Abdul Rashid Siddiqui (Member Central Shoorah, UKIM)
What is Islam?
If someone were to ask you what is Islam? You may start enumerating the Five Pillars or explaining the meaning of the word ‘Islam’ and the requirement to submit to the Will of Allah. There are pamphlets and books elucidating all aspects of Islamic beliefs and teachings. These may help someone to understand but may still leave many aspects unanswered. This is very similar if a lay person were to ask about the working of a complicated machinery like an aircraft engine or electron microscope. Any amount of verbal explanation and written material may still leave him bewildered. It is easier to give much better explanation if you have a model at hand. The person inquiring can see for himself and can follow the explanation given of their working.
Perfect Models
To see the model of Islam is to see the life of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). The salient features of his personality are manifested in his life of total submission and obedience of Allah (subhanu-wa-tala).
Direction of his life was entirely focused towards Allah. "For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I make partners to Allah" (Al-An’am 6:79).
All his relation and dealings with his family, his society and his nation whether personal or societal were governed strictly under Divine supremacy. He firmly enjoined himself to Allah and severe all other relationships. He left his home, his parents and his birthplace to wander in wilderness rather than compromise his beliefs.
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So complete and thorough was his submission that no sooner he was asked to submit he instantaneously submitted himself to Divine will. "Behold! His Lord said to him ‘Bow (your will to Me)’: He said: ‘I bow (my will) to the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe’." (al-Baqarah 2:131)-
He was selfish and sincere for the cause. Thus he was not worried about his own well being, but was concerned that the Message of Allah be perpetuated in centuries to come. He established the institutions and the society so that future generations should continue to be blessed.
Building of Ka’ba, establishing the institution of Hajj and his earnest prayer for the Muslim Ummah are the testimony of his love, devotion and far-sightedness so that the unity of Allah (subhanu-wa-tala) continue to permeates throughout the lasting of humanity. Thus when he was laying the foundation of Ka’ba with his son Ismail, they prayed: "Our Lord ! Make us Muslims, bowing to Your (will) and our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Your (Will)… Our Lord ! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall rehearse Your Sings to them and instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, and sanctify them: for You are the Exalted in Might , the Wise." (al-Baqarah 2:128-129).
Above all, his life was full of sacrifices. The supreme test came when he was asked by Allah (subhanu-wa-tala) to sacrifice his son. Without hesitation both father and son submitted themselves in obedience. "So when they both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostate on his forehead (for sacrifice) We called out to him "O Ibrahim! You have already fulfilled the vision."(as Saffat 37:103-105) Yet another perfect model we find in the life of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). He was persecuted in Makkah, stoned and ridiculed in Taif, suffered economic and social boycott and was banished. Even in Medina he was slandered and harassed by combined forces of Qu ryash, Jews and hypocrites. But he left us the best example of sacrifice and forbearance, which Allah has asked us to follow." You have indeed in Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern of conduct)." (al-Ahzab 33:21)
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Why Sacrifice?
The path of Islam is the path of struggle. We will not be left alone just by saying that we believe. We will be tested and tried to see whether our belief is superficial of rooted firm in our hearts and manifested in our actions. The glorious Qur’an has mentioned this fact in several places so that we should not be perturbed when these trials come and remain steadfast in our Iman.
"Do people think that they will be left alone by saying "We believe", and that they will not be tested ? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false. " (al-Ankabut 29:2-3)
Do you think that you shall enter Paradise without such (trials) as come to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity…" (al-Baqarah 2:214)
" Do you think that you would enter heaven without Allah testing those who fought hard (in His cause) and remained steadfast?" (Ale Imran 3:142)
Just as to purify gold it has to be put in the crucible and heated so that all its impurities are thus evaporated, similarly it is only by trials and tribulations we shape and shine our personalities. Those who stay firm and persevere and strive hard receive Allah’s guidance and reward. Thus only after going through several trials, tests and untold sacrifices was Prophet Ibrahim (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) granted the honour of the "Leader of Mankind".
"And remember that Ibrahim was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled. He said:" I will make you a Leader of Mankind." (al-Baqarah 2:124)
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What should we sacrifice?
To start with we are asked to sacrifice our possessions- things which we love to own and collect. Gold and silver, houses and cars, clothes and jewellery , cattle and land- all of which are the possessions of this world. Then we love our families and ourselves. All of these are to be sacrificed in the way of Allah if need be.
" O you who believe! Shall I leave to you a bargain that will save you from a grievous penalty? That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that you strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons…(as-Saff 61:10-11)
Much more difficult is the sacrifice of Time. All Ibadah (worship) require our commitment to find time to fulfill our obligations to Allah and our fellow human beings. Still more difficult is to forgo our own opinions and submit our ego to the dictates of Shariah. Customs and traditions sometimes conflict with clear injunctions of Shariah. We may have to overcome the bitterness in family and to withstand the pressure of society. It is only then we really succeed in obeying Allah.
The sacrifice of goat, sheep or camel is just symbolic. We see the innocent animal is firmly in our control and is prepared to die for the Will of its Creator. Are we ready to sacrifice our lives, possessions, our inner desires and our ego? Are we willing to place ourselves like a helpless animal in the control of the Will of our Creator? That will be the real sacrifice. Otherwise each year Eid ul-Adha comes and we diligently sacrifice some animals and we feel satisfied we have fulfilled our obligation- no doubt we have performed an act of Ibadah for which we will be rewarded. But it is not the blood and flesh which reaches Allah , it is the Taqwa (God-consciousness) which reaches Him. (al-Hajj 22:37).
Let us prepare ourselves for sacrifice. Without making sacrifices we will not be able to start the revival of Islam. We should be able to sacrifice our time, our wealth, our resources and our lives, our personal likes and dislikes. If we sincerely strive in Allah’s way, He will open His doors of success for us. This is His promise.
" And those who strive in Our (Cause) -We will certainly guide them to our paths." (al-Ankabut 29:69)
Prophets Ibrahim and Mohammed (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon them) proclaimed: "Truly, my prayer and my sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds." (al An’am 6:162).