Ummah Of Lame.

In the Name of Allah,

"So high [above all] is Allah , the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." (Quran 20:114)

Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The superiority of the learned over the devout worshipper is like my superiority over the most inferior amongst you (in good deeds).'' (Imam Al-Nawawi's Riyad-us-Saliheen # 1387)

Some asks me why I wasn't at Taraweeh, and I tell them that I pray at home sometimes, and don't pray other times, as it is not an obligation. It is certainly a sad situation among Muslims that this superficial gathering has become the focus of Islam, and seeking the knowledge has become untouchable, because if they have a question, they will just ask the Imam, and he will provide the answers. So, if he passes away, basically the knowledge from the society is lifted, until they can find another person who was foolish enough to go to Alim course for eight year instead of Medical School. It is really pathetic. I am sick and tired of this attitude.

Tonight, millions will go to Masjid for one purpose and that is to celebrate their superstitious belief that Night of Qadr is tonight, but there is no evidence to show that. I wish they will go some day just to worship Allah, and not to worship their tradition. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not give any importance to 27th night over 21st or 25th, yet Muslim effort is being spent cooking and preparing for this grand event.

In fact, Islam keeps seeking knowledge superior to optional worship, and anyone who performs their faraidh, and seek knowledge is better than the one who worships in the night and fasts in the day. So, if one goes to Taraweeh every night like a clock work, and sacrifice things to get there, but avoid the opportunities to gain and exercise knowledge is following the path to mis-guidance, as it will lead to a society similar to Jews, where only a few handful people understand the knowledge and they can fool others easily.

Specifically Indo-Pak masajid has become similar to the worship houses of Hindus, where lame people come in droves and just shake their bodies for a few minutes and walk out, and back to their lives without sitting down and reading a translation of Quran or tafseer, or debating over a fiqh question or correcting someone over their mis-understanding. When I went to India, I saw the masses of people worshipping idols, and if you ask them why? they will say that this is what they found their ancestors doing, and if you point them to their scripture, they will say, "Oh I am not learned on this, talk to a swami". Basically, it is the same with this Ummah of lame people who tell me that you should follow one of the four schools, and when I ask why? They say we are not learned, so we need to do Taqleed. Well, if you are not learned then you should stay quite.

According to the definition of Taqleed presented by scholars who do Taqleed of other scholars. There are two types of Muslims. One is a scholar, and the other is a lame person who need to do Taqleed of a scholar. You know what, lets accept this definition for a second. So, who among us is a scholar and who is a lame person. Majority of the Muslims will fall into the category of lame people. Basically we are an "Ummah of Lame". Someone says lets go protest about Prophet's cartoon, we are ready with matches and baseball bat. Someone says today is Night of Qadr, we are ready with our optional Salah to surrender to that call. Someone says your wife should not work unless you need more money, we are ready with lock and key to cage her.

In "lame" terms, we are the slaves of the scholars and not the slaves of Allah. Well, I do not want to be lame. I say there are many levels of learned people, and lame is either a new Muslim or the worst Muslim who does not want to learn. I may not be a scholar, but I reject the life of lame. I reject the oppression of this religion. I reject this religion of Indian sub-continent. If you like to be lame, so be it. I will avoid the gatherings of Lame in the Islamic Center of Orlando tonight. So much dedication, but so much waste. I will try my best to change it.

In fact, everyone of us should strive to be learned person more than we strive to be a devout worshiper. If we go for Taraweeh every night like a religion, we should attend an Islamic school regularly as well. If we read Quran everyday, we should understand and implement those verses. If we take refuge in Masjid for Itikaf, it should include the study of fiqh along with worship.

JAK

Not a lame person
AbuArman Jumani