Muslims Against Muslims
Even though we may have different views and methods, Islam is the one constant for us all. Our fellowship is also the fellowship of this one constant. Those devoted to this oneness only want the best for their brothers and sisters, even when various problems and difficulties arise.
“And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And the Last Abode is the real life indeed. Only if they know!” (Al-Ankabut, 64)
Considering that this life, or rather the parts of it connected to worldly aspects, is such a pittance, what is the duty that falls on us while living it? This duty consists of the pursuit of correcting one's own faults, increasing one's worship and obedience, not clutching at other people’s mistakes, coming together with fellow believers, and striving in the way of Allah. The first behaviors for a believer to adopt in this regard are to direct their gaze inwards towards their own shortcomings and not pick others’ lives apart in a concerted effort to expose their personal and, ultimately, private problems.
Islam is a religion that advocates and, to an extent, even requires living as a community. It is necessary to be in a community of believers in order to strengthen the faith and better weather the adversities of the world. This helps one maintain their course on the straight path and become a mature believer. However, there still remain several points of concern to be mindful of during this solidarity. This mindfulness is necessitated by various phenomena we see today, which unmistakably show that some crucial sensibilities are being eroded with each passing day.
My way
People may think that the path they are on, the group, organization, or community they are a part of is the most suitable place for serving Islam and eternal bliss. This conviction enables them to work more enthusiastically. It creates a drive in people to make an effort and use all their available means in the most positive way to serve Islam. The best moment is the time one lives in, the best place is where one is, and it is a duty to make these existing conditions succeed to the best of one’s ability in the service of Islam.
However, believers who have gathered in different places and communities to serve Islam should never be underestimated or insulted. It is wrong to even make comparisons since the bottom line in all these endeavors is the intentions of the servants in the sight of Allah and their efforts in accordance with the spirit of Islam and its rules.
Although our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was the last and greatest prophet, he never approved of being considered in comparison with other prophets. In one of his hadiths, he said, “Don't make distinctions amongst the Prophets of Allah.” (Bukhari, 3414)
Our duty is to take our lesson from this noble moral stance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and not put our fellow believers in a competitive perspective with each other in a bid to establish superiority or ranking among them.
Who holds the key to Jannah?
Everyone sees the place where they serve Islam as the best way because everyone has a subjective view of how, where and through which community or organization one can serve Islam best. It is extremely wrong to label other believers, who sincerely serve our religion, with certain adjectives and consider them unworthy of Jannah, as though the key to Jannah is in your hands and those other Muslims who serve Islam through organizations and communities outside your network are irredeemably at fault for not having the same associations and affiliations. It is erroneous and superstitious to try to narrow the roads that lead to Jannah because of different dispositions or interpretations unless that person is openly blasphemous or betrays Islam.
No one was given the authority to exclude any number or group of Muslims from among the righteous because no one knows where anyone will be in the hereafter. After all, there is a place in Jannah for every believer. What matters is that people work for it. Our Lord warns us as follows:
“O you who have believed, Do not let some (men) ridicule others, they may be better than them, nor let (some) women ridicule other women, they may be better than them… Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allāh is the most righteous of you” (Al-Hujurat, 11-13).
Without consulting the competent authority
Anyone who emerges with a convincing enough argument in the name or service of Islam can create a mass around them, be it large or small. Whatever their rhetoric, they would have a community. However, people should always be wary of following those who have no religious background; they may confuse or, worse, intentionally contaminate the truth with superstition and perversion and not recognize haram and halal. As the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, at the very least, soot gets on the person standing next to someone blowing the bellows. In another hadith, he said: "A person follows the religion of his friend. So everyone, be careful who you associate with.” (Tirmidhi, 2378)
It is important for people who are trying to stay on course and follow the straight path to surround themselves with people proficient in the knowledge of Islam whom they can consult on every issue. Those who do not pay attention to this vital point, especially opinion leaders, can see themselves as competent in every subject. They may make unforgivable mistakes because they do not consult with capable people about their thoughts and the conclusions they have reached. As a result, Muslims suffer. However, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) said, “So by mercy from Allah, (O Muḥammad) you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from around you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter” (Ali Imran, 159) and “They conduct their affairs by mutual consultation” (Al-Shura, 38).
Making blanket accusations
Nowadays, in every platform of discussion, we come across an overwhelming trend of prejudice and conjectural thinking being leveled against the many for the mistakes of the few. This is an epidemic, especially in the context of people who serve Islam and the generalizing judgmental attitude of those who take every opportunity to launch a barrage of wholesale criticism against them. Needless to say, this is an untenable course as it is unfair treatment to many who genuinely wish to serve Islam but are victims of the faults of the few. The basic principles to be upheld to avoid injustice in this regard are goodwill and positive assumptions. Just as the accusers can be sincere in their accusations, the accused can be equally truthful in their words and claims. Even if they are really committing a mistake, as those on the opposing side think, this does not require questioning their intentions, doubting their sincerity, or denying what they have done for the sake of religion.
Our Lord has said: “O you who have believed, when you go forth (to fight) in the cause of Allah, investigate; and do not say to one who gives you (a greeting of) peace, ‘You are not a believer’ aspiring for the goods of worldly life…” (An-Nisa, 94). Our Blessed Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also declared: “Cursing a believer is like killing them. Whoever accuses a believer of blasphemy, it would be as if they had killed them.” (Bukhari)
As the number of people coming together to do a job increases, the number of mistakes increases as well as a natural consequence. Trying to prevent genuine mistakes with harsh accusations instead of a constructive tone causes more harm than good. The best way forward is to exercise patience and show the right course of action to the believers to allow them to redress the situation.
On the other hand, it is equally wrong to be listless towards attitudes and behaviors that defy the norms of Islam and implicate Muslims. The vital rule of thumb here is that the evaluation of each action should follow the individuality principle and be according to Allah's decrees, not personal thoughts and opinions. If a group of Muslims exhibit actions that deviate from the main guidelines determined by the Ahlu’s-Sunnah scholars, and if their actions lead to corruption or subversion within society instead of betterment, other Muslims should warn them by way of knowledge and wisdom. Also, this intervention should not be carried out in the form of group gossip but through the efforts of competent people whose knowledge and social and communication skills can be trusted to manage the task at hand.
Compassion among brothers and sisters
One of the qualities we feel the lack of the most today is compassion among fellow believers. When we read about the lives of the Companions or the exemplary Muslim figures who have lived in the distant past, we are filled with great admiration for them. Even though we may find some faults with a small minority of their decisions and actions, they feel unimportant to us because our love for them outweighs these minor missteps, and we do not exaggerate them. This is how it should be.
However, for some reason, we hold back on leniency towards our brothers and sisters in Islam with whom we live in the same time period. So, do we need Ashab al-Kiram toget up and mix with us for us to awaken that compassion within us? Since that is well outside our realm of possibilities, we should embrace the fact that our brothers and sisters living among us today are to us what the Companions were to the Messenger of Allah. We should not discount that, no matter how flawed they may be according to our thinking, they are still honest Muslims trying to accomplish goals in the service of Islam.
We should be able to approach them with similar feelings and forgive their faults. When we show our Muslim brothers and sisters the same tolerance we show to our parents and siblings, the problem will quickly disappear. No matter how much our blood-related brothers and sisters do wrong to us, even when they are unfair to us, we can forget and forgive anything, have a warm little talk and hug it out. Our Lord has made believers our brothers and sisters. If we can show the same attitude towards them, we will build the bonds of fellowship.
Addressing the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), Allah Almighty said to us: “Lower your wing (show kindness) to the believers” (Al-Hijr, 88)and “Take to forbearance, and bid the fair and ignore the ignorant” (Al-A’raf, 199). Additionally, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) likens the solidarity and love of believers for each other to the interlocking stones of a building. (Bukhari, 2446)
Whoever does something in the name of Islam with genuine intentions and the necessary knowledge to deliver it correctly adds something to this world that tips the scale in favor of the believers. What falls on those who see their faithful endeavors is to praise and support them. Instead of sneering at what is done based on envy or gossip, we need to harbor good intentions for them and brighten with hope and joy at the prospect of more good deeds being done and greater accomplishments being reached by Muslims.
When we look at things from this point of view, we realize that we should pray for everyone who puts their back into making the world a better place for Islam to flourish while enduring all kinds of hardships. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do not harbor a grudge against one another, nor jealousy, nor enmity, and do not turn your backs on each other, and O slaves of Allah become as fellow brothers. It is not lawful for a Muslim to avoid speaking with his brother beyond three days.” (Muslim)
The ailing mindset of criticizing everyone
The Earth, this planet we call home in this mortal life, is fairly large and ripe with opportunities for those who want to accomplish something. Whoever wants to do so can find a field of activity for themselves. Suppose one does not take up self-absorbed pursuits of glory and reputation, and no compromise is made in abiding by the spirit and rules of Islam. In that case, every action is considered a jihad: a legitimate, faithful endeavor to further the cause of Islam. Since a believer will devote themselves first to being a good servant and strive for the religion of Allah, they can then spend their energy anywhere as long as it is in service to Allah.
But abandoning this well-adjusted consciousness and making life difficult for those who try to carry the message of Islam further is not only against the spirit of Islam but also a waste of one’s time. Furthermore, this constitutes a great sin in itself, such as hindering the good work being done in service of Islam.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) pointed out in a hadith that people should first turn to themselves and deal with their own business: “The mujahid is one who strives against their own nafs”(Tirmidhi). And Our Almighty Lord has shown us where to spend our energy:
“Invite to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is (rightly) guided. ” (An-Nahl, 125)
There is a disease that can be called “nafs wildness.” People who have this affliction festering in their hearts constantly examine and reveal the mistakes of others. Because they see themselves as high and mighty, they always think that they have the right to render judgment on others from on high. They make excuses for it, like “Islam requires us to act like this.” According to them, great mistakes are made in terms of Islam and they themselves must intervene in this within the framework of amr bi’l-ma’ruf (enjoining the good) and nahy ani’l-munkar (forbidding the evil). In other words, they are fulfilling the requirements of servitude.
However, behind this supercilious and contemptuous perspective lies the mentality of being proud of one’s thoughts and despising those they pretend to correct. For this reason, their criticism is often hurtful and opens grievous wounds in the hearts of fellow Muslims. At the very least, it causes brothers and sisters to grow distant from each other. However, our Creator has said:
“Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful” (An-Nisa, 36).
It would be best to cooperate and work with believers who are in various parts of the world and have different associations and dispositions rather than estrange them through senseless detraction. However, it is not always possible to achieve this due to complications that may arise from various circumstances.
That's why we have to focus our attention on our own business. We should not speak out against our brothers and sisters and, at the very least, we should be pleased that their work serves to create a better world for the advancement of our faith. We should refrain from adopting attitudes and rhetorics that will break the bonds between the hearts of Muslims. If we can achieve this, there will be no red flags in future relations, and potential crises will have been averted before they have even begun to bubble beneath the surface.
Through this camaraderie, the Islamic ummah will have taken a massive step in the right direction of becoming whole again, and a fellowship befitting this union will be established.
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