The Chain of Change Starts with Us

We as Muslims should be people of reflection. As an Ummah we need to reflect and ask ourselves, what is the matter with us? Is it our lack in numbers? The answer to that, is simply no, one in every five people walking on the earth is a Muslim, so this has nothing to do with numbers.

Is it because of  no wealth and resources? The answer again is no. Most of the greatest natural resources are in the hands of Muslims. So what is the reason? We are more than a billion in number, with enough wealth, so why are we in the decadence we find ourselves in today?

It is our lack of men and women of substance as we have allowed the diseases of civilization to overtake us. We should bind our hearts to the Almighty and after that bind our hearts to one another. We should love for our brother, what we love for ourselves. Our Prophet may peace and blessings be upon him, did not teach us to hate people. 

The Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, warned us of the diseases of civilization. The diseases of envy and hatred. We should be grateful for what we have. Don't complain all the time.We should thank Allah subhan wa ta'alal for the blessings bestowed upon us because the minute we start complaining is when those blessings will be taken away from us. The more we appreciate what we have, the more we will be blessed, so we should honor our blessings.

Everyone speaks about wanting change...If we truly want change then there are conditions for changes to happen and for Allah to allow that change. There are two things we need to have, first, the burning desire of wanting change and second, the effort that we put forth in order to make that change. If we seriously want to change then we have to have the desire to change... It is very difficult to change when we don't see the need to change, and if we don't have that desire to change, then how are we going to change and how can we expect change?

The greatest battle is with the self. We have a bad habit of blaming other people, for example; "the king is not doing this, the queen is not doing that, the leader needs to change first"... This is the wrong perception that we have. We always like to shift the responsibility and put it on someone else. Allah  Azza Wa Jal does not appoint a person only according to our attitude.

The condition we are facing is because of us... because of our perceptions and our actions.

"Verily, never will Allah change the condition of a people, until they change themselves(with their own souls)" (Quran Ra'd 13:11)

So don't expect... reflect. Acknowledge that in order for change that the change must take place within ourselves first. 

Have a fixed goal, prepare a plan on how you will reach that goal, be determined and persistent. Stay away from negativity, stay with positive people that will encourage you to do good things. After you have achieved what you have set out to do, assist others to do the same and last but most importantly ask Allah subhan wa ta'ala for help in your journey. We need to revive ourselves, refresh our faith.We cannot revive a dead body, we can't help a dead heart..

We didn't get it yet.. 

We don't need the north or the south, the east or the west. We don’t need to cry to the creation when we have the Creator…

If we are truly people that believe in our destiny, if we are truly people who claim La illaha il Allah, if we are truly people that comprehend from the soul, the way out is very easy..

The chain of change starts with us......

He who has no patience

He who has no manners has no knowledge. He who has no patience has no deen. He who has no piety has no nearness to Allah. ~ Hasan al Basri(ra)

Indeed, all Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him, seek His Help and Forgiveness and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our own souls and the evil consequences of our own actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, no-one can lead him astray and whomsoever He leaves astray, no-one can guide him. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Most High and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and final Messenger - sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam.

May Allah grant us salvation from the Fitan of this world and endow us with knowledge, wisdom and correct action which aids us and keeps us steadfast when trials, tribulations and calamities befall.

The heart burns as one is subject to silence on matters in which one wants to cry out and be heard. Nothing is more difficult in this dunya(life) than being patient in times of fitnah (trials and tribulations). That is the power of Iman (faith), to bear patience where there is none around you, to endure while everyone around you is weak and to wait for the right moment where what you do and say will make a difference.

In the hadith of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: 'No-one has been given a gift as ample as patience.' ¹ – and that is because nothing follows patience except ease and vastness. So we wait for the ease and when the ease comes be just and fear the tribulations that will again come our way.

Expect, with the grace of the Almighty, that these times will pass, more tests will come and remember that what we are enduring today is by means of destiny by the will of Allah subhan wa ta’ala. And Allah is the best of planners, if only we would take heed and grasp onto the ropes of our faith.

The Prophet Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings be upon him) used to urge his Companions to learn about the stories of ancient nations, in compliance with Allah’s (subhan wa ta’ala) command in the Qur’an: “So relate the story, perchance they may reflect.” (Al-A’raaf: 176)

May Allah give us all knowledge and open our hearts to relate and reflect so as not to be deceived by this world. Ameen

There is an example in a true story explained by Ibn Sa'd where he relates in his Tabaqaat al-Kubraa (7/163-165) and of which is a reality that must be shared as we are facing the same trials and tribulations today.

A group of Muslims came to Al-Hasan al-Basri(ra) seeking a verdict to rebel against al-Hajjaaj [a tyrannical and despotic ruler]. So they said, "O Abu Sa'eed! What do you say about fighting this oppressor who has unlawfully spilt blood and unlawfully taken wealth and did this and that?"

Al-Hasan replied, "I hold that he should not be fought. If this is a punishment from Allah, then you will not be able to remove it with your swords. If this is a trial from Allah, then be patient until Allah's judgment comes, and He is the best of judges." They left Al-Hasan, disagreed with him and rebelled against al-Hajjaaj.  Al-Hajjaaj killed them all.

Al-Hasan used to say, "If the people had patience when they are being tested by their unjust ruler, it will not be long before Allah will give them a way out. However, they always rush for their swords, so they are left with their swords. By Allah! Not even for a single day did they bring about any good. If this man is a punishment from Allah then you cannot lift punishment with your swords. And if this man is a test from Allah, then no one is patient with this test except Allah will find a way out for them.”

A reminder to us all; Shaykh al-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah(ra) said, 'Rarely does a person go out against a leader (fighting etc), except that the evil consequences of his actions are greater than the good.' (Minhaj al-Sunnah al-Nabawi)

If only we open our true hearts and understand the clarity and how clear this is below..

"And indeed We seized them with punishment, but they did not humble themselves to their Lord, nor did they invoke (tadharru') with submission to Him." [al-Mu'minun: 76]

And in the end, this will all end..

And we the creation will return to our Creator 

And we the creation will ask ourselves, what did we do

And we the creation will ask, what did we achieve

And we the creation will stand in fear

And we the creation will wish we could just disappear

And we will ask for one more moment to come back to rectify our mistakes, 

But by then, it will be too late

"Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves".. try to understand..

What a strange world

We live in a very strange world.... A world where there is more funding for activists, then for funding those who are in dire need of food

Where there is more media attention for the plight of one, than the eradication of millions

Where politics matters far more than people

Where you are judged by your appearance and your ethnicity could have you locked up for life

Where trophies are presented on lavishly laid tables, at the expense of thousands of lives

Where people don’t donate.. unless they’re invited to an extravagant party

Where the fight for food is more trivial then a flight delay

Where human rights activists are far more concerned about a country where there is stability, then to an entire population in another that is destroyed and whose people are close to extinction  

Where one prize can feed a million, instead it is presented to one who is working to endanger a million

Where funding is forwarded to those who manipulate and destroy lives... neglecting those who just want to live

Where money is spent for those to report, rather than for those they are reporting on

Where a few are empowered to be heard and everyone else is subject to silence

Where thoughts can only be thoughts as long as they are not spoken

Where millions are forced to flee the poverty of their homes... while a few are financed to fuel fires

Where one person matters more than an entire continent and if they could push it a little further more than the entire globe

Where one voice is more important than the painful cries of thousands

Where ones view is praiseworthy, while others are declared unworthy.... just because they disagree

Where millions lay displaced, destitute and on the verge of life and death, a few selfishly steal the limelight for what is a petty matter in comparison and take center stage

Where the attention is sparked at one who refuses food, ignorant to those who forgot what it is really like to eat

Where human rights represent human wrongs, imposing their ideals with disrespect to your culture, your tradition and your religion

Where it is acceptable to be anything but your real self... indeed what a strange world we live in...