وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًۭا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ٣٣
And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allâh’s (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."
وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌۭ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌۭ ٣٤
The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allâh orders the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger,[2] and to excuse those who treat them badly) then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.
وَمَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَمَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍۢ ٣٥
But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient - and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and of a high moral character) in this world.
[Al-Quran 41:33-35, Translation: Al-Hilali & Khan]
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Dr Zakir Naik recently visited Pakistan on the invitation of the State of Pakistan. From his first few interviews, it became amply clear that he was a man who spoke his mind. He raised many important points, and his interactions with the public exposed many problems in our society.
Among the first few interviews, he is on record as saying that most Muslims think they are Muslims, yet they practice 5% only. I don't know about the percentage of Quran and Sunnah that most Muslims practice, but yes, in today's world, there is no country which can claim that it is on Allah's Deen. Politically, and personally, we need to rethink, restudy, reexamine our submission in Islam.
When questioned about the Palestinian issue, and our role it it, Dr Zakir Naik pointed out the lack of regularity of individuals who go for five daily prayers to the mosques. He was of the opinion that how can they champion Muslim causes when they can't even show up in the mosques for all the prayers. Now that is certainly something to think about.
Then there was this question about a city where the culture is conservative, the people observing the religion are practicing, men regularly praying in mosques, and women keeping themselves at home as far as possible; yet crimes are also flourishing in that society. Dr Zakir Naik protected the honour of those practicing Muslims, pointing out that practicing Muslims cannot commit the crimes that were mentioned by the questioner. This question exposes the two extremes in our society: the pious and the criminals. These two kinds of people co-exist in our society. If the Deen and Shariah were enforced in our country by the State, such crimes would be punishable by Law, and thus the incidence of crimes would drastically go down.
There were a number of questions, and reactions to the answers in the social media. Two observations:
- Firstly, we need to understand that Allah's Deen is about rights and protection of rights. It grants protection to the weak and oppressed, particularly women and children, and in doing so, builds a decent society, where the challenges to the family are minimised. Both men and women must understand their roles and responsibilities in building such an ideal society. Submission to Allah's Deen is the meaning of the word Islam.
- Secondly, the reactions reveal our mindset.
Like every human on this planet, Dr Zakir Naik is also human. He has his own opinions, and we may or may not agree with some or most of what he says. Nevertheless, he is a person who invites people to Islam, and who is better in speech than one who invites to Islam, and says that he is a Muslim?
May Allah grant us all the goodness to submit in Islam, invite to Islam, and have utmost respect for all who are serving Allah's Deen.
May the Deen be established in Pakistan. May Allah grant us the insights to realise the beauty of Allah's Deen. May Allah grant us willing submission.
إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْفَتْحُ ١
When there comes the Help of Allâh (to you, O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم against your enemies) and the conquest (of Makkah).
وَرَأَيْتَ ٱلنَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًۭا ٢
And you see that the people enter Allah’s religion (Islâm) in crowds.
فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ تَوَّابًۢا ٣
So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask His Forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives.
[Al-Quran 110:1-3, Translation: Al-Hilali & Khan]
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