1st Example:
The last few days have been real hectic for my family, since we’ve just moved house. Being the most able-bodied in the house had meant that most of the stress was placed on me. This stress did not play well with my reasoning and thinking faculty. In a hasty decision I had advised a skip hire chap that he had enough space to bring his lorry into the front garden. If only I had just taken the time to look at both the width of the lorry and my front gate, I could have come to reasoned decision that would have saved the smashing of my front wall. But, I have to say, Alhamdulillah, since it could and was fixed quickly, and it is was not decision that played ill over the fate of other people (see 2nd Example).
2nd Example:
During the Ramadhan just passed, the Masjid in which I regularly prayed Tarawih had a particularly irate and short-tempered Imam. Whenever some of the children wanted to take a break and whisper to each other, he would blow a fuse (you know the serious type with smoke fuming out the ears). In his Krakatoa type eruptions, he would shout them as Shaytans, have them slapped on the back and/or dragged out of the Masjid. I couldn’t understand why it bothered him so much. Much like the trance you can fall into whilst watching your favourite TV programme, the quiet banter of children in the background should not be enough to distract you from your Salah in such an auspicious month.
But what I did understand is that his crude and tactless actions may have consequences far beyond the reach of the Masjid walls. For one thing, a generation of children within the locality are now developing a dislike for attending the Masjid. Where the Masjid should be a place of repose and guidance, in their young eyes it is becoming outdated and oppressive. Secondly, the Masjid is one of the key means that the Muslim community possesses to counter-balance the corrupting influences of society. Yet in this case (there are definitely other excellent examples in my community), it has only helped to reinforce the concept that “Ëœmight is right’. Where youth in the school yards learn that bullying, fighting and swearing are the only ways to effectively solve disputes, they now also learn that we Muslims ““ and indirectly Islam ““ solve our problems in a similar manner. As such they grow up believing that Islam is irrelevant to them, since everyone acts the same ““ with or without Islam. Finally, the Imam who is powerful community leader has not only set the wrong example for the youth, but to every other worshipper present. Who go back to their families, and treat their children with the same contempt. Thus the chain goes on”¦
December 8th, 2005 at 10:38 am
Salaam brother. you have managed to perfectly shed the light on the consistent attitude that runs in the society here. I had to, a good few times, experience the same behaviour in the sisters section of the Masjid during taraweeh time. The elderly sisters at the front would stand there full 6 feet height and in their slightly frightening voices utter the tirades with the ’shaytan’ coming up on and off. But I did notice it didn’t stop some from still going on with the whispers, so guess the ‘might is right’ policy is being defeated slowly.
If only all the Muslim sisters and brothers follow the example of the Prophet(SAW) who was sent as mercy to mankind there would be instant gratification reaching every soul they come in touch with and help the Ummah restore their impeccable character. Insha Allah.
December 8th, 2005 at 2:42 pm
Jazzakalla Khair for your comment sister. Although if I ever met elderly sisters/aunties who could stand a full 6 feet in height, I certainly would have my lips zipped shut!!
December 8th, 2005 at 6:27 pm
Afs-M: Your post reminded me of a story my cousin told me once. One of the Imams at her local Masjid told the congregation that going to the graveyards to pray for the dead is haram… in the end I think he was caught visiting the graveyards himself. At this moment, he clarified that there’s nothing wrong with going to the graveyards - but he knew that some Muslims from the sub-continent start GRAVE-WORSHIPPING instead of praying for the dead. To prevent this great shirk, he had told the Muslims that going to the graveyards is haram…
Need I go on? If Allah makes something halal, then we are not in a position to make it haram even if we think there’s good in it. So many youth think Islam is so impossible to implement so they give up before even trying. Yeah, it’s really difficult in this reality where we have no Islamic State to solve our problems but it’s still not impossible.
Anyway, regarding your post, check out this hadith - it’s don!
Muslim reported on the authority of Mu’awiyyah b. al-Hakam as Salami who said: “I was praying behind the Messenger of Allah (saw) and someone in the congregation sneezed. I said [to him]: ‘May Allah have mercy upon you.’
The people stared at me, showing their disapproval of my act. I said: “Woe to me, why do you stare at me so? They started to strike their hands on their thighs and when I saw that they wanted me to become silent, I was angered but said nothing. When the Messenger of Allah finished the prayer - and may my father and mother be ransomed for him, I found no teacher better than him either before or after him - he did not scold, beat, or revile me but he simply said: ‘Talking to others is not seemly during the Salah, for the Salah is for glorifying Allah, extolling His Greatness, and reciting the Qur’an.’
December 8th, 2005 at 7:25 pm
Something has just happened today to a sister whom I don’t know very well, and it has really brought home the truth of Afs-M’s advice.
Occasionally we wish we could go back and change things, but it is not always possible. We all need to remember that we will be asked about our actions of Judgement Day.
I wish things were different…
May Allah reward that sister. Ameen.
December 9th, 2005 at 4:03 pm
jazakhallah brother for the post. It is an excellent reminder for all the muslims to be working hard to preserve our Islamic identity no matter what we are dealing with, especially in these hard times for us mulims. May Allah(SWT) give us the strength and tactfulness to confront the attack against Islam.
December 9th, 2005 at 8:58 pm
Ameen.I came across the link below, its an online news report about the atrocities committed in the once beautiful medinat al masajid… it gives detailed accounts and images of the use of white phosphorous in the onslaught against Fallujah. SubhanAllah if you think back to the time when Iraq was considered al minbar al-9ilm - the country from which the knowledge of Islam flourished and spread like a beacon of light to humanity…just compare the situations we have today…things need changin man ….sharpish….
Fallujah - The Hidden Massacre
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article10907.htm