By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Sahib (DB)
Allah Ta’ala, out of His Infinite Grace and Kindness, gifted us with this beautiful Dien of Islam. It is unfortunate that we look at Dien today and see it to be something that does not fit into our lifestyles, something which does not comply with our whims and fancies, and something which needs to be amended because the societies of the world frown upon it… (نَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ َ)
Due to our weakness, we look towards “trimming” Islam down.
On an individual level, many are lax in fulfilling the Faraa`idh[1]. They consider the Sunnah[2] as trivial, and totally disregard those actions which are Mustahab[3] and Nafl[4]. The thinking is: I can leave out Fajr because I find it too difficult to wake up for. But this is okay because I will still be a Muslim. I can leave out the beard and I can be a Muslim without a beard… and I can leave off (this) and (that) and there is no problem because I will still be a Muslim.
Many women also think along the same lines: I can leave off the Hijaab, I can leave off the scarf, I can do (this) and (that). As long as my heart is clean, I am still a Muslim.
اِنَّا للهِ وَ اِنَّا اِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ
We have been granted the priceless gift of Islam. It is perfection. Allah Ta’ala says:
اَلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِيْنَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِيْ وَرَضِيْتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِيْنًا ط
“Today, I have perfected your religion for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and have chosen Islam as Dien (religion) for you.”
[Surah Al-Maa`idah 5 : 3]
We cannot carve and chisel Islam to suit our nafs; rather it is for us to cut our nafs down to size, to humble ourselves before Allah Ta’ala – as slaves and servants, and conform and comply with Dien and Shari’ah[5].
Allah Ta’ala instructs us :
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا ادْخُلُوْا فِى السِّلْمِ كَاۤفَّةً ص
“O those who Believe, enter Islam completely…”
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2 : 208]
We cannot also chop and chip Islam to fit into modern society. We cannot cut or trim Islam to fit into modern times. Let modern day fit into Islam!
To make society happy, to blend in with society, to be accepted by the society, we want to downsize Islam; whereas, there is nothing as fresh, beautiful, progressive and “up-to-date” as Islam.
What is the modern day of today?
It is immorality, adultery, pornography, drugs, rape, gambling, theft, deception and every kind of evil… Must Islam fit into that kind of filthy society? نَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ
Let us value this pure and beautiful religion by practising upon it entirely. Let us not subtract and divide, select and discard, as if we are an authority over Islam.
Through the practical implementation of Dien and Shari’ah – as it is, in its pristine and pure form - the societies of the world will be left in admiration for Islamic teachings; they will be left in awe and will be wonder-struck at the beauty of the Sunnah. This, then, will become the catalyst for thousands upon thousands entering into the fold of Islam.
May Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu grant us the understanding, the appreciation, and bless us to live by Islam, die by it and be resurrected by it. (Aamien)
[1] Faraa`idh: Obligatory duties
[2] Sunnah : The practices of Nabi (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ) and his noble companions (RA)
[3] Mustahab : Recommended deeds
[4] Nafl : Optional
[5] Shari’ah : Islamic Law
