Greenwaymasjid

Delivered by Imam Didmar Faja

March 2006

If Islam is absent from the theater of life then stability cannot be achieved, and rules and regulations get out of control. This absence causes the human race, throughout its span, to feel uncomfortable and at other times oppressed. Present time is a witness of this phenomenon which is increasing day by day. Government departments are trying to improve rules and regulations, implement technology and training but still crime is on the rise.
Why is our future generation possessed by laziness, disrespect, and ignorance? Why are the number of sick, mentally and/or physically, increasing catastrophically?
Dear Muslims! If Islam is absent then nothing can remain stable. I would like to elaborate on four essential principles of human life and on how these principles can be deteriorate without the presence of Islam.
 
Islam protects the practice of other religions
 
It is a well known historical fact that Muslims ruled India for thousands of years. There is no indication whatsoever that Muslims used force or invoked fear or terrorism in order to spread Islam. The fact that the majority of India’s present population is non-Muslim proves this argument. Under Islamic law, all nations ruled by Muslim leaders had the right to practice their respective religions. Besides this, history has witnessed Muslim leaders helping and even building churches and other places of worship for non-Muslim inhabitants.

The Holy Quran clearly mentions: “Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from the error. Whoever rejects false worship and believes in Allah has grasped the trust worthiest handhold that never breaks and Allah hears and knows all things” (2;256).
 
The Patriarch Mekarins of Antioch said, “God gave the ultimate existence to the Ottoman empire. They only take their Jizya and do not interfere in religions, without taking it in the account of the leaders who are Jews, Christians or Samaritans.”
Prof. Thomas Arnold throughout his book “The preaching of Islam: A history of the propagation of the Muslim faith” illustrated how Islam delivered to Muslims in different ways the phrase “Let there be no compulsion in religion.”
 
Communism played a major role against freedom of religion in Eastern countries. Communism was applied through dictatorship, as a result of this Christians and Muslims suffered in these countries. In Albania, the followers of Marxism-Leninism theories destroyed various houses of worship and succeeded in decreasing the level of belief throughout the population. In Western countries we have seen numerous cases in which Muslims and their institutions faced abuse, threats, and false accusations. All-mighty Allah says in the Noble Quran: “(They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right, (for no cause) except that they say, Our Lord is Allah. Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure? Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause); for verily Allah is full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will).  (They are) those who, if we establish them in land, establish regular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right and forbid wrong: with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs” (Surah Al Hajj: 40-41).
 
 
Islam protects the human intellect
 
Truly, Islam plays the biggest role in defending the human intellect. Nothing other than Islam has the capacity to defend the human intellect. I will give you some modern day examples. There are many systems in the world that call for secularism, but science in these systems is isolated to one side and reality to another. Science states that alcohol is harmful to one’s body, and, in some cases, leads to the destruction of one’s character. The reality is that these systems allow alcohol to be sold and even advertised. Science states that prostitution is a harmful disease for humankind. The fact is that adultery and prostitution is increasing tremendously. We can go on and on but I think the point is made.

In a time which needs rationalism, we face endless lies and hypocrisies spread by newspapers, magazines, and various other types of media. The reality is that facts are being falsified in order to justify the crimes. Also, resources such as Sociology and Physiology are being used in order to succeed with lies and change the truth. After all this I ask how can a free and sound intellect be developed by us humans?
 
The intellect gets damaged in two ways. The first way is when the intellect is obligated (by force) to a certain ideology and room is not provided for criticism, meditation, debate, or investigation. This was evident in the communist system which forced its ideologies on the population and did not allow for any feedback.
The second way is when the intellect is obligated to an ideology which is beyond understanding, an ideology that can lead to blind faith. There exist systems today that express their beliefs regardless if they are offensive to others or if they turn oppressive.
 
In the absence of Islam, a person or a nation is vulnerable to both these damaging ways. These actions show no favor to the intellect. Statistics show that a larger percentage of the population is educationally sound than has been in previous times. However, the vast presence of mental illness in today’s society would lead one to think otherwise.
 
My beloved brothers and sisters, intellect in Islam is considered a sacred gift, which the Almighty God gave to Humans. Through our very intellect we will be held accountable for our actions in this world on the Day of Judgment. This is why Islam protects the intellect and urges that we apply our intellect towards good actions.

Adam (pbuh) was blessed with a sound intellect. Because of this, Allah ordered the angels to bow down to him as a sign of honor and respect. God puts in higher rank those who use their intellect for righteous deeds. He says: “God will exalt those who believe among you and those who have knowledge to high ranks” (58:11).In another verse He says: “Say: Are those equal, those who know and those do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition” (39:9). He also challenges the human intellect by saying: “Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur’an, or are their hearts locked up by them?” (47:24).