It is of utmost importance for community leaders; be it faith based or otherwise to have unity and tolerance among themselves. With the absence of unity, tolerance and harmony, communities; nay, nations cease to exist.
At times, community leaders fall prey to the negative tendencies of human nature, which encompass egoistic elements. This causes them to unnecessarily point fingers at one another and point out the shortcomings of one another. This henceforth gives birth to chaos, hatred, bigotry and intolerance.
The giant scholar and the reformist of the fifth century, Imām Abu al Faraj 'Abdul Raḥmān al Jawzī al Qurashī al Baghdādī (may Allāh have mercy on him) highlights the immense amounts of reverence community leaders of the past possessed for one another. This is recorded in an introductory chapter (Titled: The Scholars Yearning For The Hereafter Possess Love, Not Animosity) of his renowned personal manuscript, Ṣaid Al Khātir, in which he noted down inspirational thoughts.
He writes as follows:
“The Leaders Yearning For The Hereafter Possess Love, Not Animosity
I pondered upon the reasons behind the animosity among leaders, and found it to comprise of egoistic elements, which encompass the love of this ephemeral life. Leaders who yearn for the hereafter possess love, not animosity.
Allāh Almighty describes the faithful leaders in the Qur'ān:
“They entertain no desire in their hearts for things bestowed to their contemporaries (i.e, they are content with whatever they possess, and show no greed/jealousy towards those whom the Almighty has blessed with affluence).” (Qur'ān, 59: 9)
The Almighty also states:
“Those (among the believers) who came after (accepted faith after) their predecessors would invoke the Almighty saying: “Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who advanced towards faith before us, and leave not malice in our hearts against those who have believed.” (Qur'ān, 59: 10)
(Mentioned below are some examples of genuine leadership)
Abu al Dardā' (may Allāh be pleased with him) would invoke the Almighty every night for the well being of his Companions.
Imām Aḥmed ibn Al Ḥanbal once said to the son of Imām Al Shāfi'ī: “Your honourable father is among the six luminaries for whom I invoke the Almighty every night.”
(It is noteworthy to mention that the two Imāms had significant amounts of differences in matters of jurisprudence, yet that did not prevent them from respecting one another.)
The prime distinction between the two groups (i.e, genuine and counterfeit leaders) is that the leaders who yearn for the worldly pleasures perpetually have their eyes on power. Their ultimate preference is to accumulate wealth and to receive complements.
(Greed for power and wealth cause tremendous amounts of moral deterioration, rancour and cause individuals to perpetrate all sorts of evils.)
As for the leaders who yearn for the hereafter, they not only prefer abstaining from what the former seek, but consternate upon being tested by materialism and are sympathetic towards those who have been tested...
Genuine leaders pray and provide assistance for one another. This is due to the fact that they admire the fruitful efforts of one another. Hence, the passing of days and nights becomes their path to paradise.”
(Ṣaid Al Khātir: 22)
May Allāh Almighty ignite the spirit of love, unity, tolerance and reverence among our leaders, as He bestowed to our pious predecessors. Āmīn!
Loads of people, from all walks of life came out last weekend in Edmonton, from all around Canada, to embrace the historic announcement, regarding the initiation of the Arabic Language Arts Curriculum at a provincial level in Alberta.
Everyone from faith leaders, to politicians. Everyone from teachers, to the brave people who insure that we remain safe day in and day out. Everyone who was born in this beautiful country, to all those who migrated here to call Canada home....The list could go on and on.
Photo Credit: Adam Abougouche & Alia Abougouche
When Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal was on his death bed, a Christian pastor of his community visited Imam Ahmad and said,“ O Imam, your life was not only a blessing for Muslims, it was a blessing to all of God's creation. We are all pleased with you!
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I recently touched base with a Catholic Father in our community, among many others. His name is Father Trini. We have attended many interfaith programs together in Lac La Biche.
Recently, we thought of facilitating interfaith sessions, in which we learn about the faiths of one another, just on the basis of coexisting . This endeavor entailed visits to the worship homes of one another.
A few days ago, I took my Arabic language class on a visit to the Catholic Church in Lac La Biche. Father Trini facilitated a detailed tour. He was very fond of the questions and enthusiasm of my students, the youth of our Musim community in Lac la Biche.
On our way out of the Church, the Father uttered a similar statement to me as the Christian Pastor did to Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
He also expressed how their regional Bishop is also very interested to meet the Muslim leadership of our community.
The Arabic students will soon be facilitating a tour for the Father & his students of our beautiful Masjid. That is what you call building bridges.
We ask Allah Almighty for strength, we ask him to facilitate complete peace and tolerance on this beautiful earth we call home.
Answered by Shaykh Mazhar Mahmood
Question:
I really don’t know what to do. I am depressed and I really need help. I feel like I have drifted apart from my friends. I feel useless, unwanted, and alone. I want my friends to be good Muslims but no one at my school is like that, though I go to an Islamic school. All my friends are obsessed with unlawful things, like music, boys etc. I want to have better company but I cannot find anyone like that. I am thinking of switching schools and starting fresh. My two friends (who are very Islamic and like me) go to a public school and I feel like I should go there. I feel so lonely and I cannot find anyone to help me!
Answer:
To begin with, I express my most sincere sentiments and sympathy upon your situation. I pray to Allāh Almighty that He eliminate all forms of depression from your life.
Adherence to the blessed teachings of Allāh and His Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) is the first and most definite step on your way to a life of peace and bliss.
Below are a few steps to productively enhance one’s life to be at ease and contentment, provided that they are exercised with consistency.
- Ensure
that the connection between slave and Lord remains positively intact.
This is achieved by one trying his/her utmost to fulfill the commands of
Allāh; such as, performing the five daily prayers and maintaining good
conduct with one and all.
Many a times, Allāh admonishes His devotees by afflicting them with trials and depression when they astray off the path of His obedience. Allāh confirms this fact in the Qur’ān: “One who strays from my remembrance will definitely face much narrowness in his/her life.” (Qur’ān 20:124) - Dedicate a portion of the day to the remembrance of Allāh (dhikr). This will prove as an indubitable means of bringing peace at heart. Allāh says: “Verily, in the remembrance of Allāh do hearts find contentment.” (Qur’ān 13: 28)
- Habitually supplicate to Allāh by means of invocations specifically taught to believers afflicted by stress and depression. Some of these invocations could be found in the following link: http://mathabah.org/mathabah/debt-and-stress/
- Actively participate in Islamic youth events/initiatives, sisters programs (halaqah) or any productive events. This will introduce you to other sisters who are also yearning to achieve the motive of progressing in faith and character. Participating in such community events will also give you the opportunity to socialize with the right crowd and keep you active. Inactivity often leads to depression. Allāh’s Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) said: “Righteous company is always much more bountiful than isolation.” (Al-Jāmī’ al-saghīr: 9666)
- Keep connected to a local scholar who will guide you in your daily matters, as the need arises. One of the best ways to do this, is by enrolling in an institute which conveys fundamental teachings of Islām, classes on self-reformation and discourses on how to please Allāh whilst maintaining a positive identity as Muslims living in the West.I encourage you to check out the curriculum on Mathabah.org, where dedicated scholars teach, support and stay connected to their students for the sake of their reformation and Allāh’s pleasure. It is narrated that Zirr bin Hubaish said: “I went to Safwân bin ‘Assâl Al-Murâdi and he said: What brought you here?’ I said: ‘I am seeking knowledge.’ He said: I heard the Messenger of Allāh say: “There is no one who goes out of his house in order to seek knowledge, but the angels lower their wings in approval of his action.”
If the above measures are taken into consideration, I feel it would not be necessary for you to switch schools, rather you would become a means of making a difference at your school Allāh willing. Kindly consult a local scholar for further guidance.
Allāh Almighty Knows Best
