Issue II
ShawwÄ l 1434
August 2013
Charity special
including:
- an insight into the life of Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) by Hafiz Gul Muhammad - a transcript on the reward of charity -an excerpt from Shaykh Mohamed Ghilan's article on the example of Imam Al-Ghaizizali
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Editorial As-salamu al-aykum (peace be with you) and welcome to the second issue of Hikmah magazine. It has been an incredibly busy few months in Peterborough for the local charitable. It has been really thrilling to research, accumulate and prepare this issue and it is hoped this dynamism and energy will transfer itself from these pages. This issue will, InshaAllah (God willing) showcase – in a unique way – all the hard work and dedication shown by local volunteers to help others whether that be in a local, national or international sphere. For those unable to join the front lines of charitable ventures, supporting the work of others is always an option and by showing the good work that is happening, perhaps this magazine can act as a medium for these organisations to find more financial and physical support. The editorial team can be contacted via email, Facebook or Twitter. All details can be found on the last page of this issue. Peace, Editor Haroun Mahmud
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R
ealising the plight of their brothers and sisters in humanity, both locally and internationally, a Peterborough-based organisation banded together to try to alleviate the suffering of others. These recent and on-going projects include local rough sleepers, the displaced people from the Syrian conflict as well as seasonal campaigns, such as the Qurbani appeal that has just started, among others Saqib Rehman
Shujah
Saklain Waqqas Rehman
Atiq Rehman
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Tom Wright
hildren
harity
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I agreed to meet the 'Children of Adam' team at 805 Lincoln Road, a location far removed from the more cityscape hustle and bustle on the opposite side of the same, long road.
provider, with whom it has an overlap of personnel. Even before the meeting, I realise the charitable vocation of this team can also be found in the vision of the homecare provider which concerns itself with the provision of others. The aspiration for a local charity, Waqqas Rehman tells me, was a long-standing hope. For years prior, Waqqas and his colleague, Shujah Saklain, had been making collections locally for a Leicester-based charity,
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It's a quiet semi-detached house converted into office space, overlooked by the adjacent Lincoln Road flyover. The Peterborough-based charity shares the administrative home with 'K2 Care', a local homecare
for example the annual alms-giving called Zakah. The founding of 'Children of Adam' can be considered a natural stepping stone to the development of the local community's philanthropy. The charity's initial projects were local and international outreach. During the December 2012/January period of 2013, they began providing rough sleepers with support. They arranged sleeping
bags and thermal gloves as well as a hot meal service, operated from a central location. This has now expanded to a twice-weekly operation with 100 hot meals distributed a week. The team also began giving the individuals a chance to request items such as trainers, allowing them to source them over the following weeks. This service couldn't have come at a better time, since the cold period saw temperatures falling as low as -3/4째 C.
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Ghana and Senegal – giving special attention to water sanitation and water pumps into the two latter west African countries. Their priority is “helping others”, says Tom, “especially orphans and widows” adds Atiq, typically individuals who get caught up in the thick of battles (whether conflict, economic, social) but are often unable to overcome such barriers. It is the Islamic concept of helping others to help themselves that pushes them to creating SSPs, selfsustaining projects. “Teaching people to help themselves in the long-term rather than remaining dependent” is a key ethos that has roots in Islamic teachings. The “initial investment empowers locals”.
in meeting the Saqib says that “national projects needs of internally and regionally are in the pipeline” displaced persons: and in the £50,000 went to meantime, feeding an excess of international 18,000 people in causes – owing to the refugees camps conflict – have on the Turkish been of utmost border. concern. Their Soon, the team will Syrian campaign venture into has been Bangladesh, particularly potent
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Examples include sewing lessons, rickshaws and bikes, all means of economic stability for the future. Despite this international involvement, the charity hasn't neglected other local causes. They began fundraising for the children's wards of hospitals “to lighten them up and make the ordeal easier” (says Shujah) with toys and games. One soon realises that they're not concerned primarily with alleviating physical and material hardship from people, which can often be very stressful and troublesome, but also lightening the burdens of those who are blessed with an excellent healthcare system in a zone of noconflict such as the UK. “We've joined the Faith Communities Network”, an initiative that hopes to develop relations between different faith group. This is a vital enlisting, especially at a time when misunderstanding is rife. On the 25th of August, they held a local fundraising day where they were joined by the Deen Riders
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who were recently featured on Channel 4's Ramadan Diaries. They visited four local Mosques in a day, raising money for four causes: local homelessness, Foodbank (see: feature), Syria and Masjid Dar Asalam (also, Alma Road Mosque). “We're a 100% charitable organisation,” the team verify. “What you give is where it goes, no deductions”. At the
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end of August, another trip will be leaving for Syria to distribute recent funds to the refugee camps, as well as later expeditions to other countries. The team aims to work with inclusiveness, encapsulated by the name of their charity, Children of Adam which reminds us all of our common ancestor, the first human Adam (as). It's this message of unity (over disunity), activism (over anxiety) that helps bring relief to those in need. This reminded me: a local elder told me that humans are busy living
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for themselves but that those engaged in charity are seeking to live for others. All those endlessseeming nights, the manic hours spent organising an event and the last attempts at adding finishing touches all accumulate to a worthwhile venture that seeks to better the outward condition of others whilst meanwhile elevating the spiritual interior of the charitable ones.
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Issue II ~ August 2013 ~ Amidst a climate of continuing financial struggle and the proposed governmental cuts of the future only promising further need for inventive home economics, a local Masjid has tried to bridge the gaps for those who are struggling via a partnership with a UK-registered charity. Our editor went to visit the volunteers involved on the first Sunday of distribution.
asjid
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The statistics clearly confirm that people are living in straitened times. A Department for Work and Pensions (DwP) estimation stated that around 2.6 million children are now being raised in poverty. Perhaps most strikingly, it was that children from working families were twice as likely to fall within this threshold, providing ample food for thought under a government that has tried to spearhead a campaign where 'work pays'.
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Indeed, the burden could hit quite heavily against the current Tory-Lib Dem coalition in 2015, especially since almost a million people have been driven into poverty within the last year and a half of their administration. The household dilemma between opting for paying the energy bills (heating) or providing nourishing food for the family (eating) is further stressed by cuts to governmental and council spending. This very unique situation has ignited a lot of positive energy from communities, charities and societies to meet the task of caring for their own – local people who are finding the purse strings becoming tighter. One such charity, the Trussell Trust, bearing the slogan of “Restoring dignity and reviving hope� strives to help lift people above their material struggles. As an organisation, it started in 1997 after two UN workers witnessed the plight of people living in railway stations in Bulgaria. The mission soon spread to the United Kingdom, where the team were catering for a different type of forgotten people.
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Since 2004, 380 Foodbank centres have been launched with one of Peterborough's Mosques, Masjid Khadijah, becoming among the most recent. On Sunday 14th July, a group of congregantsturned-volunteers joined representatives from the local Trussell Trust team for their first day serving the community in this capacity.
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This makes Masjid Khadijah the first Mosque in the UK to join Trust's scheme. In a clear demonstration that different faiths can work together to achieve common good, Masjid Khadijah working with local churches will act both as a food collection and a distribution service on Sundays. The timing of the launch was made more poignant by the fact Muslims were engaged in the month-long daily fasts from dawn to sunset which is a time of contemplation and thought.
Image: welwynhatfield.co.uk
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One of the Masjid's storerooms
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Nafis Lodhi, the committee chairperson, gave some insightful words into the concern that led to joining the scheme while Javid Khan, Community Cohesion Manager at Peterborough City Council, congratulated both parties for their altruism, hailing their interfaith partnership – between a Muslim place of worship and a Christian charity – as an example of interfaith to be followed in the future.
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It was, of course, a long process that led to that first and subsequent distribution days but one that was made worthwhile by its charitable nature. Juliet Welch, the Project Manager, commented: “We are extremely pleased to have Masjid Khadijah become a distribution centre. It is great that the faith communities can come together to help those in need in our city.
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It means that we will now have 7 days a week access to Foodbank.” The Masjid's involvement has been well-documented in local press: a BBC Look East report provided coverage to the region and a Peterborough Telegraph article did the same. The volunteers are all local congregants and the team hopes the well-wishers will continue rising.
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Often a lack of cohesive action hampers the potential and outreach of strategic projects. A local non-profit organisation has tried to overcome that and has initiated charitable projects with a worldwide outreach.
As a charity, Unite 4 Humanity, seek to strengthen humanity 'in the face of poverty, social injustice and natural disaster'. By helping in the delivery of immediate relief and the continual establishment of selfsustaining (development) programmes [known as SSPs], they aim to invest in real, effective solutions. Through a team of experienced and dedicated
volunteers, they are able to overcome any financial strain such as salaries, administration and travel costs. They take full responsibility for delivering the aid themselves and do not outsource. As well as international aid work, Unite 4 Humanity also support and run UKbased community and social welfare initiatives, ranging from providing
services for the homeless to working with vulnerable and deprived young people across the United Kingdom. So far, the charity has made two visits to conflictstricken Syria, a Middle Eastern country with a rich tradition of knowledge and hallmarks of history. In their first trip, they visited Aleppo, known for being the largest city in the
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The charity provides vital emergency help to those affected by the Syrian conflict
whole country as well as one of the most populated. Of course, many of us would have heard the devastation that was wrought upon this city amidst the continuing fighting. This city, dubbed 'Little Syria' because of its microcosmic representation of the nation's varying ethnic and religious identities, features heavily in any historian's guidebook: its existence was mentioned in Egyptian texts as early as the 20th century BC, its famed medieval citadel pierces itself into popular knowledge and its Great Mosque was built in the eighth century CE by the Umayyad Caliph Sulayman. To bring renewal to the city, Unite 4 Humanity
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The team organised an ambulance aid convoy for Syria in December 2012. Here, it makes its way through Greece en route
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set up a hospital. This expedition was part of a road convoy which also delivered 10 UK ambulances, alongside other vehicles. Months later, in June 2013, the Two of the charity's trustees charity made a return. meeting the Syrian scholar, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi This time, they shipped over three 40ft containers of medical supplies ranging from x-ray machines to patient monitors. They established another small hospital in Azaz and distributed medical equipment to five other hospitals. They have also recently distributed ÂŁ22,000 of Zakat in Aleppo and Homs during the month of Ramadan 1434/2013. The charity hopes to return to Syria at the end of
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2013 in November and December to distribute clothes and ensure the hospitals are running. Alongside this, there is another ongoing project concerning Jammu and Kashmir. Unite 4 Humanity has recently acquired a purposebuilt clinic in the summer capital, Srinagar. It is the aim to set up a small medical clinic which will also serve as a community hub for the elderly, widowers and the poor. The main activities will include:
Free consultation for patients
Free counselling
The total cost of this project is £80,000 and God willing, the team hopes to have the medical clinic up and running by June 2014. They've already started the appeal and have so far raised £7,000 in Peterborough. Their current project in Syria is called Project
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Al-Sufiya ('The Wool Project'). U4H will be setting up a small production line to support 17 Syrian widowers who will be making hand knitted jumpers, gloves, woolly hats and baby shawls for the upcoming cold winter. U4H in return will distribute the finished products to the most needy inside Syria. U4H will also be providing both the
Free provision of medicines
Advocacy for long-term solutions
accommodation and the start up costs to start this small project. The Al-Sufiya project will cost roughly £20,000 which will include material, machinery, warehouse, wages and of course utility bills.
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This project will run for 1 year and they have so far taken a year's lease on the building in Killis, Turkey which borders Syria, and purchased the machinery. God willing, they will be fundraising soon to raise money to buy the wool and pay for the wages. Unite 4 Humanity has also organised climbs to Mount Snowdon in Wales and mount Scaffel Pike in Lake District and have also organised three family fun days in Peterborough and
Telephonic helpline
Free medical camps
one on Birmingham's Alum Rock Road on 1st September 2013. Donations can be made to the charity via: Bank: Barclays Sort code: 206740 Account: 03801675 Company No. 08516209.
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Imam Khalid Hussain delivers a talk
The
Big
ftar
Organised by PAY (Peterborough Active Youth) Gladstone Park Community Centre Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough Sunday, 28 July, 2013
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Nasheed group, Shaam, performing on the night
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The saddening chain of events, particularly in Burma and Syria, has truly shaken spectators to the core. And oftentimes, in such scenarios, the worst enemy can be that of the self, which promises of one's own incapacity to affect change and consigns the limbs to lethargy. However, one local Peterborough group preferred activism over apathy. PAY – Peterborough Active Youth – organised a charity dinner at Gladstone Park Community Centre as part of a string of 10 participating cities nationwide. Working in conjunction with the international NGO, Muslim Hands, they joined a variety of other UK cities each hosting a night of iftari dishes, guest scholars and nasheed artists. The other cities were 2 London locations, including the northwestern suburb of
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Harrow; the Yorkshire cities of Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford; the West Midland city with 161 Mosques, Birmingham; Leicester, the home of the two Premier League teams, Manchester and the Scottish host of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow. The iftari meal was pleasantly presented amidst a halal environment for the whole family and community to enjoy. Imam Khalid Hussain spoke insightfully while the internationallyfamous nasheed group, Shaam, provided melodious tunes. Only 500 tickets were initially intended but due to incredible demand an
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additional 40% (200) ticket-holders were accommodated on the night. A varied auction at the venue also helped raise money for the cause and among the soughtafter goodies were opulent hampers and beautifully-designed frames of Islamic calligraphy. The local community was definitely not reserved in giving to charity, especially those hit by sudden circumstances as we all see in the unfolding events abroad. Indeed, not only were all ticket sales constituting donations towards these noble causes but many countless locals gave their Zakah and Sadaqah. In total, an exceptional sum of ÂŁ26,211.61 was raised. All the organisers at PAY, the countless volunteers and the charitable community are to be given a big, hearty congratulations for working in unity, tirelessly, towards raising money.
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Indeed, despite the summer heat outdoors and holding fast as part of Ramadan, the volunteers gave – their efforts, their talents – in a happy, enjoyable evening of thought and contemplation.
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It is widely recognised that the youth are often underestimated, not only in their ability but also their capacity to achieve great things. Throughout the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), we find this stereotype is not only challenged but corrected. In this, the first of a series on the Companions around the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam), Hafiz Gul Muhammad guides us through the life of Abdullah ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) and his lifelong loyalty.
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Abdullah ibn Abbas
Abdullah was the son of Abbas, an uncle of the noble Prophet (pbuh). He was born just three years before the Hijrah. When the Prophet passed away, Abdullah was then only thirteen years old. When he was born, his mother took him to the blessed Prophet (pbuh) who put some of his saliva on the babe's tongue even before he began to suckle. This was the beginning of the close and intimate tie between the Prophet (pbuh) and Abbas (ra) that was to be part of a life-long love and devotion. When Abdullah reached the age of discretion, he attached himself to the service of the Prophet. He would run to fetch water for him when he wanted to make wudhu. During Salat (prayer), he would stand behind the Prophet (pbuh) in prayer and when the Prophet went on journeys or expeditions, he would follow next in line to him. Abdullah thus became like the shadow of the Prophet (pbuh); constantly in his company. The Prophet (pbuh) prayed for Abdullah Ibn Abbas: “O Lord, grant him wisdom.” The Prophet (pbuh)'s prayer was undoubtedly granted, for the young Abdullah (ra) was to prove time and again that he possessed wisdom beyond his years. As Abdullah's knowledge grew, he grew in stature. Masruq ibn al Ajda said of him: "Whenever I saw Ibn Abbas, I would say: He is the most handsome of men. When he spoke,
I would say: He is the most eloquent of men. And when he held a conversation, I would say: He is the most knowledgeable of men." One occasion where his formidable powers of persuasion were used was during the caliphate of Ali (ra). A large number of supporters of Ali in his stand against Muawiyah had just deserted him. Abdullah ibn Abbas went to Ali and requested permission to speak to them. Ali hesitated, fearing that Abdullah would be in danger at their hands but eventually gave way on Abdullah's optimism that nothing untoward would happen.
“...the beginning of the close, intimate tie between the Prophet (pbuh) and Abbas (ra)...” Abdullah went over to the group. They were absorbed in worship. Some were not willing to let him speak but others were prepared to give him a hearing. "Tell me" asked Abdullah, "what grievances have you against the cousin of the Prophet, the husband of his daughter and the first of those who believed in him?" The men proceeded to relate three main complaints against Ali. First, that he appointed men to pass judgment in matters pertaining to the religion of God - meaning that Ali had agreed to accept the arbitration of Abu Musa alAsbari and Amr ibn al-As in the dispute with Muawiyah. Secondly, that he fought and took neither spoils of war
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nor prisoners of war. Thirdly, that he did not insist on the title of Amir alMuminin (Commander of the Believers) during the arbitration process although the Muslims had pledged allegiance to him and he was their legitimate amir. To them this was obviously a sign of weakness and a sign that Ali was prepared to bring his legitimate position as Amir alMuminin into disrepute. In reply, Abdullah asked them that should he cite verses from The Quran and sayings of the Prophet (pbuh) to which they had no objection and which related to their criticisms, would they be prepared to change their position. They replied that they would and Abdullah proceeded: "Regarding your statement that Ali has appointed men to pass judgment in matters pertaining to Allah's religion, Allah Glorified and Exalted is He, says: 'O you who believe! Kill not game while in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb (ihram). If any of you do so intentionally, the compensation is an offering, of a domestic animal equivalent to the one he killed and adjudged by two just men among." "I adjure you, by God! Is the adjudication by men in matters pertaining to the preservation of their blood and their lives and making peace between them more deserving of attention than adjudication over a rabbit whose value is only a quarter of a dirham?" Their reply was of course that arbitration was more important in the case of preserving Muslim lives and making peace among them than over the killing of game in the sacred precincts for which Allah sanctioned
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arbitration by men. "Have we then finished with this point?" asked Abdullah and their reply was: "Allahumma, naam” [O Lord, yes]. Abdullah went on: "As for your statement that Ali fought and did not take prisoners of war as the Prophet (pbuh) did, do you really desire to take your "mother" Aisha (ra) as a captive and treat her as fair game in the way that captives are treated? If your answer is "Yes", then you have fallen into kufr (disbelief). And if you say that she is not your "mother", you would also have fallen into a state of kufr for Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has said: 'The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves and his wives are their mothers (entitled to respect and consideration)' [The Quran, Surah al-Ahzab, 34:6]. "Choose for yourself what you want," said Abdullah and then he asked: "Have we then finished with this point?" and this time too their reply was: "Allahumma, naam” [O Lord, yes]. Abdullah went on: "As for your statement that Ali has surrendered the title of Amir al-Muminin, (remember) that the Prophet himself, peace and blessings of God be on him, at the time of Hudaybiyyah, demanded that the mushrikin (polytheists) write in the truce which he concluded with them: 'This is what the Messenger of God has agreed...' and they retorted: 'If we believed that you were the Messenger of God we would not have blocked your way to the Ka'ba nor would we have fought you. Write instead: 'Muhammad the son of Abdullah.' The Prophet conceded their demand while saying: “By God, I am the Messenger of God even if they reject me." At this point Abdullah ibn Abbas asked them: "Have we then finished with this point? and their reply was once again: "Allahumma, naam” [O Lord, yes].
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Reflections The art of self-regulation and contemplation are considered among the defining qualities of sapient (wise) beings; in Arabic it is called muhasabah. This space will hopefully allow us to more deeply consider our actions and help us to continually renew our intentions for the better
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The good in giving
In Surah Al-Baqarah (chapter [Transcript with edits] 2, ayah 261), Allah SWA (Glorified and Exalted is He) says: “The example of “The example of those who spend their wealth in the way those who spend of Allah is like a seed [of grain] their wealth in which grows seven spikes; in the Way of Allah each spike is a hundred grains. is like a seed And Allah multiplies [His which grows reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing seven spikes; in and Knowing.” each spike is a Allah,Glorified and Exalted is hundred grains” He, gives a very powerful (Surah Al example and this is one of the Baqarah, most powerful examples presented to us in The Qur'an; ayah 261) indeed, it's a recurring theme throughout The Qur'an. Allah says, “those who spend their wealth in the path of Allah”; Giving to your meaning, people who spend their wealth in causes that are local Masjid, pleasing to Allah (for example) giving to the that of contributing to Islamic school, spreading the message of contributing to Islam. And so many avenues a Qur'an are available to us: giving to your Masjid, giving to the competition, an Islamic school, contributing to educational a Qur'an competition or an project, social educational project or media technological/social media projects furthering projects... understanding of the deen so many (religion). Maybe even giving avenues to give to a needy, poor person or someone who is going through a tough time in your community. These different places would be called in the Path of Allah': Fi-sabee-Lillah.
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So Allah says, the example of these people who spend their wealth – their own wealth, and not someone else's – “in the Path of Allah”, it's like the example of a singular seed. And when you plant it in the ground and it grows and sprouts, it has 7 branches/spikes; and each of the branches/spikes bears a hundred more seeds. So one seed you put into the ground, with seven spikes and each spike having a hundred more branches; thus, one become seven hundred. So many important lessons we can find here: we need to pay attention to the language of the ayah. “The people who spend their own wealth” - a lot of times, when we talk about giving in the Path of Allah, something that comes to mind is fundraising. And when you think about fundraising, you think about the four-million-dollar Islamic centre and who is ready to give 500 dollars or 1000 dollars. And the younger people feel, ok, that doesn't apply to me; that's not relevant to me. And if we're talking about donating ten-thousand dollars and you're in high school, then that's not really relevant. But Allah SWA doesn't talk about that. He says, “those who spend their wealth”, leaving it open.
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The Prophet SAW gave us such practical advice; he (pbuh) said, if a person's sole possession is a single date, then they should break it in half, eating a half for his/her own need and sustenance and giving the other half to someone who is in need. Being rich or having a thousand dollars is not a prerequisite to giving charity; if you have one pound, you can afford to give 25 pence out of that. This is something that is very practical. And the excuse people usually make for themselves is, I only have a couple of dollars saved up right now so InshaAllah, when I get a job, earn lots of money...if you don't get into the habit of giving what is practical for you now, then it's going to be very difficult later on. You have to develop, cultivate these habits of giving; generosity, sharing, it's a quality that grows within you. There's a Masjid in every neighbourhood or you can go online to any good cause, there are relief organisations and so forth.
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And what might seem insignificant to you is still something important. And what example does Allah use? A singular seed – it's small. Allah uses that example to say, don't underestimate what you're willing to give. Your motivation, your drive is what puts the barakah, blessing and the reward in that. Some people would spend a few pennies but Allah will give them the reward of spending mountains and mountains worth of gold and silver by His Will because they were inspired, sincere and motivated and that was something significant to them. If you've got a dollar in your pocket and you give 25 cents, you've given 25% of your wealth – a fourth, in the Path of Allah. And what will be the return of it? You're probably thinking I've put a dollar in the sadaqah box but Allah says this will multiply a minimum of 700 times. So every time you put a pound into the box, you get the minimum of the reward of giving 700 dollars. You mightn't be capable to give 700 dollars but that one dollar gets you that reward. And Allah says, He can multiply beyond that for whomever He wills, however much He wills. And this is from the Mercy and the Benevolence of
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Allah. So start giving. We need to start implementing action immediately. A penny or a coin, that's it, the change in your pocket, on your nightstand, under the cushion of your couch, whatever it is. Just take a little change and drop it in the sadaqah box. Instead of buying a soda or a drink at the machine, put it for sadaqah. And InshaAllah, it will be a really amazing beginning. And you will be someone who collects a minimum of 700 good deeds every single time you spend just a penny. Give it somewhere, something, some way, somehow.
You're probably thinking I've put a pound in the sadaqah box but Allah says this will multiply a minimum of 700 times If you have one pound, you can afford to give 25p out of that. This is something that's very practical Give it somewhere, somehing, some way, somehow
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This excerpt is published with the permission of the author, Shaykh Mohamed Ghilan. Imam Abu Hamid AlGhazzali, is one of the most influential figures in the Islamic Tradition and the only one in the Sunni tradition to be called the “Proof of Islam.” However, he was not free from critiques, some of which were justified, while others were driven by jealousy. One of the critiques was that Imam Al-Ghazzali never addressed the circumstances in Jerusalem, which during his time had fallen to the Crusader forces. Instead of engaging in the same rhetoric about Jerusalem as other scholars had been, Imam Al-Ghazzali spent his time writing the Revivification of the Sciences of Religion (Ihya Ulum Ad-Din). For Imam Al-Ghazzali, the fall of Jerusalem was a symptom of a deeper disease. When Moses (pbuh) was speaking to his people as they were under the oppression of Pharaoh he said, “Turn to God for help and be steadfast: the Earth belongs to God – He gives it as their own to whichever of His servants He chooses – and the happy future belongs to those who are mindful of Him.” [Quran 7:128]. When all the other scholars and preachers during his time were focusing on the political gains and losses of Muslims,
Imam Al-Ghazzali was concerned about the Muslims’ fulfilment of the requirements to be true representatives of God on Earth. The fall of Jerusalem was a consequence of diseased hearts and faulty states, which made the Muslims unworthy of being the caretakers of Jerusalem, and that was the motivation for Imam Al-Ghazzali to write his magnum opus. The modern day example of how a scholar should interact with politics is embodied in Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah. He was asked to comment on the situation in various Arab countries and he said, “These countries have their own scholars who are physically there and know the situation on the ground, so they’re the best ones to give you a response.” When asked about the revolutions themselves he responded, “They say rain in April is flowers in May. We’ve been seeing rains of blood ever since the beginning of these revolutions and we’ve yet to see their flowers. The young people who went out didn’t seek advise from anyone and acted from within themselves. Rulings that would’ve been given before cannot be given after the fact, because the situation is
different.” When asked to delve into deep political analysis, Shaykh Bin Bayyah's concern was more concerned about objectives and preservation of lives. He spoke about general principles of Islamic teachings when it comes to political rule and the nature of the interplay between the ruler and the ruled. Instead of siding with anyone, he kept coming back to the issue of the sanctity of human life. The knowledge our scholars carry and continue to pursue is called Sacred Knowledge. By getting themselves involved with politics today they will necessarily bring dishonour to what Allah has honoured them with as the people will reflexively group them with a political movement. To add insult to injury, given that the Islamic tradition relies upon transmission from one generation to the next, the damage the scholar does when he involves himself with politics is not restricted to him – it’s a domino effect that will take down all his
Issue II
students and those who were granted degrees and ijazas by him. During times of political turbulence and mass disorder, when principles get deluded and clarity of direction is lost, Muslim scholars are supposed to be the steadfast pillars in the storm. We cannot afford to lose our religious leadership because they chose to embroil themselves in a realm they couldn’t tell their heads from their feet in.
To read more of Shaykh Mohamed Ghilan, visit his website: www.MohamedGhilan.com/. As well as being a certified student of the Islamic sciences, he's also a PhD Candidate in the Neuroscience program at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada
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Shawwal 1434
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www.neuroscienceoflife.com/ He is also on Facebook and Twitter.
Emails can be directed to: Hikmahpeterborough@gmail.com Photographs of charity work were provided from the charities themselves. Other credits include: Imam Khalid Hussain (Leicester) and Atif Iqbal (PAY, Peterborough); www.clker.com; www.sxc.hu.