WHITHER MALDIVES

We are Maldivians. We are just a spec lost it would seem in the Indian Ocean. Today in the post Maumoon era we seem to be waking up to a myriad of problems. However one way or other for the majority of us we seem to be sure-footedly moving away from the reality of hunger, naked backs, portable water and ascaris.

Taking a stroll down the “metropolis” in Male one is struck by the apparent affluence tantalizingly vibrant and obvious to see. Taking a stroll down the main shaded roads in the islands itself are the signs of a changing landscape pointers to a somewhat questionable brighter today.

Living in a reality of limited resources pitted against unlimited wants, one has obviously got to pay for the evolution of ones condition. This reality has translated to a vast number of Maldivians into living in cramped up, uncomfortable, unhygienic and socially unacceptable conditions.

I dare say that what we are spared in the Maldives are slums. I suspect this is probably due to the scarcity of land in Male and the non-availability of Government land for squatters, rather than by express design. For those who would like equate super cramped up conditions to slum dwelling, I would invite them to visit a slum area in any of the south Asian countries. The difference is stark.

Living in ultra-cramped conditions in Male no doubt breeds’ problems that are common to such living conditions found in similar living conditions all over the world. What are these problems? The obvious problems of Drugs, crime, health & mental health problems are obvious and in my view just the tip of the iceberg.

Does the problem stop there - with us who live in cramped up appalling conditions? What about the more fortunate Maldivians living in better living conditions? What is their reality? What is their sort? Has mega bucks, and cool digs and ultra mod life styles powered by BSc’s, MA’s and PhD’s sorted out their problems? I wonder! Do you wonder?

Do we Maldivians have a drug problem? Crime problem? Teenage problem? Pedophile problem? Attitude problem? Homosexual problem? Violence problem? Racist problem? Terrorist problem? Fundamentalist problem? Credibility problem? Reading the print media – Are there any problems at all?

Come on! Lets hear you say it? Maybe you would like to say that we have no problems! No major issues like in New York, Rome, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Beijing & Tokyo? Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Seeing the problem in my view is half the problem solved. Lets hear your views.

Rabi' al-awwal 12th. - Just Another Day? - Reflections!

Today is the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad – Pbuh. I was moved to remember the phenomenal events that continued to astonish the Contemporians of the Prophet from his birth until his death again in Rabbial Awwal 12th - 63 years later; almost on a daily basis. These events recorded in much detail by eyewitness accounts and its transmission subjected to the most rigorous literary and historical quality control ever undertaken by man, brings this life of a true servant of Allah in all its happy moments and tragic moments vividly to our attention - in sharp focus. [1]

He presented to the people of his time the Holy Koran, as the ultimate miraculous proof of his prophethood. Further down in this post is a beautiful examination of this aspect of the Koran written by a brother, and I share his thoughts with you. [2]

About the Prophet –Pbuh the Koran says …

*{You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah.}* (Al-Ahzab 33:21) [3]

This being as it is, is it any wonder that many people had wonderful things to say of the final Messenger of Allah? Here below are but a few of the reactions to reading of this truly wonderful life. May Allah Bless His noble Prophet. May Allah increase the love we have for Allah & His Prophet –Pbuh in our hearts. [4]

1. The British philosopher, Thomas Carlyle, who won the Nobel Prize for his book ‘The Heroes’ wrote: “It is a great shame for any one to listen to the accusation that Islaam is a lie and that Muhammad was a fabricator and a deceiver. We saw that he remained steadfast upon his principles, with firm determination; kind and generous, compassionate, pious, virtuous, with real manhood, hardworking and sincere. Besides all these qualities, he was lenient with others, tolerant, kind, cheerful and praiseworthy and perhaps he would joke and tease his companions. He was just, truthful, smart, pure, magnanimous and present-minded; his face was radiant as if he had lights within him to illuminate the darkest of nights; he was a great man by nature who was not educated in a school nor nurtured by a teacher as he was not in need of any of this.” [5]

2. George Bernard Shaw, the British playwright said: “The world is in dire need of a man with the mind of Muhammad; religious people in the Middle Ages, due to their ignorance and prejudice, had pictured him in a very dark way as they used to consider him the enemy of Christianity. But after looking into the story of this man I found it to be an amazing and a miraculous one, and I came to the conclusion that he was never an enemy of Christianity, and must be called instead the savior of humanity. In my opinion, if he was to be given control over the world today, he would solve our problems and secure the peace and happiness which the world is longing for.”[6]

3. J.W.H. Stab wrote in ‘Islam and its Founder ’ : “ Judged by the smallness of the means at his disposal, and the extent and permanence of the work that he accomplished, no name in world's history shines with a more specious luster than that of the Prophet of Makkah. To the impulse, which he gave, numberless dynasties have owed their existence, fair cities and stately palaces and temples have arisen, and wide provinces became obedient to the Faith. And beyond all this, his words have governed the belief of generations, been accepted as their rule of life, and their certain guide to the world to come. At a thousand shrines the voices of the faithful invoke blessings on him, whom they esteem the very Prophet of God, the seal of the Apostles… Judged by the standards to human renown, the glory of what mortal can compare with his?” [7]

4. Dr. Gustav Weil writes in ‘History of the Islamic Peoples ’: “Muhammad was a shining example to his people. His character was pure and stainless. His house, his dress, his food - they were characterized by a rare simplicity. So unpretentious was he that he would receive from his companions no special mark of reverence, nor would he accept any service from his slave which he could do for himself. He was accessible to all and at all times. He visited the sick and was full of sympathy for all. Unlimited was his benevolence and generosity as also was his anxious care for the welfare of the community.” [8]

5. Alphonse de La Martaine wrote in ‘Historie de la Turquie’: "If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws, and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples, dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the then inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and the souls. Philosopher, Orator, Apostle, Legislator, Conqueror of Ideas, Restorer of Rational beliefs... The founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire -- that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?” [9]

6. Michael Hart , author of ‘The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History’ said: "My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level.” [10]

7. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German writer said: “Us, Europeans, with all our concepts could not reach what Muhammad has reached, and no one will be able to precede him. I have looked in the history of humanity for an example and found that it was Muhammad, as the truth must be revealed. Indeed, Muhammad succeeded to subdue the entire world to monotheism”. [11]

Finally Allah orders us regarding the Prophet –Pbuh …

*{And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it. And whatsoever he forbids, abstain (from it). And keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal}* (Al-Hashr 59:7) [12]

Rabi' al-awwal 12th. (ربيع الأول ) – Just another day? – Reflections!

Indeed, one of the major problems with the Bible as it stands today is that the current Bibles force us to study ancient Hebrew and Aramaic scriptures through Greek and Latin glasses as seen by people who are neither Jews, Greeks, nor Romans. [13]

Such practices (as demonstrated in the book " What did Jesus really say?"), have seriously handicapped any attempts to faithfully translate the original author's intended meanings. [14]

This problem, all thanks be to the Almighty, has been completely avoided in the Qur'an, since it has remained from the time of its inspiration to the present day in the same language it was originally revealed in, the language has remained a living language from that day to this, and the book itself has always been in the hands of the people and not "the elite." [15]

The foremost miracle of the Qur'an is in its text. The text of the Arabic language! You cannot translate a miracle no matter how you may try. The Arabic language cannot be compared to any other language in its intricate complexity, diversity of form, richness of meaning, brevity of parlance, beauty of construct and power of delivery. To give an example of this let us look at the most basic of measures, that of dictionaries: [16]

A fairly comprehensive and authoritative reference on the English language would be the "Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary" tenth edition, in 1500 pages. On the other hand, a common Arabic dictionary is "Lisan Al-Arab" in 18 volumes, each averaging about 650 pages, or about 11700 pages in all. [17]

In other words, even if we were to disregard all of the other aspects of the Arabic language, such as its grammar, we would still be faced with a language, which is about eight times as complex as the English language. It is not at all uncommon in the Arabic language to find over one hundred words that refer to the same entity, each one of them giving a slightly different detailed description than all of the others. This has resulted in a language, which can translate complete English sentences into only one Arabic word. [18]

But the Arabic language is not simply a list of words. Far from it, it is a very complex collection of literary sciences which have been developed, refined, and fine-tuned for generations and millennia beyond counting. The end result of this is a group of literary sciences which literally have no parallel whatsoever in the English language, such as the science of "Sarf" or the multifarious sciences of "Balaghah," among others. [19]

Even when the English language can lay claim to a parallel science to that of the Arabic language, such as for example the science of "grammar," even in this case anyone who has the slightest understanding of the Arabic language finds that even these equivalent sciences fade nearly into oblivion when faced with the tremendous complexities and inestimable attention to the minutest detail in Arabic grammar which can literally reverse the meanings of a sentence simply by changing a single squiggle (diacritic) above the last letter of only one word in that sentence (Imagine being able to reverse the meaning of an English sentence by removing the dot over one "i" in that sentence). [20]

William Shakespeare was considered to be one of the leading masters of English literature known to date. However, he never had to deal with the Arabic language. Now, taking into consideration that the Arab nation was one obsessed with literary perfection and refinement of prose, it becomes apparent that what we had here was a nation of literally hundreds of "William Shakespeares."[21]

Indeed an individual's mastery of the Arabic language was considered one of the primary distinguishing criteria in selecting tribal leaders. Just as in the wild west people used to have public shoot-outs at high noon, so too did the ancient Arabs have public face-downs in literary composition. [22]

These public confrontations could at times be so scathing and destructive as to totally destroy a given individual or tribe and cause them to disband in shame and humiliation, erased from the pages of history (such as happened with the tribe of "Numair"). [23]

The greatest of these literary masters had their compositions transcribed and hung up on the walls of the noble Kaaba as a badge of honor and an example for future generations. These compositions which were regarded the "best of the best" where given the name of "Al-Muallaqat" (the hanging poems). [24]

These were the people whom God sent Muhammad (pbuh) to, and these are the people whom prophet Muhammad (pbuh) repeatedly challenged, over 23 years, to produce a work similar to the Qur'an, standing alone with no tribe to support him and no ally to defend him but God Almighty. [25]

In other words he was challenging them in a field, which they were the world’s foremost authorities in, and the source of their greatest strength and pride. Indeed all of God's prophets throughout history have been sent with miracles in the very fields, which that prophet's people excelled in so that they might fully comprehend the magnitude of that miracle and have no excuse in ignorance. [26]

These people whom prophet Muhammad (pbuh) stood alone against and challenged to face the Qur'an were no timid sheep. They were men of great pride, misdirected as it may have been, who would rather go to war and die a slow and torturous death rather than allow the slightest indignity to be attached to their names or the most trivial challenge go unanswered. [27]

These were people who would go to war at the drop of a hat or the slightest disrespectful word. In spite of all that, when prophet Muhammad (pbuh) brought them the word of God in the noble Qur'an they suddenly fell silent and refused to face its challenge. [28]

God continued to reduce the challenge to them, from challenging them to produce a book like the Qur'an, to challenging them to produce a single surah (chapter) like it, to finally challenging them to produce even a few verses like it. And still, no one was able to face the challenge. [29]

On the contrary, those who were the best versed in these issues were among the first to convert to Islam and accept God's message. Some of them even went so far as to completely give up altogether on their previous literary work and to publicly declare that faced with the utter perfection and completion of this book that there was nothing left to say and nothing left to compose. Perfection had already been achieved . Taken from brother Mishaal ibn Abdullah. Please include him in your prayers. May Allah Bless the Prophet – Pbuh, his family, his companions & All Muslims. [30].

In Conclusion, We saw that Allah Himself has described Prophet Muhammad -Pbuh as the best role model for us to follow. Allah and His angels send praises upon him, and He commands us to do the same:

*{Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O you who believe! Call for Divine blessings on him and salute him with a becoming salutation.}*

(Al-Ahzab 33:56) [31]

Please correct me when I err. Allah Knows Best,

Peace! [32]

Knowledge & Education - Elixir of Life.

Education is the Key to everything. Education is the Key to our Salvation. Is it any wonder then that Allah’s final revelation started with the words “READ!”? How can we forget that our beloved Prophet –Pbuh asked us to go even to China in search of Knowledge? [1]

Muslim Mothers & Fathers should understand this thoroughly. The success of their Children (In this world & the Next) depends on them answering Allah’s & the Prophet’s- Pbuh call to pursue Knowledge. Knowledge starts with the Koran & Hadis. Let us get a sound knowledge of these revelations by Allah. Lets teach our children well. Lets give our children the tools and the yardstick with which they can meet the world. [2]

Before we send our Children out in the pursuit of Knowledge to faraway lands let them learn Islam. With this Knowledge flows the Love of Allah -swt & love of His Prophet –Pbuh, love of his parents and love of his neighbor. With this Knowledge, when in a University in Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Sorbonne, Lumumba or Peking, our child Insha allah would be a Muslim and his/her life itself would be a “Da’wah” and he/she would realize that this was an opportunity that Allah had opened to him to spread Allah’s religion by the example of his/her life. [3]

Such a child Insha Allah would not return to us saying “Mom, I’m 16 or 21 and an adult so you my mother or father has nothing more to tell me”. He would not be hooked on a bottle, drugs, some Internet social networking platform or be the town’s most experienced licentious young man or woman. Is there anything as hilarious to see as Maldivians who try to imitate the Western people with their put-on accent and aping what they assume to be the cultural norms of that region? [4]

The many problems of Maldivian society today can be put to the failure of Maldivian parents to impart a sound knowledge base to their children. A sound Knowledge base implies & touches both the letter and spirit of the teachings of Islam. All too often, quite sadly, children learn by rote learning and there is a distinct disconnect between the letter & spirit of what they are learning. This inevitably leads to the aping of foreign experiences without the "inherent breaks” existent in those foreign societies, resulting in "moral mutants" easily identifiable in the Maldivian streets. [5]

Interestingly some Maldivians end up with the worst of both worlds. After spending 5-10 years in England or Australia some become ambassadors to licentious living, wittingly or unwittingly become the breaker of traditional family ties. They pose the greatest threat to the down-grading of the nuclear family and sadly end up producing cesspits or breeding grounds of the drug culture with its associated theft, violence, STD’s. Not surprisingly they take on themselves the task of fighting Islam because they know Islam stands in their way to lead a life as they pleased - eating, drinking, dressing and importing the sexual habits from far off lands. These "desires" are often coated with a coating of liberal idealism, so that the glitz and glamour surrounding a life living to fulfill ones own desires offers to many an inevitable downward slide to an egress of self destruction.. [6]

These liberal Guru’s willfuly ignore that some 1400 years ago Islam gave man the example of living life according to the rule of law, where both the rulers and ruled all lived subject to the same laws - where every man & woman, had self and property, as sacred & inviolable. Every individual was given rights recognized by law and also commensurate to obligations. In this Muslim society Muslims enjoy God-given opportunities to fully realize his/her potential without at any point of time forgetting that he/she had to be submitted to the Will of God. [7]

For the Muslim, Good is what Allah has allowed and Bad is what Allah has forbidden. In this Islamic society - whenever more than one person is involved the golden standard in decision making is by mutual consultation & duties of Islamic brotherhood pervade his/her Consciousness. [8]

What is truly amazing in the Islamic system is that frameworks are provided in the Koran & Hadis and the challenge for Muslims in different Generations is to lead their lives within the framework provided by Allah. Thus the Prophet –Pbuh discouraged his companion Omar – May Allah be pleased with him, to refer to the Bible for Guidance concerning life, because all that he could extract from the Bible in this regard was already in the Koran in an undisputed pristine crystal clear form. In this example is demonstrated the limits of the framework within which one has the liberty to act in an islamic context. [9]

Knowledge & Education thus is the elixir to all our problems. If we approach education donning the mantle of Thauheed, Insha Allah it would earn us “the here & hereafter”. The key to the wholesome development of future generations depends on the proper assimilation of this Knowledge. In this task, women with our psyche & temperament rightfully are at the forefront to take the leadership role in turning out God fearing, God loving and altruistic generations whose life aim is to serve his neighbor in answer to Allah’s call to love his/her neighbor. [10]

In preparation for this key role, together with her mate; women has obviously to by Allah's Grace acquire all forms of Knowledge especially knowledge of the Koran & Hadis. It is not sufficient from an Islamic perspective that one has a narrow, speciallised field of education, the ideal of the Western model. Fulfiling this need of Islamic youth for a comprehensive all embracing, "seeking of knowledge with Thauheed at the head" is the job that our most adept intelectuals and educationalists, should undertake so that Insha Allah the Islamic youth could once again rise to the challenges that changing circumstances pose from century to century - Just as the first Generation of Companions did and emerge victorious by Allah's leave. [11]

We cannot help but see the so-called secularists trying to take root in the Maldives. They seem to be at all levels of the Maldivian Society trying to get a toehold and the political arena is no exception. Their aim to start with is to banish Islam from ALL Collective life to a place reserved only at the level of the individual -- and then to destroy all Islamic values and Islamic ideals from our lives altogether at an opportune moment. The things that stand between them and their aims & goals are the Holy Koran & the Hadis of the prophet-Pbuh. This explains why no efforts are being spared in a lot of quarters to create in the minds of youth enmity towards the Koran & Hadis, specifically implying that rules set by Allah 1400 years ago in the Arabian dessert cannot be applicable in modern day life in states that are not Arabic. [12]

The Secularists preach this position having embraced the Western experience where the Westerners had blindly followed the saying “" Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." - with disastrous consequences: where millions of young people experienced the fruits of such a position in the form of a degrading life or infringements of their rights. Secularists in the Maldives erroneously attribute the so-called “advancement” of the Western world in science and technology to the liberating influence of banishing Allah from all forms of collective life. [13]

This is based on a selective view of the so-called “advancement”. Taking the case of the most developed nation on earth. Over 40 million people of them live with no health care, Every few minutes a woman is being raped, every few minutes somebody is being mugged, every few minutes someone is being murdered, every few minutes some incestual relationship is taking place, Over 50% of all murders are committed on women, every few minutes women are subjected to domestic violence. Over 75% of women state that sometime in their life they had experienced sexual harassment. This is yet not talking of drug problems and other such problems directly. These are some of the problems that go hand in hand with their chosen mode of life. [14]

My aim is not to beat the drums over some countries sad statistics. My point is that when we ape these countries we are opening ourselves to inherit the very same colossal social & moral problems that they face in the form of drugs, crimes – theft and murder, family break-ups, childhood pregnancies, promiscuity, sexually transmitted disease, sexual harassment, domestic violence, Paedophilia, unequal distribution of wealth, racism etc. [15]

The Western so called liberal life style perpetuated by a philosophy of production & consumption has without doubt an element of apparent “glitz”, “glamour” & "zest" to life; at the same time insiduously unfurling socio-economic and moral problems that keeps on adding up. Which Maldivian secularist dare to deny this by pointing to a country in the West which is without these glaring problems of sexual discrimination , sexual harassments, runaway drugs & related problems, major law and order problems, domestic violence, Paedophilia, teenage marriages, abortions and increasing divides between the haves and have-nots? In the interests of truthfulness SPEAK UP![16]

What the Secularists cannot come to grips with or comprehend is the fact that these social problems are not new problems of our times but age old problems that plagued the different societies down the ages as a direct consequence of rejecting Allah's laws. They fail to realize that these age old problems cannot be solved without turning to Allah & following Allah’s decree. Thus at the root of these problems lies the fact that man has abandoned God’s law and adamantly follows his/her desires. We the Muslim youth of today should encourage each other to turn back to Allah and learn about Allah swt & His prophet. In order to this we must seek Knowledge & Education.[17]

If we are to have any hope of addressing the multitude of problems that we face as a nation - at this time of history, we must first change ourselves to people who acquire knowledge of Allah as revealed in the Koran & Hadis . With this knowledge, Insha Allah would come love for Allah and an intense desire to lead our lives according to Allah’s law, in submission to Allah's Will. This would Insha Allah lead to justice at the level of the individual and the nation and ensure that there is equity among the people and most tellingly the family structure rescued from the state of free-fall experienced in the West and fast becoming a reality in the Maldives. For us to be successful, we must pray to to Allah and we must try to establish an overwhelming majority of Muslims who consciously want to lead their lives in love, justice, mutual respect, tolerance & comanionship according to Allah’s Law. [18]

These are the reasons that it makes perfect sense to seek after knowledge and education for all. As young mothers we should encourage the young, the most intelligent amongst our children to take up the challenges and study our source texts and learn to apply the texts to our age and time within the framework mandated by Allah. Isn’t this what the great scholars - Imams Abu Haniffa, Malik, Shafi, Hambali & Ghazali did in their time? [19]

All of them were oceans of knowledge in all fields of knowledge prevalent at their times and well known for their piety and taqwa manifested in long hours of prayer at night. What’s to be noted is that their education started in their families in the lap of their beloved mothers. The Islamic Ummah declined when fresh intelligent, young minds were not there to take on the batton of knowledge and mind-set that these "Knowledge heroes of Islam" tried to pass on. Once again the best brains and ardour born out of the Muslim Youth is needed to answer Allah's call to pursue Knowledge so that Peace, Harmony, love & tolerance may Insha Allah take root within the depths of our souls. Insha Allah this would happen, and lets all work towards it by Allah's Grace. [20]

Finally to the secularists coming in all colours and guises we say "examine the dictates of Islam and frame your questions!". [21]

Asking questions is an important part of acquiring knowledge, so frame the questions with respect to the sources of Islam. We also say to them not to be so shallow as to confuse Islam with practices prevalent in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Maldives or Saudi Arabia - that is a well trodden route and now cliched by the enemies of Islam, and now quite boring and without substance. In all our discourses with the secularists the reproach that we have is that they confuse the above & just cannot coin relevant questions to Muslims addressing Islam as expounded in the Koran & Hadis. [22]

Time is ticking & certainly fast running out, and maybe the next knock on the door would be death itself; so in parting let me draw your minds to this lovely Hadis… [23]

“Narated Abu Hurairah – rad, that the Messenger of Allah – sal, said: When a man dies, his good works are ended, except in three cases: except through a continuing charity (ie., al-waqf,) or Knowledge from which one can benefit, or a good child through his prayers for his parents. _ Muslim. [24]

Dear bro/sis in Islam, lets reflect on the Koranic verse 63:9 [25]

063.009
O ye who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. If any act thus, the loss is their own.

May Allah Bless all Muslims. Please correct me where wrong and know that Always ALAH KNOWS BEST. [26]

Peace!

WOMEN IN ISLAM

Western media regularly portray women in Islam as being oppressed, repressed and considered inferior to men. Some in Maldives parrot these views by the Western media on the position of women in Islam. Is it that some people are prone to confuse how different cultures treat women with women's position in Islam? I think it’s timely to look at the real position of Women in Islam.

Islam is the literal submission to the will of Allah. This translates in practical day to day lives of men & women into following the Koranic injunctions and as a consequence, following the known authentic injunctions of the prophet Muhammad –Pbuh.

I propose that this examination of the position of WOMEN IN ISLAM to be an examination of the subject matter by both you the reader and the author, so that this discussion is pro-active and interesting. I would really appreciate the input by women specially in sharing with us the reality of what they face from day to day. Its paramont that we women take an interest in that which concerns us, and air our views just as women did during the life of the prophet - Pbuh.

It would also be relevant in the interest of completeness, that we examine the subject from the following viewpoints…

1. Position of Women before the revelation of the Koran
2. Position of Women in Christianity.
3. Position of Women in Judaism.
4. Position of Women in Hinduism & Buddhism.
5. Position of Women in the Koran & Hadis.

As an opener lets examine in this “first part” what the Koran has to say about WOMEN & MEN. Are women superior to men? Are men superior to women? Are men & women equal? Or is this like comparing apples & oranges. With the goals thus stated lets get going.

Lets let the Koran speak for itself:

"For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise-- For them all has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward" (33:35).

"The believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil, they observe regular prayers, practise regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His Mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise" (9:71).

"And their Lord answered them: Truly I will never cause to be lost the work of any of you, Be you a male or female, you are members one of another" (3:195).

"Whoever works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof, and whoever works a righteous deed -whether man or woman- and is a believer- such will enter the Garden of bliss" (40:40).

"Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to him/her we will give a new life that is good and pure, and we will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions" (16:97).

It is clear to any unbiased "sercher of truth" that the Quranic view of women is no different than that of men.

They, both, are God's creatures whose goal on earth is to worship their Creator, do righteous deeds, and avoid evil and we are informed in no uncertain terms that they, both, will be assessed accordingly. I like to add here, that nowhere in the Koran is mentioned that the woman is the devil's gateway or that she is a deceiver by nature.

The Koran never teaches us that the MALE is God's image and that the FEMALE is somehow different to that; On the contrary it teaches that all men and all women are Allah’s creatures. According to the Koranic view, a woman's role on earth is NOT LIMITED only to childbirth. WOMEN are required to do as many good deeds as any MAN is required to do.

The Koran never says that no upright women have ever existed.

To the contrary, the Koran has instructed all the believers, women as well as men, to follow the example of those ideal women such as the Virgin Mary and the Pharoah's wife:

"And Allah sets forth, As an example to those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh: Behold she said: 'O my lord build for me, in nearness to you, a mansion in the Garden, and save me from Pharaoh and his doings and save me from those who do wrong.'

And Mary the daughter of Imran who guarded her chastity and We breathed into her body of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His revelations and was one of the devout" (66:11-12).

Thus at the end of this first part on “Women in Islam” we see that the Koranic view of Women is the same as that of men.

Allah Knows Best. Mistakes if any any are mine, & would appreciate if you correct me if I err. Also I like to state that I'm a layman. May Allah Bless those brothers & sisters who taught me the little I know.

Peace!

ALLAH ASKS US TO FOLLOW THE PROPHET - Pbuh

Allah takes care of us in the smallest detail. He gave us our mothers and fathers. What Blessings! He Gives us health, He Gives us wealth. He Gives us everything. What Blessings! ISLAM LOOKS AT LIFE DIFFERENTLY TO ALL OTHER RELIGIOUS AND PHYLOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS. ISLAM OFFERS YOU SOMETHING THAT NO OTHER BELIEF SYSTEM OFFERS. How is this so?

Allah teaches us in His magnificent Koran that He created us only to Worship Him. He also instructs us repeatedly in the Coran to follow His prophet–Pboh. “Worshiping” we also learn could also mean doing anything that someone asked one to do, for that person’s sake, forgetting Allah. These profound teachings opens up huge possibilities and opportunities to man. The stress is on an uncompromising “Thauheed”

From this it follows that doing anything that the prophet -Pboh did becomes an act of worship. - BECAUSE we know that the messenger was UNDER ALLAH’S GUIDANCE ALL THE TIME; and because ALLAH ASKS US TO FOLLOW THE PROPHET. Thus the act of eating, drinking, even having a relationship with your spouse can become an act of worship - IF YOU REMEMBER ALLAH, AND YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING ACCORDING TO THAT WHICH THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH DID; BECAUSE ALLAH INSTRUCTED YOU TO FOLLOW HIS MESSENGER.

This explains why it becomes so important to know what the prophet – Pboh said and did. This is why from the earliest times - from the time of his companions (May Allah Be Pleased with them), everyone paid so much attention to the details of what the prophet –Pboh said, did or not do.

This also explains why we find the companions asking so many questions, so varied, and sometimes even so intimate. The reason being that the Messenger of Allah – Pboh, was under the DIRECT INSTRUCTIONS and DIRECT SUPERVISION BY ALLAH – and since they had submitted themselves to Allah, they wanted to do everything in life according to ONLY WHAT ALLAH WANTED.

Allah sent His prophet. Allah sent His Book. In His book He made clear that any person who was submitted to Allah HAD TO FOLLOW THE PROPHET IN EVERYTHING HE/SHE DID WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

Due to this the prophet’s life was A VIVID PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT ALLAH WANTED OF MAN, IN EVERY IMAGINABLE SITUATION THAT MAN COULD FACE. Thus he was called to be a husband, father, Uncle, leader of a small group, a person under intense persecution, a refugee, a fighter, a commander of a small band of fighters, a head of state, a General, and he also had to demonstrate to us difficult and sensitive changes of law/ customs prevalent at that time.

IN ALL THESE ROLES THE PROPHET’S WAS UNDER CONSTANT SUPERVISION OF ALLAH (swt).

NO WONDER, the life of the Prophet (Pboh) has been said by his wife, Aisha (May Allah (Swt) be pleased with her) to be like "a walking Koran”. Allah’s prophet was under constant unrelenting scrutiny by friends and foe. He was subjected to unrelenting tests by his people, and was called upon by ALLAH to endure the discomfort of many real life situations that he had to enact in order to demonstrate in practical terms to his UMMAH - ALLAH'S COMMANDS.

What a monumental strain! It’s inconceivable that a human being with just his inherent capabilities could meet the challenges. By Allah’s Grace, By Allah’s Will the prophet (Pboh) had Allah’s Guidance and Support and was strengthened by the angel Gabriel (May Allah Be pleased with him). Thus HE BECAME THE PERFECT LIVING EXAMPLE OF ALLAH’S COMMANDS TO MANKIND. He became a person of the most perfect morals, and Allah made him the BEST EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW.

With the 1st generation – the memory of their prophet was seared into their memories. They lead their lives trying to completely submit to Allah and imitated their prophet with the ardour borne out of being eyewitnesses, and the certitude of the knowledge that HE WAS GUIDED BY ALLAH (Swt). The 2nd. Generation had direct access to this 1st Generation. The 3rd. to the 2nd. The 4th to the 3rd and so on.

Gradually Hadis became a well-established science and the most stringent literary quality control in the history of mankind was underway by early 200AH with such scholars as Bukhari and Muslim at the forefront. The Hadis we learn were already written during the life of the Prophet –Pbuh contrary to doubts cast in this respect by Orientalists and quite conclusively rebutted by Prof. Hamidullah with his research into this.

Finally I leave with you extracts from the Last sermon given by Prophet-Pbuh on the occasion of his final Pilgrimage. Please note the high-lighted words, and reflect then on them. May Allah Give us Guidance. ………………

O’ people! No Prophet would be raised after me and no new Ummah (would be formed) after you.

Verily I have left amongst you that which will never lead you astray, the Book of Allah, which if you hold fast you shall never go astray.

And beware of transgressing the limits set in the matters of religion, for it is transgression of (the proper bounds of) religion that brought destruction to many people before you.

Verily, the satan is disappointed at ever being worshipped in this land of yours, but he will be pleased by obedience in anything (short of worship that is) in matters you may be disposed to think insignificant, so beware of him in your matters of religion.

Behold! Worship your Lord; offer prayers five times a day; observe fast in the month of Ramadhaan; pay readily the Zakat (poor due) on your property; and perform pilgrimage to the House of God and obey your rulers and you will be admitted to the Paradise of your Lord.

Let him that is present, convey it unto him who is absent, for many people to whom the message is conveyed may be more mindful of it than the audience.

And if you were asked about me, what would you say?" They answered, "We bear witness that you have conveyed the trust (of religion) and discharged your ministry of Prophethood and looked to our welfare." ......

Dear Brothers & Sisters, How would YOU ANSWER THE PROPHETS QUESTION?

Allah Knows Best. Any mistake is mine, and please do correct me.

Allah Does Not Wrong Anyone.

Many continue suggesting doing “universal good” is UNIVERSAL and then continue to point out that the Christian, Buddhist, Hindoo, Atheist and almost everyone else does this – doing good. They point out that it’s perfectly possible to lead a “good life without Islam”; So why does one have to subject oneself to the DO’s and DO NOT’s of ISLAM? They claim that avoiding lies, helping the needy, feeding the poor, looking after one’s parents, loving the neighbor/enemy, caring for animals, visiting the sick, avoiding killing, treating women kindly are all within reach of human beings irrespective of their beliefs.

I think many have shared their views on this. Thakuru, Yusuf and I have all dealt with this in some depth in this blog. However this question keeps cropping up. Lets try to remind ourselves of the many facets of this question. Would I be wrong in saying that this so called “Universal Good” that some take pleasure in talking about; is not “NEW NEWS” to a Muslim. The Seal of Prophets – Mohammad, pboh said:

"Every human being is born in a state of pure nature; but through the influence of his parents, he may become non-Muslim."

From this Hadis it’s obvious that all human beings have that innate propensity to do as HIS CREATOR WANTS HIM/HER TO DO. A Muslim remembering his prophet’s words would no doubt recognise this as the concept of “FITRA”. Some people might call it a human’s ability to do “universal good”. What is more, we Muslims are also taught that human beings feel this great surge of well-being when he does certain actions. Similiarly human beings feel this instant need to hide from the view of others certain actions. We are told the former turns out to be good actions, and the latter bad actions.

What is more this innate programming if you will, so perfect at birth is prone to corruption as one grows - due to outside influences and in later life the strength of this primordial ability becomes a test of faith itself. This reality is so succinctly and forcefully taught to us by our beloved prophet –pboh, when he taught mankind that in the human being there is a part called the heart, which is at the onset wonderfully pure and clear. If this remains so it heralds endless bliss for that happy person.

Everytime a person commits an act that’s bad, an action that he would like to hide from others; there on this heart appears a tiny black spot. If he repeats this process another black spot appears and this goes on until death. So he taught us that if this part in us called the heart is good, then it leads the person towards endless bliss. Taking lessons from the prophet Muhammad –Pboh; Yusuf Estees reminds us the case study of a person taking drugs.

The first time - there is this great innate resistance to taking drugs. Its difficult, it needles people’s conscience. The second time its already easier & soon it becomes second nature and an addiction. Like the fall of dominos innate resistance drops until is born a drug addict. This is the same for telling lies, drinking alcohol, adultery, fornication, eating pork etc. each having a first time, and each of these having a cumulative effect, until people reach this unenviable state of affairs ………..

"If people had been forbidden to make porridge of camel dung, they would do it, saying that it wouldn't be forbidden unless there was some good in it."

Let’s remind ourselves that Allah is also called THE ALL MERCIFUL. Mercy is something we are told that Allah has taken on Himself for all his creation, from the very start. This also explains why human beings have this innate propensity to do WHAT ALLAH HAS ORDERED. This is in accordance with a ALL MERCIFUL CREATOR.

This is why the Christian belief of ORIGINAL SIN and the belief that babies are born full of sin & evil is so incompatible with a CREATOR WHO IS ALL MERCIFUL, AND WHO IS JUST.
The Koran teaches us the opposite that Each person would carry his own burden. No soul would carry the burden of another. A BABY IS NOT TAINTED BY HIS PARENTS DEEDS AT BIRTH. Lets read the following ayats ….
‘And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to God is the [final] destination’ (Surah Fatir 35:18).
‘God does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned’ (Surah al-Baqarah 2:286)
We also learn that human beings have a body and soul. The soul predates the body and knows Allah and what is pleasing to Allah. This once again explains the innate goodness of human beings that are capable of doing what’s good – Universal good is no big deal for Muslims after all. We are taught all about it. However there is more than meets the eye. Consider……………… All actions are based on intentions, for we learn from our prophet – pboh…….

"Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim].
So the consequences of our actions obviously depends on what we intended. The good you do, would Insha Allah be rewarded according to what you intended. So if you feed your neighbour because you feel for his condition, then indeed you would gain reward for that. If you are moved by pity for him and you want to be seen as a good fellow by those around, your rewards are in keeping with that. If your intention is to help this neighbour because Allah has ordered you, and you do so in that intention your reward is according to this.
With these considerations in mind, when I read the following hadis, things become very clear to me, Praise Allah!. I hope Insha Allah it is the same for you ……
Allah does not wrong anyone. A believer is rewarded both here and in the hereafter. A disbeliever is rewarded in this world for all of his good deeds. Thus when he goes to the hereafter, he has no (more) deeds for which he can be rewarded there. – Muslim.

Then, when I read the following Hadis below…. I can see very clearly the choices Allah has given me. The choice of Obeying Allah, and the Choice of leading my life without thinking of Allah. The choice I make will have an impact in the hereafter. …..

The (example of the ) value of this world in comparison to (that of) the hereafter is as if you dip a finger in the ocean and then pull it out. So see how much water sticks to it. – Muslim.

With these considerations in mind, naturally, whatever I do I’m conscious of my intension, because I realize that the outcome of my actions depends on my intension. This matters to me very much BECAUSE THERE IS A HEREAFTER, which starts immediately after I die. That hereafter is endless in time, stretching on and on……….

I certainly don’t want to be rewarded for what I do ONLY IN THIS WORLD, because the hereafter is ENDLESS, and the only way I would be rewarded there IN THE HEREAFTER would be to base my actions ONLY ON ALLAH. In short To follow the Deen of Allah.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, can you understand me that I beg Allah to draw me close to Allah, and beg him to make me remember Allah always. I have even asked my friends and family to remind me of God, in case I forget. I ask you to do that for me too. Pascals wager would prompt any person to do likewise.

Further there are so many hadis that calls upon me to do good. So reading them, often, its becomes easier and easier to remember God whilst doing good that the hadis refer to. Observe how appeals are constantly made to the inherent innate propensity to do good.

Keeping the above discussion in mind, consider these beautiful Hadis……..

+ "Avoid anything that requires an excuse."
+ “Whoever guides someone towards good will receive the reward of the one who acts upon it.”
+ “The most perfect believer (in his faith) is he whose conduct is best, and the best among you is he who behaves best towards his wife”
+ “Allah, the Lord of Honour and Glory says, “ Whoever does one good deed will receive ten rewards, or even more; Whoever sins once will be punished in proportion to it, or I may pardon him……” – A Qudsi Hadis”.
+ “One who lacks kindness of heart lacks all good”.

Its evident from the above that HUMAN BEINGS irrespective of his beliefs can do good. What’s also evident is that everyone would be rewarded according to his intentions. Thus it’s those whose intention is to obey the commands of Allah so as to please Allah, that Allah accordingly rewards in the hereafter.

In this context its chilling to read the following verses from the Koran..
3:85 - He who seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him and he will be a loser in the Hereafter.
5:3 This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favour on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion;

So with all that has gone above, I humbly say as in the following verse…..

‘I have put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature He does not hold by the forelock. My Lord is on a straight path’ (11:56).

Phenomenon Prophetic

It’s not my intention to give you a life story of the prophet - pboh. Excellent Traditional (ancient), recent and very recent works on the prophet are available, and all Maldivians aught to know it well. Suffice it to say, who amongst us haven’t felt a lump in our throats or tears pour down our cheeks at the recall of poignant incidents like the terrible children set to stone the prophet in Taif?

Below are the thoughts of just an ordinary Muslim, who tries hard to get close to Allah, loves Allah and His prophet. It’s my hope, that by my sharing my thoughts - you my readers would be moved to share your thoughts too and By Allah’s Grace, we might become better Muslims, learning and adjusting from each other’s experience. The threads of thought put together here are from collected from many Muslims who struck a chord deep within me.

Yes, in this age and time, the internet is a wonderful tool that could be harnessed for our benefit. It offers us anonymity that encourages us to exchange ideas freely, without fear of any consequences. My Blog would be Insha Allah free, uncensored, and here I encourage free exchange of ideas, without any attempt at knowing who you are, from where you are, and what you believe. In short that is a part of yourself, that’s inviolable just like your property. I believe this to be the ideal in Islam, and I strive to practice what I learn. Allah knows best!

"Prophets" have different meaning to different people in the world. From the point of view of Islam, a prophet is someone whose “ID” is progressively extinguished and reprogrammed to the dictates of the Creator. Needless to say as a consequence, his ego and superego are all re-modeled into its final mould in accordance with the Creator’s will and nothing else. Thus a prophet by Allah’s Grace attains the true potential of the human reality – the natural inborn potential of overtaking the lofty position of the angels.

This is an interesting moment. Does he cease to be a human being? NO.

I believe that in the person of "a prophet", we have a dazzling example of the demonstration of man, God and their inter-relationship. Here is a man, seemingly just another man; unremarkable even a deficient man by prevailing standards - with respect to his financial position, and social status which commands more social weight than a noble ancestry.

In society he is "a nobody" but God who created this man knows his true potential. He chooses him to be his prophet. The chosen man even tries his best to resist “being chosen”. With time his will is broken, he is overwhelmed, and is bent to the WILL OF GOD -100%. Gradually all his resistance is broken. His id, ego, superego is remodeled until he is crystallized to the purest human form until he is ready to carry the infinitely heavy burden of conveying Allah’s message to Allah’s slaves. *

What does all this mean to the man chosen as a prophet? ………

I have been repeatedly told that my posts are boringly long. I therefore end here this post. For those interested I would continue my line of thoughts below in "comments". Those who visit us, please do share with us your experiences. Also please share with us a Koranic verse that has inspired you or a prophetic Hadis that moved you. Anything that would help us come close to Allah is welcome. Those of you who criticize us; are indeed welcome to do so. We would appreciate however if they are considerate enough not to hurt anybody.