`

Beyond the gloom… the positivity of Islam

Beyond the gloom... the positivity of Islam
by
December 25, 2024
in Uncategorized
No Comments
260

Dystopia and doom

This year has had a distinctly dystopian feel. As the past year flashes through my mind, it’s hard not to feel despondent. With the earth feeling like a train hurtling and careering off the edge of a cliff, one wonders what exactly we should be celebrating and what we have to look forward to.

Rewinding back to January 2024, we were only three months into the devastation that Israel would continue to inflict on a people that it had already held hostage for over 50 years.

Meanwhile the war in Ukraine pressed on into its third year, showing us that many world leaders would have been better suited to a job in an abattoir, than in charge of their nations – as they sent vast numbers of their own military prematurely to their afterlife.

In the middle east, the horrific and unrepressed bombardment of Gaza spread to Lebanon, with strategic pot shots being taken at Iran and Damascus. The death toll now exceeds 45,000, and northern Gaza is on the verge of famine. The fall of Bashar al Assad opens a new chapter as Syria enters a new era after 50 years of tyrannical rule.

The bloody war in Sudan, with the ensuing famine in Darfur has been yet another grim reminder of the consequences of man’s erroneous use of his free will. With 11 million Sudanese people displaced out of a total population of nearly 50 million, we were painfully reminded that the UN Security Council have been as effective as a bulldog whose teeth have been extracted and is now numb from the anaesthetics. Meanwhile, the flagrant disregard of the warrants issued by the International Criminal Courts have shown us that justice and human rights has been more a cloak of words for those in power, than a tool to hold criminals and despots to account.

Though 4 billion people had the chance to cast their votes in national, state, or local elections in 80 countries worldwide, including in India, Japan, South Africa, as well as the UK and US, the choice between the red and blue parties felt less like a choice and more of repaint.   

Across the Channel, in the year Olympic swimmers dipped into a somewhat scrubbed- up Seine, the French and German governments are in disarray. And all the while, we continued to fill the oceans with debris, and landfills choked on more rubbish than they could digest, after gorging on mountains more than should have been on their plate. Perspiringly, as the globe continued to heat up, 2024 was the hottest year on record. With 24 weather related natural disasters in the US alone, causing damage estimated at $1 billion, while other parts of the world, have experienced drought.

What were the positives of 2024?

What is there to celebrate from the past year? With all this in one year and acute poverty across large segments of the world and wealth concentrated in the hands of a few megalomaniacs, we shudder to imagine the reaction of Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Eesa (peace be upon them) if they saw what a global mess we are in, and the devastation of the land where Eesa (peace be upon him) was born.

Positivity and optimism

Even during the toughest of times, the Quran and the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us not to despair. Islam is a religion of positivity, optimism and hope, from the very opening word ‘Alhamdulillah’ in the Quran. Though this year has been a challenging year for many at a personal level, with the loss of loved ones and struggles with health and finances, a year Prince William has called his ‘annus horribilis’, it is the times of challenges that reveal the heroes in our midst, the friends who step up to the plate, the generous souls whose kindness astounds us. May Allah bless all those who reached out to those in need and shared their load, and those who risked their lives to help in the dangerous parts of the world.

Imaan

As Muslims, our positivity comes from the assurance that the combination of belief and good deeds are guaranteed to bring success.

Allah stated in Surat al-Hujurat:

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوا وَجَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ

The believers are only those who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful. (49:15)

Indeed, it is in the hard times, that Allah tells us strengthen the imaan and resolve of those who have true faith:

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely. (8:2)

The growth of the Ummah

Despite all its woes, this year has been a year where the Ummah has become a little more confident, more careful where they spend their money, more aware of their responsibility to use their vote and aware of the power that they hold when they unite. May Allah bless all those who blazed a trail and showed us how we can make an impact.

Having a vision

Islam teaches us to have a vision – to aim for a higher purpose and to work towards the greater good. It lifts us beyond the material world and beyond the constant need to feed our desires. Islam is a way of life in which the praise and recognition of others has no value compared to the outcome of pleasing our Creator.

Islam teaches us to look beyond ourselves and reach out to others to help those in need whether it is through donations or other channels.

Islam means being part of society so we can achieve good and be the waves that create that good. It is time more than ever to come out of our bubbles and echo chambers and spread the beauty of our deen. It means engaging with neighbours, colleagues, other school parents.

Family and friends

Among our blessings are our family and friends. They give us help and support and valuable advice. They help us fulfil our purpose. We are taught to value and nurture our connections with our family and with our friends, because their company influences us to a great degree.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

A man follows the religion of his friend; so each one should consider whom he makes his friend. (Abu Dawood)

The example of a good companion who sits with you in comparison with a bad one is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith’s bellows; from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell, while the bellows would either burn your clothes or you get a bad nasty smell thereof. (Bukhari)Top of Form

Teachers

There is no doubt that our shuyukh, mentors and teachers make lasting impact on us. In particular we value their guidance in dark times, their knowledge and wisdom – they help us sift through the glut of information and misinformation, to appreciate the bigger picture, the truth and remind us of our priorities.

Micro habits

As we look forwards to the new year, it is those micro changes to our habits that will enable us to fulfil our goals and achieve our vision.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,

عن أبي هريرة قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اكْلَفُوا مِنْ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْعَمَلِ أَدْوَمُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ

Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few. (Ibn Majah)

Gratitude

Finally, Islam teaches us to be grateful for our blessings and favours. Throughout the year, we may have witnessed many lows, and faced many challenges, but we have also experienced personal and collective highs, triumphs and achievements. When we reflect on the strides we made personally and the milestones we reached as individuals and families, it will motivate us to keep striving.

In Surat Ibrahim, Allah states,

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed: ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.’ (14:7)

May Allah bless all those who brought a smile to our faces, comfort to our hearts, inspired us to do better and made dua for us. With Allah’s grace, we can overcome our internal demons, negative thoughts, and external threats and direct our lives towards a greater purpose.

share

Recommended Posts