INTRODUCTION
Today is the very first day that the United Kingdom is no longer in the European Union, and therefore BREXIT has occurred. However, for us Muslims, life remains the same, as our duties and purpose of life is solely to worship Allah:
“And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” 51: 56
In fact, Allah Warned us in the last verse that was revealed in the Qur’an:
وَاتَّقوا يَومًا تُرجَعونَ فيهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفّىٰ كُلُّ نَفسٍ ما كَسَبَت وَهُم لا يُظلَمونَ
And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly. 2: 281
No matter what happens in our lives as we live in the West, nothing is more important that preparing ourselves for this BIG DAY when we have to be accountable to Allah for all of our actions. Whatever challenges which we face in the West, we must try to overcome them inshaAllah so that we can continue to carry out our purpose of life – which is to worship Allah.
There are a plethora of challenges facing the Muslims living in the West in 2020 and we, as Muslims, must be prepared for these challenges and handle these issues robustly to ensure that at all times, our purpose in life is maintained inshaAllah. We should feel so Blessed that we have Allah on our side at all times. Our children need to be educated properly as they are our future. Living in the West and living in Muslim countries are completely different, each has their different challenges. Before I address these challenges, I will highlight the basic principles that we all should know and understand:
BASIC PRINCIPLES WE MUST UNDERSTAND AND ADHERE TO
When Allah sent Adam (AS) and his wife on the earth, Allah made a Promise:
قُلنَا اهبِطوا مِنها جَميعًا ۖ فَإِمّا يَأتِيَنَّكُم مِنّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدايَ فَلا خَوفٌ عَلَيهِم وَلا هُم يَحزَنونَ
وَالَّذينَ كَفَروا وَكَذَّبوا بِآياتِنا أُولٰئِكَ أَصحابُ النّارِ ۖ هُم فيها خالِدونَ
We said: “Get down all of you from this place (the Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever follows My Guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve. But those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) such are the dwellers of the Fire, they shall abide therein forever. 2: 38-39
So, for you and me, Allah has Promised us Guidance to ensure that we will find our way back to our original Home inshaAllah – which is Paradise. We must ACTIVELY SEEK this Guidance and strive to ensure this guidance remains with us till death.
The first of Allah’s Guidance comes in the form of the Books and scriptures sent to various Messengers, and alhamdulillah, Allah, with His Mercy, had sent us the Qur’an as a Guidance for those with Taqwa:
“This is the Book (the Qur’an), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun.” 2:2
We have also been sent with the Best Messenger for us to follow:
لَقَد كانَ لَكُم في رَسولِ اللَّهِ أُسوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَن كانَ يَرجُو اللَّهَ وَاليَومَ الآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثيرًا
“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.” 33: 21
In the last sermon of Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam advised us:
تَرَكْتُ فِيْكُمْ أَمْرَيْنِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوْا مَا تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِمَا : كِتَابَ اللهِ وَ سُنَّةَ رَسُوْلِهِ
I am leaving you 2 things and you will not be left astray if you hold fast to them – The Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger.
Allah has also Completed our Deen:
“…This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” 5: 3
Allah also Reminded us that His Way or Rule will not change:
وَلا تَجِدُ لِسُنَّتِنا تَحويلًا
“…and you will not find any alteration in Our Sunnah (rule or way, etc.).” 17: 77
The correct way is very obvious for those who are searching for the truth, but of course, everyone of us has a free will to choose our lifestyle in the West. The key verse in the Qur’an is in this verse which reflects our purpose in life:
“And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” 51: 56
Allah Knows who is in the right path:
قُل كُلٌّ يَعمَلُ عَلىٰ شاكِلَتِهِ فَرَبُّكُم أَعلَمُ بِمَن هُوَ أَهدىٰ سَبيلًا
“Say (O Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to mankind): “Each one does according to Shakilatihi (i.e. his way or his religion or his intentions, etc.), and your Lord knows best of him whose path (religion, etc.) is right.” 17: 84
CHALLENGES IN THE WEST TO THE MUSLIMS
This is currently on the increase in the West, especially with the rise of right wing governments including Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, it paves the way of Muslims to be targeted more boldly and openly. Many youtube videos can be seen how Muslims are perceived to be a threat to western values and lifestyles.
We need to understand how would Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam reacted to Islamophobia. In the early days of Islam – Muslims were attacked and abused and even tortured. Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam himself suffered immensely, and in one incident wide known in Taif, children threw stones at him. The humiliation could be unbearable. However, we must learn how to deal with Islamaphobia and react the same way as prophet Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the companions did.
It’s a real shame that manners or adab is one of the main things which many Muslims in the 21st century is lacking.
Good manners are so important that it ranks only below the kalimah “Laa ilaa ha illa Allah” on the scale of good deeds in the “mizan” or the balancing scale in the Day of Judgment.
Abu Darda reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Nothing is heavier upon the scale of the believer on the Day of Resurrection than good character. Verily, Allah hates the vulgar, obscene person.” Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2002
Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also promised us a place in the middle and highest place in Jannah for those with a high standard of character.
Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I guarantee a house on the outskirts of Paradise for one who leaves arguments even if he is right, and a house in the middle of Paradise for one who abandons lies even when joking, and a house in the highest part of Paradise for one who makes his character excellent.”
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4800
Who knows that in the long run the person who insults us will become a Muslim. Umar ibn Khattab was about to kill prophet SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. In the end Umar Ibn Khattab Accepted Islam.
“Former far-right Dutch politician Joram van Klaveren reverted to Islam. As a former member of Geert Wilders’ PPV party he now says he was wrong. He was known for saying that Islam is “a lie” and the Quran is “poison.” For years, as a lawmaker for Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV), Joram van Klaveren fought a relentless campaign in the Lower House against Islam in the Netherlands. The 40-year-old van Klaveren said he had changed his mind halfway through writing an anti-Islam book,”
Allah advised us not to react and be patient when faced with islamaophobia:
وَلا تَستَوِي الحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادفَع بِالَّتي هِيَ أَحسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذي بَينَكَ وَبَينَهُ عَداوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَميمٌ
وَما يُلَقّاها إِلَّا الَّذينَ صَبَروا وَما يُلَقّاها إِلّا ذو حَظٍّ عَظيمٍ
The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend. But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient, and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of the happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and in this world of a high moral character). 41: 34-35
Patience goes a long way and the reward of patience is Jannah
A man reviled Abu Bakr in the presence of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet remained seated. He looked pleased and smiled. He insulted Abu Bakr twice, but Abu Bakr controlled himself and remained silent. He insulted him for a third time, and Abu Bakr then let his tongue loose and responded back. At that, the Messenger of Allah got up and left.
Abu Bakr followed after the Prophet and said: “Messenger of Allah! He insulted me and you just sat there. Then when I responded to some of what he said, you became angry and got up.” The Prophet said: “There was an angel with you who was responding to his insults on your behalf.”
Then the Prophet said: “Abu Bakr, (keep in mind) three things which are always true, one of which is that whenever a person is subjected to an injustice but leaves the matter to Allah, then Allah will come to his aid… .” (Musnad Ahmad)
When someone criticises you, insults you, or calls you names, do not respond. Do not try to defend yourself. Allow yourself to appear at a loss. See the positive effect that this has on you. As Allah said to Maryam when she gave birth to Isa (AS):
فَإِمّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ البَشَرِ أَحَدًا فَقولي إِنّي نَذَرتُ لِلرَّحمٰنِ صَومًا فَلَن أُكَلِّمَ اليَومَ إِنسِيًّا
“…and if you see any human being, say: ‘Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.’ (Qur’an, 19:26)
It is interesting to note that only last week did the Head of the Church of England formally announced that marriage must only be between man and woman, and sex must be done only after marriage. Those who insist on being a couple other than what was prescribed in the bible cannot do so must abstain from sex.
Always remember the following:
وَلا تَقرَبُوا الزِّنا ۖ إِنَّهُ كانَ فاحِشَةً وَساءَ سَبيلًا
“And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him).” 17: 32
SOLUTION
“…Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha’ (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.)…” 29: 45
In general this has caused a lot of problems not just in the West but in general
Statistics in UK – 42% of marriage end up in divorce, and many Muslim couples face many problems in the west. Many issue:
“Women may be married for four things: their wealth, their lineage, their beauty and their religious commitment. Choose the one who is religiously-committed, may your hands be rubbed with dust (i.e., may you prosper).” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5090), Muslim (1466)
In Singapore – you can leave your bags and wallets on the table in food court and come back things are still intact.
Crime rate especially violent crimes are rising sharply in the UK especially in London.
The main mission of prophet Muhammad SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam is to correct our akhlaq:
Innama Buith tu li utammima makarimal akhlaq
“Verily, I have been sent to perfect good manners. “ (Bukhari)
Erosion of good manners is rampant in the west. In the old days, the elderly was very much respected. Now, they were shouted upon: In countries like Malaysia, Singapore – we have to address them by their rank in terms of age – “uncle”, “aunty”, etc.
LEARNING ABOUT GOOD MANNERS IS A BIGGER PRIORITY THAN SEEKING KNOWLEDGE
Malik ibn Anas, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Learn good manners before seeking knowledge.”
Source: Gharāʼib Mālik ibn Anas 45
And Malik said: “My mother would dress me up and say to me: Go to Sheikh Rabi’ah and learn from his manners before his knowledge.”
Source: Tartīb al-Madārik 1/130
Understandably Muslims in the West come from various racial backgrounds and cultures. Allah Reminded us:
يا أَيُّهَا النّاسُ إِنّا خَلَقناكُم مِن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثىٰ وَجَعَلناكُم شُعوبًا وَقَبائِلَ لِتَعارَفوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكرَمَكُم عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتقاكُم ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَليمٌ خَبيرٌ
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa
[i.e. one of the Muttaqun (pious – see
V.2:2)]
. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. 49: 13
We have to overlook cultures and race as see ourselves as Muslims. The Prophet’s SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in his last sermon, clearly stated:
“…All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white – except by piety and good action….”
WE have to inshaAllah be more united so that no one is able to divide us. The fact that we are so divided, even on choosing the start of the Ramadan, makes us weak. Muslims in the UK has no legitimate body to be our spokeperson.
Hijab is now just a fashion, and so is the beard.
“There are two groups of the people of the fire, whom I have not yet seen. A group of people carrying whips resembling the tails of cattle, with which they will lash people. And another is clothed women, yet naked; disinclined from Allah’s obedience and causing others to follow in their ways. Their heads are likened to the humps of camels. They will not enter Jannah nor smell its fragrance – it’s fragrance could (usually) be smelt from a far distance, a journey of many (miles).” [Muslim]
Lack of Haya now. Haya’ has been variously translated as modesty, diffidence, timidity, bashfulness, shame or inhibition. However, it is much more than that. It is an unquestionably positive quality that stems from a strong sense of self-respect and Taqwa (consciousness/acute awareness of Allah). It enables one to shy away from the very idea of doing a deed that is displeasing in the sight of Allah, who is Subtle, All-Aware, whether in public or private.
Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah says, “If one does something in secret that he would shy away from doing in public, this means that he means nothing to himself.”
There are several instances from the life of the Prophet ﷺ and the lives of the Salaf, which show their strong sense of Haya’: they rushed to cover parts of their body that became exposed inadvertently (it is said that some of them even bathed with a covering cloth), and remembered to retain their Haya’ in the most extenuating circumstance, as in the famous case of a woman Companion who on hearing of the death of her son stepped out of her house only after wearing her Hijab saying: “I may have lost my son, but I haven’t lost my Haya.”
The Prophet ﷺ was “more bashful than a veiled virgin girl” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim), and, according to a narration in Al-Bukhari, he “was neither a Faahish (a person who speaks obscene language to make people laugh), nor a Mutafahhish (a person who habitually uses bad language).”
Several men companions were well known for their sense of modesty – most notably Uthman Bin Affan, the Prophet’s son-in-law and the third Caliph of Islam. Ayesha reported that once the Prophet ﷺ was sitting in a reclining posture in her chamber and received two of his companions, Abu Bakr and Umar, but sat up in a more formal way to receive Uthman, in recognition of his modesty.
Solution
It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrî often used to say, “O youth! Seek the hereafter, for we often see people pursuing the hereafter and finding it as well as the dunyâ (worldly wellbeing), but we have never seen anyone pursue the dunyâ and gain the hereafter as well as the dunyâ.” (Al-Bayhaqî, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabîr, article 12.)
Especially now with social media and celebrity culture – people want to be like the Kardashians, Beyonce, etc.
The West is a melting pot for people of various nationalities. Like the novel coronavirus, it is inevitable for those living in the west to be affected.
Narrated `Aisha:
(the wife of the Prophet) that she asked Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) about plague, and Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) informed her saying, “Plague was a punishment which Allah used to send on whom He wished, but Allah made it a blessing for the believers. None (among the believers) remains patient in a land in which plague has broken out and considers that nothing will befall him except what Allah has ordained for him, but that Allah will grant him a reward similar to that of a martyr.”
SOLUTION
قُل لَن يُصيبَنا إِلّا ما كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنا هُوَ مَولانا ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَليَتَوَكَّلِ المُؤمِنونَ
Say: “Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector).” And in Allah let the believers put their trust.’ (Tauba 51)
ALLAHUMMA INNI AS’ALUKA AL’AFIYAH.
Al-Abbas (R.A.), the Uncle of The Prophet Muhammed ﷺ, came to the Prophet Muhammed ﷺ and said:
“Ya Rasulullah, teach me a Dua.”
The Prophet Muhammed ﷺ said:
“O my Uncle, say:
“ALLAHUMMA INNI AS’ ALUKA AL’AFIYAH”
Meaning: “O Allah, I ask you for Afiyah.”
Now what is Afiyah?
Afiyah means:
• To be saved from any afflictions, you are in Afiyah.
• To be healthy, you are in Afiyah.
• To have enough money, you are in Afiyah.
• To live, you are in Afiyah.
• To have your children protected, you are in Afiyah.
• And if you are forgiven and not punished, you are in Afiyah.
So basically, Afiyah means:
“O Allah, protect me from any Pains and Sufferings.”
This includes both Dunya and Akhirah.
Al-Abbas (R.A.) thought about this for a while, and then he came back after a few days and said (paraphrased):
“Ya Rasulullah ﷺ, this Dua seems a little short. I want something big.”
The Prophet Muhammed ﷺ said:
“My Dear Uncle, ask Allah for Afiyah for Wallahi, you cannot be given anything better than Afiyah.”
It is a simple Dua, sincerely mean what you say while praying.
“O Allah, I ask You for me to be saved from any Distress, Grief, Hardship, Harm, and don’t test me, etc.”
All of the above and much more is included in:
“ALLAHUMMA INNI AS’ ALUKA AL’AFIYAH”
(Riyadh As Saliheen, Tirmidhi).
OTHER GENERAL SOLUTIONS TO OVERCOME THESE PROBLEMS
Therefore, Muslim leaders must ensure the following:
CONCLUSION
Many people are very busy chasing the dunya. Some people work continuously at the expense of missing prayers. When there’s an opportunity to make more money, many will sweat it out and spend many hours chasing the luxuries in this world. We should use a lot of effort chasing Paradise, inshaAllah our eternal home.
Many people have a great longing to go to Paradise, but longing itself will not make us enter Jannah, There must be an effort and striving if we want to enter Jannah, with Allah’s Mercy, as entry into Jannah will not be easy:
أَم حَسِبتُم أَن تَدخُلُوا الجَنَّةَ وَلَمّا يَأتِكُم مَثَلُ الَّذينَ خَلَوا مِن قَبلِكُم ۖ مَسَّتهُمُ البَأساءُ وَالضَّرّاءُ وَزُلزِلوا حَتّىٰ يَقولَ الرَّسولُ وَالَّذينَ آمَنوا مَعَهُ مَتىٰ نَصرُ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلا إِنَّ نَصرَ اللَّهِ قَريبٌ
Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When (will come) the Help of Allah?” Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near! 2: 214
Allah Reminded us in the last verse of al Kahf:
فَمَن كانَ يَرجو لِقاءَ رَبِّهِ فَليَعمَل عَمَلًا صالِحًا وَلا يُشرِك بِعِبادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
Alhamdulillah we live in a country which allows you and I to practise our religion peacefully. Despite its shortcomings, all of us in the West, whether rich or poor, from various cultures and backgrounds, whether we live in Chelsea, Brixton, Peckham or Wimbledon, we will have to work together inshaAllah to overcome the challenges we are facing in the West. Only with our iman and tawakkul – we would overcome our difficulties.
حَسبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعمَ الوَكيلُ
“Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).” 3: 173
Ya Allah, Ya Rahman, Ya Raheem, You are the One Who is going to Judge us,
