UNITED WE STAND AND DIVIDED WE FALL

UNITED WE STAND AND DIVIDED WE FALL

The holy Quran says: O men ! Behold, we have created you all out of a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all knowing, all aware (Al-Quran. Al-hujurat 49:13)

The above verses are self-explanatory. It is necessary for us to following them instead of arguing or fighting with one another on small things. We are all one from the same one God. Our young religious scholars can do well in giving priority to the concept of one God and one community -ummah- in their sermons. There is also need for us to understand the other side of the story on every important matter. We cannot expect the people to toe our points of view always on every issue. It is ones right to judge issues in the light of the holy Quran and Ahadees.

Nobody can deny the importance of the four Imams ( Ayimma Araba'a) in the Islamic history and society as their contributions in codifying the Islamic laws are great. There are millions of people who following them and some other Imams. We cannot say that only a particular Imam was right and we do not think anybody feels or says so. Even these great Imams have rightly said that the holy Quran and Ahadees are most important and our attention should not be diverted from them.

The "guides" prepared by the great religious scholars are actually excellent ready-reckoners serving good purposes. Let us not under-estimate their services. We must be indebted to them. They were undoubtedly great scholars and the like of whom are not available now. They used their wisdom and solved the problems of the community during their periods as time demanded. If they are alive now, they would have found new solutions to the buring problems of the present highly materialistic world where human values are at the lowest ebb. It is unfortunate that we are fast becoming ritualistic and our good characters, manners, discipline etc. are on the wane. We are losing our good culture and civilization too and becoming rough in temperaments. Why is it that we are not following our fore-fathers who were kind hearted and soft-spoken. Let us ponder over these changes and find solutions for them.

We have seen students buying "guides" prepared by some experienced teachers and published by some companies and reading them instead of reading the prescribed text books in detail. We have also seen some students reading both the text books and guides. It is mostly the latter students who have more knowledge and score the best possible marks in their examinations. It cannot be said in the case of the former students. In the same way if one wants to study the holy Quran, the Ahadees and also the guides prepared by the Imams it is most welcome because it is what a Muslim should try to do. Only by reading different books written by different scholars we will be able to increase our knowledge. A voracious reader will be in better position to grasp the Islamic principles and laws in their proper perspective. We should not close the door for study of the most important divine book the holy Quran and Ahadees. Our leading ulema have been stressing these points. There cannot be two opinions about it. But some people in praising the Imams knowingly or unknowingly forget the importance we must attach to the holy Quran and Ahadees. Yet some other people do not take the trouble of understanding the services rendered by the Imams and express views which are un-Islamic in nature. Is it not a fact that there is a consensus among scholars that we can disagree with any Imam on any particular point of view by sheer scholarly thought?

The holy Quranic verse " hold tight to the rope of God and be not divided among yourselves" should always remain in our thinking. Every action we take should be for unity, prosperity and peace of the community.

It is hoped that our ulema will guide us to follow these values and remove the misunderstandings prevailing among us. We also request them to advise us about the importance of education, discipline, honesty, co-operation, truthfulness, simplicity, etc. and inspire us to follow them instead of keeping quiet and expecting everything from above. We blame Allah for our troubles without realising our blunders. Le them teach us the right path to free ourselves from any superstitious beliefs, face the challenges of the present time and come out successful in life. We should not forget our responsibilities.

Let us try to be an embodiment of love and affection to all no matter to which school of thought we belong. We must shun sectarian outlook. We must believe that everyone who is allowed to perform haj is a Muslim and nothing else. Let us remain united as our Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) preached and practised.