The Epoch

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

1. By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
2. Verily Man is in loss,
3. Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy. (Surah Al-'Asr)

This is one of the shortest Surah of Qu'ran. However, it encompasses the whole message of Islam & guides Muslims to attain Paradise.

There are four things mentioned is this Surah that we have to do in order to be successful in the Hereafter.

1. Belief is Islam.
   
2. Actions - Do righteous deeds & abstain from sins.
   
3. Dawah - Inviting to Islam, helping each other good deeds & forbidding evils
   
4. Enjoin on each other patience during trials & tribulations.

In essence, if we are to follow all the above four we will attain eternal bliss.

What is holding us back from living as Muslims? None of us know when the Death will strike on our door. Lets start living by Islam.

"Please don’t label me. Let me grow up and choose for myself"

There has been growing vehemence against raising children under a particular belief system. Richard Dawkins is one of the outspoken persons who calls parents not to label their children as Muslim, Christian, Hindu or Buddhist, but to let them grow-up and decide for themselves. From the outlook it does sound very apealing and convincing. However, is it plausible to do so? Is it the most appropriate way to raise kids? Aren't there any harms in advocating it? These are very serious questions that need to be asked.

In the article titled "Religious education is not brainwashing", Father Stephen Wang examines the campaign "Please don’t label me. Let me grow up and choose for myself", initiated by British Humanist Association. He cites four reasons why the call to liberate the children from the clutches of beliefs is naive.

Click here to read the article: Religious education is not brainwashing

On Extremism

Extremism is a cancer for which Muslims have found no cure or a way to halt its progression. It has disseminated into all the corners of Muslim world. All the spectra of society. The pre-cancerous conditions are too many & identifying them is near impossible. The Islamic Ummah badly needs to de-radicalize the burgeoning number of youths entangling in the shackles of extremist ideologies if they are to establish their status in the current world as a beacon of light.

What is holding back to eradicate extremism? The biggest hurdle in the global endeavours to fight against extremism or radicalization of Muslims is the lack of definition of extremism. Or evolving definitions. Not to mention the hypocrisy in this issue.

Let us look at the leaders of the Islamic world who are at the fore front in the global fight against extremism. When we look at Middle East we see utter absence of democracy. Oppression of the masses to perpetuate their rule. Saudi Arabia, a country which has an immense importance among Muslims since she has Kau'ba, is ruled by a Kingdom system. The royal family is fully supported by the US. And US talks of democracy! Another country is Egypt, whose leader is infamous for rigging elections & arresting opposition members. Another ally of US and West. These countries label whoever fights back the rampant corruption & oppression as radicals & extremists. And after 9/11, its very easy to get assistance from US to eliminate them.

These autocratic regimes face the biggest threat from those Muslims who are true to Islam. Those who are trying to uplift the Islamic Ummah, bring peace and harmony. Thus, they become scapegoats. These heroic individuals are harassed. They life is under close scrutiny of the autocratic governments. They cannot direct their attention to foil the attempts of misguided individuals. This creates an easy way for these people with the extremist ideologies to spread their tentacles. To infect the young minds. To deviate them from the true teachings of Islam.

We need to accept the reality. Else the Islamic Ummah is going to a point of no return. Each & every Muslim needs to do his part to save them from this eternal doom. Each can & should contribute.

Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahumathulaahi

Bismillahi
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful.

I have been intending to start blogging for some years. And today I post my first article . The aim is to address the challenges Islamic Ummah is facing at present. In addition I will be writing about other topics that interest me. InshaAllah, I will be writing as much as time permits to do so. I hope that this blog will be beneficial.

I beseech Allah (swt) to unite our Ummah and make the world a better and peaceful place.