Are we Missing the Point?
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URL: https://www.islamicity.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15558
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Topic: Are we Missing the Point?
Posted By: abuayisha
Subject: Are we Missing the Point?
Date Posted: 30 September 2009 at 11:00am
 The Essence of Islam: Are We Missing the Point?By: Yasmin Mogahed | http://www.infocusnews.net/ - InFocus News To some, a Monet is only a collection of dots. To others, it is a perfect masterpiece. To some, Islam is nothing but a code of rules and regulations. But, to those who understand, it is a perfect vision of life. As Muslims, we often focus so much on Islam�s dos and don�ts that we miss the bigger picture. Islam came to perfect our manners, and yet we are willing to scream and shout to win an argument about zabiha meat. Islam came to build our bond with our Creator, and while we wear our hijabs and kufis, we delay our prayers. Islam came to establish a community of believers, and while we decorate our masjids with gold and silver, our prayer rows remain empty. Islam came to teach us about God, and while we wear His words on our necklaces and decorate our houses with them, when those verses are recited to us, our hearts remain unmoved and our lives unchanged. And Islam came to make us one brotherhood, yet we divide ourselves and alienate one another over issues like moon sighting and voting. This is not to say, of course, that the do�s and don�ts are not important. They are crucial. The problem is we have forgotten what they stand for. For example, the wearing of Islamic dress should never be minimized. But we have forgotten that the hijab and the beard are only symbols of our greater devotion to God. For us to wear the hijab and the beard while it has no bearing on our character means we have missed the point. If we spend thousands decorating our masjids but use it only to display status and win arguments, we have lost its intended purpose. And if we�ve memorized every haram and halal ingredient of facial soap but we own businesses that are based on interest and sell alcohol, have we not made a mockery of Allah�s deen? That deen is what transforms humanity from the lowest of the low to the representatives of God on earth. The Quran tells us: �Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: �I will create a vicegerent on earth �� � ( http://quran.com/2/30 - Quran 2:30 ) As a representative of God on earth, we are given a very great responsibility. It is a trust so heavy that even the mountains rejected it. Allah tells us in the Quran: �We did indeed offer the trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it; he was indeed unjust and foolish.� ( http://quran.com/33/72 - Quran 33:72 ) As believers, we should never lose sight of this responsibility. It is the fulfillment of that mission that transforms us from asfala safileen, the lowest of the low ( http://quran.com/95/5 - Quran 95:5 ), into khaira ummatin ukhrijat lil naas, the best of peoples arisen for mankind. ( http://quran.com/3/110 - Quran 3:110 ) But how can we be that best of people? Allah describes how in His book: �You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah�� ( http://quran.com/3/110 - Quran 3:110 ) The essence of that struggle is the belief in Allah, the struggle for truth and the struggle against evil. As soon as we give up that struggle, we will become among those people who Allah describes in surat Al-Asr as being in a state of loss. Allah describes the ones who will be saved from that state: �Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.� ( http://quran.com/103/3 - Quran 103:3 ) And, so, if we continue to abandon this greater mission and purpose, we will have transformed the perfect vision of existence into nothing more than a collection of dots. |
Replies:
Posted By: Sign*Reader
Date Posted: 30 September 2009 at 2:32pm
This scenario is almost becoming the case of bani Israel keeping kosher and dealing with interest at the same time... The true sign of independence for Muslims from their masters will be when they walk away from any relationship with interest driven system...But this is a tall order for an Ummah in bondage of neo colonialism and it's world banking... Or may be sister Yasmin was discussing the Muslims in the west only: where each tender is interest tainted and mosques are watched over by the worshipers of mammon... ------------- Kismet Domino: Faith/Courage/Liberty/Abundance/Selfishness/Immorality/Apathy/Bondage or extinction. |
If we spend thousands decorating our masjids but use it only to
display status and win arguments, we have lost its intended purpose.
And if we�ve memorized every haram and halal ingredient of facial soap
but we own businesses that are based on interest and sell alcohol, have
we not made a mockery of Allah�s deen?Posted By: SteppeNomad
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 2:24pm
Thank you for the post.
 nice article and reminder.
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Posted By: Shasta'sAunt
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 2:26am
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------------- �No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.� Eleanor Roosevelt |
Posted By: SteppeNomad
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 3:03am
This cant be the same person who argued Muslims and brave Commies should ally and aid our 1st class brothers....
Well i guess its Juma, everyone gets there sense back for a while
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Posted By: Shasta'sAunt
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 12:23pm
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------------- �No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.� Eleanor Roosevelt |
Posted By: Full of Hopes
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 5:50pm
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Asslamu Alaikum Wa Rahamtu Allah I agree with you up to a point sister Shasta'aunt. But if fact we do not need to argue about this. Are we missing the point? Yes many of us. BUT still on east or west there are Muslims who got the point very well.  This post is very good and many Muslims even good Muslims need to read this. And as for the Muslims of East, yes sitter you are right, we say this a lot!!! Well I do not like to argue about clear things, but many Muslims of East were born in Islam and took Islam as a habit more than a religion.  -------------  And whoever seeks a religion other than Isl�m, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers(3:85)
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Posted By: SteppeNomad
Date Posted: 03 October 2009 at 11:39am
LOL Someones getting defensive. Was you who called Commies brave
But anyway, lets not miss the point and argue about the Muslim of the West being more Muslim then the Muslims of the East
otherwise whats the point of the thread?Are we missing the point?
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Posted By: martha
Date Posted: 03 October 2009 at 12:40pm
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I need to get some good answers.
The article questions whether we are missing the point. At one point the elaborate masjids are mentioned.You know I have struggled as a revert with the amount of money spent on them, with all the gold etc. Why are the masjids like that? It somehow seems to me to be an extended form of idol worship as opposed to Islam being a simple religion. Did the Prophet Muhammad(pbuH) really want us to act in his name in this way? I thought he didn't . Excuse my ignorance on such matters, I hope I do not offend. BUt personally, as a revert, extravagence in this manner is no different to the Catholic church or any other that 'misses the point'. I just feel that all this gold detracts from the real message. Sorry. ------------- some of us are a lot like cement:- all mixed up and permanently set |
Posted By: Shasta'sAunt
Date Posted: 03 October 2009 at 3:20pm
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------------- �No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.� Eleanor Roosevelt |
Posted By: SteppeNomad
Date Posted: 04 October 2009 at 1:07pm
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@ above post, yeah ok get your point, get over it.
Anyway, i love how some Muslims are soo proud of Islamic architecture. culture, art etc of the past but they see it to much the effort of Muslims trying to make a Masjid look nice.
Is there something we dont complain about? At least let that be the least we do, it might, might just open a door in heaven for us.
What about wearing Gucci Hijabs and Nike shoes with trousers above the ankle? Time to look in the mirror before we go about demolishing the beauty of our past and future?
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Posted By: Full of Hopes
Date Posted: 04 October 2009 at 1:24pm
That is right!! I agree with you.. But in my humble opinion the post was very direct and clear. It is just telling us to care for the bases of Islam before caring for other things which are less important. May Allah reward the writer and guide us into the right path.  ------------- And whoever seeks a religion other than Isl�m, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers(3:85)
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Posted By: Shasta'sAunt
Date Posted: 04 October 2009 at 4:11pm
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------------- �No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.� Eleanor Roosevelt |
Posted By: Full of Hopes
Date Posted: 04 October 2009 at 11:12pm
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May Allah bless you sister Shasta'Aunt, you have said the complete truth.  May Allah have mercy on us. But sister, many Islamic countries are wasting money in decorating the castles, the roads, and museums and so on. Don't masjids deserve some amount of this money???? On the other hand, I have memorized a hadith that the prophet peace be upon him, ordered them to remove something that had fancy decoration form his face because it prevented him from focusing in his prayer. I myself do not like the way of spending TOO much money in decorating masjed. Sometimes it is really TOO much that make you say this is forbidden. Allah will ask them about. But on the other hand I feel according to this time of civilization everything is decorated and money is wasted, so why do not we put a small amount just to decorate the masjid in a reasonable way??? It is hard to say they are already wasting money and not doing what Allah ordered them to do in that money. Yes, if we are helping the poor, we should not waste the money, but what is if this money is wasted every day in the garbage, by any way. I do not sugar coat the truth in many Islamic countries. May Allah have mercy on us and guide us. ------------- And whoever seeks a religion other than Isl�m, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers(3:85)
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Posted By: martha
Date Posted: 06 October 2009 at 2:32pm
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Salaams Shasta's Aunt,
Thank you for your comments. I guess the stronger we feel about these issues the more work we have to do to help others feel the same way.
I received little jewellary on marriage. About �400's worth. I still have it but don't feel comfortable wearing it. It was Asian gold. Really nice. I understand that the reason Muhammad (pbuH) said it was ok for women to have gold and increase it was for their financial protection,so they could sell it if they needed to. So it's an investment and that's really good. But as regards to the elaborate masjids I see no moral sense in it at all. Allah made this world with all its beauty...and it's free for all to look at it. I feel comfortable with that. I truly believe the more wealth we obtain the further away from Allah we are likely to stray.
I have to disagree with FOH's idea that because so much money is wasted then lets waste more and use it on mosques. Sorry FOH's. I guess you are used to seeing such wealth and it's misuse in Saudi. Don't get me wrong...it's not your fault that it's this way. It is what you are accustomed to. Would I change places with you for a better financial life? No, I wouldn't feel comfortable with it at all.
As for my marriage jewellary and other small items...I shall pass them on to my daughter. Strange really...I only ever wear earings lol.
But thanks for the comments. It is so good to understand eachother more. ------------- some of us are a lot like cement:- all mixed up and permanently set |
Posted By: Sign*Reader
Date Posted: 06 October 2009 at 6:44pm
------------- Kismet Domino: Faith/Courage/Liberty/Abundance/Selfishness/Immorality/Apathy/Bondage or extinction. |
Posted By: Meditations
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 7:41am
AsSalam Alaykoum Martha There're two aspects to this One: How much care / effort / investment should be put into Mosques Two : which should take priority , the mosque, or the person visiting the mosque One : Muslims have always given so much care to Mosques, since these are houses for God, whether by decorating / investing ...etc. It's worth noting that until few hundreds years ago, the mosque wasn't for prayers only, it was serving multiple purposes , it was a place for prayers, meeting place, school, sometimes a hostel for students, sometimes military school It's sad that mosque's role have shrunk in our days The decoration of the mosques grew with the decoration of the houses, for it makes sense to make the house of God look better than the house of mortals It is also very important that it has elements that will remind worshipers of their Creator, hence the decoration with Qur'anic verses for example Two : There's an important rule which we were taught in fiqh, that says الانسان قبل البنيان ، و الساجد قبل المساجد The human, has priority over the building, and the worshiper has priority over the mosque
So if there's a great care put into the mosques, while there're hungry/homesless/sick needy people in our nation, then apparently we're missing on the priorities of which we should take actions May Allah (SWT) guide us to the best actions on each minute AsSalam Alaykoum |
Posted By: Meditations
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 8:52am
AsSalam Alaykoum dear But think about it, we are here, your brothers and sisters, part of your ummah I hope this gives you a sense of Ummah, maybe not in a so physical contact, but surely in a contact of the hearts AsSalam Alaykoum |
Posted By: Hayfa
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 9:12am
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Asaal ALaikum, I think what we are referring to are diseases of the heart.. and they affect many people, Muslims and nonMuslims. Sign: I think you made a good point about the governments. .that was obvious in Pakistan with the big Masjid in Islamabad.. built by the Saudi govt. The masjid is not used by the people of Pakistan, it does not astetically blend in with the environments and its not like there are not hundreds and hundreds of masjids. It had a very different feel to meet then the big masjid in Lahore and the masjids in Istanbul. My favorite masjid was this small masjid in Istganbul, not big but the grand standards. But the glass was stunning. Caring for animals....
Hadith - Bukhari 4:538, Narrated Abu
Huraira
Allah's Apostle
------------- When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. Rumi |
said, "A prostitute was forgiven
by Allah, because, passing by a panting dog near a well and seeing that the
dog was about to die of thirst, she took off her shoe, and tying it with
her head-cover she drew out some water for it. So, Allah forgave her because
of that."