How to react to bias media labeling muslims Whabis, Terrorists, Fundamentalist, Extremists, Radicals..etc
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:
As
slaam alykum;
You claim to follow the Quran and sunnah (Alhumduliaah), However when people do
so strictly, they are often labled as `Whabis, Terrorists, Fundamentalists,
Extremitsts, Radicals....etc`--the list goes on and on
My
question is this: When making Daw`aa, and generally in life, How can one get
over the stigmatization created in the minds of the majority as a result of the
biased media?
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
How to react to Bias Media
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
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.
Beloved brother, if one simply looks at the struggle of
every Prophet of Allah who came with the Truth, be it the struggle of Prophet
Nuh (a.s.) at the hands of his disbelieving people, or the trials of Prophet
Ibraheem (a.s.) at the hands of the evil king Nimrod, or the tribulations of
Prophet Moses (a.s.) at the hands of the arrogant Pharaoh, or the evil striving
of the Jewish clergy against Prophet Isa (a.s.) or the ultimate trials and
tribulations faced by Prophet Mohamed (saws) and his companions at the hands of
the disbelieving Quraysh of Makkah.one would realize that this constant
struggle between the Truth and the falsehood is as old and as aged as life
itself!!!
Dear and beloved brother in Islam, it has never happened
that when one sincerely intends and strives to live ones life on the Straight
Path, that they will be welcomed and honored with open arms by those who
disbelieve in Allah and the Last Day! It
is the decreed lot and absolute norm that the disbelievers will fight this
Divine Truth with all their might and means.. for this light and revolution of
Islam stands against their every falsehood, tyranny, oppression, injustice, and
self-serving way of life.
The disbelievers in the Truth will turn against the
believers, ridicule and mock them, call them names, beat and torture them, hurt
and harm them, enforce a boycott and embargo upon them, throw them out of their
homes and lands, imprison them, and at times even wage war against them only
because the believers have believed in their Lord and chosen to live their
lives in submission to Him.
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5144 Narrated by Abu Tha'labah
AbuTha'labah swore by Allah that he had asked
Allah's Messenger (saws) about the words of Allah Most High, "Care for
yourselves; he who goes astray cannot harm you when you are rightly
guided." He (saws) had replied, "No!
Enjoin one another to do what is reputable and forbid one another to do
what is disreputable. But when you see niggardliness being obeyed, passion
being followed, worldly interests being preferred, everyone being charmed with
his own opinion, and you see something you are inclined to do, care for
yourself and leave alone what people in general are doing; for ahead of you are
days which will require endurance, in which he who shows endurance will be like
him who grasps live coals. The one who acts rightly during that period will
have the reward of fifty men who act as he does." The hearers asked, "The reward of fifty
of them, O Messenger of Allah (saws)?."
He (saws) replied, "The reward of fifty of you!"
Sahih Muslim Hadith 6778 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said:
Beloved brother, these trials and tribulations at the
hands of the disbelievers is no more than a test their Lord has put upon His
believing slaves in the life of this world..so that He may ascertain who are
those who truly believe and are willing to sacrifice everything for His Cause
and who amongst them are hypocrites and have accepted Islam only to further
their own cause in the life of this world?
By these trials, Allah Subhanah Wishes to determine who amongst man
stands firm on his faith in adversity, and who amongst them flee from their faith
at the first sign of hardship? And thus
will Allah Subhanah Judge with Justice amongst His creation on that Inevitable
Day of Judgment..and accordingly grant His Mercy and Rewards upon those who
pass the test, and bring upon His Wrath and Anger upon those who miserably fail
the test.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 29 Surah
Ankabut verses 2-7:
2 Do men think that they will be left alone on saying "We
believe" and that they will not be tested?
3 We did test those before them and Allah will certainly know those
who are true from those who are false.
4 Do those who practice evil think that they will get the better of
us? Evil is their judgment!
5 For those whose hopes are in the meeting with Allah (in the
Hereafter let them strive); for the term (appointed) by Allah is surely coming:
and He hears and knows (all things).
6 And if any strive (with might and main) they do so for their own
souls: for Allah is free of all needs from all creation.
7 Those who believe and work righteous deeds from them shall We blot
out all evil (that may be) in them, and We shall reward them according to the
best of their deeds.
Your
Question: You claim to follow the Quran and sunnah (Alhumduliaah), However when
people do so strictly, they are often labled as `Whabis, Terrorists,
Fundamentalists, Extremitsts, Radicals....etc`--the list goes on and on
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.809 Narrated by Khabbab bin Al Arat
We complained to Allah's Messenger (saws) (of
the persecution inflicted upon us by the pagan Quraysh of Makkah) while he was
sitting in the shade of the Ka'ba, leaning over his Burd (i.e. covering
sheet). We said to him (saws),
"Would you seek help for us? Would you pray to Allah for us?" The Prophets (saws) face became red with
anger and he (saws) said, "Among the nations before you a (believing) man
would be put in a ditch that was dug for him, and a saw would be put over his
head and he would be cut into two pieces; yet that (torture) would not make him
give up his religion! His body would be combed with iron combs that would
seperate his flesh from the bones and nerves, yet that would not make him
abandon his religion! By Allah, this religion (i.e. Islam) will prevail till a
traveler from Sana (in Yemen) to Hadrarmaut will fear none but Allah, or a wolf
as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty!
My dear and beloved brother in Islam, if all our
disbelieving brethren are doing at this time is calling us names because we
have chosen to submit ourselves to the guidance of the Quran and the
Sunnah.then rest assured that this is only the very first and easiest stage of
our trial!!!! A time is soon approaching
when the disbelievers will unleash absolutely every injustice and oppression
known to man upon the believers!
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4284 Narrated by Thawban
The Prophet (saws) said: A time is coming
when the people will summon one another to attack you (believers), as people
when eating invite others to share their dish!
Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time,
O Messenger of Allah (saws)? He (saws)
replied: No! You will be numerous at
that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a
torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and put
wahn(enervation) into your hearts.
Someone asked: What is wahn (enervation), O Messenger of Allah
(saws)? He (saws) replied: Love of the
(pleasures and luxuries of the) world and the dislike of death!
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5367 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik
Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "A time
is coming to men when he who adheres to his religion will be like one who
seizes live coals."
Your
Question: When making Daw`aa, and generally in life, How can one get over the
stigmatization created in the minds of the majority as a result of the biased
media?
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah
Taubah verses 32-33:
32 Fain would they (the disbelievers) extinguish Allah's Light
(Al-Islam) with their mouths; but Allah will not
allow but that His Light should be perfected even though the unbelievers may
detest (it)!
33 It is He who hath sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion
of Truth (Al-Islam) to proclaim it over all the other religions, even though
the pagans may detest (it)!
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 61 Surah
Saff verses 8-9:
8 Their (the disbelievers) intention is to extinguish Allah's Light
with their mouths: but Allah will complete His Light even
though the unbelievers may detest (it)!
9 It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion
of Truth (Al-Islam) that He may proclaim it over all the other religions, even
though the pagans may detest (it)!
Dear and beloved brother, the one and only way to get over
the stigmatization of the disbelieving pagans is to first and foremost hold fast
to and stand steadfast on the guidance of Islam and accept that this
stigmatization and oppression at the hands and mouths of the disbelievers will continue
till the end of time! Short of turning
the believers to disbelief, the disbelievers will never ever stop their
oppression of the believers and their chosen way of life!
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 20 Surah
Taha verse 130:
130 Therefore be patient with what they (the disbelievers) say and celebrate (constantly) the Praises of thy Lord
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 11 Surah
Hud verses 112-115:
112 Therefore stand firm (in the Straight Path) as you are commanded; you and those who with you
turn (unto Allah); and transgress not (from the Path): for He seeth well all
that ye do.
113 And incline not to those who do wrong or the Fire will seize you;
and ye have no protectors other than Allah nor shall ye be helped.
114 And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the
approaches of the night: for those things that are good remove those that are
evil: be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord):
115 And be steadfast in patience; for verily
Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Shura
verse 15:
15 Now then for that (reason) call (them to the Faith) and stand
steadfast as you are commanded, nor follow thou their vain desires; but
say: "I believe in the Book which Allah has sent down; and I am commanded
to judge justly between you. Allah is
Our Lord and your Lord. For us (is the responsibility for) our deeds and for
you for your deeds. There is no
contention between us and you. Allah
will bring us all together and to Him is (Our) Final Goal.
In conclusion brother, to overcome the stigmatization and
oppression of the disbelievers one need not go and beg for the disbelievers to
have mercy upon the believers and appease their anger by compromising on the
Way of Life we believe in and have chosen to live.
But instead, absolutely disregard what they say in their arrogance
and their ignorance, show patience and forbearance at what they say or do, and
remain absolutely and unshakably steadfast on the Straight Path of submission
in Islam which you have chosen as your way of life until you meet with your
appointment of death. The Lord
All-Knowing All-Wise is well aware of the condition of each in His creation,
and He Alone is enough as a Disposer of all affairs.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 73 Surah
Muzammil verses 9-13:
9 (He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take
Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.
10 And have patience with what they say and leave them with noble (dignity).
11 And leave Me (Allah Alone to deal with) those in possession of the
good things of life who deny the Truth; and bear with them for a little while.
12 With Us are Fetters (to bind them) and a
Fire (to burn them)
13 And Food that chokes and a Penalty Most Grievous!
If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and
commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws),
one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any
other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be
assured of being led astray.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allahs Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in
Islam,
Burhan