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Islam, According To My Father

by HijabMan :: posted 8 January 08

The following is a guest post by my father, SindhiRanger For the last two years, he has taught Sunday school at the local mosque. He recently posed a question to his students, “What Is Islam?” This is his own answer:

All of us have been taught about the five pillars of Islam. This is the foundation on which stands a magnificent Building called Islam. What is Islam? Here is how I see the “building” that stands on those five pillars.

1. The foremost aspect of Islam, for me, is to be in Harmony within myself. How do I get into this state of Harmony? I have learned that without reflection it is impossible to reach a state of harmony. That is the reason God repeatedly asks (in the Quran): Why do you not reflect? “This Quran is for those who reflect.”

Absolute Trust in God

The Quran repeatedly recommends that we put our trust in God. Why? Because He is Absolute and He is the Only One who is able to do all things. Every time I am troubled or I am anxious I know that I have let go of my trust in God. In the Quran, Abraham is quoted as saying “those who despair the mercy of their Lord have gone astray.”

Because life is full of uncertainties and we are so limited in our reach and power it is easy to fall prey to despair. Despair results in enormous stress which is the cause of most of our ailments. Trust that No Harm (and Only Good) comes to us from the Beneficent (Al-Rahman) results in peace of mind. It is easy to leave my affairs in God’s hand because “in His hand is Goodness.”

Fear God ONLY

He is the only One who has complete and absolute control. Fearing only Him is a recipe for Self-Respect and Confidence. How can one have self-respect if we fear other beings like ourselves and other “things,” such as peers and so-called God-connected humans.

Be thankful to God

This is acknowledging what God has given to us. And according to the Quran being thankful benefits only our selves; God does not need our thanks –He free of all wants. He has given us life – a life of a human being. He gave us, in the words of the Quran, “sight, hearing, and the heart”. Life would be absolutely impossible without them. He made us “thinking” beings; and without the power to reflect we would not be any different from animals. He has, according to the Quran, made the Earth, and the Heavens subject to our exploration and use.

Struggle (Jihad) to be the Best

Each one of us is unique and was created for a unique purpose. We are here not by accident but specifically designed with certain potential. In order to be in harmony with ourselves we must live up to our full potential – to be the best in whatever we do. This comes from self reflection and being thoughtful.

Keeping your Word

If my actions do not match my words then I feel like a hypocrite – A person in constant conflict. And conflict is the opposite of harmony. A quotation from the Quran: “You who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Greatly hateful it is in the sight of God that you say that you do not do.
If I am not in the building I have described above, then I am not on the pillars of Islam. According to the Quran, prayer prevents an individual from indecent behavior. If I do indecent things then I have to ask myself: Am I really performing prayer or just engaging in ritual?

A Test of Harmony within

We should know that God is always in Control and that everything has its appointed Time and appointed Purpose. Therefore, if and when we have feelings of Haste and Anger then we are NOT in harmony within ourselves. Other facets of Islam are described below and these are easy if we achieve harmony within.

2. Harmony within the family.

This comes from:

Mutual Respect, Equitable Behavior, Forgiveness, Kindness, Soft Speech, Expression of Affection, Honesty, Straight Forward Dealings, and Keeping our Word

What creates Disharmony is:

Arrogance, Back Biting, and Jealousy

Spouses

God, in the Quran, describes spouses to be “COVERING” (libas) of each other. This suggests that in this relationship spouses are EQUAL. To me it also means that burning my clothing that covers me would also burn me. Take care of and forgive each other.

Parents

The Quran commands that we should treat our parents well. Because we are going to be parents and would want be treated well by our children. But our first duty is to God

Children

It is a cycle: The children who are treated with love and forgiveness return that love to their parents. Siblings who are treated equitably will grow to love each other. Parents who create jealousy among children will find that they have sown the seeds of discord among them. Jealousy destroys Harmony! Children who are taught that what is wrong is “WRONG” no matter who commits that wrong will grow up to be in harmony with themselves and the world. Children who receive forgiveness are more apt to be forgiving themselves. We should understand that what we teach our children will come back to us.

3. Harmony within a Community.

This happens when members of the community deal with each other fairly. An example in the Quran is an admonition that when we measure we give full measure and when we weigh we use an accurate balance. When we deal with each other honestly and with justice we create harmony. When we deal with each other with arrogance we create Disharmony. Justice is a corner stone of a harmonious society. Even God, being Absolute, declares that He will be Just in dealing with us. However, God says that His justice is moderated by His mercy and forgiveness. Shouldn’t we be forgiving to each other?

Similar concepts apply to harmony between communities and between nations.

Let us ask ourselves whether we are in this building that I have described (based on my understanding of the Quran) as Islam which stands on the five pillars that we dutifully perform. As for myself if I am not in this building I do not stand on those five pillars.

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1. Umm Amirah at 9 January 08 :: #

   ASA—
   Masha~allah. What a beautiful reminder. So simple but so true. Insha~allah those who read it will benifit from it and Allah(swt) will bless the writer.

2. salam :D at 9 January 08 :: #

   well said, mashAllah.

   May Allah (SWT)always keep you happy and may you live a happy long life :)

3. j. kactuz at 21 January 08 :: #

   That is all well and nice, but the fact is that when I hear the word ‘Muslim’ I think of the hate and violence that seems to be as much a part of Islam as the Quran and Mohammad. In case you haven’t read them, the Quran and ahadith are full of hate and violence. Your dear prophet, the man you say PBUH after his name, did some very vile things. Hey, its in your own traditions, written by the friends and followers of your dear prophet.

   All your fancy thoughts are meaningless until Muslims start treating others like they want to be treated (ie, better known as the golden rule). I am mainly talking about the societies in which Muslims dominate, and where women, non-Muslims, gays, jews and others are oppressed and persecuted — and people like you do nothing, say nothing. You say “Similar concepts apply to harmony between communities and between nations” and don’t even consider how Muslims treat others. Pathetic.

   Until things change, your cute words are meaningless, empty noises.

   Kactuz

4. Irrefrangible at 21 January 08 :: #

   How uplifting and wise. Thank you very much for posting this, and please thank you father for writing it.