Abdullatif Aljibury, Phd.
Danville, California
There are two different versions of Muslims.:
- There are those that are the believers who follow the true spirit of Islam that emanates from its divine source, namely the Quran and the true and unadulterated Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammad, which guides its followers to a meaningful, socially just, productive and tranquil life. Therefore, he who wants to approach Islam through its divine source (the Quran) needs to proceed without any preconceived ideas emanating from secondary sources that are plaguing the pure divine Islamic concepts and practices.
- The second version of Muslims are lost in the quagmire of traditions and practices that have accumulated in the main stream of Islam as a result of :
a. twisting the main concepts by plagiarizing the sayings ascribed to the prophet Muhammad some centuries after his death,
b. and invented tales and opinions on the Quranic stories which served to legitimize the rules and practices of the dictators that inherited the first guided Khalifas.
c. Each opinion searches for supporting verses in the Quran often results in the verses being taken out of their context and having their meaning twisted according to the desires of the corrupt rulers.
d. It led, slowly but surely, to a mentality of fanaticisms and an inwardly corruptive culture. Unfortunately, these corrupt and socially disruptive practices have filtered down stream of the society. The Majority of the Muslims have been left and utterly confused and drifted into self- serving and even abhorring lifestyles.
e. On a larger scale, these alien practices and the misuse of judicial “fatwa,” have put Muslims to be viewed by outsiders as fanatic and violent terrorists.
What we see happening now, buying, to the highest bidder, and enslaving young girls and boys for lust and enjoyment, pretending to save them from their miseries which are prevalent in the Syrian refugee camps. This demonstrates the ugly, inhumane, and low levels that these people have reached in following the skewed path of the hypocrite Mullahs. Such shameful practices by the second version of Muslims, as have been explained above, contradict the reality and the spirit of Islam. These are disdainful acts committed by sick individuals who are taking advantage of the weak and needy refugees.
Going to the true source of Islamic teachings, the Quran teaches its followers to be helpful to the needy at time of crisis and adversity as the following verse spells it out beautifully and succinctly: Quran 2:177
| لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ
وَلَٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا ۖ وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُون |
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| “It is not righteousness just to turn your faces towards East or West; But righteousness is to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.” |
The true Islam teaches its followers to be compassionate and helpful towards other human beings, in general, who may and may not be Muslims especially in time of hardship and to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and needy.
In these circumstances of extreme hardship and sufferings by the Syrian refugees, true Muslims must lend a helping hand and extend health and social services to alleviate some of the sufferings of these entrapped and helpless people, Muslims or otherwise. God has created us to be His vicegerents in order that we be, like Him, kind, loving and compassionate, least of all to take advantage of the misery of others, for our own selfish and despicable desires.
