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A Chance to Start
Afresh
Allah says in the Qur'an, in
verse 41 of the chapter entitled Romans (Surah 30,
ar-Rum)
"Mischief has
become apparent on land and sea due to peoples own doing, so
that He lets them taste some of the consequences of their
deeds in order to let them turn back."
Thus He places the responsibility for the
destruction of our natural environment unequivocally with us,
the human inhabitants of His earth. The verse indicates the
downside of human activity, yet envisages their ability to
learn from the results and make amends. This is why prophetic
warnings of coming tribulations are for Muslims not a
fatalistic vision of the apocalypse but an encouragement to
constantly search for opportunities of setting right past
wrongs. Muslims only have two choices: action or prayer. They
may try to change the world, or they will wait in hope for the
change. They cannot ever be content with what
is wrong. The Prophet Muhammad, peace
and blessings be with him, is reported to have
said:
"Troubles will afflict my people at the end of time
from their rulers so severely, that none will escape from it
except one who knows the religion of Allah and fights for it
with his word, his deeds and his heart and the best will lie
ahead of him, and one who knows the religion of Allah and
affirms its truth, and one who knows the religion of Allah but
keeps quiet loving those who do good and being displeased at
those who do bad, he will escape because he keeps it
all."
(al-Baihaqi)
The first is the preferred option, and
the Qur'an promises great reward to those who stand up and
fight for what is right: Those believers who stay at home,
unless they are compelled to do so, cannot be compared with
those who fight in the way of Allah with their property and
their lives.
"Allah
favours those who fight with their property and their lives over
those who stay at home, yet He has promised good for all. Allah
has chosen for those who fight a great reward over those who
stay at home."
(Surah
4, An-Nisa (Women), verse 95)
The
reason is given in verse 75 of the same chapter:
"What is the matter with you that you dont fight in
the way of Allah when the weak amongst men, women and children
cry out: Our Lord rescue us from this township of oppressors
and give us a protector and helper from you"
(Surah
4, An-Nisa (Women), verse 75)
And
Immediately after:
"The
believers fight in way of Allah, and those who deny the truth
fight in the way of evil. So fight the friends of the devil,
for the devils plan is feeble."
(Surah
4, An-Nisa (Women), verse 76)
A believer
must stand up and be counted. Throughout the ages,
believers have been attacked for holding to their principles
and preferring the revealed order of the beneficent Creator
over the tyranny of those amongst His creatures who are hungry
for power and people's submission. Near the end, this
confrontation will also take on a global charachter, as
predicted in the following prophetic tradition:
"The
nations will soon invite each other against you as someone
invites to a meal." Somebody asked: Is this because of our
small number that day? He said: "No, that day there shall be
many of you, but you will be like foam on the sea, and Allah
will take away the fear of you from the hearts of your
enemies, and will place feebleness into your hearts." Somebody
asked: O Messenger of Allah, what is this feebleness? He
replied: "The love of the world and the dislike of
death."
(Abu
Daud)
Image:
Qur'an, in Arabic in Muhaqqaq script, with vowels in
red, opening of Surah VII, 14th century.
[Next: The End of the World]
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