Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim!
In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Merciful!
DR. PASHA'S ISLAMIC SOLUTIONS
E-GROUP LETTERS
#6
www.IslamicSolutions.Com
Dhul Hijjah 10, 1426/Jan 10, 2006
From the United States of America
Dr. Pasha
(Bringing Islam to the World One Concept at a Time!
Taking the Qur'an to Every Home and Heart that Needs It --
And which One Does Not?)
Assalamu alaikum!
And Eid Mubarak!
It has been some time before I wrote to you all. May Allah forgive me.
I was away for some time, and I had computer trouble for some time. But in the beginning as well as in the end -- "ultimately", as some people may say naively, even foolishly -- it was Allah’s decision.
Because, all time is Allah’s time.
And everything that happens, happens because Allah makes it happen. And it happens precisely how and when and where Allah makes it happen. And it is all Allah’s work: in the beginning, in the end and in the middle.
All the way, it is Allah, Allah, Allah. And nothing and no one else.
It is Eid today -- or whenever the Muslims decide to celebrate it.
It is not worth fighting over. There are other things that demand our energies more urgently.
Eid Mubarak!
May Allah accept the Hajj of those whom he called to his House to make it.
And a thousand blessings of Eid to those of us, and our friends and families, who were left behind to celebrate the Eid on our own in our own little villages and towns and societies.
Two questions are worth asking on this blessed and beautiful day of Eid:
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Between last Eid and this one, what have we done to bring ourselves closer to Allah?
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Between last Eid and this one, what have we done to bring the world of Allah closer to Allah?
When we look around us, we find that:
- The Qur’an still remains a stranger to much of the world, including most Muslims.
- A worldwide radio program that talks about Islam and the world in a simple and rational manner is yet to emerge.
- A viable Spanish program to invite the Spanish-speaking people of the world to Allah remains a dream in some people’s minds.
- An Islamic or Muslim youth corps that will bring the message of Islam to the world, throughout the world is an idea most Muslims don’t even comprehend, leave alone appreciate.
The other day, when I announced this idea to a Muslim group, two names came in -- both very mature, perennial youth, Allah bless them.
It is sad that only two people responded. But it is great that there were two more than zero who did.
In the meantime, those of us whom Allah has blessed with talents and resources continue to pursue and support who knows what.
The best of us have our own pet projects, our own organizational and other commitments. Our own sense of what is or is not important.
Allah bless us. That is who we are: a free people under God.
Mostly, doing our own thing. Most of the best of us.
The bad ones are busy doing bad things. In the larger scheme of things, they don’t count. It is the good ones who matter.
It is the good ones whose actions -- or inaction -- decide the destiny of the world.
It is they Shaitan worries most about.
Others among us are busy attacking this or that aspect of what they think “the enemy” is doing to us, to Muslims -- and to Islam.
Though needed, it is not a winning strategy when undertaken in isolation from or as a substitute for a positive message and plan of action.
You cannot build a successful business by continually attacking the competition. You do it by marketing a superior product of your own.
And Muslims have failed to present Islam to the world in a positive manner -- as a superior and better alternative to what the market has to offer.
Where are those among us who are single-minded -- like a man called Ibrahim (Alaihis Salam) -- in marketing their own best products -- the Qur’an -- to the world?
And yet, I wish you all -- and myself -- a most wonderful Eid, even as I ask: Eid? What Eid?
And Eid for whom?
For the Indian Ocean tsunami victims?
For the Kashmir earthquake victims?
For the orphans, the widows, the weak, the infirm, the maimed and the injured of all kinds of natural and man-made disasters all over the world?
For all other victims of physical tragedy, social injustice and political and economic oppression everywhere?
Without a doubt, all of them deserve our attention, compassion, generosity and support. No question. But which one of us ever thought of the greatest tragedy of all -- to live a life without any exposure to Allah and to the Haqq that came from him?
And to the Qur’an?
What tragedy or disaster is bigger than that?
And how many billions of people around the world are suffering that fate?
And what steps have we taken to alleviate that suffering?
And to rescue humanity from the effects of that greatest disaster of all?
Eid Mubarak!
This Eid is about Ibrahim, Alaihis Salam, and his family.
Ibrahim, Alaihis Salam, made non-stop Hijrat. He continually left things behind. What did we leave behind, between last Eid and this one?
Ibrahim, Alaihis Salam, made every sacrifice that was demanded of him. What sacrifice of our time, talent and resources -- and our Ego and Hawaa and Nafs -- did we make, and for what purpose?
Ibrahim, Alaihis Salam, put Allah before everything and everyone. How long is the list of things and people and interests and agendas and priorities we have before Allah?
Ibrahim, Alaihis Salam, gave everything to Allah, and Allah in return gave him everything. What are we willing to give to Allah?
This Eid is a commemoration of the life and achievements and sacrifices of Ibrahim, Alaihis Salam, and his wonderful family.
Can we commit ourselves a little bit to be like him and like them -- from this Eid onwards?
Eid Mubarak!
Please don’t forget me, my parents, ancestors and my teachers in your Du’as.
Allahummarham Ummata Muhammadin, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam!
Wassalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah!
Yours respectfully,
Dr. Pasha
END
© 2006 Syed Husain Pasha
Dr. Pasha is an educator and scholar of exceptional
talent, training and experience. He can be reached at DrSyedPasha [at]
AOL [dot] com or www.IslamicSolutions.com.
