Blind Following of Misguidance - Part 4

 

It takes time to ponder, yet time, at least in our lives, are limited and rushed. This is evident in the modern era where the words of man have superceded the word of Allah for few take time to reflect upon Quran, the word of Allah. It is easier for most to listen to the speech of man, devoid of substance, being Quran and Sunnah, as if the last chapter of Quran has meaning in this instance.

Aqeedah/Belief is key to eemaan/faith for incorrect beliefs can nullify eemaan. Eemaan is believing in Allah and rejecting falsehood/false deities - taghut. The focus in the first period of prophethood of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was on strengthening belief. This note is a challenge to you to study the beliefs of Muslims through authentic sources. How did the early Muslims believe. Sometimes so much focus is given to the views and opinions of people that lived long after, that the true meanings are missed. What are the authentic sources that Ahlus-sunnah wa-l-jama’ah follow. If you know this and stick to this, then know that any opinion outside of that, is mere speech and has little, if any value, unless it is in total conformity. Conformity must have yardsticks and benchmarks. Yet today we are overwhelmed by beautiful words and speeches devoid of any proofs from authentic sources and people gobble these up. You have Quranists who reject hadith because they don’t understand Quran yet claiming to follow Quran. On the other hand, to support their deviancy, there are people who use weak and, at times, fabricated hadith to support their misguided viewpoints. The masses are gullible largely because they are ignorant while they may accept things in good faith.  This is the dilemma for most. The one point that cannot be missed is that people largely follow modern-day personalities, those with good voices, orators, charisma. Attaching yourself to these personalities can result in idol worship or cult worship. Simply put, when the words of these men are favoured above the words of Allah and His Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ, then your beliefs become questionable. And with that, your eemaan. The test can be simple in terms of who is right and who is wrong: Is what you are doing in conformance with Quran and Sunnah -strictly, or is it subject to interpretation? Is what another is doing, perhaps he is doing less than you, but can he be faulted in terms of Quran and Sunnah? If, in your opinion, he is blameworthy because he is not conforming to your standard, or he is missing out, then what proofs do you have from authentic sources?

The yardstick for following someone cannot be that he has acquired (some) knowledge, but rather, it must be, firstly, that he is strict upon Quran and Sunnah and fears deviating from it such that when a truth comes to him and is a correction on a previous action or understanding, he inclines to the correction. Secondly, see how much a speaker quotes from Quran and hadith versus how much they quote from secondary and other sources.

In conclusion for this topic, for the time being: As part of your beliefs, aqeedah, to affirm your eemaan is to have a solid understanding of taghut for rejecting taghut is necessary for your eemaan.

 

See previous :  part 3: https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2025/01/blind-following-of-misguidance-part-3.html

 See next :  part 5: https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2025/01/blind-following-of-misguidance-part-5.html

Do read, share and comment on these links below:

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2025/01/ego.html

https://medium.com/@saleem.gamza/early-hours-part-3-068721466908

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/10/where-are-you-running-to.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/11/things-to-consider.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/09/they-dont-know-what-we-know.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/09/who-do-you-emulate.html

 

 

 

Will Allah save Aqsa?

 

Every Friday, for a Muslim, is good Friday, because Friday is the best day of the week.  As for other connotations, then that is not from Islam and we say to those people who believe in this “to you your religion and to us, ours” and we leave them be. We continue to worship Allah, who neither begets, nor is begotten, and we worship Him in the manner that He legislated.

The talk of the red heifer is almost reaching a crescendo. However, that ritual in and of itself, has no meaning and no basis in Islam. What may concern us rather is what happens after the sacrifice of the unblemished red heifer. While the general understanding from Quran is that the Jews will enter Masjid-ul-Aqsa again, the question of its destruction is not necessarily implied by it. They will cause destruction as they have already done in Gaza. But will this destruction eventually include Al-Aqsa? The rulers in the Muslim world are “steadfast in their condemnation” of the brutality meted out to the Palestinians. As for action, that is not forthcoming. The masses are told to be patient and obey their rulers. Should the scenario become reality in the short-term where Aqsa is stormed by the Jews, who will defend Aqsa. Is it that perhaps Allah will save Aqsa, the first Qiblah of the Muslims, like He saved the Ka’bah from Abrahah* and the elephants? There is a tendency for people to interpret Quran to suit their argument. The same applies to weak hadith and sometimes even fabricated hadith. You will need to avoid this and avoid sensationalism. Of course, if you do this for acts of worship, then you will have deviated from the straight path. Some people are genuinely researching current affairs and will come across information which may lack credibility. These should be discarded, and you must be patient until information reaches you from a worthy source. Indeed, leadership and guidance are lacking. The least you should do is to incline yourself, your family and general lifestyle to that which please Allah. You cannot be concerned about a possible world war or just the dire situation in Palestine and not seek ways to draw closer to Allah. It is easy to march, but more difficult to boycott businesses and products while reforming yourself is far from easy. But what outcome do you want in all of this? And is paradise not your goal? You have been more than tapped on the shoulder as a reminder.

The matters in Palestine must be of concern. These are difficult times. The red heifer is big news. The intended actions thereafter will impact Muslims and possibly the world. What are we to do then?

 

 

*Abrahah is not to be confused with Abraham. He is Abrahah al-Ashram, the Ethiopian governor of Yemen.

 

You need to also read:

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/03/bold-question.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/03/ar-you-reading-from-wrong-script.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/03/iftar-at-third-haram.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/02/wars-and-scores.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/02/red-heifer.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/01/why-its-trump.html

 

Picture courtesy of http://teachmiddleeast.lib.uchicago.edu