{"id":5767,"date":"2013-11-16T13:42:55","date_gmt":"2013-11-16T13:42:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/?p=5767"},"modified":"2013-11-16T13:42:55","modified_gmt":"2013-11-16T13:42:55","slug":"interview-with-shaykh-yusuf-islahi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/2013\/11\/16\/interview-with-shaykh-yusuf-islahi\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Shaykh Yusuf Islahi"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"imgres\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Interview With Shaykh Islahi
\nBy Hena Zuberi<\/p>\n

Muslim Matters, 21 October 2013<\/p>\n

I recently had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing the Indian scholar,
\nShaykh Yusuf Islahi, after his lecture at the Islamic Center of Maryland
\nover a cup of very sweet tea. In a gray sherwani, with a Jinnah cap on his
\nhead, he spoke to me with a grace that only comes with age and knowledge.<\/p>\n

Maulana Islahi is a prominent writer and orator. He is one of the leaders
\nof <http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jamaat-e-Islami_Hind<\/a>> \u00a0Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
\nand the Markazi Majlis-e-Shura (Central Advisory Council). He is also the
\nchief patron of Project WhyIslam of the
\n<http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Islamic_Circle_of_North_America<\/a>> \u00a0Islamic
\nCircle of North America and founder of a girls’ orphanage,
\n\u201cJamea-tus-Salihaat\u201d in Rampur, India.<\/p>\n

Shaykh Islahi was on his annual tour of the United States. I have tried my
\nbest to remain as faithful to his Urdu in my translation as possible. Here
\nis his message of optimism and hope for the Muslims in America.<\/p>\n

What are your views on Islam in America and where it is headed?<\/p>\n

The connection to Islam is spreading very quickly in the United States, as
\nwell as the rest of the world.<\/p>\n

The work that Muslims have done in this country notwithstanding, All\u0101h’s
\n(God\u2019s) blessings and mercy is more at play here. \u00a0All\u0101h is creating the
\npathways to facilitate the growth of Islam. Some issues apparently appear as
\nif they will be detrimental in the path of Islam, but even these setbacks
\nbecome new conduits. They increase the yearning and curiosity of the people,
\nwith the grace of All\u0101h. \u00a0There are a lot of instances of this. My
\nobservation has been that the people of this land are of virtuous
\ndispositions and seekers of goodness. Putting aside the government’s
\nactions, the regular folks of the land are good people and easily accept the
\nTruth.<\/p>\n

Note that I didn’t say that Muslims are not doing the work in All\u0101h’s way,
\nbut that the results are not based on their work and are the blessings of
\nAll\u0101h (SWT). In the past 60 years, the best thing Muslims have done is make
\nconscientious efforts to keep their progeny connected with the religion.
\nThey have made this effort for their eternal lives and for the betterment of
\nthe country they call home. These efforts are there but more effort is
\nneeded. The people of this land, because they are essentially good people,
\nare willing to give the freedom to Muslims to work for the benefit of this
\nland and are happy with the results. Muslims should make use of these
\nfreedoms.<\/p>\n

What advice would you give to the Muslim living in the USA, especially on
\nhow to aid the invitation to Islam?<\/p>\n

Da\u2018wah (inviting people to Islam) is not just a speech or a discussion, but
\nan effort in the society for justice and truth, exemplifying Islam in all
\naffairs and striving for goodness. Insh\u0101’All\u0101h (God willing), that work will
\nbe blessed. Make yourselves ambassadors for the religion, an example of
\nIslam, and get educated. Make sure that the religion of peace and justice is
\nleft as a legacy for the next generation. My advice is to inculcate the
\nlonging in the next generation to protect that legacy and do justice to
\ntheir deen.<\/p>\n

Another thing is that Muslims have to let go of the culture from India,
\nPakistan, Bangladesh or wherever they came from and be good to women and
\ngive them the opportunities to learn the faith. If women learn the deen (the
\nreligion of Islam), every house will be a school of faith and every home
\nwill be a beacon of the light of Islam. Then, in my opinion, it will be
\nimpossible for anyone to extinguish or dim that light. To quote an Urdu
\nidiom: Ghouls don’t enter populated homes.<\/p>\n

What role do American-Muslims play towards the rest of the Muslim world?<\/p>\n

There are so many opportunities in this country. There is a lot of
\nabundance here: of money, of goods, of a cordial environment, of competence.
\nMake use of these opportunities for the sake of your religion. An essence of
\nthe religion is to give with abundance.<\/p>\n

Send money overseas where it is needed on humanitarian grounds. Wherever
\nand whenever you can, do good; don’t wait for a catastrophe. If you see a
\nlack of education or health, use your connections and wealth for the benefit
\nof mankind.<\/p>\n

What role do American-Muslims play in American society?<\/p>\n

Get involved in local politics and make efforts to stand for justice when
\nyou see any injustice in the world. Work for moral excellence and virtue and
\ndo whatever you can in your capacity in whichever segment of society or
\nprofession you are in.<\/p>\n

As you travel around the country, what are the biggest challenges that you
\nsee the American-Muslims face?<\/p>\n

There is no country in the world that does not have challenges. There are
\nhuge challenges, even in Muslim countries. The challenges are, firstly, due
\nto the system of living, daily routine there is no barakah (blessings) in
\nlife, especially in time. Everyone is constantly busy. \u00a0Make a conscious
\neffort and seriously think about the fact that we cannot just live our lives
\nwithout any purpose. Live your life with purpose, so your voice remains in
\nthis land and that American\u2013Muslim names are written down in the history of
\nthis land as forces of goodness.<\/p>\n

We hear that the people are leaving the mas\u0101jid in the USA, or only fill up
\nduring Ramadan, what is your opinion?<\/p>\n

I do not agree with this opinion, that mas\u0101jid (mosques) are not connected
\nor are not full. \u00a0The state of the masjid is better here, than for example
\nin India or Pakistan. Even if the mas\u0101jid are filled during Ramadan and not
\nduring the rest of the year it is not particular to the US; that is a
\ndisease everywhere. Another way to look at it is to be happy that they are
\nfilled during Ramadan, as it is a month of barakah. All\u0101h’s program is set
\nand Ramadan and other special occasions show us that we are a live ummah.<\/p>\n

You can see this in the large numbers of youth, who stay up all night
\nworshipping All\u0101h. Then this notion that the youth or next generation is not
\nattached to the masjid, this is not true. You will see this if you take a
\ntour of the nation. Everywhere I went, I saw the youth sitting for itikaf
\n(seclusion in the mosques). In every place 75 percent of the participants
\nwere youth. \u00a0There were not just boys but young girls doing Qiyam (standing
\nup for the night prayers) and participating in activities in the masjid.<\/p>\n

Don’t be pessimistic, have good expectations of the new generation; don’t
\nlose hope in them.<\/p>\n

What are your views on the upheavals in the ummah (the international Muslim
\ncommunity)?<\/p>\n

We have awakened. We want to live according to the faith. As we awaken, so
\ndoes Shaytan (the devil). Secondly, as the Ummah \u00a0matures and comes closer
\nto Islam, the enemies of Islam plot to make the ummah weaker. And thirdly
\nremember that, the Prophet (SAW) said that this Ummah of mine is especially
\nblessed by All\u0101h (SWT). This ummah will not be given a collective punishment
\nin the aakhirah (we will be judged individually); we will suffer through
\nthem here on this Earth. All\u0101h will send new trials, catastrophes, and
\nmurder will be common. As we suffer through all of this, we can rejoice in
\nthe fact that, as an ummah, collectively we will not be punished in the
\neternal life.<\/p>\n

I can honestly say hearing his wise words soothed the negativity about our
\ncommunities that we are constantly exposed to.<\/p>\n

<http:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2013\/10\/21\/interview-shaykh-islahi\/<\/a>>
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Interview With Shaykh Islahi By Hena Zuberi Muslim Matters, 21 October 2013 I recently had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing the Indian scholar, Shaykh Yusuf Islahi, after his lecture at the Islamic Center of Maryland over a cup of very sweet tea. In a gray sherwani, with a Jinnah …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5768,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[283],"class_list":["post-5767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-hena-zubeiri","column","twocol","has-thumbnail"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5767"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5770,"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5767\/revisions\/5770"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5768"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khutbahbank.org.uk\/v2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}