Rebooting the System - Improving the Human Condition (Temple MSA 12/3/10)

Qala Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala fil kitabil kareem...
(Ar-Rad - 13:11)

• إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ
• “Truly Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.”

Supporting verses:

• And We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience (47:31).
• And We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. To Us must you return (21:35).
• And those who strive in Our [cause], - We will certainly guide them to Our paths (29:69).
• And strive in His cause as you should strive, [with sincerity and under discipline] (22:78).
• O believers! If you will aid [the cause of] Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly (47:7).
• "I only desire [your] betterment to the best of my power; and my success [in my task] can only come from Allah. In Him I trust and unto Him I turn" (11:88).
• An excellent reward for those who do [good]! - those who persevere in patience, and put their trust in their Lord and Cherisher (29:58-59).
• But that which is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord (42:36).
• And to Him goes back every affair [for decision]: then worship Him, and put your trust in Him (11:123).

Hadith on topic:

• On the authority of Abdullah bin Abbas, who said : One day I was behind the prophet and he said to me:
• "Young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice] : Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help of Allah. Know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried." (Reported by Al-Tirmidhi)
• From Anas, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, say:
• "Allah the Almighty has said: 'O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me, and hope in Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds in the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I shall forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with an earthful of sins and were you then to face Me, without having associated anything with Me, I shall grant you an earthful of pardon.'" (Reported by Al-Tirmidhi)
• Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
• "Do not be envious of one another; do not artificially inflate prices against one another; do not hate one another; do not shun one another; and do not undercut one another in business transactions; and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah.
• A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. Piety is here - and he pointed to his chest three times. It is evil enough for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for another Muslim: his blood, his property and his honour." [Muslim]
• It was related on the authority of Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
• "Whosoever relieves from a believer some grief pertaining to this world, Allah will relieve from him some grief pertaining to the Hereafter. Whosoever alleviates the difficulties of a needy person who cannot pay his debt, Allah will alleviate his difficulties in both this world and the Hereafter. Whosoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother. Whosoever follows a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them, and Allah makes mention of them amongst those who are in His presence. Whosoever is slowed down by his deeds will not be hastened forward by his lineage." [Muslim]

Part I

I have spent some time going over a number of verses and ahadith on the general topic of duty to Allah, duty to each other, and our general purpose for being here, which is to serve Allah. To do all of these things correctly, we need to build character. This is what all these verses and ahadith speak to; building character. The Prophet (saws) was sent to teach us two main things: How to worship Allah as He (swt) should be worshipped and how to build character in a manner that we are worthy to be called calipha or vicegerents.

So, with this in mind, I want to discuss three areas of general character building that we need to look at:

Healthy Iman

• Seeking Allah’s forgiveness
• Asking Allah for patience
• Being grateful to Allah

Healthy Families and Communities

• Forgiving others
• Being patient with others
• Respecting the boundaries and rights of others

Healthy Bodies

• Respecting this trust that Allah has given us

Before we continue, let us look back on this year. Today is the Dul Hijjah 26 for those who go with the local sighting of the hilal and Dhul Hijjah 27 1431 for those who go with the global sighting. Irrespective of the sighting you adopt, we are still in one of the sacred months. Irrespective of the sighting you adopt, Muharram is just around the corner. For some of us, we need a little “push” to renew, recharge and re-energize ourselves. Allah has given us multiple times this past year to do that... Two of the most popular are Ramadhan and the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah, Hajj itself.... We are all familiar with the various blessings associated with these. To those of us who fasted in Ramadhan, may Allah accept our fast and record it as something good for us. To those of use who performed good deeds in the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah and fasted on the day of Arafah (12/9), may Allah accept it from us and forgive us our sins. For those of us who made hajj, may Allah record it for us as a hajj mabrur and forgive us our sins and grant us jannah. Ameen, ameen, ameen. So, we had all these major opportunities. For those of us who missed out on some or all of these chances, let us not do that next year. But, for that to happen, you need to be sincere and we need to really want it.

So, Muharram 1, 1432 is right around the corner. How will this coming year be different from next year? I dare not say “New Year Resolutions” because immediately the bid’ah sirens will go off and people may not saying “Assalaamu ‘Alaikum” to me. I might be reduced to a “Wa ‘alaikum.” But, before we do the whole labeling thing, let’s clear up one thing. I am not saying that making a new year’s resolution is fard, nor am I even saying that it will bring you more blessings. To do that, would be bid’ah. What I am saying is that some of us need something to work towards; a starting point. The society does it; this is one of the ‘urf or customs of this society. We are forbidden from innovating in ‘ibadah, but we have latitude in the mu’amalat. If you disagree, then maybe you should not “set a date” for when you want to start working out again or start losing weight again. As individuals, we innovate all the time to make our lives richer and more meaningful. The time to start doing the right thing is now; I agree. Some of us need something concrete. It is a psychological mechanism to get us moving and motivated. This works. Two things make the act valid, good action and good intention. Both are present here. So, what are some this we can aspire toward in this new year?

Healthy Iman

Let us seek Allah’s forgiveness often and sincerely:

• We know that we all commit minor and major sins.
• Allah (SWT) Most High says in Noble Qur'an, "Ask your Lord for forgiveness and then turn in repentance to Him..." (11:3)
• Also Allah (SWT) Most High says in Noble Qur'an, "O you who believe! Turn (in repentance) to Allah with sincere repentance; Perhaps your Lord will remove your evil from you... " (66:8)
• Let us make Salatul Tauba once a week, once a month at least once in the year for the major sins we commit

Let us ask Allah for patience often and sincerely:

• And We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience (47:31).

Be grateful to Allah

• Cannot count the favors: "If you would count up the favors of Allah, never would you be able to number them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (An-Nahl: 18)
• Part of worship: O you who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him you worship. (Al-Baqara, 172)
• It is an act in opposition to idolatry and shirk - But it has already been revealed to you,- as it was to those before you,- "If you were to join (gods with Allah), truly fruitless will be your work (in life), and you will surely be in the anks of those who lose (all spiritual good)". Nay, but worship Allah, and be of those who give thanks. (Az-Zumar, 65-66)
• Shaytan expects that we are ungrateful (our weakness to exploit) - He said: "Because you have thrown me out of the way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on your straight way: Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: Nor will you find, in most of them, gratitude (for your mercies)." (Al-Araf, 17)
• Allah is most just - What can Allah gain by your punishment, if you are grateful and you believe? Nay, it is Allah that recognize (all good), and know all things. (An-Nisa, 147)
• Favors - And remember! Your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): "If you are grateful, I will add more (favors) unto you; But if you show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed." (Abraham, 7)
• That is (the Bounty) whereof Allah gives Glad Tidings to His Servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin." And if any one earns any good, We shall give him an increase of good in respect thereof: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (service). (Ash-Shura, 23)
• Will you deny them - Surah Ar-Rahman
• Ingratitude is a sign of kufr - You are denying what Allah has given you and bestowed on you...

Healthy Families and Communities

Everything in Islam is about the community. Without healthy families and communities, we are lost. We need to be forgiving, patient and respectful.

• Forgiving:
• In the Qur’an Allah has described the Believers as“those who avoid major sins and acts of indecencies and when they are angry they forgive.”(ash-Shura 42: 37) Later in the same Surah Allah says,“The reward of the evil is the evil thereof, but whosoever forgives and makes amends, his reward is upon Allah.”(al-Shura 42: 40) In another place the Qur’an says,“If you punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, indeed it is better for the patient. Endure you patiently. Your patience is not except through the help of Allah.”(an-Nahl:126-127)
• Forgiveness of the companions. Fitnah of Aisha and the cousin of Abu Bakr (ra). After his cousin slandered his daughter, Abu Bakr vowed not to help him any more. But Allah reminded Abu Bakr and through him all the Believers,“Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want and those who migrated in the path of Allah. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Indeed Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”(Al-Nur 24:22) Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, came out of his home and said, “Yes, indeed, I want Allah’s forgiveness.” He not only continued to help him but he gave him more.
• Patience:
• Old motto of the MSA, “Making a Difference through Patient Perseverance” - This is what we are about. This is what we should be doing.
• And We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience (47:31).
• Respectful:
• All commands us to be dutiful to our parents: “Worship none but Allah (Alone) and be dutiful and good to parents…” (al-Baqarah 2:83)
• Ibn ‘Abbas said: “This means treating them with respect and kindness, and lowering the wing of humility to them, not answering them harshly or glaring at them, not raising one's voice to them, but being as humble towards them as a slave towards his master.”
• “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, not shout at them, but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.’” (al-Isra’ 17:23-24).
• Al-Baghawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “This means not saying anything that may contain the slightest hint of irritation. [The word ‘uff’ in the aayah, translated here as ‘a word of disrespect’] comes from the word ‘aff’, which is similar to the word ‘taff’; both words refer to the dirt that collects under fingernails, and [in Arabic] when one is annoyed and fed up with something, one says ‘uff!’ to it.”
• Be good to your families
• An-Nisa: Qawwamunah - Protectors... Not meant to “laud” over them but meant to keep them safe and protect them. Masters laud; servants protect.
• Ibn Hibban transmitted on the authority of ` isha that the Prophet said, "The best of you is he who is the best to his family, and I am the best to my family". [Transmitted by Ibn Hibban Charity (El-Ehsan) Vol. 9 (4177).]
• We need to be foremost in speaking out against things in our families first and in our communities that violates the rights and honor of people. Husbands mistreating wives (verbal, physical, emotional). Parents ill-treating kids. Wives ill-treating husbands. If we are not doing these things, then who will?
• Community in general. The Prophet is a witness against us and we are a witness against others. How can we be a witness if we are not doing the right things with compassion and concern. The biography of the Prophet is filled with examples of his compassion and humility:

• Jewish woman who was sick and tormented him
• Treaty of hudaibiyyah

• So, in our context, there is much we can do to show compassion, and alhamdulillah, the MSA is doing many things. Apart from showing compassion, we need to be mindful and considerate. As Muslims, we are not entitled to dominion over all things to the point that it inconveniences or endangers others. What do I mean? Simple things: double-parking (inconvenience, blocking others... We cannot even block a pathway when we pray, much less well we deal with the worldly affairs); leaving the bathroom wet after making ghusl - sorry, wudhu (the way we leave the bathroom, we think we made ghusl)... Someone can come in, slip and injure themselves. That is because of YOU...

Healthy Bodies:

Let us make a commitment to eat right, exercise right and live right. Various scholars and leaders have spoken to a holistic understanding of tayyibaat. It is not just the Dhabihah-ness of the food we are eating. Eating halal goes all the way through the process.

Let’s exercise and encourage others to exercise. How can we help others or encourage others to be healthy if we are not healthy. Science as shown many psychological and physical problems that come with unhealthy diets and lifestyles.

End Part I

Part II

So now , what can we do:

• Seek His forgiveness

• Fast (Ramadhan, Dhul Hijjah, etc)
• Make istighfar
• Make tauba
• Make Hajj
• Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "(The performance of) `Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous `Umrah; and the reward of Hajj Mabrur (i.e., one accepted) is nothing but Jannah.'' (Bukhari and Muslim)
• Read Qur’an - in English if you don’t know Arabic... Be intimate with it... It is a living book...

• Pray for patience
• If you are up in the middle of the night studying, make 2 rakats
• If you have a chance to perform an extra prayer, do it... It will not hurt

• Be grateful

• Say “Alhamdulillah” often
• Keep tongues wet with gratitude

• Be kind to your family

• Play more often
• Smile more often
• Be considerate - we bend over backwards for others... We should be contortionists for our families

• Work towards a healthy lifestyle

• Eat healthier food
• Exercise a little more than you did before

How can we do these things?

1. Put a reminder on your Blackberry, iPhone, Android, whatever... You help you!
2. Be considerate:

• Clean up after yourself (For example when using restrooms for wudhu)
• Do not block pathways (even if you are doing da'wah - cannot block roadways, pathways, etc)
• Be mannerly (address people with respect)

End Part II
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Things we do that weaken our faith, families and health:

01. Associating anything with Allah
02. Murder
03. Practising magic
04. Not Praying
05. Not paying Zakat
06. Not fasting on a Day of Ramadan without excuse
07. Not performing Hajj, while being able to do so
08. Disrespect to parents
09. Abandoning relatives
10. Fornication and Adultery
11. Homosexuality(sodomy)
12. Interest(Riba)
13. Wrongfully consuming the property of an orphan
14. Lying about Allah and His Messenger
15. Running away from the battlefield
16. A leader's deceiving his people and being unjust to them
17. Pride and arrogance
18. Bearing false witness
19. Drinking Khamr (wine)
20. Gambling
21. Slandering chaste women
22. Stealing from the spoils of war
23. Stealing
24. Highway Robbery
25. Taking false oath
26. Oppression
27. Illegal gain
28. Consuming wealth acquired unlawfully
29. Committing suicide
30. Frequent lying
31. Judging unjustly
32. Giving and Accepting bribes
33. Woman's imitating man and man's imitating woman
34. Being cuckold
35. Marrying a divorced woman in order to make her lawful for the husband
36. Not protecting oneself from urine
37. Showing-off
38. Learning knowledge of the religion for the sake of this world and concealing that knowledge
39. Bertrayal of trust
40. Recounting favours
41. Denying Allah's Decree
42. Listening (to) people's private conversations
43. Carrying tales
44. Cursing
45. Breaking contracts
46. Believing in fortune-tellers and astrologers
47. A woman's bad conduct towards her husband
48. Making statues and pictures
49. Lamenting, wailing, tearing the clothing, and doing other things of this sort when an affliction befalls
50. Treating others unjustly
51. Overbearing conduct toward the wife, the servant, the weak, and animals
52. Offending one's neighbour
53. Offending and abusing Muslims
54. Offending people and having an arrogant attitude toward them
55. Trailing one's garment in pride
56. Men's wearing silk and gold
57. A slave's running away from his master
58. Slaughtering an animal which has been dedicated to anyone other than Allah
59. To knowingly ascribe one's paternity to a father other than one's own
60. Arguing and disputing violently
61. Witholding excess water
62. Giving short weight or measure
63. Feeling secure from Allah's Plan
64. Offending Allah's righteous friends
65. Not praying in congregation but praying alone without an excuse
66. Persistently missing Friday Prayers without any excuse
67. Unsurping the rights of the heir through bequests
68. Deceiving and plotting evil
69. Spying for the enemy of the Muslims
70. Cursing or insulting any of the Companiions of Allah's Messenger