Seed-bed of faith

It should be borne in mind that faith is not something nominal or mere formality by which the name tag, Muslim, launches the bearer in to the world of righteousness. This notion is far from the basic concept of faith in Islam. The true practice of the religion of Islam should by all accounts permeate […]

It should be borne in mind that faith is not something nominal or mere formality by which the name tag, Muslim, launches the bearer in to the world of righteousness. This notion is far from the basic concept of faith in Islam. The true practice of the religion of Islam should by all accounts permeate deeply and constructively into every aspect of man’s life. While being a believer is a higher spiritual rank, being a Muslim provides the basis for attaining that greater moral status and religious happiness. The holy Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) both provide a checklist of virtues that defines those Muslims who qualify to be called true believers. These virtues are, indeed, the seed-bed of faith.
The late Makkan chapter (surah) of the Qur’an called al-Mu’minun (or The Believers) which is the 23rd in the chronological arrangement of chapters enumerates at least seven ‘jewels of faith’ that designate a Muslim as a true believer. The first of these seven virtues as mentioned in the first eleven verses of the chapter is humility in prayers. This relates to a worshipper’s estimate of his own worth in God’s presence; his estimate of his own abilities and strength; and how humble he sounds when asking his creator for favours. A situation in which the attention of a worshipper travels to and fro distances while observing prayers does not paint a good picture of humility in God’s presence. Neither is it a noble estimation of the worshiper’s assessment of God’s worth. Instead, it constitutes disrespect for one’s creator. Second, a believer is required to abstain from vain talks and from indulgence in appetites. As a consequence of a morally bankrupt society, vain talk has today become fashionable among people; a vice that precludes a Muslim from attaining the religious status of a true believer.
Third, a believer is one who promptly and duly pays Zakkat (religious tax) and remains active in deeds of charity. If those who qualify to give Zakkat pay it according to the teachings of Islam, I do not think the level of poverty would be as alarming as we find it today especially in Muslim communities. The haves now complain of austere times more than the haves-not; yet, they regard themselves as believers. Nay, they are not because their attitude negates the Islamic principle and concept of charity. Fourth, for a Muslim to achieve true belief, he/she must shun promiscuity. A true believer guards himself/herself against every kind of sex abuse or perversion including harassment, rape and defiling the under-aged. Those who engage in these immoralities are far from being called believers.
Fifth and sixth, believers are described by the Qur’anic chapter under reference as “those who faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants”; meaning that Muslims who fail in their covenants and/or betray any trusts whether public or state, express or implied, cannot be called believers. Seventh, a Muslim is also not entitled to be called a believer if he/she is not constant in prayers. The habit of regular prayers is a necessary requirement for our spiritual well-being and development as it brings us closer to Allah (SWT). This virtue, thus, sums up the light of the seven jewels of faith namely (1) Humility, (2) avoidance of vanity, (3) charity, (4) sex purity, (5) fidelity to trusts, and (6) to covenants, and (7) an earnest desire to get closer to Allah (SWT).
From the hadith of the Prophet ( SAW), Bukhari and Muslim both relate on the authority of Abi Hamzah, Annas bn Malik (RA), who narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: “None of you (really) believes (in Allah and His religion) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself”. The message of this hadith is that a Muslim cannot earn the name of a believer if his heart is not free from rancor, grudge, evil thought against Muslim brother and even up to his non-Muslim brother and neighbours. A believer is that Muslim who loves everyone around him. May Allah (SWT) guide us to imbibe all the virtues that elevate a Muslim to the spiritual position of a true believer, amin.

Islamophobia in Angola:
In an outright abuse of the provisions of Article 18 in the International Bill of Human Rights (IBHR), Angola recently became the first country in the world to outlaw Islam and the practice of Islamic religion; taking measures that include the destruction of mosques in that country. Article 18 of the IBHR provides that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom…to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance”.
If indeed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be believed as the basic International statement of the inalienable and inviolable right of all members of the human family, this is one instance in which the United Nations can prove to member states that the world body is not a prejudicial organization that is run on sentiments; acting only on whims and caprices of the powerful and wealthy.