Staying united

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

 

If a limb is cut off from your body it will decay; except if saved and treated, etc.  This is an important eye opener for us because Islam teaches us one brotherhood.  Allah says;

And verily this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: Therefore fear Me (and no other).  (23:52)

Islam came to remove the tribalism, racism and all other segregated mentalities.  There is no question of ‘I am better than you’ as was shown by Satan in the Garden.

Prophet Muhammad (pboh) has informed us of the consequences of trying to be superior or segregate ourselves from others.  For example he says that if there is a flock of sheep and a wolf is to attack them, he won’t go in the middle of the flock, he will take one that is on the outskirt or the one’s that separated from the flock.

These are eye openers to the message that Allah give us in the Holy Qur’an;

And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves.  (3:103)

Islam gives us the recipe, the prescription, the philosophy and the consequences of on one hand staying united and on the other hand the danger of separating.  A lot of people, because of their ego or because of their desire to do good, separate because they are not allowed to contribute, something of their talent to help others.  And later on that separation may grow into a separate entity.  We need to be mindful of at all times the we are  to stay united.

For example when Prophet Muhammad (pboh) and his Companions were constructing the mosque in Madinah, each Companion took one brick at a time.  One Companion took with him two bricks at a time and Prophet (pboh) reprehended him.

We have to be careful at all times.  Our intentions may be good but we must always ask the question: are we causing disunity by doing this or that?

Allah has given us institutions to unite the ummah such as salaat.  When the time for salaat comes we all join in.  That is an indication that we are a united people and an eye opener of what we can really achieve if we work like a unit.

Whenever we are going to do something ask yourself whether you are doing it for the sole sake of Allah and for the love of His Rasool (pboh).  And always try to bring together your Muslim brothers and sisters.  We will have personal difference as no two humans are alike, but these must not lead us to segregating ourselves or excluding others.  Whenever we are working as a group always remember what Allah says and be not divided among yourselves.

One way of staying united is the collective engagement in zikrullah.  This is common to all; remembering Allah and praising Him.

We all have to make a conscious effort to foster and maintain unity.  Don’t allow the ego to prevent you from achieving this.  And whatever little you may do on your own try your best not to create disunity. 

With love, compassion, wisdom and understanding; let us make an effort not to contribute to the division of the ummah.  It takes a real effort but we insha Allah we can all contribute to it.  Always be mindful of the bond that Allah wants us to create.

May Allah enable us to strive for unification in the ummah and may He allow us to always work together.


Transcript of discourse delivered by
Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed

The video presentation of this discourse can be accessed at
http://www.youtube.com/markazalihsaan


 

Good and evil never mix

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Allah tells us in Surah Muzzammil; And whatever good ye send forth for your souls ye shall find it in Allah’s Presence, - yea, better and greater, in reward and seek ye the Grace of Allah for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.  (73:20)

Good goes to Allah and evil goes down into a dungeon.  Allah says in Surah Infitaar; As for the righteous, they will be In Bliss; and the wicked - they will be in the fire.  (82:13-14)

What we need to understand is that good goes up to Allah and evil goes downwards.  Good and evil do not mix.  They are not even recorded in the same place.  As I’ve said in the past good is recorded in the skies and evil is recorded in a dungeon.

Allah has given us examples in the Holy Qur’an about the end of those who lived a life of wrong and those who lived a life of good.  I would like to reference just two examples.

Firstly, the story of Qarun.  Qarun was a person who lives at the time of Moses (as).  Once he overheard when Angel Jibril explaining to Moses (as) the process for making gold.  So in his past time he used to make gold.  And he became so wealthy that the keys for his treasures were a burden for men.  Allah records this in Surah Qashash;

Qarun was doubtless, of the people of Moses; but he acted insolently towards them: such were the treasures we had bestowed on Him that their very keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men.  (28:76)

When Moses told Qarun to pay his zakaat he schemed up a plan to accuse Moses of adultery in an effort to get rid of him.  And what was his end?

Then We caused the earth to swallow up him and his house; and he had not (the least little) party to help him against Allah, nor could he defend himself.  (28:81)

Allah caused the earth to swallow him along with his wealth.  Evil goes down into the earth!

Next reference; Prophet Jesus (as).  Jesus (as) was a righteous man.  He was brought into this world in an extra ordinary way.  He never depended on anyone for anything.  Jesus (as) lived in the hills and came down to preach to the people.  Allah records of him in the Qur’an;

And Zakariya and John, and Jesus and Elias: all in the ranks of the righteous:  (6:85)

He never wanted anything from him yet they want to kill him.  What did Allah do?  Allah took him up in the skies and he is still there.

Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.  (4:158)

What is the importance of telling you this?  It is to show you the ends of those who did evil and those who did good.  Allah is Dhil-maarij.  Dhil-maarij literally means He is the Owner of the ascending stairways.

Our mission is to ascend and get closer to our Lord.  And those who do will get a greater reward.  On that Day they will have the fastest transport to reach their Lord.  Build your transport here.  The time is now and the preparation is now.

There is nothing wrong in striving for betterment in the world, but don’t make it your Lord and get arrogant of what you’ve achieved.

Understand what Allah has for you, you will get it.  Rumi wrote day and night there is movement of foam on the Sea.  You see the foam, but not the Sea. Amazing!  What he’s alluding to is to drown yourself in your Lord and not in the world.  Be careful of what you are fighting for.  We all have to leave one day.  What are you sending before you and where is it being kept?  Remember what you send in the dungeon won’t help you.  It’ll only lead you in the fire.  What you send upwards is safe and insha Allah the more you send the further and further away you will be from the abyss.

May Allah bless us and guide us and enable us to send plentiful upwards to Him for safekeeping insha Allah.

Transcript of discourse delivered by

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed

The video presentation of this discourse can be accessed at
http://www.youtube.com/markazalihsaan