. 

What about religion?

In terms of religious leadership and community, much of what has been said above also has application. However, admittedly it can get as murky as even within secular political intrigue. Those who hold the keys may have done great work with sincerity, while it can also be the case that there were insincere or hidden  interests behind their actions. Delusions can also emerge, where individuals manifest mentalities and complexes that are dangerous in one sense or another. 

If we are focusing on religious theology or practice (Ie. addressing perceived errors or distortions that are based on delusions or age-induced cognitive issues), it can be addressed in such a manner that does not generate conflict or present a disrespectful picture. This is true of our perceptions of other religions as well! 

However, it is good to keep in mind issues of age and cognitive issues, and approach situations with mercy, understanding and wisdom.

As much as possible, we should not give keys to those who demonstrate extreme cognitive issues. The Qur'an itself says this in connection to wealth (Q 4:5), but it can be applicable to other areas of power as well. In the case where the system itself has not aged well, perhaps a new system would be needed, one which bypasses the one in place. In other words, rather than overthrowing something, do something else that has its own independence and address the needs where the older system has neglected! 

May Allah give us intellect, mercy and wisdom! Ameen! 

(ft.1) In this context, I have long understood "ummatin" in this Quranic verse to refer to a center of political or civilizational power.

Current events: thoughts on the global chaos of our times

 Introduction

We are in regular contact with people worldwide, employed in a variety of contexts, crossing national, class, sectarian and even religious barriers, and what is almost universally agreed is that our world is in a state of chaos. At whatever angle we look at it, it is hard pressed to see much in the way of positive news. It is our intention, in the following paragraphs, to share some thoughts on the main events taking place, situations that can often have a direct impact on our readers. 

Iranian unrest

Protests have erupted in various Iranian cities, leading to confrontations with law enforcement in certain areas, leading to at least 538 deaths according to a PBS report. In addition to this, police officers have been killed, as well as sites such as mosques have been destroyed. I have noticed that much of the English content on these events have come from Pro-Shah supporters, filled with deliberate falsehoods regarding both the Pre and Post Khomeini era, obviously meant to influence the wider audience to see the Iranian state as unreasonable fanatics bent on world conquest. The hand of both the Trump administration and Israel are openly shown in stocking the Iranian unrest, not only in creating the environment of economic instability (via decades of sanctions, trade restrictions. covert and overt intrigue) but also in open acknowledgement of the involvement of MOSSAD (The Israeli intelligence services) on the ground.

Added confusion lies in the control of the Internet and the usage of AI technology, which can make it difficult to accurately perceive which message carries the most active support among Iranians living inside Iran. For a Western audience, particularly those who are largely ignorant of  outside historical, cultural and political realities, this is perhaps the most important question that requires an answer. Many Americans will depend upon anecdotal guidance via summarized (slanted) stories from media or from acquaintances of a  (insert which nation or region) pedigree. 

Operation Absolute Resolve & implications for the future

A brazen, yet politically bizarre, endeavor came to fruition on January 3rd, 2026 with a Delta Force group that invaded Venezuela to capture its President and his wife (Nicolas Maduro & Cilia Flores). This operation was preceded with months of bombings of particular boats and sites within the South American nation by US forces, mainly under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking to the United States. This assertion is now widely dismissed as a rather pathetic claim, which has forced the Trump administration to switch the issue towards openly expressing the intention to dominate Venezuelan natural resources, including its oil. 

Ironically, the newly available Venezuelan oil has not been tempting to everyone within the industry. ExxonMobil has expressed such  skepticism openly, to the point where President Trump himself has indicated that he is "inclined" to keep it out of any future access. Moreover, it appears that on a practical level, the oil resources would not be available anytime soon, making the entire effort null and void!

Another interesting theory is that the capture of Venezuela's oil resources would be needed to offset damage to the economic system should Iran choose to close the Straits of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil traffic passes. 

In any case, I see the future in even bigger terms that what has been described. Indeed, emboldened by the clear kidnapping of Maduro, President Trump (mostly through X) has issued threats to Columbia and Cuba. The US has conducted operations in places as diverse as Nigeria, Syria and been as of late openly threatening to annex Greenland for "security needs". 

Economics and addressing threats to Israel are not the only driving forces behind these rather odd actions. These actions are all designed to instill fear and outright terror in the hearts of friend and foe alike. Returning to Greenland, it is not enemy territory. It is a part of Denmark, which is of course a NATO member-state. The Trump bid for Greenland, by hook or crook, while certainly irrational in outer appearance, is a reminder that US power is still present and not up for dispute or negotiation. 

Xenophobia ( Immigration, ICE, Somalis)

On the domestic front, The United States of America is facing multiple issues. While most are arguably questions of legality, I actually think it is the social arena that has more of an impact that deserves attention. Xenophobia has become not only a theory that is platformed within mainstream media, but it is also normalized, as demonstrated by countless discussions we have engaged in  with people, fed by the media (devoid of depth)  on various cultural, historical and religious expressions. Often it seems as if even the poor and middle class Americans have no problem to "vote against their own interests"- as long as "the other" is somehow either punished or derived of some perceived gain.  

The Somalian community, with a strong presence in Minnesota and Columbus, Ohio, are under great scrutiny. Marriages are assumed to be of an illegal or even immoral nature, businesses as a whole are assumed to be involved in fraud, and of course the Boogeyman of "funding terrorism in Africa". While Somalis are not the only immigrant community in the United States, they make for an easy target by ambitious politicians and outright clout chasers looking for money and views in part because of their skin color and outward Muslim appearance. Thus, it is deemed acceptable to direct negative attention to them. 

The USA has always had an issue with racism within society, with official sanction or at least tolerated to a certain degree, however it has become more visible during the lead-up to the first Trump presidency, as the fear of "replacement" of Whites by Non-Whites is a real phobia. Our readers may recall the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia protests with the slogan "you will not replace us" shouted.

It is estimated that by 2045, Whites will be the minority. This is not because of some conspiracy from the outside, it is simply because of demographic growth of Non-Whites, and the decline of white birth rates. 

Thus, there are many elements which are leading to the current climate of openly expressed racist stereotypes and general xenophobia. Racism ultimately thrives on power. Indeed, It has been argued that a weak group cannot truly be "racist". ICE has been weaponized in communities throughout the United States, bringing with it a host of lawsuits, tensions with local law enforcement, and sometimes deadly confrontations, as seen with the recent death of Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A 37 year old White woman, her shooting has been seen as a stark reminder of the serious situation faced on a domestic front. 

Censorship

While most Americans became exposed to the realities of censorship, limiting freedom of speech while protesting against the genocide of Palestinians by the state of Israel, it seemed confined to academia. Universities were threatened financially to curb Pro-Palestinian activities. The September 2025 assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk has only added fuel to this fire. Academics and activists were harassed and even fired from their jobs for being critical of Kirk's views. 

Are these seemingly disparate issues connected?

Indeed these issues are connected. Their main connection is that they expose that the empire is decaying. I find it ridiculous that funds can be directed towards financing armies overseas, destabilizing other nations, as well as the activities of ICE, yet homelessness remains a great challenge. 40% - 60% of Americans cannot meet their basic financial needs, and we read in the book Broke in America: Seeing, Understanding and Ending U.S. Poverty by Joanne Samuel Goldblum and Colleen Shaddox that "the United States is doing virtually nothing to change the situation..the government spends far less on programs to make housing available...Policy and what one advocate calls " the commodification of housing" encourages surging prices that literally leaves too many people out in the cold." (pg.53).

When the leadership chooses to ignore issues such as this and concentrate on vilifying others, it shows that they have no vision for the future, other than temporary glitter. Much has been made of the Iranian protests, which initially started as a reply to the devaluation of the local currency. Yet, the current government, preceded by the rule of the Pro-West Shah  (Mohammed Reza Pahlavi) had much of the same evidence of decay. In 1971, the Shah had thrown a party, celebrating the 2500 year anniversary of the Persian empire. It was extravagant. French cuisine was served. An entire tent city was built. The total cost of this week-long event, attended by over sixty world dignitaries, was estimated to be around $500 million.  Average Iranians not only had little freedom, they had little food. This, along with a host of other things (including torture, killings and general oppression) build up the resentment that eventually led to the downfall of the Shah's regime in 1979.

We have something similar in Washington. President Trump wants to build a ballroom in the White House, as well as adding to the West Wing. The costs for these endeavors are expected to be about $400 million! All the while, the same president has demanded the homeless of Washington, D.C. to be removed (in Aug.2025) in order to make the District Of Columbia "safe and beautiful".

What can we do?

It is fortunate that in an American context there is still some significant measure of freedom within the political culture. Citizens can and should exercise their political rights, such as engaging in voting, all the while, we have to learn not to be so dependent on governments nor corporations. For all the above issues, the solutions can be summarized as follows.

(1) Be educated : Try to do a little bit more research on important topics. Reading physical books as opposed to dependence on websites. 

(2) Strengthen your connection to a healthy family and community; These are the real social security nets, more dependable than those at the whims of government and corporations. 

(3) Where possible, share accurate information with open minded individuals. This is particularly relevant to Muslims when presenting Islam. The religion of Islam has been deliberately misrepresented by the same forces we have discussed within this article. They use all manner of false propaganda. Thus, sharing accurate information on Islam is not only an issue of social survival, it is also a religious obligation ( Q 16:125).

(4) Be cognizant of safety concerns.

(5) Strengthen your financial freedom and movement security. This means having a marketable skill set, good social ties, discipline in spending and keeping a valid passport.

Qur'an study notes: reflections on the light of guidance (Al Qamar 54:1-10)

 Introduction

As many of our readers know, we have a Qur'an study session weekly, an activity that has been taking place for years at locations where I am teaching. In addition, over the years I have joined other study circles in which aspects of scripture are explored. These sort of activities are very rewarding, and often provides the foundation for which we can begin to contemplate further, explore deeply, and attain the ingredients for spiritual and even worldly growth. 

The following is an edited version of my notes from a session we conducted September 21st, 2025 at Masjid Ibrahim. We have this session every week in person, it is open to all, and is broadcast live on our Facebook page ("The Masjid Ibrahim").  We have endeavored to present further clarity on the concepts explored in that session in the body of our current article. Please note that I do not intend to present this as an authoritative Tafseer (exegesis) that excludes other views.  Our reflection could frankly be incorrect, thus, we always need to have the intellectual caveat that is captured in the expression Allahu A'lam or God knows best. 

The text below comes from the opening words of the fifty-forth chapter of the Qur'an, known as Soorah Al-Qamar,  the title translating simply to "The moon", It is important to note that while the translation has not been given here (at least not word-by-word), the article highlights the need for contextual reading as well as deriving as much of the meanings from the overarching Quranic vocabulary found throughout the sacred text. Bismillaahir Rahmaaner Raheem

In the name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Ever-Merciful

ٱقْتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلْقَمَرُ

وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ ءَايَةًۭ يُعْرِضُوا۟ وَيَقُولُوا۟ سِحْرٌۭ مُّسْتَمِرٌّۭ

وَكَذَّبُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍۢ مُّسْتَقِرٌّۭ

وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ

حِكْمَةٌۢ بَـٰلِغَةٌۭ ۖ فَمَا تُغْنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ

فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ ۘ يَوْمَ يَدْعُ ٱلدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ نُّكُرٍ

خُشَّعًا أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌۭ مُّنتَشِرٌۭ

مُّهْطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِ ۖ يَقُولُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ هَـٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَسِرٌۭ

كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍۢ فَكَذَّبُوا۟ عَبْدَنَا وَقَالُوا۟ مَجْنُونٌۭ وَٱزْدُجِرَ فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَغْلُوبٌۭ فَٱنتَصِرْ

Verses 1-4) The traditional understanding of the opening words of this Soorah is that the moon was split, (thus, wanshaqqal Qamar) for all to see, in the Prophet’s time, to prove the veracity of his message. The term “hour” (As-saa’ah) is understood in eschatological terms. In opening the study of this text regarding time, we should remember that time-as we conceive it-has no impact on God. The Qur’an tells us that a day in the sight of Allah is like a thousand years of our counting ( Q 22:47 and 32:5). 

While Qur’an (75:9)  definitely asserts that the sun and moon will be brought together, an indicator of the coming day of judgement, there seems to be some flexibility in the interpretation of the present verses. The nearness of the hour and the cleaving of the moon (iqtarabat as saa’atu wanshaqqal Qamar) can be understood as referring to the brightness, beauty and relevance of the Prophet’s mission. It is as clear as the moonlight as in the evening sky. 

The brightness of the message is clear to those who are willing to simply look, to investigate and contemplate, yet, the obstinate rejectors dismiss it as “magic”. Rather than denying the light in some rational fashion, they try to cover it up. 

“They want to extinguish Allah’s light with their mouths, yet Allah perfects His light, regardless of the hatred of the Kaafiroon” ( Q 61:8).

Verse three says such persons only seek to follow their own whims (ahwaa-ahum) even if and when historical precedent shows the folly of their behavior and mindset. I will leave it to you, dear reader, to ponder  if this is a situation we see today, with the contemporary mindset of our systems and leadership, particularly in the political realm.

(verse 5) The Prophetic message is a wisdom of great eloquence (Hikmatun Baalighah), yet, just as with historical precedents and the insightful warnings provided by thinkers, historians, scientists of all fields, that wisdom and warnings are ignored by the rejectors of faith. George Orwell’s work 1984, penned at the end of the devastation of World War 2, shows us the pitfalls of ignoring the warnings. Such people also fall under the category highlighted by God’s statement “Allah has sealed their hearts, hearing, and vision..” ( Q 2:7).

(VV. 6-8) For the obstinate, there seems to be no hope, except by a miracle of Allah. We can only try so much, and when they are extreme in their fanatic rejection, leave them to their devices. This teaching is likewise found throughout the Qur’an.

(VV.9-10) The story of Noah, especially in this context, is a powerful reference. Noah spends so much time attempting to literally save his society, but they did not take heed. Eventually, he ends up only saving those few who were reasonable.

Thus, in context, The message of Muhammad as found within the Qur’anic revelation is like the ark of Noah, if we want to avoid being drowned in the seas of misguidance and destruction, we need to board that ark.

"None touch it except those who are purified" ( Friday Khutbah recording at Masjid As Sabur)

 As salaamu alaikum

Below is a recording of a recent Khutbah delivered at Masjid As Sabur, mostly around the Quranic verse "None touch it except those who are purified"

Click here

Leadership: some reflections on its impact

 Introduction

The United States has witnessed another  presidential election cycle in which Donald J. Trump was victorious. Despite the widely held views against him of being racist, sexist, another tool for the financial elites, and the many court cases that have been launched against him, he has emerged seemingly stronger than ever.

This, along with other unmentioned factors, has influenced me to reflect on the entire concept of leadership. While I do have my own political views, and occasionally share them on this platform, the purpose of this article is to articulate thoughts on leadership, in light of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad in particular.

Who should  never be the leader?

We have a very interesting hadeeth, the report therein being that two men came to the Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace and blessings, seeking to be appointed to leadership positions, to which he-Sall Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam, replied " By Allah, we do not appoint someone to the post who seeks it or competes for it." (reported in Al-Bukharee and Muslim). Can this notion, as present in the above report, be applied to the modern world, particularly in nations that operate under representative democratic systems? 

I believe that the Prophet is speaking about the narcissistic personality types, those who crave power and authority for selfish or egotistical reasons. He is warning us that such types, who seek out power, are more harmful than good, and thus, at core- not fit to hold office. They don't have the calling for service, only that of satisfying appetites. 

This is the type that is in love with a throne. They are so hungry for it, they would rather be a king in Hell than a servant in heaven, to paraphrase John Milton's Paradise Lost.  While it is tempting to leave the aforementioned hadeeth as a stand-alone text, when we combine it with other ahadeeth, we get a frightening picture. 

An even bigger picture

Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah said " When booty will be taken in turn, trust (Amaanah) treated as booty, Charity viewed as burdensome, learning becomes for non religious reasons, a man obeys his wife and abandons his mother, he keeps his friend close but alienates his father, loud voices emerge from the Mosques (Masaajid, i.e. places of worship), the Faasiq becomes leader of a group , a man is respected out of fear from his harms ( Wal Akramar-rijaalu makhaafata sharrih).." (Tirmidhee).

The above is mentioned in context of signs of the end times. Even if we ignore the eschatological implications, it can be taken that all these items, including evil folks attaining power, are powerful signs of the beginning of the end of a civilization, when mutual support (even family ties) are unreliable, when agreements mean nothing and the places of worship are treated as concert halls. 

At a minimum, such texts as above should be seen by students of social sciences, cultural anthropologists, commentators, the movers and shakers of society, that items such as those listed above need to be carefully observed and addressed in order to deliver salvation to the society.  

Other reports in hadeeth literature warn us about evil or unworthy leadership, and the Divine punishment for those who abuse their power. 

Who and what should lead us?

Ultimately the leader is not simply one who sits in a chair and makes huge  proclamations. The father is a leader, the husband is a leader, the one who stands in front during prayers (in Islam at least) functions as leader, and the qualities needed by that leader includes intelligence, patience, knowledge (of the fields needed to fulfill whatever role applicable), and, most importantly, the opposite of the negative qualities mentioned in the hadeeth cited earlier. The "leader" is often noticed by good people because they are already doing the work of leadership even if no formal title has been assigned. The leader "leads" (in the sense of already doing the work) out of love for community, for faith, with a sense of family values, who is trustworthy, wise, God-conscious, who inspires the best out of people. The  leader will often make sacrifices out of his own time and resources for the betterment of those who he has responsibility for, without seeking limelight or recognition. 

Whatever one thinks of one particular leader or another, one political party or another, or even one religious figure over other religious functionaries, all of us have some level of responsibilities that we have to care for. In other words, the warnings of the Prophet -peace be upon him- in these citations have application to us as well. 

Leadership as needed in the affairs of the global Ummah

If our leaders in the powerful Muslim countries had more awareness, particularly of the ahadeeth that have been cited here, I truly believe that things such as the genocide of Palestinians, the de facto civil war in Sudan, etc. would not be taking place. In those regards, the leadership have a responsibility to address those things, they have a responsibility to the public, for the public good , as well as a responsibility before Allah. 

It is frustrating to see the levels of injustice in the world, be it from outside forces or from within our own ranks.  For the moment, we can only pray and hope that we-as individuals within our own sphere or circles, live up to the clear responsibilities we have, and that Allah creates a better situation for mankind, in those aspects which we as human beings have failed. 

The dangers of unnecessary stretches: theological, political and personal implications

 Introduction (Political examples)

The entire world watched the debate between the leading presidential candidates (Kamala Harris and Donald Trump) that took place September 10th, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Among the issues discussed were economics, health care, various world conflicts, and a host of other issues important to American voters, yet arguably the most memorable (and widely ridiculed assertion) was that made by Mr. Trump in which he asserted that Haitian migrants were actually eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. 

Although broadly dismissed by local authorities see here, nonetheless the claim has generated a great deal of unwanted attention to the small Midwest town, even bomb threats ( Details here). This is not the first (nor- I fear- will it be the last) time that false or misleading claims were made for political benefit. Claims about child sex slavery involving Hillary Clinton and a Washington, D.C. restaurant led to an attack on the restaurant in question in Dec. 2016 See here. 

A bit of research revealed scattered rumors of migrants capturing pets, some of which were not even associated with Springfield, Ohio, seems to have started via a Facebook post with a short speculation (See NBC article here) by one person. 

                                            (An example of how Mr.Trump's claim was ridiculed)

The dangers of unnecessary stretches, leaps in judgement, are very apparent in the above examples. That such accounts are exploited for public viewing, to (as the Qur'an states) " seek a fleeting gain", is disgraceful and a sad commentary on the political culture prevalent in our society. As individuals, regardless of background or opinions, we should be willing to see everything in context and not allow ourselves to engage in what can possibly become self-defeating behavior and thinking.

Debate on the nature of Qur'an: another stretch

For about a year now, I have been asked questions about a very obscure theological matter that was debated and largely dealt with within Muslim ranks over a 1,000 years ago. That issue is the nature of the Qur'an. The question as to whether it is "created" (makhlooq ) or "uncreated" (ghayrul makhlooq). 

To summarize, a philosophical trend known as the Mu'taziliah  emerged among Muslim elites, beginning in the 8th century, which proposed a number of hermeneutical alterations, among them (relevant to this article) is the nature of the Qur'anic revelation. They still believed the Qur'an to be from God but argued that it is "entirely created". The stretch they were making on this issue is that if the Qur'an is seen as "eternal", this gets in the way of the concept of God being "eternal". This also influenced perceptions of Divine actions (Af'aal ) and the divine attributes (as given in Islam). The classical example to explain this perception is that of God's speech. "God speaks, but the attributes (of speaking) are not eternal, rather what is eternal (and from which God really communicates) is his essence."

This is a stretch and amounts to unnecessary confusion! It's simply playing with words. I admit that I have a great deal of respect for the historical trend of the Mu'tazilites. After all, no one can deny their impact on Quranic hermeneutics. The masterful Quranic commentary known as Tafseer Al Kashshaaf by Abul Qasim Mahmud b. Umar Az Zamakhshari (d. 1143 C.E..) examines the scripture largely through linguistics and has become the standard for the commentary literature employed by all the various movements within Muslim history. I also agree that many of the theological positions advanced by their thinkers have strength, but in the issue of the nature of the Qur'an, the stretch is just unneeded. 

The mainstream Sunni position is that the Qur'an is "uncreated", but even employing this terminology is simply a reaction to the theological stretch of the Mutazilites. Ultimately, the primary reason this became an issue is that of certain elites, with government backing, saw themselves as "enlightened", and advanced such rhetoric for political gain(ft.1). This is precisely what occurred with the examples from recent U.S. events cited above. 

Persecution, violence, and death occurred during the debates on this made-up issue, all of which was unnecessary, especially since the Mutazilites and the "traditionalists" all accept the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam)  as coming from Allah ta'alaa.  

In today's world, the Sunni position on this obscure question has become dominant, although the idea of the Qur'an as a "creation" does have resonance with the minority Ibadi sect(ft.2) and the majority of Shiites(ft.3), and while it would have been an issue confined to history, this old argument has been rehashed by Christian apologists, the latter with an agenda of undermining Islam and the faith of Muslims. 

The unnecessary stretches in everyday human issues

Increasingly we see people making mountains out of molehills. Families broken up, conflicts between friends and the like, over inflated mutual (mis)understandings. Of course, stubbornness also kicks in, and the modern culture (fueled by strangers on the internet) actually encourages disengaging (or worse, actual conflict) in the name of "attaining freedom" " peace of mind" "independence" and other such terms.  

Humans will always be humans. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We will not always agree on issues, even major ones. However, jumping to conclusions, leaps of judgement, emotional outbursts, bitterness, refusal for understanding the perspective of others, are very destructive. 

Even when those outbursts take place, there should still be internal mechanisms (backed by healthy social support and spiritual guidance) to calm things down. Sometimes, emotions would drive people away from God, (and from loved ones) denial of God's existence, as well as backing away from religious practices and precepts, forming extremely unhealthy religious conclusions(ft.4). 

This article has focused on theology, politics and the drives within a person. For all of those points, knowledge, patience, wisdom, forgiveness, dropping grudges, ability to see big picture, tolerance, love, are all needed. The more those qualities are present, the less we will see of discontentment. 

In conclusion, for all of these areas, the following is a relevant Quranic text, do recite and be impacted by it. "Allah is sufficient for me, none deserves worship except Him, upon Him I place my trust, He is the Lord of the magnificent throne." (Q 9:129)

Footnotes

(1) Hans Kung has given a very interesting summary of the political interests of the Caliph Al-Ma'mun, son of the famed Harun Ar Rasheed ( 833 C.E.), in backing the idea of a "created Qur'an" (as well as other theological developments). See Kung, H. (2007) Islam, Past, Present & Future Oneworld Oxford, pp.279-298.

(2) The Ibadi sect, an outgrowth of the Khawarij movement, today only exists in Oman. 

(3) Interestingly enough, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Al-Kho'ei (d.1992), one of the most influential leaders of modern Shiism, argued that the question of the Qur'an being created or not was "irrelevant to Islamic doctrine and that the intrusion of Greek philosophy caused divisions." See This link for more details

(4) Unhealthy religious conclusions include extremism, abandonment of faith and reaching wrong conclusions. Some religious movements are-for example- centered on race, breeding racism. This is totally antithetical to Islamic values (see Qur'an 30:21-22 and 49:13). Others may have "spiritual experiences" that lead them to wrong-headed and even destructive conclusions. On this, the famed spiritualist 'Abdul Qaadir Al Jilaani (d. 1166 C.E.) has stated that false spiritual experiences are among the ways that Satan will mislead even the pious. 

Zionism: A briefing from an Islamic perspective

 

                                           Zionism: a briefing from an Islamic perspective

                                                              By Shamsuddin Waheed

 

 

The latest round of violence to hit the Middle East has prompted a number of questions for Western audiences, particularly Americans, regarding the core reasons behind the conflict.  While much has been made on legacies, revenge and a host of other rhetorical devices, the core issue is actually a political ideology known as Zionism.

 

Zionism, in short, is the name of an ideology of a Jewish land for Jewish people. While this is in and of itself not necessarily an evil goal, the way it was brought about was without due consideration to others. This makes perfect sense when we see that the ideology itself is born out of a colonial mindset, in which the “native” peoples are viewed as inconsequential. The Balfour declaration of 1917, initiated by the British, had as a stated goal the transformation of Palestine (a land already populated by what we call today “Palestinians”) into a Jewish homeland, to the disenfranchisement of those already there, both Arab Muslims and Christians.

 

While it is a political ideology (akin to Apartheid), it does use religious language, the latter being very appealing to Christians. There is a bit of irony present here, because many of the early Zionist preachers of it, including its principal founder Theodor Herzl (d. 1904) was atheist, and even today extreme Jewish Zionists tend to dismiss Christians as idolaters. Nonetheless, Christian Zionists believe that God has promised the land to the Jews, based on Biblical texts (such as Gen.15:18), and that Jewish presence is necessary for the return of Jesus. If this wasn’t bad enough, many in both Israeli and American religious/political leadership desire that Israel grow from its current borders. John Hagee, a leading Texas-based pastor, has stated that “the day will come when Israel owns and control all of present-day Israel, including Jerusalem, Lebanon, the West Bank of Jordan, and most of Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia..” (CAN AMERICA SURVIVE? 10 PROPHETIC SIGNS THAT WE ARE THE TERMINAL GENERATION, PAGE 109, 2010 HOWARD BOOKS, NEW YORK).

 

In light of the current Genocidal policies clearly enacted by Israeli forces, fears of Israeli expansionism are legitimate. Yet, Islam has a totally different teaching from Zionism. Islam has morals, ethics, a recognition of human rights and religious liberty. Allah says that his covenant will not extend to oppressors ( Q 2:124). He forbids oppression of people on the basis of religion, color or gender (2:256, 60:8-9). Indeed, it can even be said that trying to jumpstart Armageddon and the return of Jesus is in itself an action of idolatry (Q 16:1-2), a mentality that –if eternally held- risks generating Divine wrath.

 

May Allah give freedom to those who are oppressed, and may we be protected from having the mentality of oppressors.

Lessons from Sacred History: Some reflections on Soorah An Noor

 Introduction

 

Islam portrays itself as a faith that is not only for the benefit of all humanity, but as a logical, practical and healthy way of life. The more life experiences emerge, the more this portrayal is found to be true. 

 

Ultimately, what Islam seeks for its adherents is a foundation for moral and spiritual development,  tools to accomplish this. This is a life-long process for most of us, and it is our belief that this is precisely why the Qur'an contains stories, be it in detailed or truncated form. One chapter which illustrates this is is the twenty-forth Soorah, called simply An Noor or "The Light". 

 

Positive conjecture is the healthy, default position to be held by people of faith 

 The Soorah makes allusions to a particular incident in the time of revelation. In brief, the Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and a number of others went on an expedition. Among the party was his wife 'Aa'ishaa. There was a point when the Muslim party had left, accidentally leaving her behind. She was discovered by a man (Safwan), the latter, with respect and intelligence, places her on his camel, walks it back to Madinah.

This caused gossip to emerge, a scandal, voiced in whispers, alleging an affair between the wife of the Prophet (referred to traditionally as "Mother of the believers") and Safwan. This Soorah speaks on this in the following words:

لَوۡ لَاۤ اِذۡ سَمِعۡتُمُوۡہُ ظَنَّ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ وَ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتُ بِاَنۡفُسِہِمۡ خَیۡرًا ۙ وَّ قَالُوۡا ہٰذَاۤ اِفۡکٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ

"Why didn't the people of  Imaan (faith), men and women (alike), when they heard it, not have a good thought of their own selves, and assert; "this is clearly false." (Q 24:12).

One of the principles we should learn from this is a principal called Husnudh dhann, or positive conjecture. Essentially, it means to assume the best before assuming the worst. When positive thinking is not present, it is an unstable foundation. Negative assumptions (soo'adh-dhann) as default is a dangerous foundation for a community as well as a family. 

Sooratun Noor has interwoven much spirituality in the discussion about an accusation of that nature, as well as laws and social etiquette.  It goes on to say:

یَعِظُکُمُ اللّٰہُ اَنۡ تَعُوۡدُوۡا لِمِثۡلِہٖۤ اَبَدًا اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِیۡنَ

 وَ یُبَیِّنُ اللّٰہُ لَکُمُ الۡاٰیٰتِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمٌ حَکِیۡمٌ

" Allah gives you admonition never to return to this (type of scandalizing), if you have faith, and Allah makes clear for you the signs, Allah is the One who knows, the wise." ( Q 24:17-18)

Prejudice as a reason behind negative assumptions

Muhammad Husayn Haykal's book The Life of Muhammad (    1995, Indianapolis, pp.334-335)              has pointed out two basic reasons behind the spread of the rumor regarding the Prophet's wife and Safwan. The first involves internal family dynamics, whereas the second was political.  Haykal points out the details, in which old tribal conflicts were once again agitated as a result of this, some taking on a sort of cause in order to solve old rivalries. 

The Qur'an focuses upon the political motivations wherein it states " Indeed, those who spread about the lie, are a powerful element ('Usbah) from your midst." (Q 24:11).

اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ جَآءُوۡ بِالۡاِفۡکِ عُصۡبَۃٌ مِّنۡکُمۡ

Prejudice entered into the picture, and this is something we can learn from today! Prejudices ( to "prejudge") are not only based on skin color, ethnicity or language. Indeed, most countries have communities therein which has biases towards others in the same country, sharing the same items listed above. 

Prejudices can come in the same community. The Non-Hijabi sees the Hijabi as fanatical, the latter seeing the former as immoral, the clean shaven views the bearded man as a zealot, the bearded Muslim looks at his clean-shaven counterpart as lacking religious commitment. The Salafi judges the Shiite, etc. 

We are quick to judge those who have even the slightest difference, even in the same community, to make negative assumptions. 

We have to learn to judge on merits and evidence, and avoid jumping to conclusions based on our prejudices. Essentially, Islam asks us to remove prejudices. 

More benefits of the Soorah

The Soorah gives guidance on a  number of issues. 

(1) In terms of accusations of adultery, an entire legal process is placed. Four witnesses (vv.4-8)(ft.1) are required before even an accusation can be made in a legal setting. Otherwise, a person bringing that to the court without this evidence is deemed unreliable and actually to face punishment (v.4). 

(2) It gives us some guidance as to marriage.(vv.32-34)

(3) It gives us some social etiquette, dress code.(vv.27-32)

(4) It gives us the beautiful "Verse of light" (Q 24:35). (ft.2)

Perhaps this is why , when the incident is spoken of, Allah says "Do not think of it as evil for you, nay, it benefits you." (Q 24:11)

 لَا تَحۡسَبُوۡہُ شَرًّا لَّکُمۡ ؕ بَلۡ ہُوَ خَیۡرٌ لَّکُمۡ

May we learn from our sacred history. That is why it is there.

Footnotes

(1)  The scholars have added, based upon Prophetic narrations, that Zinaa (adultery) must be proven via four people witnessing penetration (and no other act). This is a nearly impossible condition. This is necessary to both protect the privacy of people as well as public morals. 

(2) Ayatun Noor has fascinated readers since the Quranic revelation. I have shared some reflections on it at the following link. http://shamsuddinwaheed.blogspot.com/2008/01/divine-illumination-examination-of-ayah.html

Quranic Study Notes: Comparing faith and its opposite ( 10: 95-100)

Note: The following is a summary of my notes which form the core of regular presentations on the Quranic scripture. Unless otherwise stated, the translation has NOT been included. This allows the reader to focus on the explanations given, and to consult the translation of their choice when the need arises.


( 10:94-95)

 فَاِنۡ کُنۡتَ فِیۡ شَکٍّ مِّمَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ فَسۡـَٔلِ الَّذِیۡنَ یَقۡرَءُوۡنَ الۡکِتٰبَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ ۚ لَقَدۡ جَآءَکَ الۡحَقُّ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ فَلَا تَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡمُمۡتَرِیۡنَ

 وَ لَا تَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ فَتَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِیۡنَ





The immediate audience of the Prophet-Sall Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam-  were-despite the regularity of it now coming to him,  still found Revelation to be an unusual experience. His audience is reminded that this is actually something which has been experienced by other communities as well, and are, in essence, told to ask the members of other communities about those experiences.

This comes to the point that revelation of scripture comes with the purpose of empowering those who have faith. THIS is phased in other places as "guidance" ( Q 2:2), "light" ( 5:15), etc.. . All of these terms show that there is benefit to all of this, and ignoring it only works to do us harm.


(10:96-97)
 اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ حَقَّتۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ کَلِمَتُ رَبِّکَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ

 وَ لَوۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ کُلُّ اٰیَۃٍ حَتّٰی یَرَوُا الۡعَذَابَ الۡاَلِیۡمَ

The narcissists, those who are "in too deep" will not accept truth, regardless of the powerful evidence presented.

It is difficult for the sincere adviser when his words are not heeded. He cares for his audience, especially when they are his family or loved ones. Those loved ones are so immersed in their destructive lives, behavior and thinking that they are simply blinded to truth. The Prophet Muhammad is told in another place " Do not let their words cause you to grieve" ( Q 10:65).

If certain audience members are blind and oblivious to the warnings, to the truth, the Prophet, and those who follow him, are to simply move on.


( 10:98)
 فَلَوۡ لَا کَانَتۡ قَرۡیَۃٌ اٰمَنَتۡ فَنَفَعَہَاۤ اِیۡمَانُہَاۤ اِلَّا قَوۡمَ یُوۡنُسَ ؕ لَمَّاۤ اٰمَنُوۡا کَشَفۡنَا عَنۡہُمۡ عَذَابَ الۡخِزۡیِ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا وَ مَتَّعۡنٰہُمۡ اِلٰی حِیۡنٍ

It is not always a lost cause, as this verse points us to. As the expression goes "Lose the battle, win the war!". Jonah, or Yunus in the Quranic language, is an example of the war being won!

Jonah-' alayhis salaam-  is commissioned for Nineveh,  a civilization which had its center in Southern Iraq. He was a Prophet sent forth to them, and they- as a social unit, heeded the warnings, rectified their attitude and behavior,  and as a result, their civilization was revived!


Islam - as found in the Qur'an and as lived by the Prophet Muhammad, comes with a similar mission. This has been found to be true historically as well as within the lives of great individuals. This writer often cites as wonderful examples persons as diverse as Umar Ibn Al-Khattab and Malcolm X.

In any case, if we are to have any civilization model, let it not be Pharaoh's  Egypt, but rather that of Jonah's Nineveh.


( 10:99-100)
 وَ لَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّکَ لَاٰمَنَ مَنۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ کُلُّہُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ اَفَاَنۡتَ تُکۡرِہُ النَّاسَ حَتّٰی یَکُوۡنُوۡا مُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ

 وَ مَا کَانَ لِنَفۡسٍ اَنۡ تُؤۡمِنَ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ یَجۡعَلُ الرِّجۡسَ عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَعۡقِلُوۡنَ

Imaan (faith) is life-saving, and a new injection of life is delivered to a society which accepts that Imaan. However, it cannot be done at gunpoint. It has to be voluntary, done with full awareness and sincere acceptance.

The latter statement in v.100 is quite powerful in the original Arabic. A rather rough sounding translation is as follows "And He( Allah)  makes 'Rijs' for those who don't use their minds".

Rijs means that which is abhorrent, disgusting, loathsome. In other words, when the mind is not used, particularly in areas of faith, God will put on them signs of being abhorrent.

While contextually this is faith-related, I believe we can see this outside of that as well. Rejection (Kufr), a topic which has been addressed here comes as a result of blindness, arrogance, tyranny and the like. In other words, they have been unable to use their minds, not only in a limited "religious" sense, but in the social and political as well. The rather frightening populism gripping not only the USA but UK to a limited sense has daily, often filmed, examples of irrational xenophobia. Spanish speakers are most often singled out, harassed and even physically attacked when heard conversing in their native language.

In the Qur'an (5:90) the same term Rijs is used in connection to intoxicants, gambling and the like. These things have destructive capacities which are well known. Mainly, these items are not only addictive, they affect the minds of its captives ( a carefully chosen word) in a negative way.

So faith should be- at its core- intellectual- having arrived at it via careful study and research. IT should translate into a broad mind, it should be transforming, certainly to the extent that a person should be able to be more open minded and not easily becoming mentally captivated as we are unfortunately are witnessing today. Racism, xenophobia, and the like seem to be clear cut characteristics of Kufr.

In these regards, there is a Prophetic Supplication which reads, in part:  "O Allah, I seek refuge with you from Kufr". If we understand Kufr in its broad definition as outlined in the Qur'an, as being the core of various social and personal diseases ( in thinking), we can see the import of that supplication, as well as what Imaan itself should manifest.

Exploring how our religious and cultural biases influence our leadership decisions

( Note: The following is an edited version of my presentation for the BYU Management Society's Las Vegas chapter luncheon yesterday. In attendance were a number of political and business figures. )

In the name of God, The Most Compassionate, The Most Merciful

Theological introduction

Islam is an Arabic word meaning "Submission to God". It is our understanding that God has sent forth prophets to different audiences, with variations in priorities, but all conveying the same basic point- surrender to the Divine will. The Qur'an phrases it thusly: " To every people, a guide has been sent." ( Q 13:7)  Those who do the act of submission are called in Arabic "Muslims".

The Qur'anic teaching is that the process of the conveying of those Divine principles found its perfection in the coming of Muhammad as universal model, and in particular the Quranic scripture given through him. 

The Muslim world encompasses a great deal of cultural diversity and understandings, and already we have a clue that diversity existed with God's prophets. Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them both)  were both sent by God, however their practical functions differed. Moses was a lawgiver, while Jesus was a moralist. These are important things to understand when trying to understand the Muslims in their approaches.

Scripture read according to one's needs

The Qur'an, accessible to Muslims everywhere, is read differently by different people because it speaks to us in different conditions. A rather mundane example is that of diet. The Qur'an both disallows and allows the consumption of pork (Q 2:173 and other places). Pork is forbidden in normal circumstances, but allowed in periods of starvation. Syrian scholars have allowed eating cats and dogs, due to the lack of access to food because of the civil war.

Spiritual foundation needed for proper decision making

The Qur'an says "Verily, prayer restrains from immorality and repugnant actions" ( Q 28:45). This shows us that prayer is supposed to influence our decision making process, regardless of what position we are in. 

Muslims pray a minimum of five times daily, at times spread out through the day. Prayer reminds us of God, His presence and it provides us with an injection of consciousness and sense of responsibility. The more you pray, the stronger your fortification will be against immorality, repugnant actions and thoughts.

The Qur'an gives the same basic moral code as found within other religious traditions ( i.e. worship God, prohibitions against killing, theft etc), but what happens when a particular situation arises where we can't figure out the answer to it?

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave three important statements which answer this question.

Leave off that which gives you doubt for that which gives you certainty. 

Righteousness is good character, and sin is that which wavers in your soul.

Another statement attributed to the Prophet goes even further. A man comes to the Prophet to inquire as to his ( i.e. the Prophet's) definition of righteousness. The Prophet responds "Consult your own heart. Righteousness is that which the soul feels tranquil about, and sin is that which causes unrest in the soul, even though people keep giving opinions in its favor" (An-Nawawi's Forty Hadeeth)

The underlined sentence in Arabic reads Wa in Af-taakan Naasu, wa Aftook.  In other words, Fatwas, a word which has been made famous in recent years by the media. 

These sayings of the Prophet show us that personal judgement is a valid source of guidance, however that judgement can only be applicable, sound and practical when the soul is healthy, nourished properly by sound spirituality. Thinking right would translate into acting right.

The main goal of Islam is the preservation and nourishment of the soul. It is for this reason that Islam forbids alcohol, drugs, gambling and promiscuity. It also encourages modesty in dress, care in speech, clarity in relationships, and cleanliness of body and soul.

Muslims are currently in the month of Ramadan, abstaining from dawn to sunset from food, drink and physical relations. It is a spiritual cleansing. Similarly the religion obligates us to give in charity, which is also traditionally done in Ramadan. 

These acts cultivate the soul, strengthening one's ties with God and should thus provide a firm foundation for making decisions. 

Leadership

Prophet Muhammad made a statement which would be very shocking for today's political culture. The tradition (hadeeth) asserts that a man came to him, seeking to be appointed a governor. The Prophet replied "By God, we do not appoint someone to this job who seeks after it, or to someone very covetous of it."  

Another hadeeth says "Do not ask for position of power. If you are granted the position without asking for it, you will be helped (i.e. by God) in discharging its responsibilities, however if you attain  it as a result of your seeking, you will be alone as its captive." (Bukhari/Muslim)

I believe these statements indicate the danger of power being held by covetous, narcissistic personality types, persons who have been seeking personal glory. 

I believe the Prophet is saying that those who are already doing community work should be given the roles in an official capacity, in order to make the results of their work more effective.

The early Islamic period saw that governors lived humbly, in apartments next to the main mosque. They would also lead the five daily prayers in the mosque. Their God-awareness made them more aware of their social responsibilities. A beautiful example is in 'Umar b.'Abdul-'Aziz (died 720 C.E.), a ruler who would not even use a government lamp when conducting his own personal business.

Returning to the above-mentioned  Prophetic narrations, how do they work in a world of electoral politics, a world of campaigning for votes and financial support? 

Every society has its own unique political culture, and the truth of the matter is that Islam does not give a systematic or detailed blueprint for governing. Regarding the above-mentioned Prophetic narrations, I believe they provide guidance for attempting to identity the thinking and motivations of the candidates. Has their history been one of of sincere public service, or that of personal aggrandizement?  Those who have been of service, they will be known by their fruits.

Shared interest between religious communities

It seems fair to say that the same overall interests are shared by the various religious communities. Our source materials are different, but the goals are the same, to live in a world where we can make positive contributions, where our children can be safe, where we have the sanctity of life and morals.

The Qur'an says (Q 49:13) that God intentionally made people to be different, and it also says "Be competitive in doing positive actions" ( Q 2:148).

Positive competition creates blessings that are universally felt, in music, literature, sciences, and any other field. The Quranic worldview, if properly understood, eventually puts an end to xenophobia, racism, and any other negative thinking patterns.

Dr. Muqtedar Khan writes in his new book Islam and Good Governance " I understand witnessing the divine as advancing a moral-political vision that is designed to support a polity and politics that pursues the good of others as a divine mandate." 

He also writes " When you struggle for others, you witness their pain, their marginalization, and their needs, and when you act for them, you are acting as a deliverer of divine grace. To serve others without an axe to grind is to worship God as if you see him."

Are Activists allowed happiness?

Introduction

This weekend has been a flurry of activity on Socia Media within the Muslim community worldwide, because of accusations leveled against a certain well-known Muslim personality. The said person released statements denying the accusations, and obviously his ideological foes have hooked themselves strongly to the accusations.

It is worth noting that the said person has not been accused by anyone of doing anything illegal, rather, at worst, of exercising poor judgement,  and I am actually not going to address that at all, as I find that such would be useless and unproductive. Rather, I would like to go to an even bigger issue, one which, I must confess, I have struggled for a very long time to be able to contemplate, let alone put into words. 

This bigger issue is not restricted to famous personalities and political figures. This issue is also an issue with anyone- well known or anonyomous- who has sincere belief in a certain cause and sacrifices for that cause, be it religious, social, national, global, etc.

People of dedication to meaningful causes or to living according to a serious code tend to have a number of struggles, in that they are attempting to do right and live right, according to their sincere understanding of that code, even going against their own impulses to those things which seems to bring them happiness, security, comfort and peace.Such folks, it seems, even unconsciously sabotage whatever efforts they do make at attaining that which can bring forth happiness, because of these struggles.

This is not restricted to issues of intimate relationships. This can also refer to living comfortably, nice homes, clothing and finances, or a combination of all the above. There are a great deal of complexities involved in thinking and speaking about subjects of this nature, as well as differences vis a vis public figures and regular citizens, as such, we will divide our thoughts broadly between the two categories of people, even though it is true that much overlapping can (and does) take place.

The Sincere have every right to happiness and comfort in this life

"Say: Who has eternally forbidden (Harrama) God's pleasant (things) [ft.1] which He has produced for his servants, as well as that which is wholesome from His (own) provsion? Say: They are for those who believe, in this life, as well as [being manifested ] specially on the Day of Resurrection. Thus, We (Allah) explain signs to a people of knowledge." ( Q 7:32)

This verse alone should be sufficient as an evidence that having a pleasant existence in this world does not negate any righteous cause, nor does it destroy one's chances with God in the next life. I think the idea that believers or people dedicated to certain goodly causes are to have mariginal existence here in this life stems from Christian rhetoric. After all, the Bible and Christian tradition depicts Jesus ( believed to be God incarnate as well as God's son) as unmarried, totally against material or financial comforts of any sort. That thinking has filtered down to the culture, creating attitudes such as swearing off the opposite sex as well as children and material comforts, even among Non Christians! 

Two famous supplications from the Qur'an below illustrate that the Islamic religion teaches a balanced approach to all these sorts of issues. 

Our Lord! Give on us that which is pleasant in this life, as well as that which is pleasant in the after-life, and protect us from the punishment of the fire[ft.2]  ( Q 2:201)
Our Lord! Bestow on us from our spouses and offspring that which will be a source of comfort for our eyes, and make us leading for those who are holding God in awe." ( Q 25:74)

There are many ahadeeth or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace and blessings, which can be cited. Often his sayings discuss the issues of marriage because, as the reports are presented, there was a desire among many to swear off dealing with the opposite sex, even wanting to be castrated.  Perhaps this was done out of the convert's zeal, wanting to totally abandon the distractions present in the days of ignorance that preceded the Prophetic preaching in Arabia. Yet, The Prophet says "I fast and I break my fast, and I marry women." He says, further, "Marriage is my Sunnah, and whosever abandons My Sunnah, is not of me." [Sunan Ibn Maajah, Kitaab an Nikaah, narrated by 'A'ishaa].

There are many other verses of the Qur'an that speak to the privacy of the Prophet Muhammad needing to be respected. People were repeatedly told not to monopolize his time, to have  respect  for his household, even to pay something in the public charitable fund before making private appointments with him ( 33: 53-53, 58:13, among other verses). His time is valuable, and should not be abused. 

These are principles which can be applied to any public figure. Imams and teachers should be paid for their services, especially those in which more work and mental energies would be needed in order to address said situation. It is not that the teacher or the worker is greedy, but it does show respect as well as appreciation. The worker is human, has his own bills and needs for happiness just like anyone else. 

It is an odd situation in today's world in which people pay a therapist, psychcologist or counselor for one hour sessions gladly, burdening that person with all of their problems with the hopes that the person will be able provide some solutions, yet will not consider the same situation for their religious consultant. This does not only happen with Imams in the Muslim community, it happens with many of my clergy friends from across the religious aisle! Calling them at all hours of the night, text messages and social media messages asking all sorts of queries, seeking resolutions. 

That consultant does not only deserve a honorable financial compensation. He or she also deserves that they be allowed a private life, a life that has happiness therein. To demand that such persons live as hermits,overworked and underappreciated,  while their flock is busy in pursuit of dunya, is unreasonable and unrealistic.

Respecting the privacy of others

The Qur'an instructs that a home cannot be entered if permission has not been obtained from its resident ( 24:27-28). While this may seem to be common sense, a figurative way of looking at this command shows us that it can also mean that we should stay out of people's inner lives. Indeed, the only authentic reason where this may not be a workable situation is if there is a risk of public damage or health! 

In private, people can pursue Halaal as well as Haraam, but when others enter into private affairs, those distinctions get blurred, depending upon the prejudices and thinking pattern of those doing the meddling. 

A very interesting Quranic text reads "O Believers! Avoid much conjecture, because sometimes conjecture is sinful, spy not on one another, and do not backbite one another..." [Q 49:12]

This verse has in it the concept of Husnudh dhann, which basically means to assume the best before assuming the worst. An example is this real scenario. A person sees a Muslim, dressed in Muslim attire, entering a bar. To someone looking on, the Muslim is doing a Haraam act, about to consume alcohol.  However, as it turns out, that Muslim is a salesman, selling colones and perfumes, which is perfectly Halaal. The same person could be delivering food! 

The verse says not to engage in bad assumptions in opening observations, but it also prohibits spying on one another. There maybe skeletons in your brother's closet, or, at mimimum, private issues he would rather stay private. It is not an issue of what is Halaal or what is Haraam. It could be that the thing in question's Islamic status is unclear, or it could simply be no one else's business. 

This, I would say, is for public figures and regular citizens alike. We live in a sensationalized, staged world, with Television programs such as Jerry Springer and The Maury Povich show show viewers the most intimate and embarrasing details of families unknown to us. We have become accustomed to knowing and gossiping about private affairs, issues which may not even be crimes or religiously unlawful, that we forget the Islamic guidelines!

Jealousy of another's successess is a spiritual disease and can cause damage to the object of envy

Much of the Quranic treatment of scandals and social niceties also has therein mention of "hypocrites" or "those with diseased hearts". Indeed, Muslim women in general [Q 24:31] as well as the Prophet's own wives [Q 33:59-60 among other places]  are told to behave in such a way as to minimize gossip from detractors and those with incorrect thoughts on matters. This writer recalls that Michelle Obama, wife of then US president Barack Obama, causing controversy by wearing a sleveless dress. The critics themselves supported personalities who dress in much more revealing ways, however their attacks were not motivated by genuine concern on the morals of the inhabitants of The White House, rather, it was motivated by jealousy!

The Prophet Muhammad Sall Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam is reported to have said the following words:
"Do not be jealous of each other, do not inflate prices on each others, do not have  hatred of each other, do not turn away from each other, do not undercut each other, and be, O servants of Allah, brothers.." [Saheeh Muslim]

I find it interesting that the hadeeth here connects these issues, viz jealousy, price fixing etc..

Those with diseased hearts are people who have so much envy buried within that they seek to actually destroy the object of their envy! 

The ideal condition is that people should be happy at the success of others, especially if that success was earned lawfully and correctly, and that success is translating into good results, felt by many. However, not all people are thinking correctly.

In these regards, it is best to avoid, as much as within one's ability, showing off, especially if you become aware of jealousy surrounding you. The rich person should not brag about his riches or the food he wasted in front of a hungry, poor person. One's clothes should be modest, not just in regards to decency, but in displays that could possibly cause resentment. The Prophet's commands for men to not wear gold and silver are good places to start. In addition, one should treat all, rich and poor alike, equally and with justice. 

If you find that there are those around you who have resentment towards due to your perceived success, and that your efforts to dissuade them of their fears have come to naught, it maybe time to limit contact, if not break ties all together. One must look for one's own health, especially one's spiritual health, with great care.

It can happen, and seems to have happened in this public fiasco, that jealosy of a person's success can cause the "family" or "friends" around them to seek to knock them down, "put them in their place"- as the saying goes. 

This is why it is important, vital, to have the company of believers, of sincere and God-fearing folks, particularly in intimate situations.

I read a quotation in a book on marriage which has really been profound. In it, it says that a wise man once divorced his wife, who then remarried. Upon being asked why he divorced his wife, the wise man said "how can you ask me about another man's wife?"

In other words, despite whatever situation that emerged in his life, he had enough sense to simply keep that situation private. 

Conclusion

Regarding the scandal which has taken Muslims by storm on social media outlets, whatever happened does not seem to warrant the attention it has received. A mixture of motivations for many parties is the real reason this has been blown out of purportion, but it did inspire me to think about the overall bigger questions about activists and ordinary folks alike attempting to navigate between their feelings and what they believe to be religious commands/truths. 

Everyone has a right to privacy. That is recognized not only in Islamic teachings, but under US law. We should be careful and we should always seek to obey the commandments of our faith, we should exercise good judgement and discretion, to avoid the appearance of doing something wrong, however that does not negate the fact that everyone has a life that has private aspects, that such things should be respected. It's perfectly fine in Islam for a man to pursue a woman ( or a woman to pursue a man for that matter, as we know that Prophet Muhammad was the one proposed to by Khadijah), and unless some serious crime has occured, such as rape, incest, sexual harrasment, pedophilia or something along those, personal business should be left personal. 

The Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is reported to have said "Among the pleasant [aspects of] Islam [is] to leave alone that which does not have meaning for you." 

That hadeeth, and ahadeeth like it, are more relevant now than at the time those words were originally uttered. 

I would like to conclude this post with another important verse from the Qur'an, regarding prohibitions

Say: The only items eternally forbidden by My Lord are shameful acts, public and private, sins, transgressing unjustly, associating to God which you have no authority, and speaking about God what you do not know." [Q 7:34]

Footnotes

[1] The phrase Zeenah [not to be confused with Zinaa, which means adultery] is used here. It has shades of meaning that all have to do with pretty or pleasantries, sometimes "glitter". Here, we have rendered it as "pleasant (things)".

[2] Imam W. Deen Mohammed (1933-2008) renders wa qina 'adhaaban Naar as "protect us from the fires of sin".