Words of Wisdom by our Beloved Principal, Mufti Ismail Abdur Rahim

The below-scripted  article is extracted from one of the sterling advices  given by our Beloved Mufti Ismail Abdur Rahim, delivered to the citizens of South Africa on  the 02/12/2018.

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً

O you who believe! Enter into total submission

Most of the Muslim world today is content with performing Salaah, and Ibadaat, but in other aspects we lack. We pick and choose what we want to do. Like how Allah mentions in the Qur’aan:

نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ

“We believe in some and disbelieve in others,”

In layman’s language this is cafeterial mentality. We pick what we need and leave what we don’t need. In the meantime, Islam entirely is to be picked and nothing at all is to be discarded.
This is all the more important in this part of the world where we have an opportunity to convey the message of Islam to the indigenous community. Right now, we haven’t even given it second thought.  And neither are we doing enough to show them what the reality of Islam is.  Although we have “A New South Africa” as they call it, we can make it a brand new South Africa.

Kufr has already brought Islam onto the market. After 9/11, Islam is not only a religion but THE religion. It is now highlighted. We could not bring it on to the market, but the disbelievers fulfilled our task. We should now capitalize on that. We should now take it forward. Irrespective of how they  frame it or phrase it.

قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وسلم)  ليشربن أناس من أمتي الخمر يسمونها بغير اسمها
A time will come when people will drink liquor and call it a different name.

Different titles… This is a sign of their baatil (void). To open the dictionary and see what is the most suitable world. Should we call it “extremism”, or will “fundamentalism” work here, or is “terrorism” the right word?

But you are who you are, as Ibrahim as has named you,

“امة مسلمة”

You are an Ummah of peace… Of Safety. Of tranquillity…

However, we Muslims are only floating. Just surviving. Whereas Islam is not here to float. Islam is here to make its presence known to one and all.  To assert itself. This is our deen to which we belong and to which is our allegiance. Islam is dedication, sacrifice of health wealth and time and suppression of our egos. Like a boat in the river.

Other religions don’t need to row that boat; it will flow into the direction of the current. That’s why gambling is also fine, liquor will also work.

But we as Muslims are governed by divine law. Our boat is being rowed…

Mentioning all of this, the question is posed to you and I. How do we stand and perform?  Islam is not restricted to our Masaajid and Madaaris. It announces its supremacy on the Minarets of the world 5 times a day with the calls of Allahu-Akbar… 4 times in the beginning, indicating that Allah is greater than the South and the North and the East and the West … and then, at the end again to emphasise that Allah is greater than the skies and earth.

This is our Allah and this is His Deen, and each of us  is an envoy and advocate of His Deen. We don’t need to be Ulamaa to convey this message. We just need the Kalimah.

Nabi (S.A.W) said:

بلغوا عني ولو آية

“Convey from me, even though it may be (one) verse…”

As much as Allah has sent Nabi (S.A.W) as a Guide for the Ummah, as Allah has mentioned,

لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ

“Decidedly Allāh has conferred a favour on the Believers when He raised among them a Messenger from their own kind who recites to them Allāh’s verses, purifies them and teaches them the Book and points of good sense.”

You as an Ummati has also been evolved for the same purpose…

as Allah has said,

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ

You are the best of Ummats evolved for mankind. You enjoin righteousness, prohibit from evil and believe in Allāh.

Allah has sent you with a purpose, you did not come on your own. You have the potential. If you have fulfilled that opportunity, You have won.

May Allah preserve our Principal with the best of health… Aameen