December 16, 2010
I Too Have A Dream!
Section: WRITINGS | 246 reads
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I Too Have a Dream: Knowing Islam
Therefore, I too have a dream.
As a Muslim, as a human being and as someone who has been privileged to know this beautiful part of God’s good earth known as Trinidad and Tobago for over three decades, I too have a dream.
Along with my wife who has shared my experiences in Trinidad and Tobago for all those years and our three children with whom God Almighty has blessed us – one of them born right here in Trinidad.
Much as Dr. King did when he was a central figure in the Civil Rights movement in America.
It is one of many dreams that fill my heart.
So I too have a dream that every man, woman and child in Trinidad and Tobago – and everywhere else – including you, me and our families, will know more about Islam tomorrow than they do today.
And why not?
Trinidad is a wonderful place.
It is one of the most beautiful parts of God’s most beautiful earth – like every other place God made on his earth.
Who can say which part of God’s earth is not beautiful?
At the same time, Trinidad is a democracy and a meeting place of many races, religions and cultures.
In addition to all this, Trinidad has tens of thousands of Muslims.
And for this small group of Muslims, there are over a 100 mosques spread throughout the island.
Is all this a special grace and blessing of Almighty Allah on an island so small and so far flung from the rest of the Muslim world?
How can we say no, when we know that every moment we enjoy on this earth and every breath we take is a special blessing from Allah?
As a result, each of us on this beautiful little island has a responsibility to know about the other – and about Islam.
For, in Islam, we are all our brothers’ and our sisters’ keepers. We are not, and we cannot afford to be, cut off from them.
Besides, Islam is not just something that Muslims do or have. It is not just a Muslim thing.
Even less is it an Indian or an Arab or an African thing.
Islam is a gift of God to his people – to all people.
Islam is a message that came from God to people to tell them who they were and how they must live.
Individually as well as collectively.
Alone as well as with their families and friends.
And in the context of a larger society.
With those who are like them as well as those that are in any meaningful way unlike them or different from them.
So, Islam does not belong to this or that community. It belongs to all the people.
It is the common heritage of humanity.
In fact, Islam is the system that pervades and operates the entire universe – the sun, the moon and everything else.
As a result, everyone has a right – and an obligation – to know what Islam is and how it works.
And then Muslims have a special obligation – an additional obligation.
A twin obligation, in fact.
On the one hand, they have the obligation to know as much as they could about Islam and practice it.
On the other hand, they have the obligation to help others – Muslims as well as non-Muslims – know and understand Islam better.
That is why I have this dream that every man, woman and child in Trinidad and Tobago will know more about Islam tomorrow than today.
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I Have Another Dream: Closeness to God
And then I have this other dream also.
I have a dream that every man, woman and child in Trinidad and Tobago – and everywhere else on God’s beautiful earth – including you, me and our families, will be closer to God Almighty and his infinite mercy and grace tomorrow than today.
And what a beautiful dream it is!
And I daresay it is also the dream you have.
How can you not?
I mean, how can you afford not to have a dream like that?
How can anyone of us be a Muslim and not have that dream?
In fact, how can you be a believer of any kind in God and not have that dream?
Because, to be close to god is the ultimate blessing that a human being – any human being – can have.
It is the greatest privilege that God himself confers on those he wants to bless.
That is the greatest joy or success any of us could wish for those we love – a relative, a friend, a neighbor, a fellow-citizen, just about anyone.
For that person to be closer to God with every passing day.
That is why I say that I dream and hope and pray that every coming day will bring every Trinidad and Tobago man, woman and child closer to Allah, the Almighty, than they have ever been before.
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