Friday, November 15, 2013

"Birakanulai Majakura Phylosophy" Of MDP / Enjoy Without Fear- Is it a Great Policy? - Some Comments


A Different perspective on Some Comments to the article " Other religions will not be allowed under MDP Government says Nasheed". Minivan News Article

@ A said ...

"... Understood your line of reasoning. It has some merit though I don’t share your view point- ie all f it. Couldn’t help but laugh at the penguins."

In reply to .. 

@ A B S who said - 

".... (2) MDP’s “birakaanulai …”, i.e. “enjoy without fear” is a great policy, in fact. Did you know that the most popular reason for youth taking to drugs is due to boredom? I believe MPD’s policy is aimed at solving that particular problem.

---

I wonder what is there for @Ali, to understand about "Enjoy without Fear" with respect to BOREDOM faced by youth?


In our view the striving of all Muslims must be to work towards this beautiful Koranic middle path of -
 "working for the good of this life and the next life". True success is to ENJOY life in this world (within the context of "good in this life") - without loosing sight of the FEAR of loosing eternity on account of some temporary enjoyment in this world. Lets ponder on these revealing verses of the Quran & the Hadith given below which clarifies the relationship that exists between our immediate life we live in and the life in the hereafter. [1]


“…
Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the hereafter? But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter (Quran, Al-Tawbah: 38).
“…
as compared with the life of the hereafter, the life of this world is nothing but brief passing enjoyment  (Quran, Ar-Rad: 26).
“...
And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the hereafter for those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious). Will you not then understand? (Quran, Al-An’aam: 32) -[2]
The Prophet (S. A. W. S.), too, clarified the value of this life in relation to the hereafter. He said, The life of this world compared to the hereafter is as if one of you were to put his finger in the ocean and take it out again then compare the water that remains on his finger to the water that remains in the ocean [Sahîh Muslim (2858)].

Ibn ‘Umar said: The Messenger of Allah (S. A. W. S.) took me by the shoulder and said: Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler/wayfarer.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said ..By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that this world will be spread out in front of you as it was spread out in front of those before you, and then you will vie for it as they vied for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them" [Riyad as-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous) by Imam Nawawi]. [3]

Thus a rational human being shouldn't ignore the one certainty in life - Death. He would heed the many warnings in the Koran regarding what follows after Death- the DAY OF JUDGEMENT. The holy Koran warns us repeatedly the consequences of disobeying Allah's Commandments - Time in Hell.

Bluntly put ENJOY to your hearts content -WITHIN THE LIMITS SET BY ALLAH; [4]

Enjoy! in answer to Allah's Word in the Quran to seek the GOOD in this world - within the limits set by Allah! Our enjoyment if with "The intention of Obeying Allah & seeking Allah's pleasure", becomes ibadat. Islam is UNIQUE in the world in not accepting a separation between the activities of this world & the next but offers the means by which worldly pursuits of this world takes on meaning in the next. The very first Hadith in Sahih Bukhari makes abundantly clear how this could be so.

"Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended....."

It cannot be repeated enough that PRUDENCE dictates that when we enjoy ourselves we must not loose sight of the FEAR of transgressing the limits set by Allah swt & thus earn Allah's wrath.Thus HOW COULD IT EVER BE ... "Birakanulai Majakolla"? For a Muslim it should always be: 
"Enjoy"! - without loosing sight of the fact that we will be held answerable for all our actions on Judgement day. [5]

Lets read the Sirah of the prophet, the writings of the great writers in Islam both young and old and be impressed with the cognisance of fear in spite of the high stations those early Pious Generations were blessed with. Take lessons from how the Prophet sal;  in spite of being the Chosen of the chosen, demonstrated to his Companions the fear, love and longing that he (sal) always had for Allah swt

Thus its clear that in order to achieve success in this world and the next we need to do what Allah swt has commanded and avoid at all costs what Allah swt has prohibited. To arrive at the happy state of accepting this we have to get to know our Creator. [6]

The Glorious Koran invites one to ponder on its verses and to look around us in whichever direction we wish to and ponder on the many signs of the Creator stamped everywhere; for those seeking Allah swt with a sincere heart yearning for Allah's swt Help & Guidance. With the Knowledge of Allah swt comes fear and love of Allah swt and Insha Allah the desire to please Allah swt by Obeying His Commandments to actualise the Shahadah in ones life, perform Salat, Fast, Pay Zakat and do the Hadj - In a nutshell to follow the Prophets example in ones life as Allah has ordered us to do. [7]
(pls reffer earlier posts).

It is superfluous in the light of the above to add anything more on this subject however for the sceptics out there amongst us it might pay to ponder on the Wager of Pascal - the French Mathematician & philosopher & to draw ones own conclusions. [8]


A Surprising & eye-opening comment  ...

"In short, our youth need to have avenues for them to socialise within the laws of our land. As adults we start to forget that the youth have so much energy and we need to direct that along the right channels. Forward with “birakaanulai ….” [9]

Which one of us haven't thought in like manner at some point in our lives? Which one of us listened to such musings sympathetically? In the light of what was written above it would now seem that there is much more to the stakes than meets our eyes, at a first simplistic glance. Simplistic glance because it ignores completely man's reality after death and seems to be fixated only on man's youth, Energy & his enjoyment. Isn't it frightening that we are ignoring the oft recurring warnings by Allah in His Own words in the Noble Quran such as ...

1. Those are they who have bought the life of this world at the price of the hereafter (Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah: 86). and again ....

2. “Let not then this present life deceive you (Quran, Surah Fatir: 5).

3. “…Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the hereafter? But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter” (Quran, Al-Tawbah: 38).

4. “And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the hereafter for those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious). Will you not then understand? (Quran, Al-An’aam: 32) [10]

A] Isn't it a fact that after accepting Islam we are (youth included)- MUSLIMS FIRST and only after that anything else - Maldivians or otherwise? In this context shouldn't the above comment read :-  
"In short, our youth need to have avenues for them to socialise WITHIN THE LAWS OF ISLAM  &; the laws of our Land - which  DON'T GO AGAINST the Commandments of Allah.". (We see how the institution of the Parliament works and how easy it is for parties literally to buy MP's loyalty to manipulate a majority & pass Laws and Parliament regulations which go against the basic Quranic principles of the rule of law). [11]

It's in our youths interest - (the cream of them  included) to be encouraged to study the diverse branches of knowledge in Islam in order to make Islam as taught by our Prophet sal, a 'living" dynamic & intelligible "WAY OF LIFE" for the 21st Century. Isn't it time that we ask ourselves why the Muslim Ummat no longer produces the likes of Imams Hanaffi, Maliki, Shaafi, Ahmed & Gazzali?   [12]

Most of these great scholars of Islam were attracted to the pursuit of Islamic Knowledge in their childhood and tender youth. They were not only leading luminaries in their chosen fields - offering application of divine revelation to the problems of their times; but also  reached the pinnacles of Spirituality by doing Compulsory and supererogatory deeds to get closer to Allah. We are reminded of the Qudsi Hadith in this regard: 
"....My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory (extra) works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. .... " [13]

Isn't this the call of Islam to the YOUTH in Maldives & the Muslim Ummat in the 21st century???? To study Allah's Revelations & contribute to "INFORMED OPINION" on All branches of knowledge in Islam, bringing Islam within reach, understandable and loved by both the young and old in the Ummat? [14]

B]. Any given act can have diverse opinions as to it being "Good" or "Bad"- because different people think differently and have different criteria or yardsticks to decide what is good or what is bad. What is seen as good by some people today might be be seen by them as bad tomorrow. This is the nature of things. Among the many views on something being "good" or "bad" figures not only ones own opinion but also Allah's view on it being "Good" or "Bad". Allah swt has given Man the choice of choosing between the Creatures (other peoples or own) opinion of what is "Good" / "Bad" or What Allah swt The Creator has decided & decreed what is "Good" or "Bad". [15]

Since Allah Willed to terminate direct binding revelation from Allah with the passing of Prophet Muhammad sal what Allah swt revealed to the Prophet pbuh as "Good" or "Bad" CANNOT CHANGE. 

" .... This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion al-Islam ...." Quran Al Maida- 5:3.  [16]

Allah Created Man & made known to him what was required of him through His Messengers. He made clear what was manifestly Good or Halal and what was bad or Haram and left what was in between unclear to man's discretion to exercise his judgement based on Allah's Revelations. In His Mercy Allah placed in man a piece of flesh that assisted man in making choices. It would seem that to take care of this piece of flesh was essential. Lets read and ponder the following, seeking Allah's Help & Guidance.

Seeing that you were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection) and then unto Him you will return” (Quran, Sura Al-Baqarah: 28). [17]

On the authority of Abu 'Abdullah al-Nu'man bin Bashir (ra) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah(sas) say:"The halal is clear and the haram is clear, and between them are matters unclear that are unknown to most people. Whoever is wary of these unclear matters has absolved his religion and honor. And whoever indulges in them has indulged in the haram. It is like a shepherd who herds his sheep too close to preserved sanctuary, and they will eventually graze in it. Every king has a sanctuary, and the sanctuary of Allah is what He has made haram. There lies within the body a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the whole body is sound; and if it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted. Verily this piece is the heart." [Bukhari & Muslim [18]
Allah's Words below are instructive ...
"But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world; and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupters)" (Quran, Surah Al-Qasas: 77).

O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah, if it is indeed He Whom you worship (Quran, Surah Jumaah: 172). [19]


A Muslim after considering the Universe he lives in, knows for a fact that Allah swt is One & that it's Allah Who Created Man and so readily submits his will to Allah swt and accepts ONLY what Allah swt decrees as "Good" and reject ALL other views - including his own . [20]

This is a conscious act of exercising CHOICE and  rejecting ALL other views (own view including) except Allah's view. Thus He/She submits His/Her Will to Allah swt, in Total Obedience, in all Sincerity, Humility and so attains Peace. The more sincere he is, greater his humility the more intensely a person submits to Allah, greater is the degree of  his/her Serenity and the Peace He/she attains. This is easily demonstrable and each and every person especially Muslims can TEST IT & should TRY IT! [21]

This explains why intellectually inclined people, living in modern licentious societies experiencing a sense of unease in the hullabaloo of Modern living are attracted to Submitting their Will to Allah swt and so attain Peace - not by withdrawing from society but by becoming a fuller member of society who is a boon to his/her family and fellow men and women. [22]

Such a person who has attained Peace and takes pleasure in Zikr of Allah & thinks at each step the horrors of the Day of Judgement promised by Allah swt for those who transgress Allah swt's Commandments will Insha Allah not have room in his/her life for Alcohol, Drugs, Illicit sex & the Devils invitations. [23]

HEREIN IS THE SOLUTION TO YOUTH BOREDOM & in fact the myriad woes of 21st Century society. He or She would work towards a family and a society of Believers in Allah & His Messenger sal, Submiting to Allah swt's WILL and so promote Good, forbid evil according to revealed Divine Will. Such a Community naturally reaches the heights of self realisation with its members seeing reflected in his/her bro/sis a reflection of himself. [24]





The more one takes the effort & trouble to Know Allah & understand HIS revelations to the prophet sal, the more completely he/she is able to submit to the Divine Will. He/She begins to experience peace, serenity and pleasure in his/her submission to Allah - weather in Salat, Fasting, paying Zakat, Going on Hadj or refraining from Alcohol, drugs, dancing, clubbing etc. In this state the Muslim is able to actualise in the perfect sense the duty of Loving his neighbour as himself. [25]



Human beings attain self realisation in the complete sense of the word by Submitting to Allah's Will to at last reach Peace, Harmony, Serenity & Tranquility. Its the most fulfilling of voyages of discovery. We need to discover and experience that Submission To Allah swt gives us Peace and drives away the blues & boredom with no hangups. Such youth will have NO TIME for Alcohol, Discotheques, drugs, illicit sex & crime. Instead they would strive to Love Allah & His Prophet, Obey Allah's Commandments & so love his neighbour as oneself - So touchingly demonstrated by the holy Prophet Muhammad sal, in his life. [26]

C] Tackling Drugs Use & Abuse is a noble cause. However first and foremost it's necessary to get to the root of ANY problem. The question that needs to be asked  is - why are youth bored? and delinquent? Often the answer is complex and a big part of the problem is that parents for whatever reasons have failed their children by not having taught them adequately about Allah and His Prophet. Such children grow with a lack of love for Allah & His prophet sal. [27]

Such people have a shallow understanding of the hereafter & the day of Judgement. This results in indulgences in childhood and early youth and continues into adulthood with action that darkens that piece of flesh in man which when pure prompts one to do good and avoid evil. For them "Birakanulai Majakulai", "Raa Boan Vaane"& "Boaan Jehene" becomes a rallying call and like the pied-piper found out the rats (in us) young and old of all colours answered the call. A call that leads to Spiritual death and a ticket to Hell. [28]

The Devil prey on such youth and individuals inducing them to drink intoxicants, eat pork, do drugs, go insane on the dance floor, engage in illicit sex of all kinds and the Devil uses them to promote such activities amongst others. In five words they become Devils partners spreading corruption in the land. You would recognize them because they would insult Allah, insult the Prophet, reject Allah's Laws and Punishments and preach men to Disobey Allah's Law. [29]

D] Last but not least We need to come out of the DEEP WELLS that we find ourselves in & look around us and ask:-

WHY IS IT THAT "YOUTH BOREDOM" & IT'S ASSOCIATED DRUGS, ALCOHOL, SEX, CRIME, HEALTH RELATED ISSUES & A MILLION OTHER PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST IN THE SO CALLED DEVELOPED LIBERAL COUNTRIES ...If their model is what we need to copy? [30]

THESE NON-ISLAMIC SECULAR GOVERNMENTS  pursuing  
"Birakanulai Mjakolla - Kurriah Kurriah Baarah Kuriah PHILOSOPHIES  
SPEND BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE HUGE PROBLEM RESULTING FROM "Birakanulai Mjakollai, Raa Boanjehene Kurriah Kurriah Baarah Kuriah PHILOSOPHIES as practised in countries as in the USA, UK, EU, JAPAN, RUSSIA? [31]

 In these "advanced" Western liberal Democracies in spite of and in addition to all the Good they might possess they have a very dark side related to their Birakanulai Majakura Raaboanjehena thinking. Glimpse through any newspaper and glimpse through the world crimes statistics, Alcohol & Drug abuse statistics, Rape statistics, Domestic Violence stats, Drugs and Alcohol abuse related health statistics, sexually transmitted disease statistics, Abortion statistics, single parent and consequent abortion statistics. Who could possibly deny the extent of the problem? [32]

Which sane person would choose to copy this failed model - In its present form as seen in the "Developed" West? [33]

Indeed Youth Boredom and the related issues are complex issues. Imaginary easy fixes like Birakanulai use of Drugs, Alcohol, Sports Clubs, Clubbing, Tourism, Licentious same sex & hetro sex - has resulted in the youth in the liberal West & elsewhere going from the frying pan into the fire; with the youth CONTINUING TO REMAIN BORED.  We see this in the Capitals and cities of the "Developed" West. Live in  New York, Paris, London or any other "free to Enjoy without Fear society" and you will see the fruits of Birakanulai Majakura VISNUN:- [34]

Only a fool cannot see THROUGH the glitzy veneer of liberal secular societies where a rich elite grower richer whilst the majority throw away the Good of this life & Compromise the Good of the next life. 

The answer to our youth problems is not to ape the Birakanulai Majakuramun Boila Boenjehey philosophy  but to Submit Our Will to Allah! [35]


Peace!

Jasmine/ Maldivians For Islam Blog.