Islamize Politics or Politicize Islam?

Loose translation of ‘Islamkan Politik atau Politikkan Islam’ written by Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (http://drmaza.com)

I often call for Muslims to Islamize their politics and not politicize Islam. One may ask, what is the difference between the two? The difference is, when we strive to Islamize our politics we will ensure that our actions and our political missions do not contradict the teachings of Islam. Also, we will attempt to Islamize any un-Islamic political custom. In other words, we will use Islam as the guiding principle of our actions.

On the other hand, Islam is politicized when used as a political capital to secure power. In doing that, Islam is used not as a guiding principle but as a mere justification or ‘halal certificate’ to persuade the society or their followers to accept their actions.

Consequently, one will execute his political mission without referring it first to the teachings of Islam but when his action is questioned, he will manipulate the view or religious texts of Islam to defend himself. In short, Islamizing politics is done by designating Islam as the guiding principle whereas politicizing Islam is done by manipulating Islam in one’s favor using it as a tool or justification.

Therefore, when one assigns Islam as the foundation or guiding principle, he will willingly retract his opinion or apologize for his action if he discovers that it contradicts the teachings of Islam. As for the one who uses Islam as a justification or tool, he will make use of Islam to legalize his political action even though it is undoubtedly sinful.

He is not keen to listen to the concrete evidence or contention provided by syarak for him to apply but instead, he looks for a back-up from the religious authority that is willing to legalize his action even though he realizes that the opinion given to support him is weak and groundless. This is similar to the fanatical clusters and mazhab (school of thoughts) followers who hold on the views of their faction with no concern on strong reasoning and justifications.

Al-Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah (deceased in 751H) criticized the extremists in mazhab saying:

“Even more peculiar is your attitude o blind followers! When you find a Quranic verse that suits the opinion of your mazhab, you will accept its obvious meaning and hold on to it. Your basis in that sense is the opinion of your mazhab and not the Quranic verse itself. If you find another equivalent verse that contradicts the opinion of your mazhab, you will not accept it. You will try to make various interpretations of it and take it out of its clear context because it does not suit your mazhab. You are also treating the religious texts of al-Sunnah the same way. If you find a sahih (sound) hadith that suits the opinion of your mazhab, you will accept it. You will say, “We have the words from the Prophet s.a.w saying this and that.” However, if you find one hundred sahih hadith that differ from the view of your mazhab, you will not even give it a glance.” (Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah, I’lam al-Muwaqqi’in, 2/195, Beirut: Dar al-Fikr).

More often than not, the endeavor or the inclination to either Islamize politics or politicize Islam is not necessarily tied to the code of a political party or a faction but it is more of a personal attitude. However, if the attitude develops into a mainstream practice in a political party or faction, it represents their actual inclination. These days, it is not easy to hold on to and persevere with the principles of Islam in tackling politics.

Nevertheless, this is a fact that each one of us needs to be conscious of. In the history of Prophet Musa a.s versus the Pharaoh, the Pharaoh even had brought up the misconduct done by Prophet Musa a.s specifically when Musa a.s beat an Egyptian man before fleeing to Madyan. Allah narrated this story in the Quran by saying (translated as):

"So go forth, both of you, to Pharaoh, and say: 'We have been sent by the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds; "'Send thou with us the Children of Israel.'" (Pharaoh) said: "Did we not cherish thee as a child among us, and didst thou not stay in our midst many years of thy life? And thou didst a deed of thine which (thou knowest) thou didst, and thou art an ungrateful (wretch)!" Moses said: "I did it then, when I was in error. So I fled from you (all) when I feared you; but my Lord has (since) invested me with judgment (and wisdom) and appointed me as one of the Apostles. "And this is the favor with which thou dost reproach me,- that thou hast enslaved the Children of Israel!" (Surah al-Syu’ara: 16-22)

This is one of the main reasons Allah sent to us His Apostles, to educate us on the matter of principle. Even when he was in the middle of a critical situation, Prophet Musa a.s still admitted that it was wrong for him to hit the Egyptian and that his action was uncalled-for. Prophet Musa a.s did not try to legalize his deed to safeguard his interest, never! Two wrongs do not make a right.

Prophet Musa a.s had to deal with the leading political power in his time and even in the history of human civilization. His struggle was much greater than any struggle that is ever attempted in our time. Be that as it may, he still persevered with his principles. His action reflected the need for humankind to adhere to the divine revelation instead of manipulating the divine revelation to meet the human desire.

In our political environment, it is rare to see an individual admitting the mistake that he or his party has done. Instead, he will look for various justifications to defend himself or his faction even though he is fully aware that the action is wrong. Some are willing to forfeit their principle to avoid having their seat or position forfeited. The outcome of that is as what we’re witnessing now. We are seeing the birth of a culture, mostly involving blasphemy and derision, that sometimes transgresses the boundary of sanity and does not measure up to a civilized discourse.

Islam does not put too much restriction on politics since it is a vast subject that involves the wellbeing of the ummah and the nation. Politics is not a thing of a pastime like playing golf or football. To engage in politics means to stake the wellbeing of humankind. Therefore, all political actions must be executed to bring forth benefits to the ummah and the people, not for the benefit of oneself or one’s party.

Subsequently, we have to bear in mind that not everyone who participates in the holy battlefield will enter Paradise. Though at times the deed is beneficial to the Muslim society, the individual performing the deed may not receive any reward from Allah if his intention or his approach, or both, is wrong even if his struggle is proclaimed to be under the banner of Islam. Moreover, there is a hadith that relates the story of an individual who seemed to have fought bravely in the battle but would become the dweller of Hell.

Abu Huraira r.a narrated:

“We were in the company of Allah's Apostle in a Ghazwa (battle), and he remarked about a man who claimed to be a Muslim, saying, "This (man) is from the people of the (Hell) Fire." When the battle started, the man fought violently till he got wounded. Somebody said, "O Allah's Apostle! The man whom you described as being from the people of the (Hell) Fire fought violently today and died." The Prophet said, "He will go to the (Hell) Fire." Some people were on the point of doubting (the truth of what the Prophet had said) and while they were in this state, suddenly someone said that he was still alive but severely wounded. When night fell, he lost patience and committed suicide. The Prophet was informed of that, and he said, "Allah is Greater! I testify that I am Allah's Slave and His Apostle." Then he ordered Bilal to announce amongst the people: 'None will enter Paradise but a Muslim, and Allah may support this religion (i.e. Islam) even with a disobedient man.'”

In our community, religion truly is the pull factor for many people. Therefore, every person who wishes to struggle for the religion or wishes to focus his talks and actions on the religion has to ask himself whether he really yearns for the religion or yearns for power. After he straighten out his intention, he must then ensure that his actions are aligned with Islam’s requirement and not interpret Islam in such a way that it gives the impression as if Islam’s requirement is aligned with his actions. Thus, Islamize our politics and do not politicize our Islam.

Reading the Qur'aan with Contemplation

Blind Children Reading the Quran

Al Imaam Ibn Qayyim al Jawzeeyah
Reference: Miftaah Dar As Sa'aadah P.204

In general, there is nothing more beneficial to the heart than reading the Qur'aan with contemplation. Indeed it gathers the levels of all people, the affairs of all creation and the status of the knowledgeable. It is what leads a person to attain love, to yearn, fear, hope, repent, to depend, to be content, patient and grateful along with the rest of the issues that bring life and completion to the heart. It also condemns all immoral behavior and mannerisms that ruin the heart and cause its destruction.

If people knew the benefits of reading the Qur'aan with contemplation, they would occupy their time with it and nothing else. If a person reads it with contemplation and comes across a verse he is in need of to treat his heart [1], he repeats it even if it were a hundred times, even if it were for the whole night. For reading one Aayah with contemplation and understanding is better that completing the whole Qur'aan without contemplation and understanding, it is more beneficial to the heart and closer to increasing Eemaan and experiencing the sweetness of the Qur'aan.

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[1] Notice the use of the Qur'aan as a treatment for spiritual as well as physical illnesses in the speech of the scholars.

The writing and picture above were taken from Multaqa Ahl al-Hadeeth http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showthread.php?t=5275

"I love my mother but she beats me"

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/28/nation/3998052&sec=nation

I shed some tears when I read this story. It was a short news report on, yet again, child abuse. Though distressing and deplorable, this sort of news is getting more and more common in our country. However, this particular report zapped the core of my being and brought tears into my eyes because of the statement the boy made. He said, “I love my mother but she beats me”. This is what a child’s unconditional love is all about.

The boy was five years old and he cried his heart out when they were trying to take him away from his mother. At this age, a child is at its purest and most naïve stage. The world starts to intrigue him and he begins to develop his own way of thinking. The love that he has for his father and mother will grow stronger as he is able to better appreciate the things his parents do for him. At the same time, he will also try to do things to please his parents and to preserve their affection on him. To him, his parents are his whole world.

No matter how intense his mother scolds him for his mistake, he will still love her and prefer to cry away his sadness in her arms. No matter how much his mother ignores him, he will still pine for her and cry out her name in his sleep. No matter how much his mother beats him, he still loves her because she is her mother who means the whole world to him.

I remember watching this movie about the life of a Nanny in metropolitan New York. She had to take care of a 6 year old boy whom was deprived of parental love but kept on trying to buy their love. When she felt that she had have enough of her employer’s nonsense and decided to leave the family, she left behind an advice that really touched my heart. She said, “Love the boy while he still has his love only for you, before he stops loving you.”

One has to have a barren soul to be incapable to appreciate and celebrate the magical unadulterated love of a child. Abu Huraira narrated: “Allah's Apostle kissed Al-Hasan bin Ali while Al-Aqra' bin Habis At-Tamim was sitting beside him. Al-Aqra said, "I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them," Allah's Apostle cast a look at him and said, "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully."” (Reported by Bukhari)

That is the rule of the game in this world. What goes around comes around. Be merciful to others if you want others to be merciful to you. Love others if you want to be loved. You may have the might and the power to hit your child now for the slightest mistakes that he makes but what makes you think that he will not strike back at you when you’re old and frail.

Anger can turn a human being into a beast in mere seconds and only the strong ones are able to preserve their humaneness when permeated by anger as stated by this hadith. Narrated Abu Huraira: “Allah's Apostle said, "The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger." (Reported by Bukhari)

Ibnu al-Qayyim wrote a beautiful book on patience and in that book, he included a verse that says,

O you the servant of a body
You become a human being by having a soul
And not by having a body

Ar-Rahmaan

Ever since I was a little girl, I had always been fascinated by the wonder of nature. I vividly remember how, every time it rained, I would rush to stand by one of the tall windows of my parents’ wooden house to watch the flow of water on the ground streaming towards the tiny river just about 100 meter away from our house.

There would always be two streams of different color, one was blackish and the other one was reddish and these two streams will flow alongside each other all the way into the river. I was so fascinated by that. I kept wondering why the two streams of water did not merge. I finally got the answer to that question after many years along the road when I learned about the physical properties of fluids in my fluid mechanic class.

And when I started to seriously learn (as opposed to just read) the al-Quran, I found this verse: “He has unloosed the two seas (the salt water and the sweet) meeting together. Between them is a barrier which none of them can transgress. So then, which of the Blessings of Your Lord will you both (jinns and men) deny?” (Surah ar-Rahmaan: 19-21)

Indeed, which of the Blessings of Your Lord will you deny? In his Tafseer, Ibn Katsir interpreted this question by stating, “In other words, you can clearly witness His bountiful gift and your life is loaded with it, and there is no room for you to deny or lie about it. Because of that, we shall say as stated by the Jinns who are Believers: “O Allah, there is none of your Blessings that we deny. All praise belongs to You only.””

And in the al-Quran, Allah taught us a beautiful du’a that we should recite whenever we examine the wonder of His Creation.

“Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding,- men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought): ‘Our Lord! Not for naught hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.’” (Surah Ali ‘Imran: 190-191)

When interpreting this verse, Ibn Kathir included the following hadith:

Ibn Marduwyah recorded that `Ata' said, "I, Ibn `Umar and `Ubayd bin `Umayr went to `A'ishah and entered her room, and there was a screen between us and her. She said, `O `Ubayd! What prevents you from visiting us' He said, `What the poet said, `Visit every once in a while, and you will be loved more.'

Ibn `Umar said, `Tell us about the most unusual thing you witnessed from the Messenger of Allah.' She cried and said, `All his matters were amazing. On night, he came close to me until his skin touched my skin and said, `Let me worship my Lord.' I said, `By Allah I love your being close to me. I also love that you worship your Lord.'

He used the water-skin and performed ablution, but did not use too much water. He then stood up in prayer and cried until his beard became wet. He prostrated and cried until he made the ground wet. He then laid down on his side and cried. When Bilal came to alert the Prophet for the Dawn prayer, he said, `O Messenger of Allah! What makes you cry, while Allah has forgiven you your previous and latter sins?'

He said, ‘O Bilal! What prevents me from crying, when this night, this Ayah was revealed to me. “Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding,- men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought): ‘Our Lord! Not for naught hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.’ Woe to he who recites it but does not contemplate it.’

Woe to the one who recites this verse but fails to contemplate it. Woe to the one who witnesses and derives pleasure in the wonder of Allah’s creation but denies it and fails to submit himself to Him.

Good Bye Snowy!

Snowy was one of the thirteen cats we had lounging around our house. I only know half of their names. Only Hajar and Bibik can without thinking say all of their names in a heartbeat. There are Tom, Blackie, Manja, Comel, Sandy, Tok Mok (the matriarch), Fluffy, Spotty and all the other names that sound very Indonesian.

Snowy was one of the few that Bibik pampered and gave special treatment to. One couldn’t really blame her for spoiling Snowy since he was such a beautiful and cuddly cat. When all the other cats were securely confined in their enclosure at night, Snowy would get the privilege of sleeping in the comfort of Bibik’s bed.

Snowy fell sick on Friday and took his last breath on the following Sunday morning. Bibik was at his side most of the time trying in vain to nurse him back to health. She couldn’t stop crying when she realized that Snowy was not going to recover at all. Her sobbing stopped and resumed intermittently all day long on Sunday.

I could not help but to feel amused by the fact that Bibik, a 37 year old woman, is much more affected by the death of a cat than Hajar, an 8 year old girl. Hajar too was sad when Snowy got sick. Snowy was also one of her favorites. Whenever she had to be away from home, Snowy would be the one that she would say she missed. But, when I explained to her about the fact of life and death and how a cat’s lifespan is shorter than human, she could quickly accept it. To my amazement, she even tried to comfort Bibik by repeating exactly the same explanation I gave her. And she looked so composed when she informed me of Snowy’s death.

We all loved Snowy. The sight of him sleeping at the front door every time I got home from work, his white fur glowing luminously thanks to the weekly bath given by Bibik, would stay in my mind for a long time. Good bye Snowy! We hope that you enjoyed our company as much as we enjoyed yours. You have concluded your destiny and we are still trying to survive ours.