"being muslims & its challenges" 1 scribd]

8/14/2019 "Being Muslims & its challenges" 1 Scribd]

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Towards becomingTowards becomingMuslims - and itsMuslims - and its

challenges.challenges.

Friday night lecture series by:Friday night lecture series by:

Ustaz Zhulkeflee Hj IsmailUstaz Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail@ Masjid al- Istiqomah@ Masjid al- Istiqomah

(Seranggon, Singapore)(Seranggon, Singapore)

2006ZhulkefleeHjIsmail


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Commandment for MuslimsCommandment for Muslims

toto

be grateful:be grateful:

And remember! Your Lord caused to be declared

(publicly): If you are grateful, I will add more

(favours) unto you; but if you show ingratitude,

truly My punishment is terrible indeed.(Quran: Ibrahim : 14: 7)



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Commandment for Muslims toCommandment for Muslims to

be grateful:be grateful:

Allah did confer a great favour on the Believers when He sent

among them a Messenger from among themselves;

rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah, sanctifying them

and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while beforethat, they had been in manifest error.

(Quran: Aali Imran: 3: 164)



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Why this topic?Why this topic?

O you who have attained to faith! Be consciousof Allah with a true consciousness, and do notallow death to overtake you unless you are (in

state of submission to Allah) in Islam.(Quran: Aali Imran: 3: 102)



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Why this topic?Why this topic?

And holdfast all together by the Rope whichAllah stretches out for you) and be not divided

among yourselves; and remember withgratitude Allahs favour on you;

(Quran: Aali Imran: 3: 103)



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Why this topic?Why this topic? Muslims due to lack of proper IslamicMuslims due to lack of proper Islamiceducation - may not realize, let aloneeducation - may not realize, let aloneappreciate, - what Ad-deen al-Islam really is;appreciate, - what Ad-deen al-Islam really is;

and who? how? or what? constitute being trulyand who? how? or what? constitute being trulya Muslim.a Muslim. Devoid of strong Islamic foundation, yet livingDevoid of strong Islamic foundation, yet living

in the context of todays multi-religious reality &in the context of todays multi-religious reality &globalization which exposes us to manyglobalization which exposes us to manyinfluences : many Muslims may be facing crisisinfluences : many Muslims may be facing crisisof value & culture. Unable or ill-equipped withof value & culture. Unable or ill-equipped withcorrect Islamic knowledge to respond, it maycorrect Islamic knowledge to respond, it maylead even to loss of their identity as Muslim.lead even to loss of their identity as Muslim.



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Why this topic?Why this topic? This loss of identity can either be:This loss of identity can either be:

(a) apparent (as in case of murtad); or(a) apparent (as in case of murtad); or

(b) hidden (as in the case of blatant hypocrisy (b) hidden (as in the case of blatant hypocrisy nifaaq).nifaaq).

Even for those who genuinely love Islam, butEven for those who genuinely love Islam, butdue to their ignorance of its teachings, they maydue to their ignorance of its teachings, they maybe tempted to react emotionally orbe tempted to react emotionally or

apologetically (which may be opposed to whatapologetically (which may be opposed to whatIslam actually teaches) especially towardsIslam actually teaches) especially towardsothers thus adding to the much confusionothers thus adding to the much confusionregarding Islam itself.regarding Islam itself.



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Why this topic?Why this topic? There is aThere is a sense of despair in some Muslimssense of despair in some Muslimstodaytoday, due to the barrage of negative image on, due to the barrage of negative image onIslam in the media - the perceivedIslam in the media - the perceived

backwardness of Muslims (social-economic-backwardness of Muslims (social-economic-political); the immorality, disunity, enmity orpolitical); the immorality, disunity, enmity orhostility amongst sections of Muslims (althoughhostility amongst sections of Muslims (althoughthese are the exceptional few); the seemingthese are the exceptional few); the seemingabsence of Islamic response to contemporaryabsence of Islamic response to contemporaryworld problems; etc. which may tempt someworld problems; etc. which may tempt some

Muslims to compromise our religious principlesMuslims to compromise our religious principlesor discard what is the Islamic Way - and toor discard what is the Islamic Way - and toexperiment with other isms or methodologiesexperiment with other isms or methodologiesgrounded on philosophies opposed to Islam!grounded on philosophies opposed to Islam!Na-uu -dzubillah min dzaalikNa-uu -dzubillah min dzaalik!!



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Remember Remember

.. Ad-Deen al-Islam : is perfect, whereasAd-Deen al-Islam : is perfect, whereas

the Muslims are not unless they strivethe Muslims are not unless they strive

with their utmost to establish Islamwith their utmost to establish Islamperfectly in themselves.perfectly in themselves.

(Quran: Aali Imran: 3:139)



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Remember Remember




Be not, then, faint of heart, and grieve not:

for you are bound to rise high if you are[truly] believers.

(Quran: Aali Imran: 3:139)



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Remember Remember




(Quran: Raad : 13:11)



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Remember Remember




Verily, Allah does not change mens

condition unless they change their innerselves;

(Quran: Raad : 13:11)



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Remember Remember


the Muslims are not unless they strivethe Muslims are not unless they strivewith their utmost to establish Islamwith their utmost to establish Islam

perfectly in themselves.perfectly in themselves.



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Remember Remember




This, because Allah would never changethe blessings with which He has graced a

people unless they change their innerselves: and [know] that Allah is all-Hearing, all-Seeing.

(Quran: Al- Anfal : 8:53)



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Remember Remember




((Quran: Aali- Imran : 3:85)



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Remember Remember




For, if one goes in search of a religionother than al-Islam (self-surrender to

Allah), it will never be accepted from him,and in the life to come he shall be amongthe lost.

(Quran: Aali- Imran : 3:85)



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Remember Remember

.. Ad-Deen al-Islam : is perfect, whereas theAd-Deen al-Islam : is perfect, whereas the

Muslims are not unless they strive with theirMuslims are not unless they strive with theirutmost to establish Islam perfectly in themselves.utmost to establish Islam perfectly in themselves.

(Quran: Al- Ma-idah : 5 : 3)



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Remember Remember

.. Ad-Deen al-Islam : is perfect, whereas the MuslimsAd-Deen al-Islam : is perfect, whereas the Muslims

are not unless they strive with their utmost toare not unless they strive with their utmost toestablish Islam perfectly in themselves.establish Islam perfectly in themselves.

Today, those who are bent on denying the truth havelost all hope of [your ever forsaking] your religion: donot, then, hold them in awe, but stand in awe of Me!

Today have I perfected your religious law for you,and have bestowed upon you the full measure of Myblessings, and willed thatAl-Islam (self-surrenderunto Me) shall be your religion.

(Quran: Al- Ma-idah : 5 : 3)



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Remember Remember




(Quran: Al- Mumin (Ghaafir) : 40:51)



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Remember Remember




Behold, We shall indeed help OurMessengers and those who have attained

to faith, [both] in this worlds life and onthe Day when all witnesses shall standup

(Quran: Al- Mumin (Ghaafir) : 40:51)



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Verily!Verily!

Allah Spoke the TruthAllah Spoke the Truthandand

verily, Allah never failsverily, Allah never fails

to fulfill His promise!to fulfill His promise!

Wh t ti ll iWh t ti ll i


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What - essentially -isWhat - essentially -isthe main problem ofthe main problem of

the Ummah?the Ummah?

Many theses can be offered as to the cause orMany theses can be offered as to the cause orcauses for the problem and many would concurcauses for the problem and many would concurthat the main essential problem stems from thethat the main essential problem stems from thelag of Muslims in their current EDUCATION. Andlag of Muslims in their current EDUCATION. Andthat the remedy is betterment in this aspect.that the remedy is betterment in this aspect.

But what form of EDUCATION are speaking of?But what form of EDUCATION are speaking of?What is its philosophy and objective?What is its philosophy and objective?

Can a dual form of EDUCATION solve theCan a dual form of EDUCATION solve the

Muslim problem?Muslim problem?

What about an integrated EDUCATION? ButWhat about an integrated EDUCATION? Buthow and what do we mean by integration?how and what do we mean by integration?

The first International Islamic Conference onThe first International Islamic Conference onEducation (1977) in Makkah al- Mukarramah.Education (1977) in Makkah al- Mukarramah.



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UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDINGTHE CHALLENGE OFTHE CHALLENGE OF

THE UMMAHTHE UMMAH


Wh t ti ll iWh t ti ll i


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Prof. Sayyid Muhammad Naquib al-AttasProf. Sayyid Muhammad Naquib al-Attasidentifies Confusion in knowledgeidentifies Confusion in knowledgeamongst Muslims as the main problem.amongst Muslims as the main problem.

This confusion leads to the Loss of ADAB :This confusion leads to the Loss of ADAB : Adab is recognition andacknowledgement of the reality thatknowledge and being are orderedhierarchically according to their various

grades ,degrees and rank, and of onesproper place in relation to that reality andto ones physical, intellectual and spiritualcapacities and potentials. [a]

[a]

as quoted by Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud The Educational Philosophy and Practice ofSyed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas page 137.



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(C)Rise / election ofFalse leaders in everylevel of society

External

Loss ofAdab (B)Internal

(A)

Confusion and Error in Knowledge

Figure 1

This state of perpetual confusion at all levels of societal leadership is ingeniouslytermed by al-Attas as the loss of adab. This can be described as follows:

28) Confusion and error in knowledge; creating the condition for:29) The loss of adab within the Community. The condition arising out of (A) and (B) is:

The rise of leaders who are not qualified for valid leadership of the MuslimCommunity, who do not possess the high moral, intellectual and spiritual standardsrequired for Islamic leadership, who perpetuate the condition in (A) [1] above andensure the continued control of the affairs of the Community by leaders like themwho dominate in all fields. [2]

[1] The loss of Adab in the community. Thus restoration of Adab has higher priority for Adab precedes even learning.[2] Wan Mohd Nor Wan Dauds The Educational Philosophy and Practice of Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas (ISTAC publication 1998) p 74

BREAKDOWN IN ADAB LEADING TO LEVELLINGProf. Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas analysis:

Wh t ti ll iWhat essentiall is


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Although the solution is to remove the confusionAlthough the solution is to remove the confusionof knowledge through EDUCATION, yet in Islamof knowledge through EDUCATION, yet in Islameducation is essentially TADIB from the termeducation is essentially TADIB from the term

ADAB, without which, real education cannot takeADAB, without which, real education cannot takeplace.place.

Lest we forget, Islamic education seek to produceLest we forget, Islamic education seek to producethe good human being modeled after the patternthe good human being modeled after the patternof our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. the Insanof our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. the InsanKaamil, and not merely developing onesKaamil, and not merely developing onescompetence to compete in the global market, ascompetence to compete in the global market, asgenerally understood and advocated bygenerally understood and advocated bycontemporary educationists.contemporary educationists.


Wh t ti ll iWhat essentially is


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We must remember that Islams worldviewWe must remember that Islams worldviewemphasize the primacy of the Hereafter, although itemphasize the primacy of the Hereafter, although itnever deny that it is in this world, that work andnever deny that it is in this world, that work andrighteousness must be established:righteousness must be established:

Say: Work righteousness! And Allah will behold your deeds,and [so will] His Messenger, and the believers, and in the endyou will be brought before Him Who know all .... (Quran: at-Taubah : 9: 105)


Wh t ti ll iWhat essentially is


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We must remember that Islams worldviewWe must remember that Islams worldviewemphasize the primacy of the Hereafter, althoughemphasize the primacy of the Hereafter, althoughit never deny that it is in this world, that workit never deny that it is in this world, that workand righteousness must be established:and righteousness must be established:

Allah will establish in strength those who attained to faith,with the Word that stands firm, in this world and in theHereafter: but Allah will leave astray those who do wrong:Allah does what He wills. (Quran: Ibrahim : 14 : 27)



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(Insya-Allah) Topics we hope to(Insya-Allah) Topics we hope to

cover in this weekly discoursecover in this weekly discourse

..

What is Ad-Deen al-Islam- and what areWhat is Ad-Deen al-Islam- and what arethe characteristics of being a Muslim?the characteristics of being a Muslim?

Discovering our roots and tradition so asDiscovering our roots and tradition so asto avoid having a truncated view of Islam;to avoid having a truncated view of Islam;and response to other confusion Muslimsand response to other confusion Muslimsmay generally have regarding Islam.may generally have regarding Islam.

What is meant to be a Muslim in theWhat is meant to be a Muslim in thecontext of a multi-religious society.?context of a multi-religious society.? Challenges in the era of globalization,Challenges in the era of globalization,

secularization, and atheistic materialism.secularization, and atheistic materialism.



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Our duaOur dua

(Qur an : Aal i Imran : 3 : 8)



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Our duaOur dua

Our Lord ! Let not our heartsswerve from the truth after You

have guided us; and bestowupon us the gift of Thy Grace(Mercy): verily, You are the

(true) giver of Gifts(bestowals).

(Q ur a n : Aal i Imran : 3 : 8 )2006ZhulkefleeHjIsmail


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Our duaOur dua

(Qur an : al- Furqan: 25: 74 )



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Our duaOur dua

Our Lord ! Grant that our spousesand our offspring be a joy to oureyes, and cause us to beforemost amongst those who areconscious of Thee! (as al- mut-

taqqin).

(Q ur an : al- Furqan: 25: 74 )2006ZhulkefleeHjIsmail


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Our duaOur dua

(Qu ran : al-B aqarah : 286)



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Our duaOur duaOur Lord ! Condemn us not if we forget or

fall into error; Our Lord ! Lay not on us aburden like that which You did lay on thosebefore us : Our Lord ! Lay not on us a

burden greater than we have strength tobear. Blot out our sins, And grant usforgiveness, Have Mercy on us. You are ourprotector : Help us against the

unbelievers.(Quran : al- Baqarah : 286 )

"being muslims & its challenges" 1 scribd]

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