Recent months witnessed the outbreak of a series of revolutions in the Middle East that signaled an alert conscience that decided to revolt against corruption- people simply decided to enact their free will, putting their sole trust in Almighty Allah. They decided to change their conditions, after years of silence, passiveness and submission to autocracy.
Recent months witnessed the outbreak of a series of revolutions in the Middle East that signaled an alert conscience that decided to revolt against corruption- people simply decided to enact their free will, putting their sole trust in Almighty Allah. They decided to change their conditions, after years of silence, passiveness and submission to autocracy.
They put into action a years old dream of freedom and dignity, and thus God helped them earn a well-needed, rightfully-gained freedom and success.
Dreaming of freedom wasn’t enough, action was indeed required.
It is transmitted that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) once said:
“Belief is not only to hope and dream, but it is that which the heart believes and it is accompanied by its actions”.
In another narration the Prophet is reported to have said:
“There were people before you who were deceived by hopes and while dreaming in prayer, until they left this world without doing any action of good works while they were saying: We think good of God. In fact if they were to have good thoughts of God they would have worked righteously”.
The set of upheavals that swept through Lybia, Egypt, Tunis, Syria, Bahrain, and Yemen, brought to surface a lot of truths and lessons people should reflect upon and fully grasp.
– Change, as a form of Worship
Allah says in the Quran:
“Allah will not change the condition of the people unless they change it themselves” – Qur’an 13:11
Changing our conditions comes from our keenness to change our status quo and insistence to put right what we believe to be wrong, with the aim of fulfilling our legacy as God’s Vicegerents on earth and fulfilling his Commands.
So change can be viewed as some kind of worship, a means drawing us closer to Almighty Allah and aiding us on our path of attaining His satisfaction.
And it’s not through dreaming and hoping that we change or help make change, but through actions and perseverance.
Muslims are encouraged to prosper and lead successful lives.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“But when the prayer is ended, then disperses abroad in the land and seeks of Allah’s grace, and remember Allah much, that you may be successful.” – Qur’an 62: 10
– Muslim-Christian Ties
Prior to the historic revolution in Egypt that ousted President Mubarak, there has been increasing tension among Christians and Muslims in the country; tension that is deeply rooted and got aggravated following the New Year Eve bombing that shook All Saints Church in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.
The attack fueled sectarian discord between the country’s two communities, with some claiming that Muslims were the perpetrators, and some suggesting some foreign intervention aimed at instilling tension between Christians and Muslims in order to shake Egypt’s national unity.
Political elites warned of possible sectarian war.
Then came the revolution to bash all claims and fears, and present the new face of Egypt that’s more united, more loving, and knows no differences between Muslims and Christians.
We heard of many bright examples depicting love and harmony between the two sects. Christians formed circles around Muslims during Friday congregation prayers in Tahrir Square to protect them against the brutality of police attacks. And during Sunday mass, Muslims did the same, forming shields around Christians- then all united in praying for those who lost their lives in a two-week demonstration that earned the entire nation a well-deserved freedom and respect.
Such unity asserts brotherhood among followers of the two faiths, a basic characteristic of the Egyptian society throughout its history.
Allah says in the Quran;
“ … and you will surely find the newest in affection to the believers are those who said, “We are Nassara (followers of Jesus)”. This is because there are among them men who believe in the Truth, and they are not arrogant.” — Quran 5:82
Without a doubt the recent wave of change that swept through the Middle East will give birth to a set of brand new nations blossoming from among the debris of a sad old past, to be more united, more proud, and more lively.
Wassalaam,
By: Maha Youssuf
maha@muslimtribune.org
Posted on: June 1, 2011