In the Name of Allah,
All praise is due to Allah, the owner of the day of judgement.
AssalamuAlaykum Brothers and Sisters,
It has become a very common practice in Media and among Non-Practicing Muslims, or even in some Practicing Muslims, to rule out Islamic Sharia as the complete law.
We would like to follow Islamic Sharia, when paying zakat, or fasting, or divorce. However, we will not follow Sharia, when we are socializing with opposite sex, or paying interest payments, or killing innocents, or taking bribes, listening to music...etc.
Islamic Sharia is not something that we can pick and chose when to follow. It has to be in effect in our life all the time or never. If we are applying for Immigration benefits, we can't decieve our facts, as Sharia prohibits that. Muslim men are required to have beard in Sharia, and women are required to cover themselves. Islamic Sharia prohibits taking still pictures. It is also forbidden to go to extreme in religion. It is also forbidden to let the hair in private area to grow longer then a certain length. These are just some examples.
Now, there are some reason why Non-Muslim and most Muslims are not interested in Sharia laws. Biggest reason is the perception of the treatment of women according to Islamic Sharia. In fact, it is a myth. Islamic Sharia's top objective is to liberate women, and give balanced rights to everyone. What happens in some Muslim countries is an outsome of ancient cultures not yielding to Islamic Sharia. For example, women are required to educate themselves in Islam, but some Afghanis do not have the knowledge of Islam to understand that point, so they apply their cultural values which disallow women from chosing to study or work or own property or not wear hijab. Islam welcomes all cultures, but if our culture contradicts Islamic Sharia, we have to abandon it.
Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri: I went to the Apostle of Allah (pbuh) and asked him: "What do you say (command) about our wives?" He replied: "Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them." (Sunan Abu Dawud: Book 11, Number 2139)
"The best of you is one who is best towards his family and I am best towards the family". (At-Tirmithy).
"None but a noble man treats women in an honourable manner. And none but an ignoble treats women disgracefully". (At-Tirmithy).
I claim that women are being opressed by unIslamic cultures, because they are being objectified to sell advertisements, movies, sports, etc. Women have been thrown in to the society to survive as a single mother, where she is disadvantaged by men at every corner of the street. I attest to some women close to me are living the lives of poverty because of "equal" rights of women in USA. Women don't need equal rights, but need "equitable" (meaning more) rights. I see women brainwashed to wear clothes that reveal part of the hairs and skin that entertain the men at work, and muslim women has fallen to this trap thinking "Oh, we are free to show our bodies".
No sisters in Islam, you are being punked. Men are satisfying their visual and sexual urges without paying the dues to the women, and when you get pregnant, these men will run away. Marraige is not just created for men, but it was created to protect women from the opression of men, and now women have been convinced to have extra marital relationships. Sure, which men wouldn't like to have that without commitment to provide for her for the rest of her life.
Muslim sisters who do not cover themselves does not offend me and I support their right to chose sin. However, it hurts me to see men taking advantage of them and moving on. I beg the Muslim sisters to reconsider invoking your rights under Islam and shun the opression of men in USA and other unIslamic cultures. It is your choice.
Allah did give men a degree higher in administrative duties, but that is only to remove conflict, becuase there can't be two President of the country, or two Kings of the Kingdom or two head of the household. To compensate for this, Allah increased the rights and status of women in other areas. Men have to provide for the women, but women don't have to do house work, if they don't want to. Of course, if women chose to take care ofthe home and their husbands, then the reward is Jannah without struggle that men go through. So, Allah is not bounded by a flesh brain to think and his wisdom is infinite, and he has balanced the rights and duties in the most perfect manner for human beings. If we choose not to follow his command, it only harm us.
Allah created human beings with a power to chose right and wrong, but it is not easy, and the thats why the reward is huge. Allah is very merciful, and so provided a written manual to decide what is right and what is wrong. If he would have left it up for us, we would make many mistakes. If humans wants to live a peaceful and succesful life, they have to follow the manual. Any other variation will end in disaster. Last and the most comprehensive of these manuals is Islamic Sharia.
If someone says that Islamic Sharia is not suitable for this age, they are questioning the wisdom of Allah, as he has told us that Islam is a guidance until Qiyamah. It is the only method to live our life to succeed here and here after. If someone thinks that they can do good deeds, and not follow Islam completely, and will enter Jannah. They are certainly mistaken. Before we were born, our souls took an oath with Allah that he is the only God, and we will follow his command. We should remember that oath, and start following Islamic Sharia in everything.
"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (Submission to Allah), Never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost."(Qur'an 3:85)
So, can we believe in Allah, pray 5 times, fast, go to Hajj, pay Zakat, and consider ourselves following Islam? No, we can not. We have to enter the religion compeltely. We can't flirt with women at work, and then become sober in Taraweeh. We cannot display an item for sale in false pretence in our stores, and pray 20 long Rakat to make up for it. No such thing.
"O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly" (Qur'an 2:208)
Either we are muslims or not. We can not be Muslim when we visit Masjid or Kaba, and act different at work. Our lives should be exactly the same when we are inside haram, and when we are in our living room with friends.
Islamic Sharia is the perfect set of rules that will create the best living environment on earth. As a Muslim, we should live it, and preach Non-Muslim by example. Companions of Prophet (PBUH) did not spread Islam by debating and showing proves from Quran, although it is sometimes necessary. They lived Islam, and never went against Islamic Sharia intentionally.
In conclusion, being a Muslim is like cooking, and if we use all the ingredients, and follow the instructions, the lives will be delicous, but if we use all but one ingredient, the lives may not taste so good. So, don't follow Islamic Sharia because it is a trend, or it is required. Follow Sharia because it has all the answers. From marraige to business to School to Govt Offices, it will provide the protection against opression. Allah guarantees it.
Just try it! Take a pledge that you will live according to Sharia, and try to direct your path towards it. We don't have to change overnight, but we need to have intention to change.
JazakAllah Khairin
A struggling Muslim
AbuArman (Adnan Jumani)
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
When is the first Ramadhan?
In the Name of Allah,
If you live in USA, you have noticed that some Masajid will follow a different day for First Ramadhan, and Eidain. So, we end up with having two Eids on seperate days within the same locality. This could be very confusing for Muslims who don't know all the details of the issue.
First of all, since Eid and Ramadhan are community affairs, we have to follow the Masjid where we pray 5 times or once a week (if our faith is week), even if the local Imam is wrong about the dates, we should follow him on this issue.
Even if the month suppose to be 29 days, moonsighting is required for starting Ramadhan. If the moonsighting was obscured due to clouds, Prophet (PBUH) ordered us to default to 30 day month, and fast after that. There is no wiggle room here. Allah does not want Muslims to be burdened and provided a simple method to decide, and some of us want to make it more difficult.
However, Prophet (PBUH) accepted witnesses of moon sighting if they testified and were credible. So, if no one sighted the moon within the city, but someone in the surrounding areas sighted the moon, and they can testify, we are allowed to accept that as moon sighting.
Now, there is not a single evidence in Quran, hadith, or Rightly guided Khulafah's lives that can show us that some sort of prediction or calulation can replace the standing order of the Prophet (PBUH), which means order of Allah.
There is another possible valid opinion that says that moon sighting in other countries could be used as witnesses to fulfil the exception above. If that was the case, our Prophet (PBUH) must have made effort to send people out to Makkah or other cities. Umar would hadve setup a commnication system to notify provinces for dates for Eid-Al-Adha. But, there is no evidence of any of that, so moon sighting has to be witnessed close by.
So, how would we know how far is too far? It should be common sense. But, this could be discussed. Usually this depends upon the horizon angles and proximity. Following hadith gives an example of distance that will be too far for moon sighting.
I hope that ISNA and others do not beleive that Our Prophet's teachings are out of date and they need to be replaced by new technology because he never saw this coming. On the contrary, he was shown the future, and he was aware of all the generations to come, and their relative progress.
One argument that ISNA and others who support the use of moon calculation gives is the unity of Muslims. In fact, we could be united in our method and traditions, but don't have to unite in dates and times, as we live in different part of the worlds. Unity is not agreeing on one thing, but tolerating difference of opinion. Abu Bakar, and Umar didn't agree on many issues, but they were united in the method and tradition. If Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) compromised the principles for unity, Islam would have been more like Catholic Church which changes its laws according to how political winds are blowing. If we follow the Sunnah, and perform worship according to that, it will unite us more than celebrating Eid on one day.
In fact, if ISNA can setup a central moonsighting committee in NYC, and someone sees moon in USA and reports to them, then we can all unite in dates. All Imams I know are open to witnesses from credible people in USA, and it can work.
Please take some time out and try to sight the moon, and report to your local masjid, and don't go against strict orders of Prophet (PBUH) on this matter. If you didn't make an attempt to sight the moon, you should not speak, as you are withdrawing your right to participate.
And Allah Knows best,
A struggling Muslim
Adnan Jumani
If you live in USA, you have noticed that some Masajid will follow a different day for First Ramadhan, and Eidain. So, we end up with having two Eids on seperate days within the same locality. This could be very confusing for Muslims who don't know all the details of the issue.
First of all, since Eid and Ramadhan are community affairs, we have to follow the Masjid where we pray 5 times or once a week (if our faith is week), even if the local Imam is wrong about the dates, we should follow him on this issue.
Even if the month suppose to be 29 days, moonsighting is required for starting Ramadhan. If the moonsighting was obscured due to clouds, Prophet (PBUH) ordered us to default to 30 day month, and fast after that. There is no wiggle room here. Allah does not want Muslims to be burdened and provided a simple method to decide, and some of us want to make it more difficult.
NARRATOR Abdullah ibn Umar
ABU DAWUD
HADITH_No 2312
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: The month consists of twenty-nine
days, but do not fast till you sight it (the moon) and do not break your fast
till you sight it. If the weather is cloudy, calculate it thirty days.
However, Prophet (PBUH) accepted witnesses of moon sighting if they testified and were credible. So, if no one sighted the moon within the city, but someone in the surrounding areas sighted the moon, and they can testify, we are allowed to accept that as moon sighting.
NARRATOR Abdullah ibn Abbas
ABU DAWUD
HADITH_No 2333
A bedouin came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and said: I have sighted
the moon. Al-Hasan added in his version: that is, of Ramadan. He asked: Do you
testify that there is no god but Allah? He replied: Yes. He again asked: Do you
testify that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah? He replied: Yes. and he testified
that he had sighted the moon. He said: Bilal, announce to the people that they
must fast tomorrow.
Now, there is not a single evidence in Quran, hadith, or Rightly guided Khulafah's lives that can show us that some sort of prediction or calulation can replace the standing order of the Prophet (PBUH), which means order of Allah.
There is another possible valid opinion that says that moon sighting in other countries could be used as witnesses to fulfil the exception above. If that was the case, our Prophet (PBUH) must have made effort to send people out to Makkah or other cities. Umar would hadve setup a commnication system to notify provinces for dates for Eid-Al-Adha. But, there is no evidence of any of that, so moon sighting has to be witnessed close by.
So, how would we know how far is too far? It should be common sense. But, this could be discussed. Usually this depends upon the horizon angles and proximity. Following hadith gives an example of distance that will be too far for moon sighting.
NARRATOR Abdullah ibn Abbas
SAHIH MUSLIM
HADITH_No
2391
Kurayb said: Umm Fadl, daughter of Harith, sent him (Fadl, i.e. her
son) to Mu'awiyah in Syria. I (Fadl) arrived in Syria, and did the needful for
her. It was there in Syria that the month of Ramadan commenced. I saw the new
moon (of Ramadan) on Friday. I then came back to Medina at the end of the month.
Abdullah ibn Abbas asked me (about the new moon of Ramadan) and said: When did
you see it? I said: We saw it on Friday night. He said: (Did) you see it
yourself? I said: Yes, and the people also saw it so they observed fast and
Mu'awiyah also observed fast. Thereupon he said: But we saw it on Saturday
night. So we shall continue to observe the fast until we complete thirty (fasts)
or we see it (the new moon of Shawwal). I said: Is the sighting of the moon by
Mu'awiyah not valid for you? He said: No; this is how the Messenger of Allah
(peace_be_upon_him) has commanded us. Yahya ibn Yahya was in doubt (whether the
word used in the narration by Kurayb) was Naktafi or Taktafi.
I hope that ISNA and others do not beleive that Our Prophet's teachings are out of date and they need to be replaced by new technology because he never saw this coming. On the contrary, he was shown the future, and he was aware of all the generations to come, and their relative progress.
One argument that ISNA and others who support the use of moon calculation gives is the unity of Muslims. In fact, we could be united in our method and traditions, but don't have to unite in dates and times, as we live in different part of the worlds. Unity is not agreeing on one thing, but tolerating difference of opinion. Abu Bakar, and Umar didn't agree on many issues, but they were united in the method and tradition. If Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) compromised the principles for unity, Islam would have been more like Catholic Church which changes its laws according to how political winds are blowing. If we follow the Sunnah, and perform worship according to that, it will unite us more than celebrating Eid on one day.
In fact, if ISNA can setup a central moonsighting committee in NYC, and someone sees moon in USA and reports to them, then we can all unite in dates. All Imams I know are open to witnesses from credible people in USA, and it can work.
Please take some time out and try to sight the moon, and report to your local masjid, and don't go against strict orders of Prophet (PBUH) on this matter. If you didn't make an attempt to sight the moon, you should not speak, as you are withdrawing your right to participate.
And Allah Knows best,
A struggling Muslim
Adnan Jumani
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