Islam is not a Nokia

[Blessed]

Amir Abu Maryem

There is nothing wrong in being modern, that’s if you're a fan of mobile phones. As times change, they (mobiles) need to be redesigned from shape to size. But religion is not a Nokia. Last week Ameer Ali former head of AFIC outraged Muslims across Australia with his comments about the Prophet s.a.w.s. and the Qur'an. In the article entitled " Prophet not perfect, says Islamic scholar (The Australian, 04/10/06) written by Richard Kerbaj, he spoke about the "flaws" of the best human ever to walk this earth - prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s., he questioned the veracity of the Qur'an, called for the reinterpretation of it, trivialized Sunnah and so on. With the following article I will examine some of these statements, as well as his 'so called' apology. One apology for Muslims and another one for the editor of "The (Un)Australian" newspaper.

 

Almighty Allah (s) said, which means:

 

‘Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor towards you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.’ (Qur'an s:5 v:3)

 

Islam came to change the world with a perfect message and system of life, not to be changed by the world, especially not by the likes of Mr. Ali. Nevertheless, Ameer Ali sees some imperfections with revelation and insists that we "have to reinterpret the Quran" (The Australian, 04/10/06). Why may we ask? This statement was backed by the following example: Mr. Ali says "There are verses about slavery, and the Koran says you must be kind to the slaves. So are the Muslims saying we must have slavery to be kind?" (The Australian, 04/10/06)

 

No Mr. Ali we don't say that, but, are you actually implying here that we should "update" Qur'anic verses because we don't have slaves? And who said we don't have them? Some of them go around and 'represent' Muslims while serving 'other' master.

 

Seriously, Ameer Ali obviously never attended any Uṣūl al-fiqh classes. If he did he would know that in his example he uses specific statement about kindness to the slaves and later he gives conclusion about general kindness. If you don't have slaves that doesn't mean that you can not be kind.

 

So, while Mr. Ali tries to fill in the shoes of the Prophet s.a.w.s. and perfect something that Allah (s) already perfected, I wonder how this fifth (column) madhhab will look like.

 

Next, Ameer Ali’s "apology".

 

In the letter which was addressed to the Muslims he calls the original article "ugly reporting" and a "deliberate act of mischief by the publishers". However in the letter to the editorial team of The Australian, his tone is dramatically reduced and not one word is mentioned about their "mischief" and "ugly" reporting. In this letter Ameer Ali praises not only the reporter, but the whole editorial team for an insignificant attempt to defend his attack on the prophet s.a.w.s.. ("Brave stand on Muslim honesty", Editorial 5/10/06)

 

The most important deception here is not his double standard, but, the unforgivable fact that in this so called apology, Ameer Ali does not deny using the word "flaw" when speaking about the prophet Mohammed s.a.w.s and his character. His actual apology is only focused on the title of the whole text "Prophet not perfect" and not on its content and quotations.

 

"And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character"

 

[Qur'an 68:4]

 

Back to original article, Mr. Ali continues with insults to the Muslims and criticizes them as being closed minded and "playing victim", he further degrades Muslims by stating that, popular Muslims "lack knowledge" and are "vulnerable" to "the Jihadist" teachings. His self appointed notion as the Muslim protector, is just that a self appointed notion. Muslims did not ask him to speak our minds we can do that a lot better ourselves. Maybe he should start reinterpreting "the Jihadist" word as well, since, it was Mr. Ali who called for Hezbollah to be removed from the terror list. As far as Muslim vulnerability and closed mindedness are concerned, suffice to say that when ICV conducted a survey asking for opinions on AFIC under Ameer Ali’s leadership, they (Muslim community) described it as "sexist, secretive, unrepresentative and irrelevant" (The Australian, 18/04/06)

 

So what else needs re-interpretation? Obviously the lifestyle of the Prophet s.a.w.s is somehow trivial to him. The article continues to say that "Dr Ali said it was "ridiculous" that some Muslims believed God would judge them on the "length of (their) beard". He said Muslims would be judged on their "character, their knowledge, their contribution to society". (The Australian, 04/10/06) It may be "ridiculous" to Mr. Ali that some Muslim believe in this? However they have good reason to do so, Imam Abu Hanifa (Rahimahullah) one of the greatest scholars in Islam’s history, stated that "To shorten the beard less than a fist length is haraam and on this is ijma`a (consensus) ".

 

"Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day, and remembers Allaah much"

 

[Qur'an 33:21]

 

What is not ridiculous to Mr. Ali is when Michelle Leslie abandoned the outward lifestyle of a Muslimah, Mr. Ali said "She can't have it both ways,". (SMH, 21/11/05) He further advised that she should abandon Islam and declare her action as a stunt if she persists with, as Michelle’s lawyer said, her own version of Islam.

 

"And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers"

 

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]

 

What I would like to know is can you have it both ways Mr. Ali ? And what is your version of Islam? After all, you did say "So I see Islam here but (the people) may not be Muslims, but in (other) countries I see Muslims but not Islam". (The Age, 08/10/05) and to understand further how much you are proud of your fellow Muslims we look at your statement to the ABC’s Religion Report (06/09/06) where you stated:

 

"The Muslims are not the good example of Islam, so that's why I say you call the Muslims as a bunch of fanatics, a bunch of terrorists, a bunch of fascists. I agree." Who would not be proud of Ameer Ali representing him or her like this. He really stand for Muslims in public. I think this calls for spinal surgery.

 

Lets now look at what his former colleague had to say about Ameer Ali, "I can say unequivocally that he has no credentials in Islamic jurisprudence or history", and, "stop trying to create the illusion that he has something important or relevant to say. He has no credibility whatsoever in this matter" (K. S. Seyit, The Australian - Letters, 06/10/06) It is clear that this fifth © madhhab is more like a club for ignorant.

 

Finally Mr. Ali mentioned that youth will ask about faith. Sure they will ask, and I am sure that their top question, when it comes to "Islamic Scholars" like Mr. Ali is how did you, as a leader of one of the Islamic organization (AFIC), interpret verses in Qur'an that prohibit interest (usury) and raise it to the level of "war with Allah"? How did you then go and lead this Islamic organization to derive 13% of its income from interest based accounts - $297,000 in one year alone (2004). (WORRELLS Independent Consultant’s Report)

 

The words from the Quran are quite specific:

 

"O you who believe! Have fear of Allah and give up what remains of what is due to you of usury.... If you do not, then take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger." (Chapter 2, Verse 278-9)

 

And hadith of the Prophet (s.a.w.s)

 

Imam Ahmad reported in an authentic hadith that the prophet (S.A.W.) said, "Dirham (the smallest coin, like a penny) of interest eaten by a man with knowledge is more severe than thirty-six acts of fornication or adultery."

 

I will let the community ask questions as to why this money was sitting in the bank and collecting haram, rather that helping with community projects.

 

Open your mind and see what Muslims truly need. They need someone like Abu Bakr r.a. who will stand up with pride, honor and dignity. A leader who will protect pillars of Islam and not work on demolishing them. A leader who will inspire and bring hope into the hearts of Muslims. A leader who will not focus his attention on demeaning his own community, while gunmen open fire on an Australian mosques during Ramadan prayer. A leader who makes it his business to challenge political/media attacks on Muslims treatment of women, while according to the Australian Institute of Criminology 57% of women in Australia have been subjected to physical and sexual violence during their lives. I haven’t seen any of these characteristics from Ameer Ali, therefore he is not the leader for me. To Ameer Ali's re-interpreted Islam? Muslims say NO.

 

"If you ask them (about this), they declare: ‘We were only talking idly and joking.’ Say: ‘Was it at Allaah, and His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were mocking?’ Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed"

[al-Tawbah 9:64-66]

 

"When Our Clear Signs are recited to them, those who do not expect to meet Us say, "Bring a Qur'an other than this one or change it." Say: "It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I follow nothing except what is revealed to me. I fear, were I to disobey my Lord, the punishment of a Dreadful Day." (Surah Yunus: 15-16)

 

 

Source'>http://ahlusunnah.org.au/articles/document.jsp?id=107]Source[/url]

[Nur]

Baarkallahu feeki, yaa ukhtii Blessed for sharing this good article.

 

The most important issue sweeping the Muslim intellectual world today is the conflict between conservation and liberalism.

 

The Judeo-Christian religions have all underwent major changes and rewriting, by priests and kings alike to fit their expedient needs. In contrast, Islam's message which was meant to strengthen the Divine signaling and guidance aka Revelations, that was previously corrupted by Christian Priests, Roman and Anglo Kings, has remained unchanged and unadulterated for the past 14 centuries and counting. The reason being that Islam had its own civilization, culture, kingdoms and territory namely the Islamic Caliphate, still, and despite the corruption of its leaders, no one has ever dared to advocate the change of the faith to resemble the Judeo-Christendom faiths.

 

Unfortunately, Many so called "Muslims" who were bottle fed from the same Judeo-Christian sources, and their liberal proponents who are pressuring the Pope these days to officially open an abortion clinic and to bless gay marriages, are quick to suggest the liberalization of Islam to be inline with the established Judeo-Christian religions. If they have their way, these so called "Muslims" will have an Islamic analogue of Christianity.

 

In light of these developments in the west and the increasing Muslim migration to the west and their adoption of western norms and lifestyles, we will have many attempts to align Islam with western values according to the Hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah SWT in which he predicted that Muslims will follow the footsteps of the people of the Book, to the extent that if the people of the book enter an alligator's hole, ( as impossible as it seems) "Muslims" will follow them.

 

As these new un-Islamic lifestyles become a common sight, do we have the divine blessing to re-interpret Islam to fit new lifestyles like a Nokia hand phone?

 

Should our lifestyle adjust to Islam, or should Islam adjust to our new found lifestyles?

 

 

Nur

[FatB]

good read