http://smsana.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/32402
Founder ‘Arrahman-Arraheem.com'

To understand this we must first realize that whenever new words or concepts are introduced and discussed, they always evoke two reactions; one positive and the other negative. Those who want to criticize look at the negative aspects while those who see the benefits support it. The important thing to remember in such situations is; what is the intention?

If we want to understand the meaning of “Enlightened Moderation” from the perspective of Islam and Pakistan, then we have to understand the true meaning and the spirit behind these two words. The literal meaning of ‘ enlightened' is what we call in Urdu ‘ Roshan Khayali' (or positive thinking ) and ‘ moderation ' means balance.

Enlightenment

Therefore, the first question we must ask is “What is Enlightenment”. In Islam, this is not a new concept or theory . 1400 years ago, before the advent of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), people experienced extremely repulsive and abhorrent traditions and lifestyles; women were traded like livestock and had no rights, new born girls were buried alive and slavery was commonly practiced. People who supported and carried out these actions considered themselves as doing the correct thing and on the right path. Unfortunately, they were misguided and had no one to show them the right path. They were living their lives in darkness, totally devoid of enlightenment!

In this darkness came enlightenment from Islam through the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which started with the words ‘ Iqra' in Surah Al'Alaq (96) which says, ‘Proclaim! (or Read!) In the name of thy Lord”. This means that enlightenment comes from reading or knowledge and which in turn removes the darkness prevailing in the minds and the hearts of all mankind.

Allah (SWT) revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which became a source of knowledge and enlightenment for the people of those times and brought them out from extremism, making them moderate. Moderation brought equality, human rights, forgiveness, love and harmony for all of mankind.

As I have mentioned repeatedly that Allah is “ Huda-lil-Aalameen ” – guidance for all times; and the Holy Quran is “ Huda-li-Naas ”- guidance for mankind and our Deen-e-Islam (Religion of Islam) will remain until Qayamah (the Day of Judgment). So if we keep taking guidance from the Quran and Hadith, and relate the Ayaat of Allah (SWT) in our lives, it will always keep us updated with modern times and tell us exactly what to do next. Remember, Allah's Laws never change; it is only the depth of the Quran which keeps increasing. As the human mind develops and progress take place, we can understand and relate the message of Allah (SWT) more clearly. The concept of Ijma and Fiqah , where people sit together to find solutions to problems that arise as a result of new developments, therefore helps to make effective decisions in this changing world.

Enlightenment also means eradication of superstition and inculcation of positive thinking. History witnessed that all the Prophets (AS) including Jesus, Moses, Abraham, and others enlightened the people of their times through the message of Allah, because Allah (SWT) possesses the attribute of Al-Noor . This is narrated beautifully in a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that says: “Be conscious of the sight of a Momin (Practical Believer), as he sees through the Noor of Allah.” And what is this “light”, through which a Momin sees things? It is the Light of the Quran, (the Noor) given to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that ‘enlightens' the minds and thoughts. So the concept of ‘Enlightenment' is not something new in Islam.

Enlightened Thoughts

When we talk about enlightened thoughts, there are two possible sources by which this can be achieved. First, through worldly knowledge and the second comes from Deen (Religious Knowledge) . Worldly knowledge has its limits, which a person seeking knowledge comes to realize very soon. For example, if you are an engineer or a doctor and doing research, you reach a stage where you realize the limit of this worldly knowledge and cannot know more beyond a certain point. At this stage even the most renowned scientist is compelled to say ‘I don't know how all this is happening, some supreme being is doing all this. Some supreme power is handling every thing!' This is the point beyond which the knowledge of the Creator – Allah, begins and the door opens towards infinite learning.

Enlightened Moderation
Deen , on the other hand gives us ‘enlightenment' in the sense that it saves us from taking wrong decisions, following decadent traditions, thinking negatively, falling prey to our weaknesses and desires. We all suffer from these human failings that get ingrained in our personality as we grow up in different circumstances and experiences going through life. While acquiring worldly knowledge is indeed a desirable thing, the key to success in life lies in adding Deen (Religion) to our base of worldly knowledge and to take Deen-e-Islam along in our worldly matters .

Moderation and Extremism

This combination of both ‘Deen' and ‘Worldly knowledge' equals to ‘Moderation'. As Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah 2 Ayat 143: “Thus have We made of you an Ummah justly balanced…. .”

These days all over the world , Islam and Muslims are being associated with ‘Extremism'. I feel that this linking of extremism with Islam is a misconception primarily due to the lack of knowledge . I will explain how Islam and Extremism do not go together. The root word of ‘Islam' comes from the Arabic word ‘Salama' , which means ‘Peace'. If you look up the meaning of ‘Peace' in the dictionary, it says; freedom from disturbance; being in the state of mental calmness, freedom from war and violence . As can be seen, the meaning of the word ‘Peace' itself describes so many things all of which contradict the notion of Extremism. So how can anyone talk about Islam and at the same time associate it with Extremism!

In short, Islam neither propagates nor promotes Extremism. To achieve Islam (peace) we have to submit ourselves totally to the Will of Allah (SWT). And if we do this and follow His teachings we can never offend anyone and hence never be associated with Extremism.

Extremism and its Causes

Extremism has many facets but most commonly, it is linked with terrorism or violence. I shall illustrate this point through an example. If a person becomes angry over a petty matter he is moving towards extremism and is no longer moderate. Similarly, a greedy and jealous person is also at an extreme. To be at the extreme of anything makes one “An Extremist”. You can make a person an extremist within minutes - just say something that annoys him or something that is not according to his liking and he becomes angry and reacts at an extreme. Conversely, Quran teaches the traits of Sabar (determination, patience and perseverance), Qanaat (to be happy and content with whatever one has), Darguzar and Ehsaan (to forgive and to forget).

By adopting these traits in his character, a person gradually becomes balanced and moderate and avoids becoming an extremist. These traits are extremely essential attributes to possess in these modern and frantic times.

Here I would also like to point out the causes of Extremism. I want to highlight an important issue, especially for the people of North America and Europe who must know why this is happening. Extremism occurs within people when their psyche is unbalanced; when there is no one to guide them; when they lose control over their emotions, intelligence and weaknesses. Whatever they think, they consider it to be right without any proof or confirmation; and they do not follow any commandments of Allah in their lives.

Another reason for Extremism is ‘lack of knowledge' . To explain this further I will give you my example. When I used to live in the United States and people asked me about the Quran and what Allah says in it, I could not answer their questions because I had no knowledge. I had no references to quote from the Quran and Ahadith, yet I used to think that I am right and others are wrong. When people asked me , ‘Do you believe in the Bible?' My reply was an emphatic ‘No!'. The next question then used to be ‘Have you ever read the Bible?' My answer again was ‘No'. Then I was asked ‘Have you ever read the Geeta?' Again, my reply was in the negative. I was finally asked, ‘You have not read the Bible nor the Geeta nor the Quran with understanding, then how come you are so sure that you are right and others are wrong?' This was the million-dollar question, which always stumped me , as I never had its answer.

So , I was one of those people who used to think that I was right without having any knowledge or references of the Quran and Ahadith! To me this is one type of extremism, where one thinks he or she is right and the others are wrong without any proof or evidence! Without making any comparison or having an intellectual discussion! Without knowing that what my Deen–e-Islam offers to the world is better than what others have! I considered myself as a most educated and intellectual person but I had no idea on how to market my Deen !

Enlightened Moderation
There is no doubt that the Quran is the Book of Allah and that our Deen-e-Islam is complete and that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has left for us a Uswa-e-Hassana (a beautiful pattern of conduct). However, there is major weakness on our part, which is lack of knowledge and our inability to answer even the most basic and logical questions about our Deen with reference from the Quran and Ahadith .

Another cause for extremism is injustice . This happens when people feel threatened; they lose their property, their family and loved ones, their lives, their land etc. These situations act as a catalyst and the person feels justified to react in an extremist way and take revenge and behave in whatever manner he likes, which in turn earns him the label of extremist. So here we are talking about one of the biggest issues in the world which need to be addressed and brought to justice in order to eliminate extremism. ‘

Use of Force in Deen-e-Islam

Another visible symptom of people suffering from extremism is that they force their concepts and beliefs on others because they consider themselves to be right and others wrong. This is another kind of extremism because there is no concept of force in Islam. Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) preached and practiced the Quran and the commandments of Allah. He inspired people through his character and lead by example. He never forced anyone, even when people threw stones at him, put obstacles in his path and used bad words for him. Despite all this, he never gave up his mission. Instead, he displayed forgiveness, care, and love and shared the peace , which he got through the revelations. This eradicated extremism prevailing at that time and people began to listen and follow him.

We must understand that Islam is the religion of the Creator, who is all-powerful and can do anything Himself or can force others to do what He likes. Yet He chooses not to use force but wants submission voluntarily after analysis and reason. Islam therefore never talks about using force. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqara, Ayat 256: “ La Iqrah fid-Deen ” meaning that there is no compulsion in Deen-e-Islam. Allah has given us a choice and He has commanded us not to force on anyone to make him follow Islam.

Another manifestation of Extremism is when one acquires only religious knowledge and ignores worldly education. This unfortunately makes such people view and understand things in only a certain way and they remain out of touch with the rest of the people living in the world.

On the other side there are those people who possess only worldly knowledge and may be successful professionals such as doctors, engineers or businessmen. They have no knowledge or interest about Deen . Their practice of Deen is restricted to Friday prayers and fasting in Ramadan. As soon as the fast and prayers are over their religion is over. These people have no concept or essence of their Deen . This is another extreme!

As much as there is a need for religious people to acquire worldly knowledge to become moderate, there is also the need of the hour that educated people acquire religious knowledge so that they too become moderate.

What needs to be done...

So the question now is what should be done and how can we improve the situation? Living today in the 21 st century I strongly feel that the need of the hour is for the educated masses to acquire the basic knowledge of the Quran and Ahadith so that they are equipped to answers questions about the basic teachings of Islam and are able to convey the true message and essence of Islam to the non-Muslims. In this way they can help in eradicating the misconceptions about Islam and dispel the notion that Muslims are extremists.

I do not know much about politics but I know that the Quran and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) have always taught moderation. The Quran gives us lessons of Sabar, Qanaat, Darguzar, Ehsaan . However, when it comes to safeguarding the sovereignty of one's country and its defense against aggression, the Quran talks about sacrifice.

Enlightenment in the Quran is for all times. We keep on learning more from the Quran and are enlightened as time passes. The Quran urges us to use our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to research and analyze. By following its teachings, it continuously moves us forward towards progress. Allah keeps giving us greater enlightenment through the knowledge of the Quran, which we should accumulate and apply in our lives until our last breath. Only in this way can we remain balanced and moderate individuals. ]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2005 17:17:00 EST http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/32402 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30837
Founder ‘Arrahman-Arraheem.com'

The Focal Point Of Education Is To Build the character in such a way so as to groom the personality to portray the attribute of a decent gentlemen that is a valuable asset for the society as he ordains the qualities like honoring his commitments, being straight-forward and focused; Refraining from intoxications, gambling, involving in fraudulent and any sort of criminal acts. He is always in control of his emotions and intelligence and is ready to forgive and forget. He is always ready to be accounted for in such a way that he is willing to accept his weaknesses and mistakes at any point in time be it even against himself or his dear ones. He always respects his parents and elders, spouse, and gives them their due rights that they truly deserve. He is always down to earth, humble and possess all the traits that a true gentleman is worthy of. Thus this makes him a priceless asset for any society

Being a balanced personality a Muslims submits to the commands of Almighty Allah and follows the path that pleases his Lord. Firstly a Muslim is always tolerant and respects all religions and their followers; and he gives rights to people around him (his parents, his family, his colleagues, friends etc) and Respects The Law Of The Land Where He Resides, as he is a peace loving citizens besides being a true believer. Whoever is following these golden principles laid out by Allah Almighty in the Holy Quran can never be attributed as a fanatic, fundamentalist, or an extremist:]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2005 04:33:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30837 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30832
Allah's Apostle said, "From among the portents of the Hour are (the following):

1. Religious knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious learned men).
2. (Religious) ignorance will prevail.
3. Drinking of alcoholic drinks (will be very common).
4. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse. ]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2005 04:00:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30832 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30833
The word Hadith comes from Arabic language MEANING the record of the statements and events of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The Hadith is also acknowledged as the words of wisdom explaining the Holy Quran. The Hadith is the second pillar after the Quran upon which every Muslim rests his faith. Hadith consists of Mat'n and Isnad. Mat'n means the text of the Hadith, while Isnad means the chain of transmitters (Ravi's - / narrators) to that Hadith.

Since Islam has offered humanity the most comprehensive value system for all aspects of life, the explanation of this system is of the greatest importance. Islam presents its laws and principles as a mixture of spiritual and intellectual guidelines. Any neutral person who studies Islam rationally is amazed by the harmony of its commandments with human nature. Now our duty and mission is to present the true spirit of Islam, as it was revealed by Allah to His Prophet (PBUH). The true and comprehensive understanding of Islam would not be possible without careful recognition of the pattern set by the Holy Prophet (PBUH). True spirit of the Holy Qur`an cannot be ingested if indifference or negligence is shown towards the pattern set by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) whose words and acts are a role model for the Muslim Ummah.

The sanctity of Hadith is highlighted by Hazrat Annas Bin Maalik (R.A), one of the famous transmitters (Ravi's - / narrators) of Hadith. According to him: "It warns me to narrate or attribute any statement with Allah's Prophet (PBUH) that he did not say; as Allah's Prophet (PBUH) said that whoever attributes with me any false statement should find his place in Hell."

Following are some Hadith of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that are vital in character Building of Muslims and that relates to our everyday lives...]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2005 04:00:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30833 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30834
The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) said: The Quran is that recommender whose recommendation will be accepted and is such a disputer whose dispute will be accepted . whoever keeps it (Quran) in front of him , meaning practically does what it teaches ,the Quran will take him to Jannah. And he who keeps it behind his back , meaning does not practically do what it teaches, the Quran will take him to hell.

Note: “A disputer whose dispute will be accepted” means for those who are reading it and practically doing what it teaches, the Quran will dispute for them in the court of Allah for increasing their ranks. And for those who are careless, it demands why they are not paying it, its due right.]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2005 04:00:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30834 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30835
The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) said: He who does not have even a portion of the Quran saved in his heart, he is like a deserted house.

Note: meaning – just like the happiness and prosperity of a home is by its inhabitants, similarly the happiness and prosperity of a person’s heart is by the remembrance of the Quran. ]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2005 04:00:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30835 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30836
It means a Muslim is a peaceful, balanced, considerate, honest, conscious person, and an asset, who balances the society.]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2005 04:00:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30836 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30838
Founder ‘Arrahman-Arraheem.com'

To understand this we must first realize that whenever new words or concepts are introduced and discussed, they always evoke two reactions; one positive and the other negative. Those who want to criticize look at the negative aspects while those who see the benefits support it. The important thing to remember in such situations is; what is the intention?

If we want to understand the meaning of “Enlightened Moderation” from the perspective of Islam and Pakistan, then we have to understand the true meaning and the spirit behind these two words. The literal meaning of ‘ enlightened' is what we call in Urdu ‘ Roshan Khayali' (or positive thinking ) and ‘ moderation ' means balance.

Enlightenment

Therefore, the first question we must ask is “What is Enlightenment”. In Islam, this is not a new concept or theory . 1400 years ago, before the advent of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), people experienced extremely repulsive and abhorrent traditions and lifestyles; women were traded like livestock and had no rights, new born girls were buried alive and slavery was commonly practiced. People who supported and carried out these actions considered themselves as doing the correct thing and on the right path. Unfortunately, they were misguided and had no one to show them the right path. They were living their lives in darkness, totally devoid of enlightenment!

In this darkness came enlightenment from Islam through the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which started with the words ‘ Iqra' in Surah Al'Alaq (96) which says, ‘Proclaim! (or Read!) In the name of thy Lord”. This means that enlightenment comes from reading or knowledge and which in turn removes the darkness prevailing in the minds and the hearts of all mankind.

Allah (SWT) revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which became a source of knowledge and enlightenment for the people of those times and brought them out from extremism, making them moderate. Moderation brought equality, human rights, forgiveness, love and harmony for all of mankind.

As I have mentioned repeatedly that Allah is “ Huda-lil-Aalameen ” – guidance for all times; and the Holy Quran is “ Huda-li-Naas ”- guidance for mankind and our Deen-e-Islam (Religion of Islam) will remain until Qayamah (the Day of Judgment). So if we keep taking guidance from the Quran and Hadith, and relate the Ayaat of Allah (SWT) in our lives, it will always keep us updated with modern times and tell us exactly what to do next. Remember, Allah's Laws never change; it is only the depth of the Quran which keeps increasing. As the human mind develops and progress take place, we can understand and relate the message of Allah (SWT) more clearly. The concept of Ijma and Fiqah , where people sit together to find solutions to problems that arise as a result of new developments, therefore helps to make effective decisions in this changing world.

Enlightenment also means eradication of superstition and inculcation of positive thinking. History witnessed that all the Prophets (AS) including Jesus, Moses, Abraham, and others enlightened the people of their times through the message of Allah, because Allah (SWT) possesses the attribute of Al-Noor . This is narrated beautifully in a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that says: “Be conscious of the sight of a Momin (Practical Believer), as he sees through the Noor of Allah.” And what is this “light”, through which a Momin sees things? It is the Light of the Quran, (the Noor) given to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that ‘enlightens' the minds and thoughts. So the concept of ‘Enlightenment' is not something new in Islam.

Enlightened Thoughts

When we talk about enlightened thoughts, there are two possible sources by which this can be achieved. First, through worldly knowledge and the second comes from Deen (Religious Knowledge) . Worldly knowledge has its limits, which a person seeking knowledge comes to realize very soon. For example, if you are an engineer or a doctor and doing research, you reach a stage where you realize the limit of this worldly knowledge and cannot know more beyond a certain point. At this stage even the most renowned scientist is compelled to say ‘I don't know how all this is happening, some supreme being is doing all this. Some supreme power is handling every thing!' This is the point beyond which the knowledge of the Creator – Allah, begins and the door opens towards infinite learning.

Enlightened Moderation
Deen , on the other hand gives us ‘enlightenment' in the sense that it saves us from taking wrong decisions, following decadent traditions, thinking negatively, falling prey to our weaknesses and desires. We all suffer from these human failings that get ingrained in our personality as we grow up in different circumstances and experiences going through life. While acquiring worldly knowledge is indeed a desirable thing, the key to success in life lies in adding Deen (Religion) to our base of worldly knowledge and to take Deen-e-Islam along in our worldly matters .

Moderation and Extremism

This combination of both ‘Deen' and ‘Worldly knowledge' equals to ‘Moderation'. As Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah 2 Ayat 143: “Thus have We made of you an Ummah justly balanced…. .”

These days all over the world , Islam and Muslims are being associated with ‘Extremism'. I feel that this linking of extremism with Islam is a misconception primarily due to the lack of knowledge . I will explain how Islam and Extremism do not go together. The root word of ‘Islam' comes from the Arabic word ‘Salama' , which means ‘Peace'. If you look up the meaning of ‘Peace' in the dictionary, it says; freedom from disturbance; being in the state of mental calmness, freedom from war and violence . As can be seen, the meaning of the word ‘Peace' itself describes so many things all of which contradict the notion of Extremism. So how can anyone talk about Islam and at the same time associate it with Extremism!

In short, Islam neither propagates nor promotes Extremism. To achieve Islam (peace) we have to submit ourselves totally to the Will of Allah (SWT). And if we do this and follow His teachings we can never offend anyone and hence never be associated with Extremism.

Extremism and its Causes

Extremism has many facets but most commonly, it is linked with terrorism or violence. I shall illustrate this point through an example. If a person becomes angry over a petty matter he is moving towards extremism and is no longer moderate. Similarly, a greedy and jealous person is also at an extreme. To be at the extreme of anything makes one “An Extremist”. You can make a person an extremist within minutes - just say something that annoys him or something that is not according to his liking and he becomes angry and reacts at an extreme. Conversely, Quran teaches the traits of Sabar (determination, patience and perseverance), Qanaat (to be happy and content with whatever one has), Darguzar and Ehsaan (to forgive and to forget).

By adopting these traits in his character, a person gradually becomes balanced and moderate and avoids becoming an extremist. These traits are extremely essential attributes to possess in these modern and frantic times.

Here I would also like to point out the causes of Extremism. I want to highlight an important issue, especially for the people of North America and Europe who must know why this is happening. Extremism occurs within people when their psyche is unbalanced; when there is no one to guide them; when they lose control over their emotions, intelligence and weaknesses. Whatever they think, they consider it to be right without any proof or confirmation; and they do not follow any commandments of Allah in their lives.

Another reason for Extremism is ‘lack of knowledge' . To explain this further I will give you my example. When I used to live in the United States and people asked me about the Quran and what Allah says in it, I could not answer their questions because I had no knowledge. I had no references to quote from the Quran and Ahadith, yet I used to think that I am right and others are wrong. When people asked me , ‘Do you believe in the Bible?' My reply was an emphatic ‘No!'. The next question then used to be ‘Have you ever read the Bible?' My answer again was ‘No'. Then I was asked ‘Have you ever read the Geeta?' Again, my reply was in the negative. I was finally asked, ‘You have not read the Bible nor the Geeta nor the Quran with understanding, then how come you are so sure that you are right and others are wrong?' This was the million-dollar question, which always stumped me , as I never had its answer.

So , I was one of those people who used to think that I was right without having any knowledge or references of the Quran and Ahadith! To me this is one type of extremism, where one thinks he or she is right and the others are wrong without any proof or evidence! Without making any comparison or having an intellectual discussion! Without knowing that what my Deen–e-Islam offers to the world is better than what others have! I considered myself as a most educated and intellectual person but I had no idea on how to market my Deen !

Enlightened Moderation
There is no doubt that the Quran is the Book of Allah and that our Deen-e-Islam is complete and that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has left for us a Uswa-e-Hassana (a beautiful pattern of conduct). However, there is major weakness on our part, which is lack of knowledge and our inability to answer even the most basic and logical questions about our Deen with reference from the Quran and Ahadith .

Another cause for extremism is injustice . This happens when people feel threatened; they lose their property, their family and loved ones, their lives, their land etc. These situations act as a catalyst and the person feels justified to react in an extremist way and take revenge and behave in whatever manner he likes, which in turn earns him the label of extremist. So here we are talking about one of the biggest issues in the world which need to be addressed and brought to justice in order to eliminate extremism. ‘

Use of Force in Deen-e-Islam

Another visible symptom of people suffering from extremism is that they force their concepts and beliefs on others because they consider themselves to be right and others wrong. This is another kind of extremism because there is no concept of force in Islam. Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) preached and practiced the Quran and the commandments of Allah. He inspired people through his character and lead by example. He never forced anyone, even when people threw stones at him, put obstacles in his path and used bad words for him. Despite all this, he never gave up his mission. Instead, he displayed forgiveness, care, and love and shared the peace , which he got through the revelations. This eradicated extremism prevailing at that time and people began to listen and follow him.

We must understand that Islam is the religion of the Creator, who is all-powerful and can do anything Himself or can force others to do what He likes. Yet He chooses not to use force but wants submission voluntarily after analysis and reason. Islam therefore never talks about using force. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqara, Ayat 256: “ La Iqrah fid-Deen ” meaning that there is no compulsion in Deen-e-Islam. Allah has given us a choice and He has commanded us not to force on anyone to make him follow Islam.

Another manifestation of Extremism is when one acquires only religious knowledge and ignores worldly education. This unfortunately makes such people view and understand things in only a certain way and they remain out of touch with the rest of the people living in the world.

On the other side there are those people who possess only worldly knowledge and may be successful professionals such as doctors, engineers or businessmen. They have no knowledge or interest about Deen . Their practice of Deen is restricted to Friday prayers and fasting in Ramadan. As soon as the fast and prayers are over their religion is over. These people have no concept or essence of their Deen . This is another extreme!

As much as there is a need for religious people to acquire worldly knowledge to become moderate, there is also the need of the hour that educated people acquire religious knowledge so that they too become moderate.

What needs to be done...

So the question now is what should be done and how can we improve the situation? Living today in the 21 st century I strongly feel that the need of the hour is for the educated masses to acquire the basic knowledge of the Quran and Ahadith so that they are equipped to answers questions about the basic teachings of Islam and are able to convey the true message and essence of Islam to the non-Muslims. In this way they can help in eradicating the misconceptions about Islam and dispel the notion that Muslims are extremists.

I do not know much about politics but I know that the Quran and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) have always taught moderation. The Quran gives us lessons of Sabar, Qanaat, Darguzar, Ehsaan . However, when it comes to safeguarding the sovereignty of one's country and its defense against aggression, the Quran talks about sacrifice.

Enlightenment in the Quran is for all times. We keep on learning more from the Quran and are enlightened as time passes. The Quran urges us to use our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to research and analyze. By following its teachings, it continuously moves us forward towards progress. Allah keeps giving us greater enlightenment through the knowledge of the Quran, which we should accumulate and apply in our lives until our last breath. Only in this way can we remain balanced and moderate individuals. ]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2005 04:00:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30838 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30840
Founder ‘Arrahman-Arraheem.com'

Extremism has many facets but most commonly, it is linked with terrorism or violence. I shall illustrate this point through an example. If a person becomes angry over a petty matter he is moving towards extremism and is no longer moderate. Similarly, a greedy and jealous person is also at an extreme. To be at the extreme of anything makes one “An Extremist”. You can make a person an extremist within minutes - just say something that annoys him or something that is not according to his liking and he becomes angry and reacts at an extreme. Conversely, Quran teaches the traits of Sabar (determination, patience and perseverance), Qanaat (to be happy and content with whatever one has), Darguzar and Ehsaan (to forgive and to forget).

By adopting these traits in his character, a person gradually becomes balanced and moderate and avoids becoming an extremist. These traits are extremely essential attributes to possess in these modern and frantic times.

Here I would also like to point out the causes of Extremism. I want to highlight an important issue, especially for the people of North America and Europe who must know why this is happening. Extremism occurs within people when their psyche is unbalanced; when there is no one to guide them; when they lose control over their emotions, intelligence and weaknesses. Whatever they think, they consider it to be right without any proof or confirmation; and they do not follow any commandments of Allah in their lives.

Another reason for Extremism is ‘lack of knowledge' . To explain this further I will give you my example. When I used to live in the United States and people asked me about the Quran and what Allah says in it, I could not answer their questions because I had no knowledge. I had no references to quote from the Quran and Ahadith, yet I used to think that I am right and others are wrong. When people asked me , ‘Do you believe in the Bible?' My reply was an emphatic ‘No!'. The next question then used to be ‘Have you ever read the Bible?' My answer again was ‘No'. Then I was asked ‘Have you ever read the Geeta?' Again, my reply was in the negative. I was finally asked, ‘You have not read the Bible nor the Geeta nor the Quran with understanding, then how come you are so sure that you are right and others are wrong?' This was the million-dollar question, which always stumped me , as I never had its answer.

So , I was one of those people who used to think that I was right without having any knowledge or references of the Quran and Ahadith! To me this is one type of extremism, where one thinks he or she is right and the others are wrong without any proof or evidence! Without making any comparison or having an intellectual discussion! Without knowing that what my Deen–e-Islam offers to the world is better than what others have! I considered myself as a most educated and intellectual person but I had no idea on how to market my Deen ! ]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2005 04:00:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30840 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30841
Founder ‘Arrahman-Arraheem.com'

Another visible symptom of people suffering from extremism is that they force their concepts and beliefs on others because they consider themselves to be right and others wrong. This is another kind of extremism because there is no concept of force in Islam. Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) preached and practiced the Quran and the commandments of Allah. He inspired people through his character and lead by example. He never forced anyone, even when people threw stones at him, put obstacles in his path and used bad words for him. Despite all this, he never gave up his mission. Instead, he displayed forgiveness, care, and love and shared the peace , which he got through the revelations. This eradicated extremism prevailing at that time and people began to listen and follow him.

We must understand that Islam is the religion of the Creator, who is all-powerful and can do anything Himself or can force others to do what He likes. Yet He chooses not to use force but wants submission voluntarily after analysis and reason. Islam therefore never talks about using force. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqara, Ayat 256: “ La Iqrah fid-Deen ” meaning that there is no compulsion in Deen-e-Islam. Allah has given us a choice and He has commanded us not to force on anyone to make him follow Islam.

Another manifestation of Extremism is when one acquires only religious knowledge and ignores worldly education. This unfortunately makes such people view and understand things in only a certain way and they remain out of touch with the rest of the people living in the world.

On the other side there are those people who possess only worldly knowledge and may be successful professionals such as doctors, engineers or businessmen. They have no knowledge or interest about Deen . Their practice of Deen is restricted to Friday prayers and fasting in Ramadan. As soon as the fast and prayers are over their religion is over. These people have no concept or essence of their Deen . This is another extreme!

As much as there is a need for religious people to acquire worldly knowledge to become moderate, there is also the need of the hour that educated people acquire religious knowledge so that they too become moderate. ]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2005 04:00:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30841 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30723
"A Muslim is the one from whose speech and hands other Muslims are safe". (Sahih Bukhari)

"Those who are not kind and merciful on the mankind, then Allah is not kind and merciful to them as well.” (Sahih Bukhari Muslim)]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2005 12:15:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30723 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30724
Its overall style and organization of the matter basically differ from the other religious scriptures. It is unique, the only one of its kind in the whole world.
]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2005 12:15:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30724 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30725
O! Mankind surely to you has come the sermon (message/remembrance), which is healing for the diseases of the Heart, and is the guidance and blessing for the Believers (10:57)



How can anyone know for sure what is the "Reality"? How can anyone have the unquestionable knowledge of the ultimate values to which human behavior should confirm? Certainly not through the instinct, habit, intuition, reason or experience and not through the resources of guidance developed by man himself through the ages (mythology, philosophy, science, history, law etc.) which are too subjective and too limited, and are misleading. Divine Guidance is the greatest human need.

Surely the judgment (deen) in Allah's sight is Islam (Allah's Islam), But those who were given the book strayed away and repelled after the knowledge had come to them out of enimity,and whoever doesn't believe in His Ayyats ...then Allah is the strictest judge (3:19)

Has the language and style that cannot be imitated by human beings. It has stood as a challenge to the literary ability of mere mortals. It is a living miracle revealed to the Prophet.

Has been preserved in its exact original form as it was revealed , not a word added or removed. This is a historical fact beyond any doubt. Millions of Muslims, the world over, know its text by heart.

Has always been in the hands of the people and was never a property of clergy or a section of the society.]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2005 12:15:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30725 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30726
With an open mind, putting aside all the pre-conceived notions, bearing in mind the nature of this Book and its uniqueness, and in a spirit of reverence, and not with casual treatment given to any ordinary book.


This is the Book; In it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who are God-conscious. (2:2)

This Qur'an will guide to that which is most upright, and promises the believers who do good works, a rich reward; And threatens those who believe not in the Hereafter, with a grievous penalty. (17:9,10)

So, Don't the people Ponder in the Qur'an, Or do they have locks on their Hearts. (47:24)]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2005 12:15:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/30726 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29417 Mon, 05 Sep 2005 10:18:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29417 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29418
As Prohet Muhammad Says " A muslim is one who's speech and hand others are safe. Sahi Buhkari]]> Mon, 05 Sep 2005 10:18:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29418 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29420 Mon, 05 Sep 2005 10:18:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29420 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29421 Mon, 05 Sep 2005 10:18:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29421 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29423 Mon, 05 Sep 2005 10:18:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29423 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29424 Mon, 05 Sep 2005 10:18:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/29424 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/28803 Sat, 27 Aug 2005 03:12:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/28803 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/28802 Sat, 27 Aug 2005 02:51:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/28802 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/28800 Sat, 27 Aug 2005 02:27:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/28800 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28 http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/28691 Thu, 25 Aug 2005 04:43:00 EDT http://smsana.tigblog.org/post/28691 25.2522222 55.2825.252222255.28