Fake news and truth seekers
Fake news and truth seekers
By Arshad Gamiet
Aúthubillaahi minashshaytaanir rajeem. Bismillaahir rahmaanirraheem
Al hamdulillahi nahmaduhuwanasta’eenahu, wanastagh-firuhu, wanatoobuilayhi, wana’oothuBillaahi min shuroori an-fusinaa, waminsayyiaati a’maalinaa. May- Yahdillahu fa huwalmuhtad, wa may- yudlillfalantajidaa lahu waliyan murshida. Wa ash-hadu an Laailaaha ill-Allah, wahdahoo laa shareekalah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhoo warasooluh”
All Praise is due to Allah, 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. Anyone who is guided by Allah is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.
(يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ)
BismillahirRahmanir Raheem! Ya Ay-yuhal-latheena ‘aamanut taqul-laaha, haqqa tuqaatihee walatamu tun-na, il-la wa antum Muslimoon.”
O You who believe, – Be aware of Allah, with correct awareness, an awe-inspired awareness, and die not except as Muslims.
(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا)
Ya Ay-yuhal-latheena ‘aamanuttaqul-laaha, waqooloo qawlan sadeedaa. Yuslih-lakum a’maalakum wayaghfirlakum thunoobakum, wamayyu-til-laaha warasoolahu, faqad faaza fawzan atheemaa.”
O You who believe, – Be aware of Allah, and speak a straightforward word. He will forgive your sins and repair your deeds. And whoever takes Allah and His Prophet as a guide, has already achieved a mighty victory.
In the opening verse of Sura An-Nisaa’, Allah says:
“Ya ay-yhan naasut taqoo Rabbukumul lathee khalaqakum min nafsin waahidati(n) wakhalaqa minha zawjaha wabath-thamin huma rijaalan katheeran wanisaa-aa. Wat-taqul-Laahal lathee tasaa aloona bihee walarhaam. Innal-Laaha kaana ‘alaykum raqeebaa.”
“O mankind! Show reverence towards your Guardian-Lord Who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, his mate and from the two of them scattered (like seeds) countless men and women. Be conscious of Allah, through Whom ye demand your mutual (rights) and (show reverence towards) the wombs (that bore you): for surely, Allah always watches over you.”
My Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Prophet Muhammad sws once said:
“If you have no shame, then do as you please.” (Bukhari and Ibn Majah 4183)
He was simply reminding people that every human being has a ‘fitrah’ an innate sense of what is right and what is wrong. If we are guided by our higher instincts, we’ll be safe. If we give in to our lower passions, then we are at risk of displeasing Allah and inviting His wrath. Those who have no faith, and no sense of shame, will do as they please without caring for the consequences. They will surely reap what they have sown.
These days, we live in the age of the shameless. Many people flaunt their sins openly. Serial liars who have lost their moral compass have become leaders of powerful nations. They wreak havoc on millions and are rarely held to account. Social media, mainstream newspapers and TV are awash with their mischief, dressed up as ‘alternative facts.’ They manipulate people’s emotions, sowing fear and division in order to win a few more votes.
So, what’s new? The battle between truth and falsehood, between good and evil is as old as humanity itself. This battle will continue until the end of time. We are caught up in the middle of the storm. We have to navigate our way to safety, and we have to teach our children and grandchildren how to do likewise.
Not everyone has rock solid guidance that never changes. We Muslims are indeed fortunate. Our deen offers a clear road map to show us the way to Allah’s Ridwaan, Allah’s Good Pleasure. Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad describes Islam as ‘God’s hospital’ ‘humanity’s lifeboat’ and ‘the last bus home.’ These metaphors remind us how blessed we are to be followers of Allah’s last Prophet and final message. Without Islam, people are truly lost. Allah’s Book, Al Quran, also refers to itself as Al Furqan, the Criterion, It distinguishes what’s right from what’s wrong. We Muslims have no excuse! We also have the detailed life example of Allah’s Praised One. Rasool Allah sws is described in many ways, and one of them is Al insaan al kaamil: The complete human being. Anyone who wants to become completely human should follow his example. His wife ‘Ayesha also described Prophet Muhammad as ‘the living Quran.’
Al-Buhuti reported: Sayyidna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “O Allah, show me the truth as truth and guide me to follow it. Show me the false as false and guide me to avoid it.” (Source: Sharḥ al-Muntahá al-Irādāt 3/49)
Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Let he who believes in Allah and the Last Day speak the truth or remain silent and safe.”
What practical lessons do we learn from this advice?
- We must check the facts before sharing any news. Don’t pass on any tweets or WhatsApp messages unless you’re sure that it’s accurate. Otherwise, you could be spreading lies and harming others.
- Truth will always prevail over falsehood. Truth is eternal. Lies are not. Be a witness to the truth. Do not lie, and don’t spread lies.
- Follow Prophet Muhammad’s (sws) example. He spoke little, but when he spoke it was to the point and always wise advice. Don’t talk too much. If what you want to say cannot improve on the silence, then be quiet.
- Do not argue. If you disagree with someone, say what you believe to be true, then remain silent. You don’t have to win every argument. Enough is it that Allah has witnessed your stand. Allah is our Guardian and that is sufficient for us.
“Wa kafa bil-laahi shaheedaa.”, “ Wa kafa bil-Laahi wakeelaa”
“And enough is Allah as a witness. And enough is Allah as a Guardian.” (Quran 48:28 and 4:45)
“Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen. Was-salaatu was-salaamu alaa Khairil mursaleen. Muhammadin-nabeey-yil Ummiy-yee, wa-‘alaa aalihee, wasah-bihee, aj-ma’een.
Ammaa ba’ad:
“Innalláha wa malaaikata yusallúna alan nabi. Yá ay yuhal latheena ámanu sallú alayhi wasalli mú tas leema. Allahumma salli alá Muhammad, wa ala áli Muhammad, kama salayta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali Ibrahim. Allahumma barik ala Muhammad, kama barakta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali ibrahim. Fil ála meen, innaka hameedun majeed.”
Second Khutbah:
“Soob’ hanallahi wal hamdu lillah, wala hawla wala quwwata illah billah yu althi yual theem”
Glory to Allah! Praise to Allah! There is no power and no strength except from Allah!
My dear sisters and brothers,
Whatever hardships and pain we may be enduring in our personal lives, let us always remember that, right now, millions of others have to endure much worse calamities in many parts of the world. Just think of Palestine, Yemen, Kashmir, think of those Uighur Muslims in China and the Rohinya in Myanmar. Not to speak of so many homeless and destitute people here in our own country.
Be thankful that you are here, and that you have the means to improve your situation when so many people do not have a choice. When we have done what we can, physically and financially, then we still have du’ah. Du’ah is the most powerful weapon of the believer. We must always turn in humility and prayer to the One Who holds the fate of all creation in His Hand:
“Tabaarak al lathee biyadihil Mulk wahuwa alaa kulli shay in qadeer! Al lathee khalaqal mawta wal hayaata liyab’lukum ayyukum ahsanu ‘amalaa. Wa huwal ‘azeezul ghaffuur.
“Glory to Him in Whose Hand is the dominion of all things. He created Death and Life so that He may test who is best in conduct among you.. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Most Forgiving” (Sura 67:1-2)
And now, my dear sisters and brothers, to conclude our khutbah,
InnaAllaha, Yamuru bil adel, wal ihsaan, wa eetaa-i zil qurba; wa yanha anil fuhshaa-i, wal munkari walbaghi; ya-idzukhum lallakum tathak-karoon. (Sura 16:90),
“Surely Allah commands justice, good deeds and generosity to others and to relatives; and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, so that you may be reminded.”
Fadth kuroonee adth kurkum, wash kuroolee walaa tak furoon [2:152].
Allah says: “and remember Me: I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and do not reject faith.”
wala thikrul-Laahi akbar, Wal-Laahu ya’lamu maa tasna’oon.” [29:45].
“and without doubt, Remembrance of Allah is the Greatest Thing in life, and Allah knows the deeds that you do.”
Allahumma antas salaam, Wa minkas salaam, Tabarak tarab-bana wata aalayta, Ya thal jalaa-i wal ikraam, Sami’na wa ata’na ghufranaka, Rabbana wa ilaykal maseer
O Allah, You are peace, and peace comes from You and peace returns to You. O Allah, let us live in peace and let us enter the House of Peace, for You are Great and Glorified.
Rabbanaa aatina fid dunya hasanatan wa fil aakhirati hasanatan waqina athaaban naar.
O my Lord, please give us the best of this life and the best of the life to come, and save us from the torment of the Fire.
Rabbi ja-alni muqueemas salaati, wa min dur-riy-yatee, Rabbana wata qabbal du’ah.
O my Lord, help us to perfect our prayer, and that of our descendants; and please accept this prayer
Rabba nagh firlee wali waali dayya, walil Mu’mineena yawma yaqoomul hisaab.
O our Lord, forgive us, and our parents, and all believers until the Day of Judgement
Rabbana la tuzigh quloobana ba’da ith hadaytana, wa Hablana milla dunka rahma, Innaka antal wah-haab.
O Lord, do not let our hearts deviate, now that we have been guided; but grant us mercy from Your very Presence; for you are the Granter of bounties without measure.
Soob’haanaka rabbikal Rabbil izzati ‘amma yasifoon, wasalaamun anil mursaleen, wal hamdu lil Laahi Rabbil Aalameen
Glory to Allah, Lord of Majesty and Honour! High is He above the partners they associate with Him! Peace on all the Prophets, and praise to Allah, Lord of all the worlds!
Ameen.
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