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"The
Reality! What is the Reality? And what will make you realize what the Reality
is?" These are the opening verses of Surah al-Haqqa
- 69, in the Quran.
These
are verses that jolt one's slumped consciousness with a conscious
attempt to recalibrate it with the reality. I realize that my eyes are open
- they usually are. But the eyes of my mind were shuttered. All the
blessings that our Benevolent Lord bestowed upon me, all the knowledge and
wisdom I gained, all the friends and well-wishers I have been blessed with; yet
as a human being I am so laden with my failures, with my inability to keep
engaged my consciousness. Aware that my consciousness can slump sporadically, I
need that awakening jolt intermittently: "The reality! What is the Reality?
..."
As
I look around me I see futile discussions taking place that have very little to
do with the essence of Islam. A peek into my e-mailbox and I see
Muslims arguing on a major Islamic list-server, whether Ameen should be said
loud or silently in prayers. Yes, prayer is fundamental to Islam and praying in
a manner consistent with the Prophet's is important, but must the
Muslims bicker about such details - and for centuries?
I
see Islamic magazines that are constantly reminding their beloved Muslim
brethren and sisters about the innovations (Bid'at) in Islam and
the utterly serious consequence of such things in the life hereafter. Yes,
Muslims must be on guard about innovations in the beliefs or rituals, but even
this constant reminder about innovation might be an innovation in itself,
as the Prophet 
did not do it this way. Moreover, innovation in another - technological - sense
is an imperative in our contemporary time. Is it any wonder that a society that
is constantly reminded against "innovations" would have its overall
ability to innovate stifled?
I
hear from the Friday pulpits how women must cover their head so that not even
a single hair strand would show. Observance of Islamic guidance in every
aspect is important. Interestingly, it seems when it comes to admonishing
the women and ensuring that they "remain in line" with God's wishes,
we may be over-ambitiously animated and vigilant. The Hijab may
have been a mainstay in Khutbah, but seldom have I heard any citation from the
Quran that pays tribute to the "fighting" women! - And their Lord hath
accepted of them, and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the
work of any of you, be he male or FEMALE: Ye are members, one of another: Those
who have left their homes, or been driven out there from, or suffered harm in My
Cause, or FOUGHT or been slain,- verily, I will blot out from them their
iniquities, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath;- A reward
from the presence of Allah, and from His presence is the best of rewards." Quran
3:195
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I
observe children being rebuked in Mosques because they are deemed as having
absolutely no respect for the stern, loud, deafening, frightening Khutbahs that
even the adults have difficulty to feel drawn to. Yes, children should
be educated about how to conduct themselves at different places, but do we ever
think that some of these kids may develop a bad impression about
their visit to Mosques and later our lack of tolerance for their
childlike conduct may wither their attachment to Mosque? What is
our priority?
I
visit websites that are dedicated to drawing up long lists of select
Muslim groups who would not be saved. Yes, believing things correctly and
doing things properly are important. Yet, the Quran is so categorical
against divisiveness and judgmentalism. Quran
23:52-53.
I
come across pulp-literature about Islam in various parts of the Muslim world
that lists one hundred twenty-four or thirty-two Fards
(the obligatory) in Islam, where the list includes believing in the four madhabs
(Islamic school of thought) constituting four fards. Of course, I myself don't
know this list of Fards in entirety. Notably, attachment to a specific
Madhab is merely coincidental through our birth and neither the Prophet
nor his companions knew anything about any Madhab at all.
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