Islamic Law : The future scenario

by Shah Abdul Hannan

We are all happy that a major international seminar on Islamic law is being held in Bangladesh with the participation of major scholars in this field from various parts of the world.Islamic law research has progressed a lot and some laws on the basis of Islam have been legislated in various countries, though we can not say that the legislated laws are perfect and there are no lacunae. There has been major progress in the case of Islamic constitutional law and financial law in particular. Ulama and politicians for the first time in history agreed on the principles of Islamic constitution when in Pakistan they framed constitution in 1956 and then 1973 constitution. These were defining moments in the area of Islamic constitutional thought. Before that , because a kind of monarchy prevailed and later colianlism ruled the Muslim world, the political fiqh of Islam could not develop properly though some writings of Khaldun, Imam Gazali, Mawardi , Nizamul Mulk Tusi and other writers are available. But it was through Pakistan constitution for the first time and later through Iranian constitution we could formulate clear constitutional principles which are also suitable in the changed world of the current time.The agreement was reached in these documents that the state would be a republic, sovereignty in the absolute sense belongs to Allah, government would be run by the people's representatives elected by the people , there would be a list of fundamental rights which every citizen would enjoy, judiciary would be independent. These are the guidelines for future for Islamic jurists where ever they work for Islamic constitutional thought.In the area of law making the Mazhab is no longer a primary factor, if we look into the constitutions as we have mentioned, OIC fiqh academy rulings and in the new manuals being made internationally or nationally by IDB, Islamic Banks and other Islamic institutions. The same principle has been followed in framing new Shariat Act of Pakistan where it has been laid down that the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah would be the guiding principles, the opinion of any scholar of the past or present may be alluded to if felt necessary.There is a lot of mis-understanding about the depth and vastness of Islamic law. Lot of people think that Islamic law relates to some criminal matter only where as criminal issues in Islamic law is not even five percent of the totality of Islamic law. Islamic law covers also regulations regarding economics, business, finance, banking, constitutional law, moral and ethics, family law ,procedural law of various types.I also feel that a lot of research lies ahead of us in all areas, particularly in the areas of finance, political thought , Hadood (criminal punishments clearly provided in the Quran and Sunnah.). In this regard some issues have been raised by Dr Tariq Ramadan and some other scholars. In Pakistan also , Hadood law came under scrutiny on the ground that some provisions are hurting the women interest in an unfair way .As far as I have understood the problem is not in the substantive part but in the procedural part of the law which is really based on British criminal procedure .British criminal procedure is very long-winded and can not do proper justice as we have seen in the matter of repepeated police remands and consequent torture.The modern judiciary has failed to solve the problem and urgent steps are necessary in this regard.It should also be clarified what we mean by Islamisation of law.I have checked up most of the laws in Bangladesh and in ninety eight percent there is hardly any thing to change because these deal with procedure and the punishment , if any , provided in these also falls in the area of Taazir ( laws to be made by the state ).For instance all the university acts, all the finance acts, all the Municipality acts, traffic act, poison act,all commercial acts etc.Only in some acts some sections have to be changed mainly involving interest .The penal provisions in various acts and in the penal code may remain as these fall in the area of Taziir. Even in Pakistani acts the few punismentswhich normallyfall under Hadd have also been divided into two parts , if the cases are proved by witnesses or evidence as required for Hadd , they are given Hadd punisment but if not proved in the manner required for Hadd punishment they are classified as liable to Taziir ( for instance theft has been classified as theft liable to Hadd and theft liable to Taazir ).As such when time is appropriate, some sections in Penal code may be added for Hadd punishments.The present penal provisions on theft, robbery and adultery may remain as Taazir punisments.We are all committed to the development and application of the law of Islam in all branches of human life as Islamic laws are fully consistent with human rights ( Islam gives all human and fundamental rights to all citizens, Muslims and Non-Muslims,as seen from OIC declaratio of human rights agreed to by senior Ulama, thinkers and legal experts) We hope this two-day international seminar would be a success.

(Chairman of the inauguaral session Shah Abdul Hannan's speech in the opening session of International Islamic law seminar in Dhaka,held in BIAM auditorium on 11.1.08 where the Chief Justice of Bangladesh Mr M. Ruhul Amin was the Chief Guest)

Analysis: Anti-Islam film scares The Hague

BERLIN, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- The Dutch government is bracing for widespread violence that could be sparked by an anti-Islam film that its producer wants to broadcast sometime this week.
The film, financed by right-wing politician Geert Wilders, will reveal the Koran as a source of "inspiration for intolerance, murder and terror," Wilders said.
The anticipated screening has already sparked international protests. Although no one has seen the film yet, there are rumors Wilders will tear up or burn the Koran in it. If that was true, Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun, the Grand Mufti of Syria, said earlier this month at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, "this will simply mean he is inciting wars and bloodshed. ... It is the responsibility of the Dutch people to stop him."
On Monday, an Iranian lawmaker warned The Hague not to allow the screening of the film.
"If the Netherlands will allow the broadcast of this movie, the Iranian Parliament will request to reconsider our relationship with (the Dutch government)," said Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the Iranian security and foreign policy commission, according to Iran's federal news agency IRNA. "In Iran, insulting Islam is a very sensitive matter and if the movie is broadcast it will arouse a wave of popular hate that will be directed towards any government that insults Islam."
The Dutch government seems to think in the same terms. It fears a crisis similar to the one sparked by the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad in Danish -- and later European -- newspapers two years ago, when Danish products were boycotted, Danish embassies set on fire and dozens of people died in violent protests all over the world.
To be prepared for all eventualities, the Dutch government over the past days summoned its key ministers and officials linked to security issues. The Hague has compiled a secret document (which the Dutch media said it has obtained) detailing emergency measures in case of riots or attacks, including short-term evacuations of Dutch embassies and citizens from the Middle East. Apparently, imams in several large Dutch cities have already had to calm Muslims angry over the news of the film.
"We are ready to react quickly, it is our role to be prepared for calamities," Dutch Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende told journalists at his weekly news briefing.
While a state-funded TV station has already recalled its promise to air the movie, Wilders, the most prominent member of the far-right Freedom Party, or VVD, has vowed to broadcast his film -- on a smaller TV station or on the Internet via YouTube -- whatever the pressure may be.
The Netherlands has had a history of violence connected to anti-Islam statements, and thus, officials there are particularly vigilant.
In November 2004 in Amsterdam, a Dutch teenager from Moroccan descent stabbed to death and nearly decapitated the filmmaker Theo Van Gogh after the airing of his controversial film "Submission," which criticized the suppression of women in Islamic culture.
Van Gogh had made the film together with prominent Somalia-born Islam critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali, then a Dutch lawmaker, who lives in self-imposed exile in Washington. Yet even Hirsi Ali has criticized Wilder's film as provocative and warned the Dutch government not to leave the field of debating integration of immigrants to extremists.
Wilders, however, has managed to grab all the headlines. The 42-year-old, infamous for his big platinum blond hair, sees himself as continuing the struggle of the late right-wing populist politician Pim Fortuyn, who was shot in 2002 by an animal-rights activist.
Wilders in the past years raised eyebrows with very controversial statements concerning Islam, saying the Koran was inciting hatred and fascism, and warning of an Islamization that was washing over the Netherlands like "a tsunami."
Dutch embassies all over the world have been told to highlight that the Dutch government is not backing the message of the film or any of Wilders' statements. While Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende fears that the film is able to "threaten the public order, the security and our economy," he said he cannot and does not want to censor the movie, citing the country's tradition of free speech.
At the same time, there is Holland's "tradition of respect, tolerance and responsibility. And absurd insults of certain groups are not part of that," Balkenende said in reference to Wilders' film.

Iran Warns Netherlands Not to Air Controversial 'Anti-Muslim' Film

FOXNews

A senior Iranian lawmaker warned the Netherlands on Monday not to allow the screening of what it called an anti-Islamic film produced by a Dutch politician, claiming it "reflects insulting views about the Holy Koran."
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, promised widespread protests and a review of Iran's relationship with the Netherlands if Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders' work is shown.
"If Holland will allow the broadcast of this movie, the Iranian parliament will request to reconsider our relationship with it," Boroujerdi said, according to IRNA, the official Iranian news agency. "In Iran, insulting Islam is a very sensitive matter and if the movie is broadcasted it will arouse a wave of popular hate that will be directed towards any government that insults Islam.
Wilders calls his 10-minute film "a call to shake off the creeping tyranny of Islamicization, " and said it could air as early as this week on Dutch television.
"People who watch the movie will see that the Koran is very much alive today, leading to the destruction of everything we in the Western world stand for, which is respect and tolerance," Wilders, the 41-year-old leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom, said last month in a telephone interview with FOXNews.com.
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"The tsunami of Islamicization is coming to Europe. We should come to be far stronger."
Like other European countries, the Netherlands is struggling to cope with an influx of Muslim immigrants, and the newcomers are often relegated to working at low-paying jobs and living in high-crime ghettos. Though the Dutch boast of their culture of tolerance, tensions have been high, with some blaming rising unemployment and crime on newcomers from Muslim countries like Turkey, Morocco and Somalia.
In the late 1990s, political leaders like Pim Fortuyn, Somalian-born writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali and outspoken filmmaker Theo van Gogh seemed to tap into a growing well of resentment against Muslims and criticism of Islam.
In 2002, tensions broke into outright murder when Fortuyn was shot by an animal rights activist who told the judge in the case that he was acting on behalf of the country's Muslims. Two years later, van Gogh was shot, stabbed and nearly decapitated on an Amsterdam street by Mohammed Bouyeri, a Muslim and a Dutch citizen of Moroccan descent.
Van Gogh, with Hirsi Ali, had recently made the film "Submission," a 10-minute movie that the two said depicted the abuse of women in Islamic cultures. After van Gogh's murder, the Dutch government placed public figures known for their anti-Muslim stances in safehouses.
Among them was Wilders.
He hasn't been out of government protection since, a situation he said "I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy," and his views on Islam have only hardened.
Five months ago, he called for the Koran to be outlawed in the Netherlands.
"I believe our culture is much better than the retarded Islamic cultures," he told FOXNews.com. "Ninety-nine percent of the intolerance in the world comes back to the Islamic religion and the Koran."
Though he refuses to claim the mantle of van Gogh's successor, Wilders clearly sees himself as continuing the controversial filmmaker's work. He acknowledges the similarities between "Submission" and his own 10-minute work.
"I have so much respect for van Gogh's movie, aimed at one part of the Koran, women's bodies, one very bad part of the Koran," Wilders said. "I will use not only that theme but many others. Of course at the end it is a different movie."
Though Wilders has remained steadfastly vague about the specific contents of his movie, saying he wants to maximize the "moment of the broadcast itself," he added that it will include "images and parts of real-time movies that really happen in the Netherlands and the U.K. and the Middle East, the intolerance of the Koran that is still alive and vivid today."
Wilders, raised Catholic but long an atheist, said he's working with professors who are experts on the Koran and Islamic culture, professional filmmakers and scriptwriters to complete his film, which he hopes to broadcast this week on "Nova," a popular news program on Dutch public television. If "Nova" refuses to air the program, he said, he will broadcast the movie using the air time his political party is guaranteed by the government.
The Dutch government, which is protecting Wilders, has publicly warned him about the potential for violence at the completion of his film and has expressed concern over his personal safety. The government is also concerned about peace within the country and interests abroad. In 2005, cartoons printed in a Danish newspaper led to Danish embassies being set on fire, multi-million-dollar anti-Danish consumer boycotts in the Middle East, and hundreds of deaths in riots across the Muslim world.
"The government is taking the announcement of this movie quite seriously," said Floris van Hovell, a spokesman for the Dutch Embassy in Washington, D.C. "Obviously, because the movie hasn't been made, we cannot say anything about the movie until the movie has been shown, but the message Mr. Wilders has told us he wants to portray is disturbing."
Asked if the government plans to beef up security, Van Hovell last month said the government is making a concerted effort to reach out to the Muslim community in the Netherlands and the larger Muslim world.
"We're explaining that in the Netherlands you have freedom of expression, and that at the same time the Dutch government is very concerned about the message Mr. Wilders supposedly wants to portray in his movie," van Hovell said. --(FOX News)

Surah 055 - Surah Rahman - Sheikh Muhammad Al Luhaidan

Hadiths provide guidance too

IN PUBLIC discourse in the West, it is assumed that the Holy Quran is the sole foundation of the Islamic faith, and other sources, which contribute to the diversity of the faith, are simply ignored. Marco Schöller, a scholar of Islam who has now translated the popular hadith collection of Al Nawawi into German, elaborates on this particular source in the following interview:
What is a hadith?
Schöller: The term refers to a message or information that is conveyed by word of mouth. As a specialist term, it means a story by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or about him — what he said, did, or how he observed something, etc. These hadiths have been passed down orally and were only recorded in written form at a later date, being transmitted further as books or collections.
How authentic are the hadiths?
Here, Islamic scholarship takes a fundamentally different view than that of the Muslim world. There are hundreds of thousands of hadiths in circulation. Muslims regard a few thousand as authentic. A small number of hadiths have attained canonical status, while six collections — and there are a further four or five — are considered to be fundamental to the faith. Over and above these are thousands of collections, offering an enormous amount of material. There is such an abundance here that it makes historical classification very difficult.
Are hadiths still read today? Do people having disputes consult family members well versed in the hadiths? Do they turn to hadith scholars? What role do hadiths play in the faith?
Yes, all these cases hold true. The most important thing to keep in mind is that hadiths play a very important role in the lives of the faithful — depending on how pious they are, of course. Information on hadiths is available everywhere. Many books, however, don't present them in the original collected form with their difficult language, but rather as a small selection.
People rely on scholars, private teachers, or state run schools. The state employs scholars, muftis for instance, to provide guidance on certain issues. It would be difficult to find a Muslim who wasn't familiar with even just a few hadiths of the Prophet.
Is this also the case for the younger generation?
No longer in Europe, of course, but this can be assumed to still apply in the Muslim world, where the environment, schools and family connections help to maintain the practice. I believe that it just isn't possible to live in a Muslim country with the kinds of social and religious demarcations found in the West.
The West is currently very much occupied with the question of the essence of Islam. Can you infer from the hadiths a particular spirit or essence of Islam?
Western readers will find passages that are, if not irreconcilable, then extremely contrasting. In just about any collection you will find very general hadiths, which don't seem in any way specific to Islam and that are permeated with an all-around humanistic spirit.
Quite simply put, our Judeo-Christian background offers a dualism — Christianity as the ethical religion that has transcended the law, and Judaism as the religion of the law. In Islam, we have these two facets operating side-by-side. It would prove fatal to try to play them off against each other; doing so would go against the spirit of Islam.
© Common Ground News Service

Can a Machine Issue Islamic Fatwas?

By Mona Madkour

Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat- A controversial new electronic device could revolutionize the field of Islamic jurisprudence and allegedly issue more accurate Shariah fatwas [religious edicts]. The device, currently in production in France, will be known as the 'Electronic Mufti' and will depend on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to issue opinions on contemporary Muslim affairs and matters.
Asharq Al-Awsat met with the only Arab participating in the production of this machine, Engineer Dr. Anas Fawzi, who hails from Egypt and is a communications expert who is part of the team based in France.
He describes the device as "a very large capacity computer on which all the information that is relevant to a given [historical] figure is uploaded; everything that has been mentioned in history books or chronicled documents that indicate his/her responses and attitudes towards all positions adopted in his/her life. Through a process that relies on AI, the computer then simulates responses based on the available data so that the answers are the expected response that the person in question would give if they were alive," said Dr. Fawzi.
"The device deduces the expected response through consulting thousands of examples that have been uploaded on to the machine, pertaining to that person whilst taking into account their reactions so that it may relate the expected response in accordance with their personality as created by the Artificial Intelligence apparatus," explained Dr. Fawzi.
Regarding the team working to implement this project, Dr. Fawzi said that the creation of this machine is undertaken by a group of French scientists and that it is not available to the public.
He added, "Despite the success of research over the past decades, [AI] is still incapable of fully knowing and familiarizing itself with the human mind's operations. There are also considerable attempts being made to make AI machines 'translate' human emotions and reactions from sadness to joy and compassion, among other human feelings."
In terms of the nationalities of the scientists and their fields of specialization, Dr. Fawzi said, "Scientists who have invented this device [electronic mufti] hail from various different nations. I am honoured to be part of this unprecedented scientific achievement. Through my work and residence in France for many long years, I am proud to be working with an exemplary large team where dozens of specializations abound."
In terms of implementing this technology and benefitting from it in the realm of Islam and fatwas, Dr. Fawzi said, "Although a team has assembled and uploaded all the information that is available about the Prophet Mohammed in [canonical] Islamic history books, the holy Quran and what is known about his life through Sunnah," he acknowledges that it would be highly controversial – if not downright contentious – to implement this.
Notwithstanding, he revealed, "I have consulted with several Islamic scholars and clerics in elevated positions – there is no need to mention their names so as to avoid stirring up public opinion – however, they have assured me that such a device is not 'haram' [prohibited by Islam]. But there are fears and scepticism regarding misuse and causing any misrepresentation or defamation to the figure of the Prophet. There are also fears in terms of Arab and Islamic public opinion and their acceptance of a machine such as this."
Dr. Fawzi expressed his aspiration to supervise over a team that could be headed by a group of Islamic clerics who would be directly responsible for all the religious edicts that can be sent to anyone anywhere in the world via email or through mobile phones or even using telephones so that questions may be posed directly.
Regarding the views of various Islamic scholars and clerics about this device, the Egyptian Awqaf [Religious Endowments] Ministry's First Undersecretary for Preaching Affairs, Dr. Shawqi Abdel Latif said with regards to the concept of 'simulating' the figure of the Prophet of Islam to serve the Islamic religion in accordance with special conditions: "the idea is a noble one if indeed it calls for Muslim unity in matters of religion in light of the satellite [channel] wars that the Muslim endure, in addition to the incapability of the relevant bodies of formulating and setting forth ideas in the interest of Muslims. However, I strongly stress that there is no machine or human mind capable of simulating the figure of the Prophet regardless of their knowledge or immensely advanced technological capabilities."
He also added that, "God Almighty blessed the Prophet and chose him and you cannot transcend over the rest of the creatures to be like him; the true differentiating factor here is Revelation. The incorrect interpretation of the Quranic verse 'Say: I am only a mortal like you' (Surat al Kahf 18:110) does not in any way mean that there is any similitude between us and the Prophet or between him and any famous figure that the machine can simulate."
Dr. Abdel Latif continued to say that, "If they wanted to apply this machine's capabilities to Islam then the sole condition would be that it serve the implementation of Islamic Shariah and unite the religions fatwas [religious edicts] and ijtihad [independent Islamic interpretation]. This can be achieved through the formation of an Al-Azhar religious committee that could attribute what has been issued by the machine to be in accordance with Islamic Shariah – not according to what the Prophet has said."
As for Dr. Mustafa al Swahili, professor at Al-Azhar University, he totally rejects the concept behind this machine and said, "I am in complete agreement that Islam is a glorious science and that it invites interpretation – so long as it does not violate the religion. I believe a device such as this will create confusion among the people since no matter how advanced science is; it will still have limitations because simulation is limited and does not yield full answers."
However, Dr. al Swahili stressed the importance of seeking knowledge and confirmed that it is an Islamic duty to always seek and further knowledge.

Islam doesn’t support terrorism

LAHORE: Islam does not support extremism; in fact it supports peace and harmony, scholar Dr Mehmood Ahmad Ghazi said on Thursday.He told participants at a seminar on ‘The role of the youth in combating extremism’ at Forman Christian College University (FCCU) that the unjust treatment meted out to Muslim countries across the world was the basic reason of extremism in the Muslim world. “Western countries are occupying Muslim territories across the globe,” he added.The Iqbal International Institute for Research and Formanite Islamic Society of FCCU organised the seminar.He said, “Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan are under occupation and their occupiers are eyeing their resources. This is injustice and is creating extremists in Muslim countries. The activities of these extremists are a big challenge at this time.”He said Muslims felt helpless and took extreme measures while reacting to injustices. “Western countries need to think about the root problem and start solving them.”He said terrorists were not linked to Islam, but the western media was doing exactly that; showing Muslims as the only terrorists.He said the younger generations should follow the Quran and Sunnah and work hard to lead a good and honest life.FCCU vice principal Dr Christy Munir said the role of the youth to combat terrorism was important and that the university was working to polish its students. --(Daily Times)

Unease in the Netherlands over MP's planned anti-Islam film

THE HAGUE (AFP) — The plans by far-right MP Geert Wilders to make a film that he says will show the Koran is "an inspiration for murder" has caused unease in the Netherlands which fears violent repercussions.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has said that Wilders' plans and the international attention they are getting is causing the government headaches.
"We have seen other crises but this is a substantial one," he told Dutch public television.
Wilders, the head of the far-right Freedom Party, announced in November that he planned to release a 10-minute film this month that will show his view that Islam's holy book, the Koran, "is an inspiration for intolerance, murder and terror".
Nobody knows for sure if the film project will ever see the light of day but the government here is bracing for the worst.
Some observers fear Wilders will burn or tear up Islam's holy book in the movie, likely to prompt protests in Muslim countries.
The Hague fears a repeat of the 2005 riots when thousands took to the streets in Muslim countries to protest cartoons of the prophet Mohammed that appeared in a Danish newspaper.
"We are ready to react quickly, it is our role to be prepared for calamities," Balkenende told journalists.
The government is trying to get the message across abroad that while the famed Dutch tolerance guarantees Wilders the freedom of expression, The Hague does not support his opinions.
Wilders, whose party has nine of the parliament's 150 seats, is a remarkable presence in Dutch politics with his bleached blonde bouffant hairdo and his increasingly harsh comments about Islam and established political parties.
He won't comment on what his movie will actually show and refuses to be swayed by the government's concern about the possible effects of his film.
"Now that everybody is already in a state (over the film) I see it as a confirmation that I should go ahead. I would not be worth a button if I were to capitulate now," he told the HP/De Tijd magazine.
It is not sure how the film will be shown: on television, posted on the Internet or in another way.
In November Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen met with Wilders personally "to point out the risks in making such a movie for himself and his entourage, and for the Netherlands and the Dutch interests abroad," Verhagen's spokesman Bart Rijs said
The government is also working to minimise the possible fallout of Wilders' film in the Netherlands itself.
The MP has already received many death threats and he has been under round-the-clock protection since the November 2004 murder of outspoken columnist and filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a radical Muslim.
Van Gogh was killed in Amsterdam after he directed a controversial film written by Ayaan Hirsi Ali -- a former political ally of Wilders -- which examined the subordination of women in Islamic society.
Inter-ethnic tensions flared in the Netherlands after the murder but calm returned after a few months. Several mosques and some churches were set ablaze but nobody was severely wounded or died in the protests.
To try to defuse tensions here the Dutch police diversity watchdog LECD advised the police force this week to be "flexible" with possible legal complaints about the movie.
Police officers should write up complaints from citizens even if "no obvious criminal offence" is committed in the film. According to the diversity watchdog this will help people "vent their anger".
On Wednesday the Netherlands got a taste of a possible reaction of the Muslim world when the Grand Mufti of Syria Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that if Wilders burns or tears up the Koran in his film "this will mean he wants war and bloodshed".

Controlling anger, forgiving others

In this characteristic, lies the crux of the problem for human nature. You see, anger and forgiveness go hand in hand. It is very easy to get angry, but it is very difficult to forgive. Just sit back and ask yourselves at this moment, how many friendships we could have saved; how many family disputes we could have avoided; how many severed relationships we could have mended, if we knew what Allah has said to us about it in the Qur’an. Anger and forgiveness are inseparable for in order to control one you must lose the other.When one gets angry he loses his control over himself and thus is liable to say or do things that he may regret later when he regains control over himself. Even doctors and psychologists, in this 121st century, have proved through scientific research that when human beings get angry, they are in a state of subconscious in which they do not realise what they are doing.This is why our Prophet described anger as a raging fire (Abu Dawood) and advised the Muslims not to say or do anything till their anger had subsided. A simile can be drawn here since fire destroys everything it engulfs. Similarly anger destroys human beings, since it is burning the individual who is angry as well as the people on whom that individual is letting his anger out on.This is why in another hadith the Prophet said to the Muslims, “If you have nothing good to say remain quiet.” Meaning use the tongue only for halal good purposes otherwise keep quiet, because if you don’t then you are accumulating sins through the tongue. Certainly, the tongue will stand witness on Day of Judgment against you, because Allah says which means“And they will say to their skins,” Why do you testify against us?” They will say: Allah has caused us to speak, – as He causes all things to speak...” (Surah Fussilat 41:21)The tongue is a blessing which Allah has given to all of humanity. For he says in the Qur’an which means:“And a tongue and a pair of lips.” (Surah Al-Balad 8:9)This tongue can cause great harm if not used properly and guarding against it is very important. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:“Whoever guarantees me (the chastity of) what is between his legs (i e his private parts), and what is between his jaws (i e his tongue), I guarantee him Paradise.” (Bukhari)One of the key distinctions of a true believer is the ability to control anger as described by Allah in the Qur’an:“Those who spend in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves the good-doers.” (Surah ‘Ali-Imraan 3:134)If we were to look at this aayah for a moment and see what Allah is saying with the many Ahadith mentioned about restraining our anger we would be able to understand them better. To share just a couple of them, the Prophet said:“The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.” (Bukhari)In another hadith the Prophet mentions how to repress our anger. Allah’s Messenger said:“When one of you becomes angry while standing he should sit down. If the anger leaves him, well and good; otherwise he should lie down.” (Tirmidhi)Today, a person is considered powerful if he can show his strength and might through his anger or any other source, and by the same token a person who is mild, cool and easy going is considered to be a weak. This is indeed a sorry state to be in, and is a complete contradiction to our religion. As Muslims we have to understand that we have to see what the Qur’an and Sunnah are saying in regards to each aspect, and not follow the tide of society we are living in. From childhood to old age the social scientist, the psychologist and the psychoanalyst have been feeding us with the notion that we are to let it out i e our anger and not repress it.Unfortunately some of these misguided people have influenced the Muslim community as well. We find people being less and less tolerant with each other and being more and more violent.Alhumdulilah Allah has saved us from these wicked theories and given us His Glorious Book. In this Book He says “And Obey Allah and his Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you loose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely Allah loves those who are patient.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:46)Instead of letting it out, here we are told to be patient by our Lord who is Knower and Hearer of all things.We are encouraged by our Creator over and over to forgive others, so that He may forgive our mistakes. It is a double reward with Allah for implementing this characteristic, because Allah says in the Qur’an which means:“...Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah An-Noor 24:22)The mercy of Allah overcomes his anger as this is recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhari. In his infinite mercy He has given us so many chances and opportunities to benefit from them. If we could even follow this simple hadith of the Prophet who said:“He who conceals (the faults) of a Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter,” not only would we benefit immensely, but our brother would be saved of being humiliated at the same time.I pray to Allah that he give us the understanding to forgive each other and to refrain from being angry at each other. Ameen. --(GT, 18 Jan 08)

Securing our future

By Shaykh Ahmed Aways

TARBIYAH in Islam is very important, for indeed all of the religion is based upon tarbiyah (ie the education and upbringing of the people). This starts first of all with the education and training of our own selves; then of our families; and then of the community at large. But this tarbiyah is most important with respect to our children, so that they are brought up upon the correct path of Islam. Because of this, many of the scholars take care in discussing this aspect of tarbiyah more so than the others.After the benefit of the deen Islam and that of our own creation, from the best of benefits is that of having children. We see their benefits both in this world and after we have passed away. As for the benefits in this world – when a person becomes old and unable to earn a livelihood, all of his friends and companions leave him alone; but it is his children who look after him, bearing his problems and burdens.As for after his death, then a person surely benefits from his children as the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “When the son of Adam passes away, all of his deeds are stopped except for three: Some kind of charity that is continuous, or (written) knowledge which the people are benefiting from, or a righteous son (child) who is praying for him.”Additionally, from the benefits of having children is that, if they were to pass away whilst still children, they intercede for their parents. This is authentically reported from the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), who said: “There is no Muslim individual, male or female, who has three of his children pass away whilst they are young, and he is patient with that, except that they will come and intercede for him on the Day of Judgment.”So ‘Umar (radhiallahu anhu) asked, “What about two (children)?” Upon this the Prophet said, “It is the same for two (children).” (Al-Bazzaar, al-Haakim, Sheikh Al-Albaani mentions it in his book, Kitaabul-Janaaiz)As for the person who has one child who passes away and he is patient with this, seeking his reward from Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), then he shall also find a great reward with Him. As in a hadith wherein it is reported that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to sit down in his sitting place and his companions would sit in front of him, to seek benefit and learn from him. From amongst them was a man who had a small boy. He used to come to the Prophet from behind his back by way of respect, then he used to sit in front of him, and sit his son in front of the Prophet. The Prophet asked, “Do you love this child of yours?” The man replied, “Yes, and may Allah cause you to love him also.”Then it happened that this child passed away, and the man was so sad that he used to refrain from coming to sit with the Prophet. So the Prophet asked his companions about this man saying, “Why is it that he no longer comes to my sitting place?”2 So the companions told him that the man’s son had passed away and that he was sad because of that.The Prophet went to see this man and asked him, “What has happened to your son?” And the man told him that he had passed away. So the Prophet said, “Do you wish that your son could be here with you spending time with you, or do you prefer that your son would reach Paradise before you, waiting at the Door of Paradise to open them for you?” So the man said, “O Messenger of Allah. I wish that my son would go forth before me and precede me to Paradise.” So the Prophet said to him, “Verily, this is for you.” So upon this, one of the companions said, “O Messenger of Allah, may I be sacrificed for your sake! Is this (reward) only for this man or is it for all of the people?” He said, “No, this reward is for all of the people (ie those who lose a child and are patient with their loss).” (al-Haakim, adh-Dhahabee declared it saheeh as did Sheikh al-Albaani).Also from the benefits of having children is that if one has daughters and is patient with them, bringing them up correctly, then for him is a great reward from Allah. Our mother ‘Aa’ishah (radhiallahu anha) said, “A woman with two daughters and who was very poor came to my door requesting charity. All I had was three dates, so I gave them to this woman and her two daughters. The woman gave a date to each of her daughters, and kept the third date for herself. But when the two daughters had finished their dates, they both looked up to their mother wanting the date that she had. At this, the mother felt mercy for her two daughters and split the date into two halves. She gave one half to each of her daughters, and then they all went away. When the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) came back I informed him about what had happened. He (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Anyone who has daughters and is good in bringing them up, then they will be as a barrier between him and the Hell-Fire.” (al-Bukhari and Muslim).Many of the people look down upon this affair of bringing up the children correctly. However, if we were to neglect this responsibility then we would never achieve the correct tarbiyah of our societies. It is obligatory for the parents to take care of their children as the responsibility for them is upon their shoulders. As the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “All of you are shepherds and are responsible for your flock.”Unfortunately, many of the people look down upon their affair of bringing up the children correctly and consider it as a small matter and unimportant, instead of busying themselves which affairs such as politics and those things which it may be beyond their ability to reach. They look to those things that are ‘seen’ as more important and so look down upon the affair of raising their children correctly.In this they are mistaken, as whoever the Imaam or the leader of the believers may be, even if he was the most righteous of all righteous people, and the most just of all rulers, he will not be able to take over the affairs of someone else’s children. And if this Imaam was the worst of all the people, yet a person was to take care of his own family, as is his responsibility, then how is his harm and his condition going to affect that person? Allah says (what means), “Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves.” (Ar-Ra’d 13:11)So it is upon us to change our own condition and the condition of our own families, and then (after that) to look to the condition of our communities and the community of the Muslims at large. For if we were to neglect this responsibility then we would never achieve the correct tarbiyah – training, upbringing and education – of our societies.Indeed the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) encourage us to bring up our children correctly; ordering us with righteousness and good conduct ourselves as well as ordering us to prevent our families from falling into that which would result in their own destruction. As Allah says (what means), “O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones.” (At-Tahreem 66:6)And He says, “And enjoin Prayer on your family, and be patient in offering them (i e the Prayers).” (Taa-Haa 20:132)The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Order your children with salaah when they are seven years old, and beat them upon it (ie force them to do so by hitting them) when they are ten years old, and (also) separate them in their sleeping place.”So, with the preceding ayaat and hadith, Allah and His Messenger teach the believers about the importance of salaah and worship. And the hadith of the Prophet is teaching his ummah about how to live this life free from all types of doubts and misconceptions, by avoiding those places and situations where such doubts and misconceptions may arise. Therefore, the order is that one should raise one’s children upon the most blessed and praiseworthy of characteristics.What follows are some practical steps towards establishing the correct tarbiyah in one’s home.Seeking Righteous ChildrenWhen an individual wants to get married, they should have the intention to have – and ask Allah to give them righteous children. They should be patient upon this and seek their children with the correct intention (ie to increase the number of the Prophet’s ummah, and seek Allah’s reward in this life and the Hereafter by way of his children). As the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Marry those women who are loving and fertile; for verily I want to be amongst those (Prophets) who have the most followers on the Day of Judgment.”So when a person gets married he should seek children with the intention to have many children which will go towards making up the ummah of the Prophet and that these children may become righteous slaves of Allah so that he may benefit from them in this world and the Hereafter. This is because the intention has a special and important place with regard to the outcome, as the Prophet said: “Verily, every action is by its intention.”Therefore if one has the correct intention at the beginning of the action, then he will have its correct fruits at the end.Setting A Good ExampleThe parent should set the best example for their children. They should hasten to do that which is good and, likewise, hasten to leave all that is evil. This is because children follow the example of their parents, and they love, respect and admire them. The parents are, therefore, the first and most lasting of examples for their children. Whatever the parents are upon, the children follow them, and it is not possible, however one may try to, to hide one’s evil characteristics from their children.A person may go into his home, closing the door behind them, but it is the children who know the reality of their affairs. They know the true character of their parents, what they watch and what they see, and they know their situation perfectly. So we should try and be good examples to our children, having the best characteristics, being good towards the people, and remaining upright in our religion.Placing Importance Upon the ReligionThe parent should make the most important affair in his life and that of his child the religion. They should raise their child to know that the most important aspect of his life is that he be upright in his religion, correcting it and clinging to it firmly. Allah said (what means):“And this (submission to Allah, Islam) was enjoined by Ibraaheem upon his sons and by Ya’qoob, (saying), ‘O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except in the faith of Islam.” (Al-Baqarah 2:132)And also Allah says,“And he [Ibraaheem] made it (ie Laa ilaha illallah – none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone) a Word lasting among his offspring (True Monotheism), that they may turn back (ie repent to Allah or receive admonition).” (Az-Zukhruf 43:22)So this should be our greatest concern with regard to our children, that we make clear to them the importance of their religion and their being upright upon it. We should not be overly concerned with their dunya (ie that they bring home food or drink or wealth, rather we should be most concerned with their remaining as upright Muslims). So for this, the believer should make du’aa to Allah and supplicate to Him that He guides his children and makes them upright, for indeed there is no power or strength except in Allah. No one has the ability to guide his children himself, or to keep them upon the straight path, rather this is in the Hands of Allah. Allah says that the believers say (what means):“Our Lord! Bestow on us from our own wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the muttaqoon (ie pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much [abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden] and love Allah much [perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained].” (Al-Furqaan 25:74)Also, Prophet Ibraaheem mentioned in a long du’aa (what means);“O my Lord! Make me one who offers prayers perfectly, and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation.” (Ibraaheem 14:40)We should, therefore, follow this example of the Prophets in making du’aa to Allah and taking the necessary steps in educating and bringing up our children upon this religion, and asking Allah to keep them upright in their religion.Showing Love and Kindness Towards One’s ChildrenThe parent should control his affair with love, kindness and softness, and should not always use harshness and beating to bring up his children. Rather he should make his way to be primarily a loving and concerned way. However, if the situation requires that he should also use harshness and hardness, and even hitting his children, then he should do so as and when the situation requires it, but he should not make this his way (ie that he is always hard and harsh towards his children). We should not be like those people who are always hard upon their children as this may lead them towards further corruption and going astray. Neither should we be like many of the Europeans are (ie that they leave their children without any discipline so that they follow whatever way they like and do whatever they like). Rather we should take the middle course, using harshness and softness, according to the situation. We should always try to exercise balance in raising our children, balancing their affairs correctly and making the uppermost characteristic that of kindness, softness and mercy.Teaching Good CharacterThe parent should aim to raise his children upon good character from a young age. He should teach them the Qur’an, the seerah of the Prophet and that of the companions also. One should not leave his children to continue making mistakes saying that he will correct them when they get older, because indeed it becomes increasingly more difficult to correct a person when he has grown up upon incorrect actions and bad characteristics. As a poet once said, “Whoever grows up upon something, he grows old upon that same thing.”So we should teach our children from a young age the correct ‘aqeedah and belief, for example that Allah is above His Throne, and we should teach them love for the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his companions. We should also teach them aspects of good character, like being courageous, kind, generous and modest, etc. Then if one of our children makes a mistake, we should point out this mistake to them and explain that the action is wrong, not leaving them and saying ‘they are just children’ or that we will tell them when they grow older. This is because of the saying, “Whoever grows up upon something, he grows old upon that same thing.”And from the guidance of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is that he used to train and bring up the children from a young age upon good manners and character. As can be seen in the hadith of Hasan (radhiallahu anhu), in which he narrates how he once took a date from the dates of sadaqah, and the Prophet reprimanded him and told him to take the date out of his mouth. The Prophet explained to him that the dates were for sadaqah (charity), and that sadaqah was not allowed for the Prophet or his family.So the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) did not leave Hasan alone; rather, he reprimanded him for what he did and explained to him the correct way, using intelligence and hikmah. Likewise in the hadith of the son of Umm Salamah (radhiallahu anhuma), who narrated that he used to stay in the house of the Prophet, and that he used to eat in an incorrect way (ie from everywhere in the plate). So the Prophet said to him:‘O boy! Mention Allah’s Name ie say ‘Bismillah’, eat with your right hand and eat that which is in front of you.’ (Al-Bukhari)So this companion went on to narrate that he continued to practise this etiquette of eating until that day (ie until he had become older). This shows that the Prophet would correct the children by pointing out their mistakes, and also he did so in such a way that they would continue upon the correct way that he had taught them until they became older. And the Prophet is for us the best of examples to follow.Exercising Justice With Regard To One’s ChildrenThe parent should neither oppress nor wrong any of his children. He should not show one of his children due favour more so than the other, by giving him more than his children or praising him more than any of the others. Indeed this type of oppression and favouritism can be a reason for the children swaying from the correct path and developing personal problems later on in life. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:“Fear Allah and be just with regard to your children.”Indeed, being just can positively affect the children’s tarbiyah, just as being unjust can have negative affects upon their tarbiyah. Of these negative effects is that the child may feel that if he cannot find justice with his own parents, then whom can he find justice with? And he may carry this problem and feeling in his heart all of his life.Spending Upon One’s ChildrenThe parents, both the mother and the father, should be generous and take time out to spend upon their children. They should take the necessary steps to earn money and spend upon their children in a manner that is correct. Indeed, anything that one spends upon his family with the correct intention, will have a reward for it. As in the hadith of Sa’d ibn Ma’aadh (radhiallahu anhu), who narrated that the Prophet said:“There is nothing that you spend upon your families, even the food that you put into the mouth of your wife, except that you will get a reward for it.”Also there is a hadith which is collected by Muslim, which states the importance of spending upon the family and that it is from the best of actions with which one draws nearer to Allah. In this hadith, the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:“Two dinars which you spend by way of sadaqah (charity), or two dinars which you give to the miskeen (poor), or the two dinars which you give to your family – with which of these is the greatest rewards? Indeed the greatest of these as regards reward is that dinar which you spend upon your family.”In conclusion, everyone should take care of his family, for if it were the case that everyone in the society were to take care of the upbringing of their families and take care of their financial needs, then this would prove good and beneficial for the society as a whole. And if everyone were to leave the affairs of their families and their children, then this would lead to the corruption of the society, and poverty would be widespread. By spending upon our families and taking care of their tarbiyah, is how we train them and help them to remain upright upon this religion of Islam.
Notes:
1. Taken from a tape by Sheikh Ahmed Aways
2. This was from the Sunnah of the Prophet, that if he had people who would come to him and then stop coming, he would ask about their condition and their affairs.