Category: Quote-Unquote – Book VI (501-600)

Two Kinds of Muslims [Quote - 600]

The past several decades, I have seen two kinds of Muslims.

Among all the other kinds of Muslims I have seen.

In America and elsewhere.

Those who spend their lives -- and attendant resources -- to build Islam.

Islam, mind you, not Muslims. For, at times, actually more often than we realize, there are clear lines of demarcation between the two: Islam and Muslims.

And those other kind of Muslims who spend -- shall we say use? -- Islam to build their own lives and fortunes.

The first category of Muslims is very thinly populated.

As for the second, it seems to be bursting at the seams.

And then Muslims run around complaining why things are the way they are for them -- and for the world.

Can you imagine what a different world we would have today if only Muslims had managed to reverse this equation?

Or if Muslims would make up their minds to do it even now, at this late stage in their life.

END

Looking for Resources? [Quote - 599]

Time was when, like all the rest of us in the West, America in particular, I also used to wonder about resources.

Like everyone else engaged in the so-called Islamic work of one kind or another, I too used to mumble the usual formula: What can we accomplish without resources? And where will the resources come from?

And then it hit me. The reality of Hijrat.

It began to dawn on me how, God Almighty, when he was about to start the count down for a new era of Islam on earth, he did so by stripping the Muslims of Makkah practically of every "resource" in their possession and making them march into the wilderness toward Madinah more or less empty handed.

Everything they owned in Makkah -- their homes, their properties, their wealth, their native land -- they were forced to leave behind. They set out with nothing but God on their lips and the thought of a new life of freedom and faith on their mind.

It was then that the divine bell tolled and the Muslim calendar began to roll.

That is why they call it the Hijri Calendar! The first day of that calendar was the day when God took away from Muslims all the usual "resources" of this world and gave them in return the only thing that really mattered: his unfailing love.

Who but God himself could have said it so beautifully!

Wa Man Yatawakkal Alallahi Fa-huwa Hasbuh!

END

A Question about Zakat [Quote - 598]

Just think about all the money Muslims owe in Zakat -- the 2.5 percent annual levy that God has imposed on their savings.

Zakat is a powerful and unique system of social and economic justice, as well as personal and societal purification, that God has placed in the hands of the Muslims.

No, no, no. I am not asking if Muslims give Zakat. I am not asking how many of them do -- and how much.

I am only asking where does their Zakat money go and how does it actually get spent?

"Good question," wouldn't you say?

All the Muslim organizations that so hungrily and single-mindedly chase after Muslim Zakat, throughout America and UK -- a new Muslim cult would you say? -- just how do they spend that Zakat money?

What do they do with it? Does anyone know?

END

Be Safe! That Is Islam! [Quote - 597]

There are all kinds of people who talk about safety. Theirs and other people's. So does Islam.

But also, at the same time, Islam does something serious and meaningful about it. Islam gives people a formula that they can recite, at all times of day and night, and that will give them the protection and safety that they need.

And that formula consists of God's own pure and unfailing words.

It is called Aayatul Kursi, and it is in the Qur'an, which is 255th Aayat of Surah 2, Surah Al-Baqarah.

And it begins with the words "Allahu Laa Ilaaha Illaa Huw..." (2:255).

Keep reading it, Allah will protect you from all harm.

END

Transparency in Working for Allah: Being Seen to Be Doing So.
That Is Islam! [Quote - 596]

Those who say they are "Working for Allah!" must internalize the following divine monitoring system on earth:

Islam means working for Allah. That is what Islam means and the Qur'an seems to suggest that very strongly and very clearly.

As a result, those individuals and groups -- those who claim they are Working for Allah -- are not doing anyone any favors. They are just doing what they were put on this earth to do: To Work for Allah!

Illaa Li-Ya'abudoon (51:56)

But there is a small "catch" that seems to go with it. And the Qur'an is quite direct about it.

Quli'amaloo, says the Qur'an in Surah Tawubah, Aayat 105.

Meaning:

Go ahead and do the things you have to do. In other words, plain and simple: "Work!"

But then the Qur'an adds: Go ahead and work, "For, God shall see your work."

Fa-Sa-yarallahu Amalakum! (9:105)

After that, the Qur'an says:

And so shall Allah's Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam.

Meaning:

Work, so along with Allah, Allah's Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, can also see your work.

The story does not end there, but goes on to induct the Muslims -- The Believers: Al-Mu'minoon -- as part of this divine monitoring system of human behavior on earth.

As an integral part of this unfailing divine arrangement to monitor and supervise human action in this world.

Wal-Mu'minoon, says the Qur'an, "and the Believers."

The Believers also shall and must be able to see and check your work.

Have you ever heard of something the world calls "Transparency"? This is the mother and grand-daddy of all transparencies.

Here is that full passage from Surah Tawubah:

Wa Quli'amaloo Fa-Sa-Yarallahu Amalakum wa Rasuluhu wal-Muminoon (9:105).

Paraphrase, once again:

"And say:Work!
For, Allah shall soon see and inspect your work.
And so shall Allah's Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam.
As shall also the Believers!"

First thing: Work, for, you must, as you were created exclusively for that purpose: to work for Allah.

Next thing: When you work, you will be on the radar -- on candid camera if you will -- of all of them:

First, Allah;
Then, Rasulullah, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam;
And, after that, the Muslims.

So, people do you get it?

END

If Only Muslims Cared! [Quote - 595]

If Muslims truly cared -- or understood -- the world will not be the kind of mess it is.

They would have devoted themselves to fixing the world -- and making it a better place for all -- instead of trying to make their own fortunes, and improve their own lives, in places like Europe and America.

And the less said about the so-called "Middle East," the better! (Dr. Pasha)

Socking It To The American People [Quote - 594]

People generally sock it to the American People in two very important ways.

First, they feed the American People all kinds of poison in the name of food and drink.

And then, second, they send the American People to the poorhouse by claiming to provide the treatment for the host of diseases and ailments that this lifelong poisoning creates. (Dr. Pasha)

A True Islamic Calculus for Human Life on Earth [Quote - 593]

To all those who have been associated with me in this thing we call Working for Allah, for all these years, I have always maintained the following:

1. Don't forget that your first consideration should be your personal safety and physical wellbeing -- along with your family's and dependents'.

And in fact your entire society's and the whole world's.

For, you are the keeper of not only your own personal interests but also of the best interests of all of human family and the whole world.

2. Second on the list should be your own economic wellbeing and prosperity, which of course automatically means your family's and dependents'.

And in fact your entire society's and the whole world's.

How in the world do you think you will ever fulfil God's Commandment of Wa Aatuz-Zakaata, when you can't even eke out a decent living for yourself and your dependents?

And when the social, cultural and economic life and wellbeing of your community and society and the whole world is in a perpetual slide downhill, right in front of your eyes?

3. Then, when you have attended to all this, you can say comes the turn of what you so casually call "Islam," by which you usually mean "Leave It To God, It Is Not My Business Anyway!"

Or alternatively, "Me and My Rituals." Whatever that means!

4. Or you can call the whole package Islam and marvel at how God Almighty made your own health, wealth and wellbeing -- and your family's and society's and the entire world's health, wealth and wellbeing -- not only a part but the very core of your Deen.

That is right: Deen! What so many of you so foolishly and stubbornly -- following the rest of a very misguided and misinformed world -- have been calling your "Religion."

The world may have a Religion. In fact, it has many. Much of which it made up all by itself.

But you don't have a "Religion." You have a Deen. Given to you by God Almighty himself.

And Islam is, and has always been, as you know or should have known, free from the false and malicious charge -- or blemish -- of being a "Religion."

If this does not prove to you that Islam is from God -- and the Qur'an is from God -- nothing ever will.

And, also, by the way, go and check how often God Almighty, in the Qur'an, couples the commandment to give the Zakat with the commandment to establish Salat!

Then you will begin to understand what Islam is really all about. (Dr. Pasha)

Round the clock, Around the Globe: God’s Sustainability Warranty for Planet Earth! [Quote - 592]

Round the clock, around the globe – that is God’s Sustainability Warranty for Planet Earth.

Most reasonable people don’t question the fact that our world is a mess.

That is what Global Warming perhaps is.

And that is also what people mean by things like environmental degradation: can’t safely breathe the air we need to live; can’t drink the water without serious health consequences; can’t even live wherever we choose on God’s own earth without wondering what kind and level of toxicity is oozing from where.

And maybe that is what sustainability is all about.

Many of these things are of our own making.

Bima Kasabat Ayidin Naas, says the Qur’an.

So, much of it we will have to fix ourselves. Otherwise, we will perish – sooner than we think.

But here is a divine formula that has been put in place by God Almighty, himself, to protect us and our habitat, the earth, and fill it with enough blessings – “sustainability” if you will – to carry it through for the rest of its natural life.

And that formula is contained in Muslims chanting round the clock and around the globe the following Divine Expressions of Subhaanallah, Alhamdulillah, Bismillah, Laa Ilaaha Illallah and Muhammad Rasulullah!

This is God’s own Sustainability Warranty for Planet Earth – an abode that God made for us to live on and to enjoy.

As God Almighty said in the Qur’an:

Wa Lakum Fil Ardi Mustaqarrun wa Mattaa’un Ilaa Heen.

END

How Clear Does It Have To Be? [Quote - 591]

It really hit me hard, and not too long ago, how clear it is. The obvious and simple fact that this world does not have anything like Laa Ilaaha Illallaah or Muhammadur Rasoolullah.

Not separately. Not both of them taken together in the form of the Kalimah:

Laa Ilaaha Illallaah, Muhammadur Rasoolullah!

What more proof does the world want, or do the Muslims want, for the fact that this Deen is directly from Allah Almighty. And that there is no way on earth or in heaven this could have been a human creation.

If it were, would't there be more of things like this around? And wouldn't everybody be flaunting their ware and bragging about it?

Muslims, think! Come out of your stupor and ignorance and think!

Non-Muslims, think! Put away your prejudices and fears and think!

For, your creator wants you all to think. And think freely -- and without holds.

Don't be slow like me on the uptake, as they used to say in England, that it took me so long to see this blazing glory of light right in front of my eyes.

END