Deen ~ In a Personal & Universal Context
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
199 |
| Khutbah Date: |
05/26/06 |
[b]الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا[/b][i]We have now perfected for you our DEEN, completed our favors upon you[/i][b] [Qur’an 5:3] [/b]Principle of Human Relationships A cardinal principle in the equation of human relationships is that all members of every human community should learn … ~to care deeply... about themselves and about others~to act in ways that are supportive of the vital interests...of themselves and of others
Deen-ul-IslamThe word DEEN is a significant term used in the Qur’an and could mean...[i]way of life, framework for governance, recompense, reward, requital, judgment, dominion, obedience, religion or natural order.[/i] The word has been used in the Holy Qur'an in all these senses [b][Qur’an 4:125, 5:3, 12:76, 24:2, 3:85, 37:53, 3:83].[/b] The fact that Islam emphasizes[i]mu'amalah [/i](social relations) as an essential component of the[i]Deen[/i](Islamic Way of Life) clearly indicates the significance of social relations to human existence. The Prophet (pbuh) thus said [b]الدين معاملة [/b] [i]“The Deen is about inter-human/ soocial relationship” [/i][b]Ihsaan/Itqaan (Goodness & Excellence)[/b]Remember that the quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to his/her commitment to excellence. Knowing the potential of the human being [b][Qur’an 95:5],[/b]the Creator commands us to strive for excellence[b][Qur’an 16:90].[/b]Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) reminded us that
[b]كتب الاحسان على كل شيء ان الله [/b][i]Allah has prescribed excellence in everything you do[/i]The notion of
ihsaan implies both doing what is good and right coupled with excellence in performance. This makes us realize that whatever is good is worth doing and whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well. Note that
Ihsaan / (goodness) emanates from
husn-niyyah / (sincere intention),
husn-zann / (positive consideration),
husn-al-khuluq / (good character) leading to
husn-ul’amal /
a’mal-us-salihaat // (righteous deeds). [b]Distinguishing the Positive from the Negative[/b]The Qur’an as a Furqaan/Criterion (the standard between right and wrong) exhorts us to maintain a clear understanding of what is beneficial and what is detrimental and thus distinguish unmistakably between good and bad. In order to clearly demarcate the negative from the positive; Allah uses specific terms to emphasize the divergence. - To indicate the positive values and qualities that we need to imbibe and manifest, the Qur’an documents such terms as [i]salihaat, birr, khayr, hasanah, ma’ruf, tayyib, halaal[/i]… to indicate the concepts and values of piety, righteousness, goodness, positive universal values, wholesome and lawful. - To indicate the negative values and qualities that we need to avoid, the Qur’an documents such terms as[i]sayyi’aat, sharr, ithm, munkar, khabith, fassad, ‘udwan’ junaah, fahishah, zulm, tugyan, khati’ah, rijs, ma’siyah, zanb[/i]… to indicate the characteristics such as evil, bad, wrongful, improper, unlawful, inamicable, lewd, crude, vulgar, impropriety, injustice, disobedience, sinful …As the Qur’an, Islam's revealed text, states: [i] “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may come to know one another. The best of people are those most righteous.”[/i][Quran, 49:13] Muslims who were once the torchbearers of civilization now lie trampled under the marching feet of progress. A fossilized articulation of Shari'ah is being pandered as the ultimate way while the objectives of Shari'ah remain elusive; giving an impression that Islam is out of step with the needs of the contemporary world. There is a dire need for ...- introspection, honest self-evaluation and self-criticism- a concerted effort to bridge the gap between values and actions, ideals and realities,sloganizing and activism, past glory and a viable future. Always remembering … [i]"Allah will certainly not change the condition of people unless and until they change themselves."[/i][b] [Qur'an 13:11][/b]
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