Rediscovering Islam

            by Arshad Gamiet

Royal Holloway College/Univ. of London /UK.  12^th July 2002.

“As-salámu 'alaikum wa rahmatul láhi wa barakátuh!”  [Wait for adhán]

“A-úthu billáhi minash shaytánir rajeem.  Bismilláhir rahmánir raheem.

Al hamdu lillahi nahmaduhu wanasta’eenahu, wanastagh-firuhu, wanatoobu ilayhi, wana’oothu Billaahi min shuroori an-fusinaa, wamin sayyi aati a’maalinaa.

All Praise is due to Alláh, We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds.

May- Yahdillahu fa huwal muhtad, wa may- yudlill falan tajidaa lahu waliyan murshida.

Anyone who is guided by Alláh, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him.

Wa ash-hadu an Laa ilaaha ill-Alláh, wahdahoo laa shareeka lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhoo warasooluh”

I bear witness that there is no god but Alláh, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad, sws, is His servant, and His messenger.

 My respected Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

 Today’s khutbah is about new Muslims, why and how they came to Islám, and what we all can learn from their experience.  Every person who chooses Islám as a way of life has a deeply personal story, which can be very moving and inspiring to hear. Today there are widespread negative notions that try to connect Islám with terrorism and try to dismiss all Muslims a being fanatical and out of touch with modern life. Despite the growing hostility shown to Islám and Muslims, it is quite remarkable that so many educated young people in Europe and North America, often from influential families, are taking Shahaadah in ever-growing numbers.

 One young lady described her experience of discovering Islám, in these words: “Alláh came knocking at my heart.”

 Would you believe that a night-clubbing English girl of 18 can discover Islám, and so transform her life that within 2 years be able to teach born Muslims tajweed [the correct way to recite The Holy Qur'án]?.  My daughter met this remarkable young lady at university, and today they are close friends. Her story began shortly after midnight when she and another girl were leaving a club. Outside the door were some young men handing out leaflets on Islám. Her curiosity was aroused, so she asked her friend to fetch her a leaflet. Hearing this, one of the young men came over and asked why she sent her friend instead of getting one herself. She replied, she was a little embarrassed about how she was dressed. So, after questioning her politely about her knowledge of Islám, the young man gave her some books and audiotapes, and left.

Over the following weeks this young lady read the books and listened to the tapes. Then she heard a sentence that was to change her life, dramatically and irreversibly: “Truly unfortunate is the person who discovers the truth, but cannot find the courage to accept it.” These words must have reached deep down to the innermost recess of her heart. They repeated themselves, over and over again. They haunted her, day and night, leaving her soul restless. “Truly unfortunate is the person who discovers the truth, but cannot find the courage to accept it.”

 Finally, after a long period of agonising and soul-searching, she made up her mind. One Friday afternoon, she went to the Jum'a prayers on the campus, but arrived late. The other sisters had already left, and there were only a few male students talking to one another. Distressed, she just burst out crying. When some of the young men came over to ask what’s the matter, she sobbed: “I just want to be a Muslim, but none of the sisters are here!” The astonished young men were, for a moment, at a loss. But when they recovered, they arranged for her to recite Shahaada in the correct way. From the outset, there were no half-measures for this brave new sister. She took a year off university to study Arabic and Islám in Syria. When she returned, her tutors in London felt her Arabic was too advanced for the first year, so they enrolled her for the 2^nd year. We have just heard that she passed her combined 2-year exams, by the Grace of Alláh. Last Sunday, I took my daughter to Stanstead Airport to see her friend off to Damascus, again, to continue her studies in Arabic and Islam.

 There are many inspiring examples of people making their spiritual journey to Islám. I am sure you will know some yourselves. I recently found a splendid book entitled, “The sun is rising in the West.” It’s a must-read, and it describes some amazing journeys to Islám in the USA. Amongst these you can read about and ex-member of the Klu Klux Klan, the notorious white supremacist group, who turned to Islám for his salvation. You can also read the inspiring personal reflections of Dr Robert Dickson Crane, who was Foreign Policy adviser to President Nixon in the 1960’s. Time does not allow me to elaborate in this khutbah. I would strongly commend this book.

 In this country as elsewhere in Europe and North America, there are many individuals and organisations doing excellent work for the promotion of Islám. This work should be valued and encouraged. However, we must understand that Islám is not like some consumer product or service that needs to be marketed in that sort of way. We don’t need PR consultants and we don’t measure results by numbers. It’s the quality that counts, and the results are not in our hands. We only fool ourselves when we think that someone will accept Islám because of our clever da’wah work. It is Alláh who chooses those he wants to guide. Alláh expects us to make the effort, and to trust Him with the results. As we read in Súra Al-An’am, 6:125

 “Famay-yuridil-laahu, ay-yahdiyahu, yash-rah sodrahu lil-islaam”

“Those whom Alláh wants to guide, He opens their breast to Islám.” 

 In the West, there has always been some prejudice towards Islám and Muslims. September 11, aggravated the paranoia and hatemongering by giving powerful vested interests, an excuse to promote their blatant Islamophobia. But in spite of this, and in spite of the weak and fragmented situation of Muslims worldwide, the epic journey to Islám is gathering pace, steadily and irresistibly. Bush and Sharon may or may not win their so-called ‘war on terrorism’, but Islám, Insha-Alláh, will win the war that really matters, the war of hearts and minds.

  Súra Nur [24:46]:

 “Laqadde anzalnaa aayaatim-mubay-yinaat. Wallaahu yahdee may-yashaa-u, ilaa siraatim-mustaqeem.”

 “We have indeed sent down Signs that make things clear: And Alláh guides whom He wills to a Way that is straight.”

 A Muslim’s duty is to make the effort, to live Islám and not just to talk about it. But results belong to Alláh. We are expected to strive with all our physical, financial, moral and intellectual resources, to seek the good pleasure of Alláh, to try to understand His plan, and our own unique part in it. There is indeed a divine purpose for each and every one of us. We have to find that purpose, and then fulfil it energetically and enthusiastically, to the best of our ability

“Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen. Was-salaatu was-salaamu alaa Khairil mursaleen. Muhammadin-nabeey-yil Ummiy-yee, wa-‘alaa aalihee, wasah-bihee, aj-ma’een.

All praise is due to Alláh, the Lord of all the Worlds; may the greetings and peace be upon the best messenger, Muhammad, the unlettered prophet; and upon his family and upon all of his companions.

Ammaa ba’ad:

Innalláha wa malaaikata yusallúna alan nabi. Yá ay yuhal latheena ámanu sallú alayhi wasalli mú tas leema.

Behold, Alláh and his angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask for blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

 Allahumma salli alá Muhammad, wa ala áli Muhammad, kama salayta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali Ibrahim. Allahumma barik ala Muhammad, wa alaa áli Muhammad, kama barakta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali ibrahim. Fil ála meen, innaka hameedun majeed.”

O Alláh! Send your greetings upon Muhammad and his family,  just as you sent your greetings on Ibraheem, and his family. O Alláh, send you blessings on Muhammad and his family, just as you blessed Ibraheem and his family. In both worlds, you are praiseworthy and exalted.

Second Khutbah:

 Sub’ hanallahi wal hamdu lillah, wala hawla wala quwwata illah billah yu althi yual theem.

 Dear Brothers and Sisters

The stories of new Muslims are covered in numerous articles in newspapers and magazines. It has become the subject of many books and even dedicated websites. We are all intrigued and fascinated by the experiences they describe. Why is this so? Why should this process of finding Islám from such diverse backgrounds, interest us? 

Perhaps deep inside us, we have a need to share the excitement of uncovering the profound realities of life; we need to share the search for meaning: Who are we? Why are we here? What is our destiny? In a way, we need to join our new Muslim brothers and sisters on their spiritual journey. Indeed, we need to rediscover Islam for ourselves. Even though we were born into Muslim families, it does not follow that we will automatically grow up to love Islám with such passion and fervour, as we should. Many of us merely accepted Islam because "it is the religion of our ancestors." We never questioned it. Islam was simply part of our culture and traditions, something we did without question, and therefore, without real enthusiasm and conviction.

It is interesting to note that the Quraish of Makka, objected to Islam, saying that they preferred to follow the "religion of their ancestors." In fact, every prophet encountered this argument, from the very people they tried to save.  

It is vitally important that we do not merely accept our Islam simply because it is the "religion of our ancestors." We should not be Muslims merely by inheritance, or by habit. Islam must be our religion of choice, of deep and absolute conviction. If we have any hope that our children and grandchildren will continue to build on our spiritual foundations, those foundations must be strong. Otherwise, the whole structure of our faith community will crumble and disappear within a generation or two. Make no mistake about this. There is no future for Islam in our children and grandchildren, if we choose to remain half-hearted Muslims or part-time Muslims.

 Súra Al-Baqara v208 warns us:

 “Yaa ay-yuhal-latheena aamanud’ khuloo fis-silmi kaaafataw walaa tat-tabi’oo khotootish-shaytaan. Innahoo lakum ‘athoo-hum-mubeen.”

 “O you who believe! Enter into Islám wholeheartedly, and follow not the footsteps of the Evil One; for he is to you an avowed enemy.”

 In the last verses of Sura Al-Furqaan, we read a very beautiful and moving prayer, from among the many beautiful prayers in the Holy Quran:

 “Rabbana hab-lanaa min-azwaajinaa, wa thur-riy-yaatinaa, qurrata a’yunew-waj ‘alnaa lil-mut-taqeena imaamaa.”

 “O Allah, grant us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us the grace to lead the righteous."

 What a stirring and evocative prayer! And, what a wonderful blessing to receive, when Alláh swt answers this prayer! Dear Brothers and sisters, depending on our attitude, this prayer could either be just lip-service and wishful thinking, or, it can be a real, heartfelt and sincere appeal for the help of Alláh. If we combine prayer with good actions, we can build continuity and improve the quality of Islam in our family for future generations. The key is to ensure that our hearts and minds, our words and deeds are in total harmony. We will have to remove the contradictions, and am reminding myself first, and all of you. We must remove all the contradictions that live so uneasily in our lives. Hypocrisy is a grave sin. We have to cultivate the sense of integrity and good character that are the visible traits of a true believer. We have to tame our desires and lusts, and develop an appetite for everything that pleases Allah swt. We must also develop an instinctive aversion for all the things that incur Alláh’s displeasure.

 A great scholar once confessed, "I have never found anything more rebellious than my own good intentions." This was truly a very profound piece of self-analysis. I am sure we all know the feeling. Total honesty with oneself, regarding one's faults, is the beginning of self-improvement. But it doesn't end there. We have to build on this effort, steadily, patiently, and consistently. To build the ideal Islamic character takes a long time. There is no quick fix. And all the way, we must seek Allah's help and guidance.

 Let us pray to Alláh, to place within our hearts, a deep and irresistible desire to improve ourselves. O Alláh, help us to overcome the temptations and distractions of life, and let us yearn and crave for things that bring us closer to you. Let our desires and ambitions be pure and wholesome, and let our thoughts, our words, and our actions converge in harmony and unity in accordance with Your Will.  

"Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar."

"Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the torment of the fire." (2:201)

"Rabbi 'j'alni muqima's-Salati wa min Thurriyati, Rabbana wa taqqabal du'a', Rabbana'ghfirli wa li walidayya walil-Mu'minina yawma yaqumul-Hisab."

"O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring. O my Lord! and accept my prayer."

"O our Lord! cover (us) with your Forgiveness - me, my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day of Judgement!" (14:40-41)

 Ameen!           Aqeemus salaah!

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