Abdul Muqit Chowdhury :
The Holy Quran reveals on ‘Deen’ (Religion as Code of life) in the following proclamation : “This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (Sura Mayeda : 5:3)
‘Deen’ has been used to mean ‘religion’ in Islam, but not in the limited sense of some worships and rituals – the old concept of religion being mostly dealing with the life Hereafter. ‘Deen’ includes all aspects of life of human being and all human related activities in this world. Thus comes personal, social, national and international life and relations; comes spiritual, economic and political activities in relation to progress and prosperity of the national and international human race. According to the Quran and Sunnah ‘Deen’ is a comprehensive Heavenly direction to lead lives for emancipation in this world and salvation in the Hereafter.
Islam, during the final Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (Sm) appeared as a revolution changing the limited concept of religion. Belief in the Creator of the universe with rituals and worship, mainly centering the post-life salvation was replaced by Islamic Code of life covering everything related to human being and humanity- welfare in this world and salvation in the Hereafter. Observance of this Code of life should have a background of distinguishing the ‘right’ and the ‘wrong’.
The Holy Ramzan has passed and the day of Holy Eid-ul-Fitr has emerged as the Day of festival of joy for the Muslims all over the world. The Quran ‘guide to mankind’ was revealed in this month for which this month is of great importance and significance. Al Quran reveals : “Ramadhan is the month in which was sent down the Qur-an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong)….” (Sura Baqara 2:185) ‘Furqan’ is a word in the verse. The meaning of the word is ‘the criterion or standard by which we judge between right and wrong’. The verse continues and concludes with injunction of fasting, “(He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you ; and perchance ye shall be grateful.” The verse makes it clear that the Quran has been revealed ‘as a guide to mankind’ ‘for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong)’.
Al Quran reveals : “And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing : so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy.” (Sur An’am 6 : 155). The verse is a call to follow Quran and to be righteous. It has also been said that it has been ‘revealed as a blessing’ ‘that ye (mankind) my receive mercy’.
The Creator of the universe expects the mankind to be a society of righteous people who will be guided by the Quran, and can judge between right and wrong.
This needs a process of call to the people to follow the Quranic principle of establishing a righteous society. The Holy Quran says : “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong : They are ones to attain felicity”. (Sura Al Imran 3: 104)
A. Yusuf Ali comments: “…The ideal Muslim community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united, and prosperous: because it invites to all that is good; enjoins the rights; and forbids the wrong,-as master-stroke of description in three clauses.”
The Divine injunction and responsibility is distinct : 1. Inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right. 2. Forbidding what is wrong. Here, the Muballigs (who call to be righteous) will be ‘a band of people’ from among the Muslims, who are scholars on the message of the Holy Quran and Sunnah and bright examples of Muslims in the true sense of the team. If such ‘inviting’ ‘enjoining’ and ‘forbidding’ is followed as a continuous process of religious responsibility by the dedicated members of the society, it is expected that the society will be guided to be righteous and shun evils.
The Holy Quran enjoins responsibility on the followers of Islam to uphold the light of ‘right’ against ‘wrong’: “Ye are the best of Peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them : among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors.” (Sura Al Imran 3:110)
Here the Revelation is for the Ummah in general. The verse introduces the Muslims as the ‘best of peoples’ and proclaims the noble purpose ‘evolved for mankind’. This means the Muslims should be example of a righteous community. They have to shoulder the great mission ‘to enjoin right’ and ‘forbid wrong.’ The message is for inviting the whole mankind and not for the Muslims only.
‘Furqan’ (The Criterion) is also a Sura in the Quran. The first verse is : “Blessed is He Who sent down the Criterion to His Servant, that it may be an admonition to all creatures ; __” (Sura Furqan 25:1)
The comment of A. Yusuf Ali on ‘Criterion’ : “That by which we can judge clearly between right and wrong. Here the reference is to the Qur-an, which has already been symbolised by Light. This symbol is continued here, and many contrasts are shown, in the midst of which we can distinguish between the true and the false by God’s Light, especially the contrast between righteousness and sin.”
“The pronoun in yakuna may refer either to Furqan (the Criterion) or to ‘Abd (the holy Prophet). In either case the ultimate meaning is the same. The Qur-an is the standing Criterion for judgment between right and wrong.”
So, it is clear, according to final Divine message of Allah, the Holy Quran is the ‘Criterion for judgment between right and wrong’.
The Muslims or a section of Muslims who are ordained by Allah to call the people to be righteous, to enjoin right and forbid wrong, should bear in mind that the mission of Truth may face difficulties and even failure somewhere if presented by irresponsible persons or not in the proper way as directed by Al Quran.
Before propagation of Islam , it should be remembered that Islam calls for a complete surrender to Allah’s Will. Following Islam partially or preaching the ‘Deen’ partially-both are deviations from the injunctions of Allah. Complete entrance into Islam is a Divine guidance. The Holy Quran says : ‘O ye who believe ! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly ( completely) ; and follow not the footsteps of the Evil One ; for he is to you an avowed enemy.” (Sura Baqara 2:208).
Partial presentation of Islam is a deviation from the complete Code of life as ordained in the Quran and Sunnah. Muballigs should represent Islam in its true spirit and complete shape. Some injunctions, leaving aside the maximum, can not be the subject of presentation to people invited to righteousness.
If it is done, it is a deviation from the original Divine injunctions. Personal or organisational choice of some worships and rituals in the call of Islam will create misunderstanding about Islam. It will help misinterpretation indirectly. We have already discussed here that the Code of life of Islam includes everything related to the life of human being and human race. So, all injunctions revealed in the verses and demonstrated in the life of Hazrat Muhammad (Sm) should be brought to the eagerful notice of the people, who are not aware of the beauty of Islam, in its true and complete range.
Islam should be propagated to others as Islam is. Nothing more or less be presented. Innovation, excess or extremism are deviation from the Qu-ran and Sunnah. Islam rejects all extremism and calls for balanced life style. There is no place for either ‘monasticism’ or extreme ‘consumerism’ in Islam. Islam permits only the ‘middle course’ of life and living. Islam is the religion of ‘Fitrat’-nature. It allows lawful enjoyment of life.
The Holy Quran says : “O ye who believe ! Make not unlawful the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you ; but commit no excess : For Allah loveth not those given to excess.”
“If any one contends with the Apostle even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell, –what an evil refuge!” (Sura Nisa 4:115)
“It is such as obey God and His Apostle, and fear God and do right, that will win (in the end). (Sura Noor 24:52)
Rasulullah (SM) says : ” …. So whoever turns from my way, is not with me.”
The Holy Quran reveals : “It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by God and His Apostle, to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys God and His Apostle, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path.” (Sura Ahzab 33:36)
Allama Yusuf Ali comments : “We must not put our own wisdom in competition with God’s wisdom. God’s decree is often known to us by the logic of facts. We must accept it loyally, and do the best we can to help in our own way to carry it out. We must make our will consonant to the Universal Will.”
It is on record that the Prophet (SM) warned his companions saying, “I have not been directed by Allah to live in this manner. Your bodies certainly have rights over you; so observe fasting; but also abstain from fasting (this fasting is not the obligatory fasting of the month of Ramzan). Look at me. I pray at night; but I also sleep. I observe fasting; but I also abstain from fasting (not obligatory fasting). I eat meat; as well as fat. And I am also married. So whoever turns away from my way, is not with me”. The Prophet (Sm) so warned when he heard that some of his companions were indulging in excesses even in their worship to please Allah.
So, none should indulge in monasticism in the name of Islam and should not ‘turn away from’ the disciplined ‘way’ of the greatest Messenger of Allah.
Those who shoulder the great responsibility to call the people to Islam should be very conscious of the aforesaid, ‘middle course’ of life rejecting all excesses, extremism of mansticism or consumerism. They should represent the eternal and universal Islam – its Code of life including everything related to life and living. Every presentation should be based on the Quran and Sunnah.
The Holy Quran reveals the way of preaching : “Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching ; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious : For thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.” (Sura Nahl 16:125)
The way of approach and presentation of Islam according to the Quran should be ‘with wisdom and beautiful preaching’ and to argue ‘in ways that are best and most gracious.’
A. Yusuf Ali comments on the verse : “It may be that the preacher sometimes says to himself ‘what is the use of teaching these people? They have made up their minds, or they are obstinate, or they are only trying to catch me out; Let him not yield to such a thought. Who knows how the seed of the Word of God may germinate in people’s minds ? It is not for man to look for results. Man’s inner thoughts are known best to God.”
Today, the Muslims are facing a world-wide disaster of outward aggression and sectarian in-fighting. This inhuman catastrophe will not be changed unless the Muslims themselves fight against all evils unitedly with firm faith in the help of Allah Rabbul Aalamen. The Quran warns.: “…Verily never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls). But when (once) God willeth a people’s punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.” (Sura Ra ‘ad 13:11)
A. Yusuf Ali comments : “God is not intent on punishment. He created man virtuous and pure ; he gave him intelligence and knowledge ; he surrounded him with all sorts of instruments of His grace and mercy. If, in spite of all this, man distorts his own will and goes against God’s Will, yet is God’s forgiveness open to him if he will take it. It is only when he has made his own sight blind and changed his own nature or soul away from the beautiful mould in which God formed it, that God’s Wrath will descend on him and the favourable position in which God placed him will be changed. When once the punishment comes, there is no turning it back. None of the things which he relied upon – other than God – can possibly protect him”.
At last, there is a ray of hope. The Muslims should not lose heart and fall into despair. There is a pre-condition to gain mastery and that is to be true in Faith. The Holy Quran reveals : “So lose not heart, nor fall into despair : for ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith”. (Sura Al Imran 3:139)
The Holy Quran reveals on ‘Deen’ (Religion as Code of life) in the following proclamation : “This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (Sura Mayeda : 5:3)
‘Deen’ has been used to mean ‘religion’ in Islam, but not in the limited sense of some worships and rituals – the old concept of religion being mostly dealing with the life Hereafter. ‘Deen’ includes all aspects of life of human being and all human related activities in this world. Thus comes personal, social, national and international life and relations; comes spiritual, economic and political activities in relation to progress and prosperity of the national and international human race. According to the Quran and Sunnah ‘Deen’ is a comprehensive Heavenly direction to lead lives for emancipation in this world and salvation in the Hereafter.
Islam, during the final Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (Sm) appeared as a revolution changing the limited concept of religion. Belief in the Creator of the universe with rituals and worship, mainly centering the post-life salvation was replaced by Islamic Code of life covering everything related to human being and humanity- welfare in this world and salvation in the Hereafter. Observance of this Code of life should have a background of distinguishing the ‘right’ and the ‘wrong’.
The Holy Ramzan has passed and the day of Holy Eid-ul-Fitr has emerged as the Day of festival of joy for the Muslims all over the world. The Quran ‘guide to mankind’ was revealed in this month for which this month is of great importance and significance. Al Quran reveals : “Ramadhan is the month in which was sent down the Qur-an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong)….” (Sura Baqara 2:185) ‘Furqan’ is a word in the verse. The meaning of the word is ‘the criterion or standard by which we judge between right and wrong’. The verse continues and concludes with injunction of fasting, “(He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you ; and perchance ye shall be grateful.” The verse makes it clear that the Quran has been revealed ‘as a guide to mankind’ ‘for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong)’.
Al Quran reveals : “And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing : so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy.” (Sur An’am 6 : 155). The verse is a call to follow Quran and to be righteous. It has also been said that it has been ‘revealed as a blessing’ ‘that ye (mankind) my receive mercy’.
The Creator of the universe expects the mankind to be a society of righteous people who will be guided by the Quran, and can judge between right and wrong.
This needs a process of call to the people to follow the Quranic principle of establishing a righteous society. The Holy Quran says : “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong : They are ones to attain felicity”. (Sura Al Imran 3: 104)
A. Yusuf Ali comments: “…The ideal Muslim community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united, and prosperous: because it invites to all that is good; enjoins the rights; and forbids the wrong,-as master-stroke of description in three clauses.”
The Divine injunction and responsibility is distinct : 1. Inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right. 2. Forbidding what is wrong. Here, the Muballigs (who call to be righteous) will be ‘a band of people’ from among the Muslims, who are scholars on the message of the Holy Quran and Sunnah and bright examples of Muslims in the true sense of the team. If such ‘inviting’ ‘enjoining’ and ‘forbidding’ is followed as a continuous process of religious responsibility by the dedicated members of the society, it is expected that the society will be guided to be righteous and shun evils.
The Holy Quran enjoins responsibility on the followers of Islam to uphold the light of ‘right’ against ‘wrong’: “Ye are the best of Peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them : among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors.” (Sura Al Imran 3:110)
Here the Revelation is for the Ummah in general. The verse introduces the Muslims as the ‘best of peoples’ and proclaims the noble purpose ‘evolved for mankind’. This means the Muslims should be example of a righteous community. They have to shoulder the great mission ‘to enjoin right’ and ‘forbid wrong.’ The message is for inviting the whole mankind and not for the Muslims only.
‘Furqan’ (The Criterion) is also a Sura in the Quran. The first verse is : “Blessed is He Who sent down the Criterion to His Servant, that it may be an admonition to all creatures ; __” (Sura Furqan 25:1)
The comment of A. Yusuf Ali on ‘Criterion’ : “That by which we can judge clearly between right and wrong. Here the reference is to the Qur-an, which has already been symbolised by Light. This symbol is continued here, and many contrasts are shown, in the midst of which we can distinguish between the true and the false by God’s Light, especially the contrast between righteousness and sin.”
“The pronoun in yakuna may refer either to Furqan (the Criterion) or to ‘Abd (the holy Prophet). In either case the ultimate meaning is the same. The Qur-an is the standing Criterion for judgment between right and wrong.”
So, it is clear, according to final Divine message of Allah, the Holy Quran is the ‘Criterion for judgment between right and wrong’.
The Muslims or a section of Muslims who are ordained by Allah to call the people to be righteous, to enjoin right and forbid wrong, should bear in mind that the mission of Truth may face difficulties and even failure somewhere if presented by irresponsible persons or not in the proper way as directed by Al Quran.
Before propagation of Islam , it should be remembered that Islam calls for a complete surrender to Allah’s Will. Following Islam partially or preaching the ‘Deen’ partially-both are deviations from the injunctions of Allah. Complete entrance into Islam is a Divine guidance. The Holy Quran says : ‘O ye who believe ! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly ( completely) ; and follow not the footsteps of the Evil One ; for he is to you an avowed enemy.” (Sura Baqara 2:208).
Partial presentation of Islam is a deviation from the complete Code of life as ordained in the Quran and Sunnah. Muballigs should represent Islam in its true spirit and complete shape. Some injunctions, leaving aside the maximum, can not be the subject of presentation to people invited to righteousness.
If it is done, it is a deviation from the original Divine injunctions. Personal or organisational choice of some worships and rituals in the call of Islam will create misunderstanding about Islam. It will help misinterpretation indirectly. We have already discussed here that the Code of life of Islam includes everything related to the life of human being and human race. So, all injunctions revealed in the verses and demonstrated in the life of Hazrat Muhammad (Sm) should be brought to the eagerful notice of the people, who are not aware of the beauty of Islam, in its true and complete range.
Islam should be propagated to others as Islam is. Nothing more or less be presented. Innovation, excess or extremism are deviation from the Qu-ran and Sunnah. Islam rejects all extremism and calls for balanced life style. There is no place for either ‘monasticism’ or extreme ‘consumerism’ in Islam. Islam permits only the ‘middle course’ of life and living. Islam is the religion of ‘Fitrat’-nature. It allows lawful enjoyment of life.
The Holy Quran says : “O ye who believe ! Make not unlawful the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you ; but commit no excess : For Allah loveth not those given to excess.”
“If any one contends with the Apostle even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell, –what an evil refuge!” (Sura Nisa 4:115)
“It is such as obey God and His Apostle, and fear God and do right, that will win (in the end). (Sura Noor 24:52)
Rasulullah (SM) says : ” …. So whoever turns from my way, is not with me.”
The Holy Quran reveals : “It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by God and His Apostle, to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys God and His Apostle, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path.” (Sura Ahzab 33:36)
Allama Yusuf Ali comments : “We must not put our own wisdom in competition with God’s wisdom. God’s decree is often known to us by the logic of facts. We must accept it loyally, and do the best we can to help in our own way to carry it out. We must make our will consonant to the Universal Will.”
It is on record that the Prophet (SM) warned his companions saying, “I have not been directed by Allah to live in this manner. Your bodies certainly have rights over you; so observe fasting; but also abstain from fasting (this fasting is not the obligatory fasting of the month of Ramzan). Look at me. I pray at night; but I also sleep. I observe fasting; but I also abstain from fasting (not obligatory fasting). I eat meat; as well as fat. And I am also married. So whoever turns away from my way, is not with me”. The Prophet (Sm) so warned when he heard that some of his companions were indulging in excesses even in their worship to please Allah.
So, none should indulge in monasticism in the name of Islam and should not ‘turn away from’ the disciplined ‘way’ of the greatest Messenger of Allah.
Those who shoulder the great responsibility to call the people to Islam should be very conscious of the aforesaid, ‘middle course’ of life rejecting all excesses, extremism of mansticism or consumerism. They should represent the eternal and universal Islam – its Code of life including everything related to life and living. Every presentation should be based on the Quran and Sunnah.
The Holy Quran reveals the way of preaching : “Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching ; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious : For thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.” (Sura Nahl 16:125)
The way of approach and presentation of Islam according to the Quran should be ‘with wisdom and beautiful preaching’ and to argue ‘in ways that are best and most gracious.’
A. Yusuf Ali comments on the verse : “It may be that the preacher sometimes says to himself ‘what is the use of teaching these people? They have made up their minds, or they are obstinate, or they are only trying to catch me out; Let him not yield to such a thought. Who knows how the seed of the Word of God may germinate in people’s minds ? It is not for man to look for results. Man’s inner thoughts are known best to God.”
Today, the Muslims are facing a world-wide disaster of outward aggression and sectarian in-fighting. This inhuman catastrophe will not be changed unless the Muslims themselves fight against all evils unitedly with firm faith in the help of Allah Rabbul Aalamen. The Quran warns.: “…Verily never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls). But when (once) God willeth a people’s punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.” (Sura Ra ‘ad 13:11)
A. Yusuf Ali comments : “God is not intent on punishment. He created man virtuous and pure ; he gave him intelligence and knowledge ; he surrounded him with all sorts of instruments of His grace and mercy. If, in spite of all this, man distorts his own will and goes against God’s Will, yet is God’s forgiveness open to him if he will take it. It is only when he has made his own sight blind and changed his own nature or soul away from the beautiful mould in which God formed it, that God’s Wrath will descend on him and the favourable position in which God placed him will be changed. When once the punishment comes, there is no turning it back. None of the things which he relied upon – other than God – can possibly protect him”.
At last, there is a ray of hope. The Muslims should not lose heart and fall into despair. There is a pre-condition to gain mastery and that is to be true in Faith. The Holy Quran reveals : “So lose not heart, nor fall into despair : for ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith”. (Sura Al Imran 3:139)