BinZiad
04-02-2003, 11:01
Some Parts..Islamic Awakening between Rejection and Extremism
By Dr Yusuf Al Qaradawi
Advice to Muslim Youth (continued)
Al Imam al Ghazah wrote in his book, Al Amr bi al Ma'ruf wa al Nahi, an al Munkar: "A person commanding the common good and forbidding that which is evil and undesirable should show compassion, sympathy, wisdom, and knowledge." To demonstrate this he related the story of a man who came upon al Ma'mun, the prominent 'Abbasi caliph, and started to "counsel" him about vice and virtue in a rough and crude manner with no consideration for his status. Al Ma'mun, who had a good knowledge of fiqh, addressed the man: "Speak more kindly. Remember that Allah has sent someone better than you to a ruler worse than me, and commanded the former to speak mildly; he has sent Musa and Harun, who were better than you, to Pharaoh, who was worse than me, and commanded them:
'Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has indeed transgressed all
bounds, but speak to him mildly. Perchance he may take warning or fear [Allah]'.
Thus, al Ma'mun was able to give his critic a significant advice. Moreover, Allah (SWT) has also taught Musa ('AS) that his message to Pharaoh should be delivered in such a mild gentle way: 'Go to Pharaoh, for he has indeed transgressed all bounds; and say to him, would you want to be purified [from sin]?-and that I guide you to your Lord, so you should fear Him?' Further examination of the dialogue between Musa (AS) and Pharaoh_as related in the Qur'an- reveals that the former has carried out very carefully Allah's advice, despite the latter's tyranny, arrogance, insults, accusations, and attacks, as evident in Surat al Shu'ara . A study of the Prophet's life and his Sunnah, which pertains to this theme, also reveals kindness, mercy, and mildness, which allows no place for roughness, cruelty, or hardheartedness. The Quran describes the Prophet's attitude in this regard: 'Now has come unto you a Messenger from among yourselves. It grieves him that you should perish and ardently anxious is he over you. To the believers he is most kind and merciful.' It also describes the Prophet's relationship with his companions: 'It is part of the mercy of Allah that you deal gently with them. If you were severe or hardhearted, they would have broken away from you.'
One day, a group of Jews came upon the Prophet (SA'AS) and greeted him with: 'al samu alaykum' which literally means "death be upon you" instead of the usual 'al salamu alaykum'. 'A'ishah (RA'A) was angered by this and replied: alaykum al samu wa al lanah (death and curse be on you). But the Prophet (SA'AS) said no more than "wa alaykum" ('and upon youi') He then turned to' A'ishah (RA'A) and said: "Allah loves that one should be kind in all matters. A'ishah also related another hadith: "Allah is kind and He loves kindness; and confers upon kindness that which he does not confer upon severity, and does not confer upon anything else beside it [kindness]." Also: "Kindness makes things beautiful, absence of kindness makes them defective.'' Jarir ibn 'Abd Allah related that he heard the Prophet (SA'AS) say: "He who is deprived of tender feelings is in fact deprived of all good.'' What other punishment could be harder than being deprived of all good?
By Dr Yusuf Al Qaradawi
Advice to Muslim Youth (continued)
Al Imam al Ghazah wrote in his book, Al Amr bi al Ma'ruf wa al Nahi, an al Munkar: "A person commanding the common good and forbidding that which is evil and undesirable should show compassion, sympathy, wisdom, and knowledge." To demonstrate this he related the story of a man who came upon al Ma'mun, the prominent 'Abbasi caliph, and started to "counsel" him about vice and virtue in a rough and crude manner with no consideration for his status. Al Ma'mun, who had a good knowledge of fiqh, addressed the man: "Speak more kindly. Remember that Allah has sent someone better than you to a ruler worse than me, and commanded the former to speak mildly; he has sent Musa and Harun, who were better than you, to Pharaoh, who was worse than me, and commanded them:
'Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has indeed transgressed all
bounds, but speak to him mildly. Perchance he may take warning or fear [Allah]'.
Thus, al Ma'mun was able to give his critic a significant advice. Moreover, Allah (SWT) has also taught Musa ('AS) that his message to Pharaoh should be delivered in such a mild gentle way: 'Go to Pharaoh, for he has indeed transgressed all bounds; and say to him, would you want to be purified [from sin]?-and that I guide you to your Lord, so you should fear Him?' Further examination of the dialogue between Musa (AS) and Pharaoh_as related in the Qur'an- reveals that the former has carried out very carefully Allah's advice, despite the latter's tyranny, arrogance, insults, accusations, and attacks, as evident in Surat al Shu'ara . A study of the Prophet's life and his Sunnah, which pertains to this theme, also reveals kindness, mercy, and mildness, which allows no place for roughness, cruelty, or hardheartedness. The Quran describes the Prophet's attitude in this regard: 'Now has come unto you a Messenger from among yourselves. It grieves him that you should perish and ardently anxious is he over you. To the believers he is most kind and merciful.' It also describes the Prophet's relationship with his companions: 'It is part of the mercy of Allah that you deal gently with them. If you were severe or hardhearted, they would have broken away from you.'
One day, a group of Jews came upon the Prophet (SA'AS) and greeted him with: 'al samu alaykum' which literally means "death be upon you" instead of the usual 'al salamu alaykum'. 'A'ishah (RA'A) was angered by this and replied: alaykum al samu wa al lanah (death and curse be on you). But the Prophet (SA'AS) said no more than "wa alaykum" ('and upon youi') He then turned to' A'ishah (RA'A) and said: "Allah loves that one should be kind in all matters. A'ishah also related another hadith: "Allah is kind and He loves kindness; and confers upon kindness that which he does not confer upon severity, and does not confer upon anything else beside it [kindness]." Also: "Kindness makes things beautiful, absence of kindness makes them defective.'' Jarir ibn 'Abd Allah related that he heard the Prophet (SA'AS) say: "He who is deprived of tender feelings is in fact deprived of all good.'' What other punishment could be harder than being deprived of all good?