I seldom write academic articles, however given the recent developments in Islamic thoughts, I decided to write one anyway. Hopefully this article can trigger Muslims for a more thoughtful discourse.
This article is academic in comparison and not in its essence. I prefer casual writing to disseminate ideas and thoughts. So that the readers don’t die of boredom but can enjoy what they read. Despite their call for freedom of speech the alternative media is increasingly reluctant to share my views. Apparently only their views have freedom.
In the first paragraph, I said “thoughtful” and not “intellectual” for a reason, thoughtful of the feelings and status others as Muslims. Being thoughtful when calling names and labelling others as deviant. It is very easy to claim to be a Muslim, but not so easy when it comes to the practice. The Prophet S.A.W. said,
Some people asked Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), “Whose Islam is the best? i.e. (Who is a very good Muslim)?” He replied, “One who avoids harming the Muslims with his tongue and hands.”
Narrated by Bukhari
Let’s deal with harming others with the tongue because that is the easiest thing to do. Many who claim to be learned harm others with their tongues. Many a times they label others as being deviant merely because those people chose a different school of thought. It has to be remembered that calling a deviant, “deviant” is not wrong.
It becomes wrong when anyone not having the same ideas, thoughts and opinions is labeled as being deviant. This action does not help unite the Muslim, but on the contrary divides us even more. When someone is labeled as deviant, he or she is bound to defend his or her stance.
After that, begins a long reign of never ending polemics that keep on separating the ummah. Muslims have recently been going into a lot of spat, especially at each other. There are those who accuse each other of deviating from the true path. And then there are those who claim to be progressives, liberals and so on. Just to be clear we share this hadith of the Prophet S.A.W.,
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever prays like us and faces our Qibla and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim and is under Allah’s and His Apostle’s protection. So do not betray Allah by betraying those who are in His protection.”
Narrated by Bukhari
At least by the virtue of this hadith we know some characteristics of a Muslim. It has to be noted that praying five times a day is the most important tenet of Islam.
It is narrated on the authority of Jabir that he heard the Apostle (may peace and blessings be upon him) saying. Verily between man and between polytheism and unbelief is the negligence of prayer.
Narrated by Muslim
This hadith is saying that the difference between a Muslim and a non-Muslim is prayer. Here we know that prayer or solat is the most important action of a Muslim. And it can be said that one who does not pray is not a Muslim.
When we talk about those who establish the prayer, but yet are labeled as deviant, here begins a serious issue. Making it easy to label someone as being deviant is definitely not a part of Islamic teachings. The Prophet S.A.W. himself accepted the difference of opinions between the companions.
If the Prophet S.A.W. can accept the differences why can’t we? Isn’t it more important to live in harmony and to strengthen each other rather than create polemics? Is it not a priority to teach people how to perform prayers correctly? There are many more pressing issues than to call someone as deviant, what more for a person that performs the obligatory prayers.
We should not be quick to pass judgements on Muslims who pray five times a day. There is a concept of adab or mannerisms when facing differences in opinions. There are two kinds of differences of opinions, the first is in relation to haq and batil i.e. truth and falsehood. The second pertains to khata’ and sawab i.e. wrong and right.
It is on the second category that Imam Shafi’i said “my opinion is right but it maybe wrong, other opinion is wrong but maybe right”. We accept the differences of opinions among scholars of the sunni school, and labelling one another is not something that encouraged either.
Educating the ummah, developing the economy, providing a better quality of life for Muslims should be the priority. A few among us choose to indulge themselves into fruitless polemics between the ummah. And of course we have the down right deviants, who question Allah and His Messenger(s). Those who do not want to obey the commandments of Allah S.W.T. and those who do not want to be subjected to the Syariah.
The list goes on and on, and these people take advantage on whoever that can help them with their goals. These people who claim to be progressives, many a times can’t argue based on Islamic epistemology. They have many rhetorical conjectures but no sound arguments to back themselves.
Accepting differences is not a license to allow falsehood to thrive. Somebody has to tell the truth in the best way possible by incorporating adab and akhlaq towards a fellow believer. People who deviate knowingly are different from those who are in a state of ignorance. For those who deny obedience to Allah and His Messenger knowingly often times do it because it is in their interest. They do not have the knowledge nor the intellect to come up with their own reasoning or ijtihad.
Neither do they have any reason to deny Allah and His Messenger what is due. For them Islam is as a person wishes it to be. We can’t have people who deviate knowingly from Islam and claim to be righteous. On another side we have people who are busy labelling each other and are caught up in the act.
When the time comes to battle the liberal movements, many are busy at each other’s throats rather than looking at what’s more important. We are living in a world where the Veto powers plunder and bomb Muslim nations at will. Where we can see Muslims fleeing from their homes and dying on rafts. Where Muslims that hope for a better future are discriminated just because of their belief.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite others to share their dish. Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last enervation into your hearts. Someone asked: What is wahn (enervation). Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): He replied: Love of the world and dislike of death.
Narrated by Abu Dawud
We can see what we have become today. This hadith is merely for our own reflections and not to blame anyone. This is a prophecy and it will come true if it hasn’t already. Let’s try our best as individuals and as an ummah to be of those who strive in the way of Allah S.W.T. Let’s not fight among each other but be united to face the world.
The development of Islamic thoughts among Muslim from a very young age is of paramount importance. To develop an ummah that obeys Allah and His Messenger, to develop an ummah that is empathetic and not narcissist, to develop an ummah that strives in the way of this wolrd and the hereafter, an ummah that establishes the five daily prayers, an ummah that can actually produce material and intellectual innovations.
Muslims are at crossroads, between Islam and the love of this world. One final message from the Almighty Himself,
O you who have believed, if you support Allah , He will support you and plant firmly your feet.
Quran 47:7
May Allah accept our deeds and have mercy on our souls,
Allah knows best
Rehan Ahmad Bin Jamaluddin Ahmad, Research Fellow, Institut Kajian Strategik Islam Malaysia (IKSIM)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, and should not be attributed to, Isma or Ismaweb.
