Searching for Islam among Muslims
The evolution of religious history illustrates the universality of religion as a non-sectarian, non-racial and non-doctrinal pathway to Allah, which Islam unquestionably represents. Islam, which involves submission to the Will of God entails faith; doing right; being an example for others to do right and having the power to see that the right prevails; eschewing […]
The evolution of religious history illustrates the universality of religion as a non-sectarian, non-racial and non-doctrinal pathway to Allah, which Islam unquestionably represents. Islam, which involves submission to the Will of God entails faith; doing right; being an example for others to do right and having the power to see that the right prevails; eschewing wrong and having the power to see that wrong is defeated. Islam therefore lives, not for itself, but for mankind. It is in this regard that Allah (SWT) reveals in Qur’an 3:110 “Ye are the best of peoples evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah…”
In truth, we are supposed to see and appreciate Islam through the actions and speeches of Muslims. The way of life of Muslims should, practically, represent the teachings of Islam. A Muslim is expected to live a righteous life. He should be a model of righteousness from whom fellow Muslims would be encouraged to do right. The righteous life of a Muslim is also supposed to attract non-Muslims to the beautiful and decent values of Islamic religion.
The teachings of Islam as outlined in the political, social, economic and spiritual principles of the religion of Islam are designed to make Muslims virtuous in character, overtly and covertly. Unfortunately, the life of many Muslims today seems to completely negate this fundamental concept. We are getting to a point where you may sometimes need to ask to know whether or not the person you are dealing with is a Muslim. This is even as Muslims are supposed to be morally unique for being “the best of peoples evolved for mankind”.
The culture of Muslims is one that is founded and built on Islamic principles. Islamic religion has perfectly provided legislations that are meant to guide Muslims in every aspect of their life. They include the way we should look, talk, eat, dress, answer the call of nature, enter into and come out of our houses, as well as the Islamic tradition of conducting marriages. All these collectively combine to shape what is called “Islamic culture.” Today, too many Muslims are becoming too nominal than they should. This group of Muslims, in the opinion of this writer, are either faced with a crisis of identity, or more critically, seems to suffer from an ill-advised clash of civilizations.
A casual visit to the premises of most of our tertiary institutions reveals a world of indecent dressing particularly among female students; keeping them at the longest distance from the morals of the religion they profess. Such female students use no scarf or veil to cover their head. Parents are advised to devise effective means of monitoring their children and wards while they are in school to check immoral tendencies in them, which they ordinarily do not exhibit at home.
The disgraceful manner in which brides and grooms appear in photographs printed on wedding souvenirs is another area where is time and again compelled nowadays to ask whether those involved are actually Muslims in name and in action or are Muslims only in name. With transparent wedding gowns wore by Muslim brides in addition to some of the things they do to symbolize “love”, one finds it difficult to find that which is Islam in such just-wedded couples. The ostentations nature of marriages, too, among Muslims in modern times illustrates how moderation has become an abandoned virtue. This column condemns the very expensive nature of Muslim marriages in Nigeria today, which of course, is foreign to Islamic culture.
Islamic culture requires Muslims to be trustworthy. Today, trust is about becoming “as scarce as a hen with teeth” especially where the object of trust involves money or power. It is even worse if the article of trust were a woman. Corruption, with its pervasive influence, has created more betrayers than honest persons among Nigerians.
Kindness, courtesy and humility which are some of the virtues that make Muslims unique from others, and by which others are also attracted to Islam, have all become scarce attitudinal commodities. Humility, not pride, makes a good Muslim. Humility and courtesy are acts of piety. The Prophet (SAW) said “Verily, Allah commands me to be humble and lowly and not to be proud; and that no one should oppress another.” The Prophet (SAW) who is a model of kindness and charity once said, “Charity is a duty unto every Muslim. He who possesses not the means thereto should perform a good act or abstain from an evil one. That is charity.”
A good Muslim speaks the truth when he talks; fulfils his promises; and discharges his trust accordingly. These and other cherished qualities define the character of a good Muslim. Sadly, the general conduct of many Muslims in our day is so much in dearth of virtuous qualities; suggesting time would come, if the trend is left unchecked, when we would have to go in search of Islam among Muslims of even outside of Muslim communities.
Embarrassing to Islam and damaging to the image of the entire Muslim Ummah that is supposedly “the best of peoples evolved for mankind” is the unwillingness by some Muslims to render help even when they are in a position to comfortably do so. The unfriendly and discourteous nature in the interaction of some of today’s Muslims with others is also unbecoming.
We call on Muslims to critically re-examine themselves with a view to ensuring that they live according to the provisions of the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). We find it disturbing that some Muslims, today, cannot easily be identified by their Islamic cultural values. Let us strive to remain good Muslims no matter how hard the devil struggles to take us off the track of guidance.
As Muslims, our thoughts and actions should be within the provisions of Shari’ah, which sufficiently deals with the most minute and delicate circumstances of life. In fact, the documented account of prophetic traditions otherwise called hadith, is a Muslim’s dictionary of morals and manners. May Allah preserve and protect the sanctity of our faith so that we remain true Muslims in words and actions, Amin.