Jawed Anwar

THERE are concerns, worries, and maybe fear in some quarters due to use of words of threats against Islam and Muslims by President Elect Mr. Donald Trump during the Presidential election campaign, 2016. However, the good part is that it opened the debate in America what exactly Islam stands for and what faithful Muslims intend to do. And this is a good opportunity to all the Muslims living in the United States of America to avail this prospect.

First thing to do is to bridge the gap between Islam and Muslims, and the second thing is to bridge the gap between Islam and America. 

There is a wide gap between Islam and Muslims, and this is the biggest threat to us as Muslims. If we lose our connection with Almighty, the most Powerful, the Ruler, Sustainer, and Protector of all human beings, no one is going to protect us. There is no public relation effort, outreach programs and discussions, interfaith dialogues, and dawah program that will work if we are not practicing what we are believing and not connecting to our Lord; the Lord of the world and heavens.

Hiding and camouflaging the Truth, instead of witnessing the Truth is the biggest crime as an Ummah (Muslim community) that we have been continuously committing.

The second crime is not doing our role of “Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil” (Amr Bil Maroof and Nahi Unal Munkar).

The third crime is that there is no effort to establish DEEN of Allah.

Even the organizations that were originally formed to do these tasks lost the direction and detracted. They are doing all other tasks other than the above mentioned three.

It is now the issue of survival of Muslim Americans.

Muslim American organizations are planning to “save Muslims” by failing Islam (check their recent fatwas, statements, brochures, and flyers). However, history proves that it is only true Islam that always saved Muslims in crisis. And it depends on the question of how Muslims behave with Islam.

In 13th century, Mongols leader Hulagu Khan conquered the Muslim world and completely crushed the Muslim powers from most of western Asia. However, the Islamic power of Dawah and education worked well, and Hulagu’s grandson and majority of the Mongols embraced Islam, and they later became future “Islamic power” of the world.

What should be our steps in the right direction?

Studying Islam as a complete and comprehensive way and system of life is the first step. The second step is to practice it in individual life, and third step (simultaneous with the second step) is to convey this message (dawah) to the power and then people of the nation.

All the Messengers of Allah start their DAWAH to the power (politicians, rulers, kings, tribal chiefs, and powerful people of the society etc.). The wisdom to invite and debate with them at first place is because:  1.  If they will change, the people, society and nation will change. 2. “Addressing to the leaders of the nation” is the biggest news that can’t be hidden to the people of the nation.

Hast thou not Turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham About his Lord, because Allah had granted him power (the ruler of the time)? Abraham said: "My Lord is He Who Giveth life and death." He said: "I give life and death". Said Abraham: "But it is Allah that causeth the sun to rise from the east: Do thou then cause him to rise from the West." Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected faith. Nor doth Allah Give guidance to a people unjust.--- Meaning of Arabic Al-Quran, Surah Baqrah (2:258).

Has the story of Moses reached thee?  Behold, thy Lord did call to him in the sacred valley of Tuwa:- "Go thou to Pharaoh for he has indeed transgressed all bounds. And say to him, 'Wouldst thou that thou shouldst be purified (from sin)? ---Meaning of Arabic Al-Quran, Surah An-Nazi’at (79:15-18).

Prophet Muhammad (s.aw.) addressed all the tribal chiefs, ruling class of Makkah, Taif, and then Madinah.

He asked a group of people to migrate to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in extreme hardships and atrocities facing Muslims in Makkah. The group led by Ja'far bin Abi Talib  (R.) talked to the ruler  of Abyssinia Christian King Negus. He recited Surah Maryam (Mary)  (https://quran.com/19 ) of Quran. Listening the verses of Quran, King Negus started crying. He accepted the Truth and embraced Islam. The king facilitated the Muslims and Islam in his state.

After preparing initial groundwork in Madinah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺsent his youth companion Mus‘ab bin ‘Umairؓ to stay in Madinah to convey the message of Islam to all the tribes of Madinah. Mus’ab (R.) did it successfully with his enormous power of communication skill. He conveyed Allah’s message to all the chiefs of tribes. Following their tribal chiefs, people started embracing Islam (surrender to God).

Are we (or any group among us) ready to convey the message of Islam to Donald Trump, his administrative team, and lawmakers of Congress, Senate, and Assemblies, Governors, Mayors, US Military and City Police?

The message of Islam is clear and off course “political.”

The message is that sovereignty belongs to God and all the governing laws of individual life, society, education, culture, and human civilization should be based on the Guidance, Principle, Guidelines and rules of God revealed in His books and teachings of Messengers/Prophets of God.

This was the Message of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhamamd (peace be upon all of them).

However, the prophetic methodology to convey the message is always peaceful and non-violent.

Christian conservatives of America feel offended when we use the word “Sharia.”

“Sharia” is an Arabic word that means “governing laws” based on the revelations of God and teachings of Messengers of God.

If you (our Christian brothers and sisters) don’t believe in “Sharia” that is based on the last and final revelation of God (Quran) and teachings of last and final Messenger of God, Muhammad ﷺ (Sunnah) then bring your own Bible-based “Sharia.” We Muslims will support you.

Bring and implement the Bible Sharia for the crimes/sins of adultery, liquor, gambling, homosexuality, nudity, prostitution, secularization of education, abortion (killing of babies before birth), murder, mass killing, and suicide, etc. We are ready to support and co-operate with you.

Does the Bible allow racism? Does the Bible allow to deport people from their homes and lands? Does the Bible allow forceful migration? Does the Bible snatch the right of movement/migration from one place to another and settle down? Does the Bible allow nationalism? Does the Bible allow secularism (no guidance from the religion in the public life)? Does the Bible allow liberalism? Does the Bible allow same-sex marriage?

Does the Bible allow capitalism? Does the Bible allow interest/usury? Does the Bible allow profiteering? Does the Bible allow few people to accumulate wealth and deprive the majority even from the basic needs of life? Does the Bible allow destruction of the environment, air, sea, trees, and lands? Does the Bible allow genetic modification of human beings, animals, and trees and plants?

Does the Bible allow injustice? Does the Bible allow oppression? Does the Bible allow labor’s exploitation? Does the Bible allow slavery of men over men? Does the Bible allow illegal occupation of the land and resources of others? Does the Bible allow hate, based on the nationality, ethnicity, and color?

Definitely not.

The Quran teaches the same as the Bible taught before. Islam is nothing but an updated DEEN of Abrahamic faith. Let us bring back the DEEN of Abraham Ø‘.

(Jawed Anwar can be reached at jawed@seerahwest.com)