Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As slaam alykum;

You claim to follow the Quran and sunnah (Alhumduliaah), However when people do so strictly, they are often labled as `Whabis, Terrorists, Fundamentalists, Extremitsts, Radicals....etc`--the list goes on and on

My question is this: When making Daw`aa, and generally in life, How can one get over the stigmatization created in the minds of the majority as a result of the biased media?

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

How to react to Bias Media

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Beloved brother, if one simply looks at the struggle of every Prophet of Allah who came with the Truth, be it the struggle of Prophet Nuh (a.s.) at the hands of his disbelieving people, or the trials of Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) at the hands of the evil king Nimrod, or the tribulations of Prophet Moses (a.s.) at the hands of the arrogant Pharaoh, or the evil striving of the Jewish clergy against Prophet Isa (a.s.) or the ultimate trials and tribulations faced by Prophet Mohamed (saws) and his companions at the hands of the disbelieving Quraysh of Makkah….one would realize that this constant struggle between the Truth and the falsehood is as old and as aged as life itself!!!

 

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, it has never happened that when one sincerely intends and strives to live one’s life on the Straight Path, that they will be welcomed and honored with open arms by those who disbelieve in Allah and the Last Day!  It is the decreed lot and absolute norm that the disbelievers will fight this Divine Truth with all their might and means….. for this light and revolution of Islam stands against their every falsehood, tyranny, oppression, injustice, and self-serving way of life. 

 

The disbelievers in the Truth will turn against the believers, ridicule and mock them, call them names, beat and torture them, hurt and harm them, enforce a boycott and embargo upon them, throw them out of their homes and lands, imprison them, and at times even wage war against them only because the believers have believed in their Lord and chosen to live their lives in submission to Him.

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5144        Narrated by Abu Tha'labah

AbuTha'labah swore by Allah that he had asked Allah's Messenger (saws) about the words of Allah Most High, "Care for yourselves; he who goes astray cannot harm you when you are rightly guided." He (saws) had replied, "No!  Enjoin one another to do what is reputable and forbid one another to do what is disreputable. But when you see niggardliness being obeyed, passion being followed, worldly interests being preferred, everyone being charmed with his own opinion, and you see something you are inclined to do, care for yourself and leave alone what people in general are doing; for ahead of you are days which will require endurance, in which he who shows endurance will be like him who grasps live coals. The one who acts rightly during that period will have the reward of fifty men who act as he does."  The hearers asked, "The reward of fifty of them, O Messenger of Allah (saws)?."  He (saws) replied, "The reward of fifty of you!"

 

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6778     Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Paradise is surrounded by hardships and the Hell-Fire is surrounded by temptations.’

 

Beloved brother, these trials and tribulations at the hands of the disbelievers is no more than a test their Lord has put upon His believing slaves in the life of this world…..so that He may ascertain who are those who truly believe and are willing to sacrifice everything for His Cause and who amongst them are hypocrites and have accepted Islam only to further their own cause in the life of this world?  By these trials, Allah Subhanah Wishes to determine who amongst man stands firm on his faith in adversity, and who amongst them flee from their faith at the first sign of hardship?  And thus will Allah Subhanah Judge with Justice amongst His creation on that Inevitable Day of Judgment…..and accordingly grant His Mercy and Rewards upon those who pass the test, and bring upon His Wrath and Anger upon those who miserably fail the test.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 29 Surah Ankabut verses 2-7:

2        Do men think that they will be left alone on saying "We believe" and that they will not be tested?

3        We did test those before them and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false.

4        Do those who practice evil think that they will get the better of us? Evil is their judgment!

5        For those whose hopes are in the meeting with Allah (in the Hereafter let them strive); for the term (appointed) by Allah is surely coming: and He hears and knows (all things).

6        And if any strive (with might and main) they do so for their own souls: for Allah is free of all needs from all creation.

7        Those who believe and work righteous deeds from them shall We blot out all evil (that may be) in them, and We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds.

 

Your Question: You claim to follow the Quran and sunnah (Alhumduliaah), However when people do so strictly, they are often labled as `Whabis, Terrorists, Fundamentalists, Extremitsts, Radicals....etc`--the list goes on and on

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.809         Narrated by Khabbab bin Al Arat

We complained to Allah's Messenger (saws) (of the persecution inflicted upon us by the pagan Quraysh of Makkah) while he was sitting in the shade of the Ka'ba, leaning over his Burd (i.e. covering sheet).  We said to him (saws), "Would you seek help for us? Would you pray to Allah for us?"  The Prophet’s (saws) face became red with anger and he (saws) said, "Among the nations before you a (believing) man would be put in a ditch that was dug for him, and a saw would be put over his head and he would be cut into two pieces; yet that (torture) would not make him give up his religion! His body would be combed with iron combs that would seperate his flesh from the bones and nerves, yet that would not make him abandon his religion! By Allah, this religion (i.e. Islam) will prevail till a traveler from Sana (in Yemen) to Hadrarmaut will fear none but Allah, or a wolf as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty!’

 

My dear and beloved brother in Islam, if all our disbelieving brethren are doing at this time is calling us names because we have chosen to submit ourselves to the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah….then rest assured that this is only the very first and easiest stage of our trial!!!!  A time is soon approaching when the disbelievers will unleash absolutely every injustice and oppression known to man upon the believers!

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4284  Narrated by Thawban

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘A time is coming when the people will summon one another to attack you (believers), as people when eating invite others to share their dish!’  Someone asked: ‘Will that be because of our small numbers at that time, O Messenger of Allah (saws)?’  He (saws) replied: ‘No!  You will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and put ‘wahn’(enervation) into your hearts.’  Someone asked: ‘What is wahn (enervation), O Messenger of Allah (saws)?’  He (saws) replied: ‘Love of the (pleasures and luxuries of the) world and the dislike of death!’

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5367        Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "A time is coming to men when he who adheres to his religion will be like one who seizes live coals."

 

Your Question: When making Daw`aa, and generally in life, How can one get over the stigmatization created in the minds of the majority as a result of the biased media?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verses 32-33:

32      Fain would they (the disbelievers) extinguish Allah's Light (Al-Islam) with their mouths; but Allah will not allow but that His Light should be perfected even though the unbelievers may detest (it)!

33      It is He who hath sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth (Al-Islam) to proclaim it over all the other religions, even though the pagans may detest (it)!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 61 Surah Saff verses 8-9:

8        Their (the disbelievers) intention is to extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths: but Allah will complete His Light even though the unbelievers may detest (it)!

9        It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth (Al-Islam) that He may proclaim it over all the other religions, even though the pagans may detest (it)!

 

Dear and beloved brother, the one and only way to get over the stigmatization of the disbelieving pagans is to first and foremost hold fast to and stand steadfast on the guidance of Islam and accept that this stigmatization and oppression at the hands and mouths of the disbelievers will continue till the end of time!  Short of turning the believers to disbelief, the disbelievers will never ever stop their oppression of the believers and their chosen way of life!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 20 Surah Taha verse 130:

130    Therefore be patient with what they (the disbelievers) say and celebrate (constantly) the Praises of thy Lord

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 11 Surah Hud verses 112-115:

112    Therefore stand firm (in the Straight Path) as you are commanded;  you and those who with you turn (unto Allah); and transgress not (from the Path): for He seeth well all that ye do.

113    And incline not to those who do wrong or the Fire will seize you; and ye have no protectors other than Allah nor shall ye be helped.

114    And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: for those things that are good remove those that are evil: be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord):

115    And be steadfast in patience; for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Shura verse 15:

15      Now then for that (reason) call (them to the Faith) and stand steadfast as you are commanded, nor follow thou their vain desires; but say: "I believe in the Book which Allah has sent down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you.  Allah is Our Lord and your Lord. For us (is the responsibility for) our deeds and for you for your deeds.  There is no contention between us and you.  Allah will bring us all together and to Him is (Our) Final Goal.

 

In conclusion brother, to overcome the stigmatization and oppression of the disbelievers one need not go and beg for the disbelievers to have mercy upon the believers and appease their anger by compromising on the Way of Life we believe in and have chosen to live.

 

But instead, absolutely disregard what they say in their arrogance and their ignorance, show patience and forbearance at what they say or do, and remain absolutely and unshakably steadfast on the Straight Path of submission in Islam which you have chosen as your way of life until you meet with your appointment of death.  The Lord All-Knowing All-Wise is well aware of the condition of each in His creation, and He Alone is enough as a Disposer of all affairs.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 73 Surah Muzammil verses 9-13:

9        (He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.

10      And have patience with what they say and leave them with noble (dignity).

11      And leave Me (Allah Alone to deal with) those in possession of the good things of life who deny the Truth; and bear with them for a little while.

12      With Us are Fetters (to bind them) and a Fire (to burn them)

13      And Food that chokes and a Penalty Most Grievous!

 

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws),   one can be assured of never ever being misled;   but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.  

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

 

Burhan