Islahi Centre

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the Most Merciful

Isn’t it time we woke up to the fact that we might not be the best of people’s?

‘You [believers in Allah] are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors.’ [imran 3: 110]

In the above verse, even though the People of the book are discusssed, the meaning is quite general and can be applied to polytheists and Muslims who are straying.

Majority of Muslims today are so happily wrapped up in their lives that they do not take the time to cast a glance at the people who have strayed from the True Path.

Allah says about them-

‘Say, “If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline: or the dwellings in which you delight – are dearer to you than Allah, or His Apostle, or the striving in His cause;- then wait until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious.”‘ [tawbah 9 :24]

When the Prophet [s] was given the command by Allah, ‘O you [Muhammad] wrapped up in mantle! Arise and deliver your warning!’ [muddaththir 74: 1-2], he [s] sort of rolled up his sleeves and got down to the business of calling strayed Muslims to Islam in general and non-Muslims in particular.

The above verse from the Qur’an refers to us Muslims too. This is because we believe that Allah talks to us personally through the Qur’an.

Have we rolled up our sleeves? Not quite.

We believe [?] that we must gain enough knowledge about Islam, only then can we reform other Muslims, or only then can we call non-Muslims to Islam.

We couldn’t be more wrong.

Knowledge is an ocean. No one can draw a line between ignorance and knowledge.

While propagating Islam, if you find youself not knowing an answer, look for it.

Inviting to Islam and sharing our knowledge is not an option given to us by Allah, it is our duty.

If we don’t do our duty, Allah will replace us.

That’s exactly what’s happening. We’re being replaced this very minute and we can’t even see it. We’re too busy disputing over the halal and haram issues of music, birthday celebrations, women’s jeans, tie…

Even though knowing what’s halal and haram is important to shape our lives according to Islam, it’s a disgrace that we Muslims make it our passion at the cost of other more important issues of widespread ignorance about our foremost duty as Muslims- inviting to Islam.

Allah refers to people who invite to the doing of good, as ‘best of peoples’.

If we don’t do the inviting, we have no right to have the honour of being called ‘the best’ by Allah.

Let’s take away our mantle. What mantle have we wrapped up?

In the words of Ahmed Deedat, ‘the mantle is that of inferiority complexes.’

No knowledge is too little to share…

You never know what information you share will make the listener return to the right path.

It’s time to wake up, dear Muslims.