Israel, a threat to the world

Outrageous! Israel's attack on the poor Palestinians is cold murder, genocide and the most despicable form of terrorism. With the passage of time, Israel has only gone from bad to worse. Israel's attacks have intensified; it doesn't hesitate to attack any country, doesn't respect any country's sovereignty, and is a plain bully.
Apart from the genocide it regularly carries out in Occupied Palestine, it has attacked Syria and Lebanon in the recent past. The country has no regard for its neighbors and does nothing to improve relations with them.
No, it's not Iran that's a threat to the world. It's Israel.

The question of child marriage

The issue of child marriage has been under a lot of discussion recently. The trials of the two young teens seeking divorce is making news everywhere. The crux of the problem, however, is not that judgment is being delayed or in child marriage itself. The real problem is: Parents being good or bad for their children.
Children are under the custody of their parents. Father is primarily responsible for his family, so it is his duty to think and act in the best interest of his children. If the father is abusive, he may exploit his children in a number of ways. There's nothing much one could do about that. Parents are supposed to take care of their children and bring them up in the best manner possible, and most of them do that. Majority of parents - though ignorant of the best ways to parenting - do take sufficient care of their children in providing them what they need, including education. But there are parents who abuse them, trade them for money, and sometimes even kill them. This is not restricted to Saudi Arabia, it happens all around the world.
One of the improper ways societal problems are tackled by the ruling class of the world is by putting a full stop to any conservative practice through which abuse may occur. Marriage is one such example. Though not criticized openly, the trend in the Western world is to replace 'marriage' with what-they-call 'living with a partner.' Why? Domestic violence! Abuse of women by husbands! This set-up allows men and women to satisfy their animal desires without being committed or bonded to each other, they can walk-out any time. Such relationships end quickly. Living with a partner is an advanced stage, today's most widely practiced phenomenon in the West is 'hooking up,' described by Charles Blow in New York Times, which is more of a one-night-stand.
The problems with such alternatives are many, and it doesn't solve the problem it sought to tackle in the beginning. Abuse continues. Majority of the rapes in the US are committed by a known person, most likely a 'friend,' and they are not decreasing.
Family is an institution. There is commitment between the spouses, they share responsibilities, and sacrifice for achieving common goals. It is an institution because family nurtures and prepares a generation that will inherit the world tomorrow. Family, in short, is the DNA of society. If families disintegrate, societies will follow.
Though in today's world the term "child marriage" is taboo and perceived as an extreme form of abuse, historically the law to allow minors getting married, which Islam does approve of, was not meant to be a form of abuse. The question on who is a minor and who is not is not hasn't been well addressed. However, some of the marriage practices in Saudi society are not Islamic, and go back to the pre-Islamic times.
All this and more in the next post Insha Allah...

What is Wahhabism, Salafism? Who is a Wahhabi, Salafi?

Today increasingly in media and otherwise the term Wahhabism is used to denote an "extreme interpretation" (as they call it) of Islam. "Its an extreme sect, strict and Saudi version of Islam." Such talks are not uncommon. However, all these comments are vague that do not specify details nor back their accusations with proofs.

Let's get away from all this labeling and dividing Islam into groups, sects and interpretations. Ask yourself:

What is Islam?
It is the religion of Allah (God), the Most Merciful. It is just ONE religion.

What is the source of Islam?
If the religion is Allah's, then there can be only ONE source - Allah. It is Allah who has to say what Islam is. It is not for us to devise the religion. Allah is the ONLY source of Islam.

"This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion." (Qur'an, 5:3)

How did Allah tell us about Islam?
Allah revealed the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and also its explanation. Most people think that Allah revealed only the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). This is not true. He revealed the Qur'an and also the Sunnah. That is whatever the Prophet said or did or approved of, was because of the instruction or revealation from Allah. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) did not himself teach anything. He said only what Allah taught him and instructed him to convey.

"He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]) from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses, purifying them, and teaching them the Book (this Qur'ân) and Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship). And verily, they had been before in manifest error." (Qur'an, 62:2)

He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]), has indeed obeyed Allâh. (Qur'an, 4:80)

The main difference, however, is: Qur'an is the speech of Allah. But the Hadeeth/Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) is the speech/actions of the Prophet.

How do we understand Islam?
We have to understand Islam in the meaning that was intended by Allah, our Creator, when He revealed the religion. The Qur'an is clear in many aspects. The Hadeeth is the explanation of the Qur'an in the things that are ambiguous. Even otherwise, the Qur'an cannot be understood completely without Hadeeth, which explains the Qur'an. And both the Qur'an and Hadeeth cannot be understood without the understanding of the Sahabah, the companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).
Why is this? It is because the direct audience who received the revelation were the companions. They learnt directly from the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). So they understood in what context verses were revealed, their meanings and rulings.

So, if they believe in the like of that which you believe then they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, then they are only in opposition. (Qur'an, 2:137)

Allah mentions the belief of those present when this verse came down as an example. All others who come should follow that example. The example is the belief of the Sahabah who were present when this verse was revealed.

And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell – what an evil destination! (Qur'an, 4:114)

Again the example of the believers' way i.e. the Sahabah's way.

Which group? Sunni/Shia/others?
This method to understand Islam was adopted by default by the early generations, those who learnt under the Sahabah etc. The great Imaams and scholars of the past like Abu Haneefah, Shafi'ee, Maalik, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, and many others. Some Muslims started deviating from the sources, and started understanding Qur'an and Islam according to what they thought was right, without referring back to the Prophet's Sunnah or what the companions understood. They deviated. The first sect to deviate was Khawaarij. This happened during the time of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). There were many Sahabah living during that time, but none of them deviated, because of their firm and correct understanding of Islam. Allah has said of all Sahaabah - Radiyallaahu anhum - Allah is pleased with them (see Surah Bayyinah).
So the people of the mainstream Islam, the scholars who upheld Islam according to the correct roots, were known as Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah (People adhering to the Sunnah and the main group of Muslims i.e. the Sahaabah). The term in short is 'Sunni' from Sunnah.

Other groups, err in this fundamental aspect of correctly understanding Islam i.e. Qur'an, Hadeeth upon the methodology of the Sahabah. The point re-emphasized is, the above mentioned path is the ONLY way to understand what ALLAH really meant when He revealed it.

Wahhabism?
Wahhabism was coined by Britishers as a label from the name of the famous scholar of Arabia Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhaab. It must be noted that Ibn Abdul Wahhaab did not call people to this group/label. He did not create a sect. He called people to Islam - to Tawheed - to worship Allah alone and to not associate anyone along with Allah. During his time, Shirk was rampant. Muslims had glorified their dead ancestors so much that they started worshipping them, making Du'a to them, asking them for help etc. All this should be done for Allah alone. This is the essence of Islam, the kalimah, the testimony that we bear witness to, Laa ilaaha illAllah. There is none worthy of worship except Allah. This was Ibn Abdul Wahhaab's call. And Allah aided Islam through this scholar. Tawheed spread all over Arabia, and Shirk was shunned. He was a proper Sunni scholar, who adhered to the Qur'an and Sunnah upon the methodology of the companions.

Britishers used this term as a derogatory label and to divide Muslims. They even used this term in India against all those Muslims who fought against them for independence. The first war of independence in 1857 in India was largely initiated by Muslims, joined by people of other faith. It is incorrect to label people Wahhaabi.

Salafism - more correctly Salafiyyah?
Salaf here refers to the people of the past. What it means in context is, understanding Islam according to the Salaf or Salaf-us-Saalih. The pious people of the past. Referring to the companions of the Prophet and those who followed them in righteousness. The first and foremose of the Salaf is the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). Salafiyyah in essence means the same as Ahlus-Sunnah or Sunni and the word Salaf was used by early scholars like Abu Haneefah and others in this same essence.

The labeling and false accusations without any basis or proof are not new. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) was attacked with baseless false charges, he was called a magician and a sorcerer, while he was the true prophet of Allah.

Finally, this is what Islam is all about. There can be only one path of understanding it, the way of Ahlus-Sunnah. Not all differing opinions are valid. Only opinions that stem out from proper method of understanding Islam are valid. Following the proper way is important to correctly understand what Allah really revealed to us.

If someone differs then say:
"Produce your proof if you are truthful." (Qur'an, 2:111)


Forward and spread the truth!