Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Mumineen Brother/Sister,  I appreciate this posting , but I have one query here . Why is that all and everyone in Islam is talking about following quran with all muslim people. Being a follower of Islam everyone is suppose to follow that, what is needed today for muslims all over the world is knowledge. Knowledge that we have to mix the worldly knowledge with the deen knowledge. I have been never heard more than a handful of people to preach among the muslim about the education. How can anyone accept that with preaching only deen we will succeed. Mind here I am not against deen . I am a strong believer of Islam . But what is happening in countries from Afganistan to Bangladesh , from Indo to mala , in africa . Our people do not have knowledge , they are behind the masses. Among all the people education is least among our coomunity. Those who study a little have high hopes. There are good educated people but they are sidelined. See the situation in Afganistan . Is that what we are looking for. How many scholarship do we have for muslim to go and study abroad in places like US and work for there community. No to none. Arabs are so wealthy but how many try to get knowledge and lead the world . few may be hundred or thousands. I believe we need to put our house in order . Islam flourished during 9 to 15 century , because with deen we had latest technology and knowledge with us. We were the best. We need to try to reach this level . I am a believer for years we need to work and strengthen ourself . this need to be done quietly and with sincerity. I am not a believer in making a bang when you do not have something to support. I have just put my thought and would like to appologize to all of you if I have hurt anyones feeling.

Regards

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Answer:

Muslims need Education

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

We could not agree more with what you have said at the humiliating state of the Muslim Ummah today. Maybe we have not been able to put our thoughts across in the proper perspective. When we say that it is the duty of every muslim today to read, understand and implement the Holy Quran in his life, we by no means, mean to imply that one should leave the ‘duniya’ and sit in some corner of the mosque. We have the example of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and the noble companions in front of us, and they balanced the deen and duniya perfectly.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21: There is indeed the best model for you to follow, in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

What we mean to say is that we should not separate the deen from the duniya, like what has happened to the world today, but rather start to realize in light of the Quran and Sunnah, who is our Creator, what is our mission in this transitory world, and what will happen to us when we ultimately die and return to our Lord. What we want the believers to realize is that this ‘duniya’ is not a thing that one should see in isolation, but rather what Islam says: that this duniya is nothing but a first step towards the Hereafter. Islam basically takes the believers out of the narrowness of this transitory world, and brings them to the vastness of life, when linked with the Hereafter.

When one becomes a true believer and fears Allah and the Last Day, and follows the commandments of the Quran and Sunnah, it is expected that he will set up a system in this world of justice, honesty, Truth, harmony, peace and prosperity. Every laborer will work honestly, and his dues will be paid by his employer with justice. Every professional will strive to deliver his works perfectly, and will be rewarded accordingly. Every businessman will trade honestly, and will not try to cheat his customers for some paltry gain if he fears Allah and the Last Day. Every ruler will rule over his subjects justly, and fear Allah. When every believer realizes and understands that he has to stand in front of his Lord on an Inevitable Day, to give a full accounting of his deeds, he will deal with everybody honestly and justly. That is the system Islam stands for. And once that system is established, peace, harmony, and prosperity will automatically follow. That is the promise of Allah Subhanah in the Quran. And this process can only be started, when one reforms himself individually first in direct accordance of the Quran, and consciously fears Allah and the accounting of the Last Day.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 65 Surah Talaq verses 2-3: With this you are admonished, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day. Whoever fears Allah in whatever he does, Allah shall open for him a way out of the difficulties and shall provide for him his ‘rizk’ from whence he could little imagine! And whoever trusts Allah Alone, He is enough for him. Allah brings His Decrees to fulfillment.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 71 Surah Nuh verses 10-13: (And Noah) said: “Seek forgiveness from your Lord. Indeed He is All Forgiving. He will open the skies and provide for you in abundance, and will help you with wealth and children, and will create gardens for you, and bestow on you rivers. What is the matter with you, that you place not your hopes for dignity in Allah?”

Allah says describing His Way with prosperity about the ‘People of the Book’ in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 66: Had they observed the Torah and the Gospel and the other Books which had been sent down to them by their Lord, We would have given them abundance from above them and from beneath them.

As long as the muslim Ummah was united and lived their lives in accordance to the Quran and Sunnah, Allah bestowed upon them honor and mastery over the world. That is the time Islam was admired far and wide for its system of government, for its learning institutions, for its knowledge, and for its justice and peace. But when, in the past couple of centuries, the muslim rulers and their subjects got so carried away with the wealth and luxuries of this transitory world, and started de-linking this world from the Hereafter, and moved away and rebelled against the commandments of the Quran and Sunnah, and thus the disobedience of Allah; Allah humiliated them and made them the slaves and imitators of the pagans and their systems!

The Messenger of Allah (saws) prophesized these words of wisdom in an authentic narration, “ When the believers will fall in love with this world and hate death; Allah will relieve the enemies of the awe of the muslims, and put fear of the enemies into the hearts of the believers.”

And Allah is our witness, that is precisely what has happened!

In the light of the Holy Quran, it is the belief of every believer that Allah Alone is the Owner of All the Bounty and Treasures of the heavens and the earth. And it is Allah’s promise that when we obey, follow, fear and worship Allah, He will increase us in our prosperity. I realize that this might sound a bit too far-fetched and impossible … but that is the Promise and Way of Allah, the All Mighty, All Powerful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah An-Nisa verse 122: The promise of Allah is true, and who can be truer in his word than Allah?

Yes, we need to increase our knowledge… in deen as well as in duniya. Yes, we need to set up learning institutions. Yes, we need to increase our GDP (gross domestic product) and our PCI (per capita income). Yes, we need to educate ourselves to the helm. Yes, we need to create opportunities and jobs and businesses and factories. Yes, we need to unite this broken and divided Ummah.

Brother, this will happen the day we make a commitment to our Lord that we will reform ourselves first and then our surroundings. And then the help of Allah will come … and when Allah helps, there is no need for any other helper or supporter! He Alone is sufficient for all our needs.

And it will happen when we put ourselves, first, and then our systems of governance in order and in line with the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws). It will happen the day we consciously start fearing Allah and the Last Day. It will happen when the day our government and our rulers fear Allah and the Last Day. It will happen we move away from greed, corruption, nepotism and the subjugation of our fellow human beings.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 13 Surah Raad verse 11: Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change themselves.

If today we establish the learning institutions in competition with the pagans, and imitate their ‘supposed’ prosperity, without the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws), brother we will miss this ‘duniya’ and also the Hereafter! The only way to gain mastery over this world, is implement the Quran and Sunnah in all aspects of our lives.. individually, socially, morally, economically and collectively … and then see how Allah changes the condition of this Ummah.

Thus brother, we absolutely agree with you that we must educate ourselves thoroughly, but must always keep in mind to keep a good balance between the knowledge of this duniya with the Hereafter. That is the only way to achieve success in this world and the Hereafter.

I leave you with the words of wisdom and caution from the Holy Quran Chapter 102 Surah At-Takathur: Your craze for more and more and mutual rivalry for worldly gains, has made you heedless (of the Hereafter); until you reach your graves. By no means! Soon you shall know (the reality)! Again, by no means! Soon you shall know (the reality)! Nay! Had you known with certainty of knowledge (you would not have acted thus.)

You shall certainly see Hell! Again, (note it well) you shall most certainly see it Then, on that Day, you shall certainly be called to account for the comforts of this life.

May Allah help us, guide us, and have mercy on us. May Allah give us the knowledge and the wisdom to balance this world with the Hereafter. May Allah bless and bestow His Mercy and His Grace on the Ummah of Islam.

May Allah guide you and us to read and understand the simple and plain words of the Glorious Quran. May Allah increase our knowledge from the Holy Quran. May Allah guide us to the Siraat al Mustaqeem.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan