A qualitative look at Islam: Changing society through Islam
Today, it looks as if most muslims have adopted a minimalist view of Islam. A view that says: fulfill the five pillars and stay away from major sins. The bare minimum of what you have to do to be saved.
This is a quantitative minimal view of Islam.
A qualitative look at Islam gives you a very different conclusion. The conclusion is that the five pillars and staying away from major sins is just the starting point. That is the bare minimum you do so that you are not considered a criminal.Not being considered a criminal is not an achievement, it just means you are law abiding.
Islam demands some kind of struggle or service. Islam is something greater than your own personal observance, it is something that should be made a reality on the earth. People should know about islam, it should enlighten business and bring justice to social interactions, families and neighbourhoods.
IT IS NOT JUST THERE TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER AND FIX YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH Allah.
It also addresses problems of society. If all of us are only concerned about only our personal Islam, then we are only serving our needs instead of serving the religion and its higher goals in society.
All the struggles of the prophets (peace be upon them) were focused on the problems of their societies. When Shuayb ( alayhi salam) starts criticising business practises, when Lut (peace be upon him) starts criticising homosexualit.y and shamelessness in a society, When Eesa (peace be upon him) starts criticising corruption in the religion,When Musa (peace be upon him) criticises slavery and class societies, they are not just dealing with theological issues, they are dealing with realities on the ground.
They knew that the faith was not just for self-reformation, it reforms families, communities and society. It engages the problem of society.
A muslim should be concerned about the injustices in society whereever they may be happening because Islam requires it from him. To simply hate it in the heart is the weakest of faith. What solutions does Islam offer?
This is part of the struggle of Islam,
At the very least, you should be concerned about your neighbour. Even simple hadiths, like removing an harmful object from the road shows concern for others.
Now everyone of us has to figure out where they fit in this struggle. There are multiple legitimate causes for the muslim and in my opinion, a muslim should dedicate himself to one legimate cause at least.
The plight of the orphan, the education of the girl child, the empowement of muslim families, islamic education for children, corruption in society etc.
These are a few legitimate causes. This way, you see yourself as part of the mission of Islam, your Islam benefits others in some way.
This is true spirituality.
Assalamu aleikum
Today, it looks as if most muslims have adopted a minimalist view of Islam. A view that says: fulfill the five pillars and stay away from major sins. The bare minimum of what you have to do to be saved.
This is a quantitative minimal view of Islam.
A qualitative look at Islam gives you a very different conclusion. The conclusion is that the five pillars and staying away from major sins is just the starting point. That is the bare minimum you do so that you are not considered a criminal.Not being considered a criminal is not an achievement, it just means you are law abiding.
Islam demands some kind of struggle or service. Islam is something greater than your own personal observance, it is something that should be made a reality on the earth. People should know about islam, it should enlighten business and bring justice to social interactions, families and neighbourhoods.
IT IS NOT JUST THERE TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER AND FIX YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH Allah.
It also addresses problems of society. If all of us are only concerned about only our personal Islam, then we are only serving our needs instead of serving the religion and its higher goals in society.
All the struggles of the prophets (peace be upon them) were focused on the problems of their societies. When Shuayb ( alayhi salam) starts criticising business practises, when Lut (peace be upon him) starts criticising homosexualit.y and shamelessness in a society, When Eesa (peace be upon him) starts criticising corruption in the religion,When Musa (peace be upon him) criticises slavery and class societies, they are not just dealing with theological issues, they are dealing with realities on the ground.
They knew that the faith was not just for self-reformation, it reforms families, communities and society. It engages the problem of society.
A muslim should be concerned about the injustices in society whereever they may be happening because Islam requires it from him. To simply hate it in the heart is the weakest of faith. What solutions does Islam offer?
This is part of the struggle of Islam,
At the very least, you should be concerned about your neighbour. Even simple hadiths, like removing an harmful object from the road shows concern for others.
Now everyone of us has to figure out where they fit in this struggle. There are multiple legitimate causes for the muslim and in my opinion, a muslim should dedicate himself to one legimate cause at least.
The plight of the orphan, the education of the girl child, the empowement of muslim families, islamic education for children, corruption in society etc.
These are a few legitimate causes. This way, you see yourself as part of the mission of Islam, your Islam benefits others in some way.
This is true spirituality.
Assalamu aleikum