By: Dr. Alizi Alias UIAM
Sir William Ewart Gladstone, four time Prime Minister of Great Britain, is famous for telling the English Parliament, “As long as this Quran exists, Europe will never be able to conquer the Islamic East.” How psychologicallly paranoid is that? Today, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is broadcasting the readings of our Holy Qur’an! I guess they are no longer paranoid compared to when they colonialised Muslim countries back then. Or is it because they have just realised that they do not have to “physically” remove the Qur’an from the hands of the Muslims but instead “psychologically” remove the Qur’an from the mind and heart of the Muslims?
Let’s say, theoretically, they did manage to do that during colonialisation, before they gave us our so-called independence (merdeka!), isn’t that scary? All these while, we thought that we have been good Muslims by reading the Qur’an, when in fact, we may be far from Allah’s guidance (hidayah). We may be doomed forever as 2nd (or even 3rd) class citizens among the world population.
So, how can I maximise my possibilities to gain hidayah? How can Qur’an be my secret weapon to be the leader of the world? Based on several books on the Qur’an by al-Qaradawi, there are perhaps two ways:
(1) compare how Qur’an itself prioritise issues with how “I” myself prioritise issues, and
(2) compare how how the Sahabah/Companions RAA (those who are confirmed hidayah recipients) interacted with the Qur’an with how “I” interact with the Qur’an. Take a deep breath. Here we goes…
Qur’anic Focus vs. My Personal Focus in Life
Al-Qur’an: it touches the issue of taharah/purity e.g. water, najasah/impurities, wudu’/ablution, tayammum, ghusl/bath, only in ONE or two verses (i.e. al-Qur’an, 5: 6).
Me: I, on the other hand, am so obsessed about learning and practising the details about taharah i.e. sah/validity vs. batal/nullification, wajib (obligatory) vs. mandub/optional), makruh (undesirable) vs. haram/prohibited), najasah (impurity) vs. taharah/purity, etc. and even getting involved in unnecessary arguments about it among fellow Muslims
Al-Qur’an: It talks about jihad (Islamic struggle) in numerous verses. In fact, a number of chapters in the Qur’an are named with jihad themes e.g. Al-Anfal, al-Tawbah, al-Ahzab, al-Qital, al-Fath, al-Saf, al-Hashr, al-Hadid, al-`Adiyat, and al-Nasr. And that does not include descriptions about jihad in lengthy chapters e.g. al-Baqarah, Ali `Imran, and al-Nisa’! It’s like watching episodes after episodes of war movies (or movies about personal, group, and national struggles) with lots of “psychological” lessons.
Me: I haven’t really struggled for the sake of Islam in terms of da`wah (Islamic propagation) and tarbiyyah (Islamic education), what more to be involved in war to defend Islam. People are confused about Islam, and the enemies make people MORE confused about Islam. But, I am more concerned about taharah and najasah which is supposed to be a very simple issue.
Psychological Reflection: Nothing wrong with what I am doing right now on taharah, I’m sure - from micro-perspective (okay, okay, I should reduce my obession with taharah and go on with the next topic in `ibadah and other topics about family/munakahat, society/mu`amalah, and states/jinayah). What’s wrong is: what I do NOT do at the moment on jihad - from macro-perspective. Oh no! Perhaps I’m missing on other much more important hidayah!
Al-Qur’an: It tells us about the miraculous birth of Isa (Jesus) AS, the quite miraculous birth of Yahya (John) AS, plus the birth of Maryam (Mary) AS. Surprisingly, it never touches on the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW! That’s weird, right? Leaving our beloved prophet’s birthday. Perhaps, the reason is the stories of the three births concern `aqidah - about Allah qudrah (power), `ilm (knowledge), and iradah (will) - which some Muslims (back then, and even now) are still confused about it.
Me: I like celebrating Mawlid al-Rasul (birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW) a lot. There’s of course, the mass procession in the middle of several major roads chanting the salawat (blessings for Prophet Muhammad) and carrying banner. Sometimes, there are religous talk about the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW (and some speakers will tell us about the miraculous birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW (and some speakers will tell us about the miraculous events that took place during the birth of the Prophet Muhammad SAW - which doesn’t have anything to do with `aqidah issues except making us feel good; and I hope those stories are sahih/valid). Sometimes there are Islamic entertainment. But one thing is always there… food, glorious food!
Psychological Reflection: I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with ‘remembering’ Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. I know some groups labelled its celebration as bid`ah (religious innovation). But, as long I don’t believe that it is a sunnah, as long I don’t believe that is an `ibadah, as long as I treat it as a social/mu`amalah event, and as long as I don’t get angry with those who label it as bid`ah (because they have a strong point too), I guess it is okay, right? The problem is: have I ever pondered on the birth of Isa AS, Yahya AS, and Maryam AS, how it affects my iman toward Allah, how it affects my understanding of Christianity, how it affects my da`wah to the Christians (like what Ja`far ibn Abi Talib did to Najashi, King of Habshah), and how it affects my behaviours when Allah shows me some signs (in the Qur’an/Sunnah and natural events), that my belief/practice is wrong? Have I been neglecting some hidayah message in the Qur’an? Again?
Al-Qur’an: I like reading stories. And Qur’an is full of stories on various events that occur during Prophet Muhammad SAW era. What are the events, you asked me? The war of Badr (in surah al-Anfal), the war of Uhud (in surah Ali `Imran), the war of Khandaq & Bani Qurayzah (in surah al-Ahzab), the war of Bani Nadr (in surah al-Hashr), the treaty of Hudaybiyyah (in surah al-Fath), and the war of Tabuk & Hunayn (in surah al-Tawbah), to name a few. Hey, do you notice that all the themes of the stories are about war and war-related?
Me: I like to be involved in ceremonies that commemorate events during Prophet Muhammad SAW time. Let me see… Mawlid al-Rasul (the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW which, by the way, is not mentioned in the Qur’an), Isra’ (which is mentioned directly in ONE verse in surah al-Isra’), and Mi`raj (which is mentioned indirectly in a few verses in surah al-Najm. Err… I guess that’s about it. I don’t really celebrate the other events mentioned in the Qur’an, nor do I remember the months that they took place, what more to read/review the stories on an annual basis.
Psychological Reflection: I know, I know… I have not done justice to the Qur’an. I should have been more concerned about the stories of ghazawat/war during Prophet’s time. And I know too that Prophet’s Companions RAA never really celebrate Mawlid al-Rasul and Isra’ Mi`raj. In contrast, they like to tell stories about their experiences in wars to their children and followers because of the inspirational values on the practical aspects of `amal e.g. da`wah, tarbiyyah, and jihad (just like watching war movies, right?). And they are the best generation that received hidayah. I guess it’s time to read various sirah nabawiyyah (biography of Prophet Muhammad) books. Shame on me.
Al-Qur’an: I’ve noticed that there are so many chapters and verses in the Qur’an that talk about Bani Isra’il (the Ancient Jews). Sometimes I wonder whether Al-Qur’an is revealed “more” to the Jews than it is for Muslims. Look at surah(s) al-Baqarah, Ali `Imran, al-Nisa’, al-Ma’idah, and al-A`raf (to name just a few). And these are the lengthiest chapters in the Qur’an! Surely, there must be a reason why Allah wants us to read about them, right?
Me: Well, I do donate for the Palestinian cause (sometimes…) and I do hate what the Jews did to the Palestinians and even verbally criticise the Jews (well, only among close circles of friends, not directly to them). Other than that, I just live my life and practically ignore the issues of Israelis-Palestinians war, and ignore all the tactics the Jews use to influence the mind and behaviours of Muslims (young and old) so that we are far from the hidayah.
Psychological Reflection: This part really make me sad. Imagine, all these while, my life has been influenced (controlled) by the secular ideas that have penetrated my mind without my realising it (notice that most of the great social scientific - and secular/atheistic - theoreticians are Jews? Coincident? Or conspiracy?). I did the best I can to contribute, but somehow my hatred toward the Jews is more racially- and emotionally-based rather than “iman”ically-, academically-, and strategically-based. For example, have I really studied their religion (including the psychology of Judaism)? Have I really studied their tactics in attacking Muslims physically, psychologically, and spiritually (via liteature, media, and other services/products) the way Prophet SAW and Companion RA did? Have I really helped in building physical, psychological, and spiritual defense among Muslims so that they will not be defeated (or influenced) by the Jews? And more importantly, have I perform da`wah and tarbiyyah to prepare Muslims to counter-attack the Jewish ideas in literature, media, etc.
[Note: Jews here refer to the Jews who purposely make enemy with Muslims like most Zionists). See my "disclaimer" in previous posting on surah al-Fatihah]. And have I tried to perform da`wah to a lot of Jews out there who have good sincere souls but were prevented from understanding the real, pure, and beautiful religion we called Islam?
Four comparisons have been made, and I’m not sure whether I’m qualified to gain the total Qur’anic package of hidayah, if I do not do anything starting from now… Now what about comparing my way and the Sahabah’s RAA way of interacting with the Qur’an.
Interacting with Qur’an: Sahabah RAA vs. Me
Sahabah: They read the Qur’an to get GUIDE for them to live the life as human being.
Me: I usually read the Qur’an ONLY to get REWARDS and barakah/blessing of reading it.
Sahabah: They read the Qur’an as the guide on rulings/hukm for LIVING, breathing people.
Me: I usually read the Qur’an to donate the rewards (of reading it) to DEAD people.
Sahabah: They treat the Qur’an as decoration of their souls and hearts with `aqidah/creed, `ibadah/worship, and akhlaq/moral that Allah wants or pleases.
Me: I usually treat the Qur’an as decorations on my wall, desk, and vehicle.
Sahabah: They read the Qur’an to make them closer to ALLAH.
Me: I usually read the Qur’an to make SHAYTAN/devil distant from me.
Sahabah: When they read the Qur’anic verses on kufur, fasiq, zalim, nifaq, etc., they psychologiclaly reflcted (muhasabah) THEMSELVES whether they have the same characteristics.
Me: Weh I read the Qur’anic verses on kufr, fasiq, zalim, nifaq, etc., I usually point my finger to the non-Muslims or worse to my fellow Muslims.
Sahabah: They read 10 verses of the Qur’an and would not continue reading until they understood and practiced the hidayah message.
Me: i usually read the Qur’an to finish it quickly before khitan/circumcision, before aqad nikah/marriage, and before the month of Syawal during Ramadan (without proper tadarrus/learning with the aim to understand and practice).
Sahabah: They read the Qur’an to improve their own `aqidah, `ibadah, akhlaq, and as a guide for da`wah and jihad in the society.
Me: I usually read the Qur’an in front of a jar of water and then drink it to get inspiration before sitting for exams (even when I have not really studied), to get profit from my business (using the so-called ayat 1000 dinar), or to get people to like/love me (using the so-called ayat “pengasih”/charm).
Psychological Reflection: Can I really get the hidayah that I always ask in surah al-Fatihah every day, if the way I interact with the Qur’an is far different and mediocre compared to the way the Sahabah RAA (who had received hidayah) interacting the Qur’an.
I think, starting from this Ramadan, I need to renew my relationship with the Qur’an based on the following study plan:
- Al-Fatihah as the preface (asking for hidayah)
- Early surah al-Baqarah as orientation of hidayah and non-hidayah people.
- The whole surah al-Baqarah as introduction of major themes in the rest of the Qur’an
- The lengthy surah(s) as detailed descriptions of the concepts and operations of hidyah mentioned in surah al-Baqarah.
- Medium-length surah(s) as reviews of recurring themes and sub-plots of hidayah
- Short surah(s) as reviews of the main theme of the Qur’an i.e. hidayah
It is shameful of me thinking that most non-Muslims who converted/reverted to Islam (and stay in Islam) because of their interaction with the Qur’an (not because of their interaction with Muslims). What about me? I seldom have high quality interaction with the Qur’an. I just treat it like an ”acquaintance” or a friend whom I only admire because of his/her beauty, or as a friend ONLY when I need him/her. I didn’t really interacting the Qur’an as my very best/close “friend,” trying to understand it, trying to do things that it likes, and avoid things that it dislikes, trying to promote it ideas to other people, and trying to make other people like it as it wants to be liked.
Should I be overconfident that my `aqidah, `ibadah, akhlaq, and even my da`wah are TOTALLY correct? After all, it took almost 23 years for the Sahabah RAA to be educated on a constant basis about their `aqidah, `ibadah, akhlaq, and da`wah!
“O Allah! Show (give hidayah) me (on) the straight path” (the preface of the Qur’an, al-Fatihah 1: 6)
“This is the Book (al-Qur’an), no doubt about it. In it is hidayah to the muttaqin” (the introductory chapter of the Qur’an, al-Baqarah 2: 2)
“Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind” (the first verse of the last chapter of the Qur’an, al-Nas 114: 1). “(from) among jinns and among men (that prevent me, or lead me away, from hidayah)” (the last verse of the last chapter of the Qur’an, al-Nas 114: 6)
I pray that the quality of my interaction with the Qur’an during this Ramadan will improve. Ramadan, here I come…
My Prayer, Life and Death… for Allah
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