Mind, Body, Soul

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

Original post/comments here:
Br Naeems Blog: Useless Discussions on Jihad

“@Yursil, appreciate the references, but surely you can’t be presenting an argument based on exceptional cases, right?”

Sure I am, I think that is exactly what I am doing.

Why is it not expected that the people performing this holistic effort would be ‘exceptional’ in an age of (foretold and increasing) fitnah and decadence?

I already expect the good to exist as pockets of righteousness, when I’m surrounded in a world of evil and confusion.

And the Holy Prophet (AS) has been related as answering the question:

“Will there be any evil after that good?”

And our Beloved Nabi (AS) replied, “Yes, there will be some people calling at the gates of the Fire, and whoever will respond to their call, will be thrown by them into the Fire.”

And Hudhayfa bin AlYaman said, “O Allah s Apostle! Will you describe them to us?” He said, “They will be from our own people and will speak our language.” I said, “What do you order me to do if such a state should take place in my life?” He said, “Stick to the group of Muslims and their Imam.”

I said, “If there is neither a group of Muslims nor an Imam?”

He said, “Then turn away from all those sects even if you were to bite (eat) the roots of a tree till death overtakes you while you are in that state.” -Sahih Bukhari

So our alternatives are to either stick to a group which does implement goodness, or, if you believe there exists none at all, then leave them all and die alone. That is *your* choice, the last state (in my opinion), has not arrived yet.

And it hasn’t arrived thanks to those who, while calling to zikr, have called the Azan in its pure Arabic when government tortured them for it to be in a different tongue.. Thanks to those who led a righteous fight until it turned sour in Chechenistan.. In Bosnia.. In so many places, there are so many lessons to learn. Thanks to those who have suffered imprisonment, banished from their countries, for simply speaking the truth. MashAllah to them, without them where would we be? Yes, they are exceptional people. If we are looking for a warrior, bard, mystic, saint, realist, politician, general, peacemaker, lover and fighter in one package, wouldn’t that be an exceptional person in today’s age?

Do we really think we can do any jihad without such a leader? Inner, outer, intermediate or whatever slice we like? Certainly, the one that transformed Arabia and subsequently the world, had a leader.

Let us be real.. We live in an age where ‘Muslims’ are at each others throats, or in courts, or at gunpoint, over administering Masjids in some of the most posh areas of the world. With wealth or health or in the lands most without it, Muslims are destroying themselves. This is because everyone is leading their own ‘intermediate’ jihad. Get a little power in their hands, and half of them turn into sell outs in the first place. Ask anyone working within ‘the system’.

With all this in mind, it seems to be a very slippery slope in today’s age to think that one is required to change the general direction of the world, much less independently through private efforts, or that one has been given the authority to participate or even lead in that. Some things need to be guided by holy inspiration, in intimate connection with our Lord.

So maybe when people have such ambitions without such a connection, learning to keep to themselves is the best thing to do.

You must admit that the vast majority of ‘traditional’ ulema nowadays have betrayed the spirit of true Jihad (that balance I wrote about).

I don’t think they are perfect, but I don’t care really. It’s not my place to waste time criticizing rather than offering the alternative. What accomplishes something is to do something.

Or if we’re really fortunate enough, we may be able with a few words to enlighten someone.. Writing like this is really rare for me in these days, but then, most of it is not from me (luckily).

I say luckily, since when I meet someone who thinks their own opinions are enlightenment, with a chip on their shoulder and an urgent desire to denounce everyone who doesnt share it, then I’m pretty sure I know its poison. I pray not to be like them.

The best ones I’ve met live a life of quiet confidence, inspired not from within but from their connection to others. I pray to be like them.

When we rely on those better than us, we’re better off.

A read through Sahih Bukhari’s chapter on the afflictions towards the end of days is relevant.

There was a time when the Prophet (S) predicted it would be better to sit than stand, standing would be better than walking, walking better than running…

A time was predicted when the best thing a man could do would be to escape with his faith into the places of rainfall.

When do we know to apply the above? And when will we study which category we fall into here?

http://bit.ly/92w7jU

Long post, but its better to recognize it as really just rote repetition from others better than me.. a reminder to myself.. most of us will ignore it, inshaAllah I won’t.