Throwing Culture to the Wind (The sorry state of Muslims today)

The first eighty or so years after the Prophet (peace be upon him) were the best time in all human history in which to live. Pure, true, uncorrupted Islam was practiced and spread. In His Infinite Wisdom, Allah revealed the Qur'an in Arabic to Arabic speaking people. These same people, only had to hear the Qur'an and immediately they understood its significance. The greatest thing in their culture was their depth of understanding of the pure Arabic language. Islam was the means of transforming them into the most outstanding civilization of all time.

Whenever Islam spread, naturally the Arabic language was learned and hence the doors to Islamic knowledge were opened. Indeed the love for learning and spreading true knowledge was an essential part of life.

Time through the ages and the ebb and flow of Islamic resurgence continues - parallel to the obedience or disobedience of the people. Islam, like waves on an ocean, ever flowing, moving across time - sometimes strong and resilient and at other times weak and helpless. The moment the individual and hence the society, lets go of the Trustworthy Handhold; the moment they feel self reliant; the moment they choose to knowingly disobey Allah the Creator of all - that, is the moment when the ever waiting tides of evil will overcome the 'Islam' of the people, for truly Islam is submission and obedience to Allah and His Prophet (peace be upon him).

Today the Muslims are a fragmented group, reveling in nationalism, self- glorification and desire for the world. They often carry their Islam as a kind of insurance card, ready to use it when necessary, thinking that their recitation of the Shahadah will alone save them from the evil consequences of their deeds.

We hear about Islamic culture in this pro-multicultural world of the new age, as if Islam is a cloak we choose to wear while other's cultures are deemed equal in beauty and truth. But is Islam really culture? We have Turkish culture, Lebanese culture, Asian culture and Western culture and then we have Islam. Islam is 'the' way of life prescribed by the Creator for His creation. It contains no manmade elements; choice remains either in obedience or disobedience to the Creator. Hence freedom is an illusion.

Unfortunately however, throughout the world we have the notion of 'culture' seeping through to the mosques and those who desire to govern them. Each ethnic group believing it has a more legitimate right to lead, govern and control. In this process the beauty of Islam; the spiritual and practical manifestation of the love and fear of Allah - courage, loyalty, forbearance, trustworthiness, honesty, punctuality and piety have been squeezed out of modern day 'cultural Islam.'

An unidentifiable mixture of one's culture and Islam often masks the beauty of the era of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Arabic language is no longer sought like before, and understanding the Qur'an in Arabic is no longer a priority. In doing so, we have lost the essence!

How much thinking is controlled by family and societal expectations, which contain a smattering of superficial Islamic manners and 'traditions', acting as a façade against self-centered nationalism?

What a sorry state we are in! The Zionist enemy sits and watches us destroy ourselves through our own neglect, as we leave the essence of Islam - the sincere obedience to Allah and His Prophet (peace be upon him) and commitment and sacrifice in His way along with a burning desire to learn, learn, learn!

By the time we have finished whittling away our Islamic foundation, the enemies of Allah, will have no need to work so hard to complete the final bricks of modern day colonialism. A large majority of Muslims have already adopted their language, their fashions, their manners, and their habits. They praise their tyranny and send their precious children to their schools. What is left of our Islam?

Come on! Let's shake off the shackles of cultural thinking, nationalist pride and love of the West and sincerely follow the Prophet (peace be upon him) who was sent by Allah the Almighty to be our example.

Let's turn to the Creator. Put our foreheads on the ground in humility and obedience and then, I'm sure, that Allah will turn in His Mercy to those who truly seek His pleasure. On that day, the enemies of Allah will scatter amidst their evil plans and will destroy themselves, as we have nearly done.


Contributed by : Velma Cook, Australia Yahia El-Safty