TH INHERENT TH INHERENT STRUGGLE FOR STRUGGLE FOR

PRESERVING PRESERVING MORALITY AND MORALITY AND

FREEDOMFREEDOM

Quranic Guidance on the Quranic Guidance on the subjectsubject

And it is He Who has created the And it is He Who has created the heavens and the earth in six days heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was on the water, and His Throne was on the water, that He might test you ,which of you that He might test you ,which of you is the best in deeds”is the best in deeds”

Hood, 11:7Hood, 11:7

3

Purpose of human Purpose of human creationcreation

“ “ Who has created death and life that Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best He may test you which of you is best in deeds.” Mulk 67:2in deeds.” Mulk 67:2

Trial with evil and with Trial with evil and with goodgood

Al Anbia 21:35 “ We shall make trial Al Anbia 21:35 “ We shall make trial for you with evil and with good and for you with evil and with good and to us you shall return.”to us you shall return.”

This world is place of trial This world is place of trial and struggle.and struggle.

Al Baqarah 2:214 “ Do you think that Al Baqarah 2:214 “ Do you think that you shall enter Paradise without such you shall enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty, ailments and were with severe poverty, ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and so shaken that even the Messenger and the believers with him said,’ When the believers with him said,’ When shall Allah’s Help arrive?’. Yes shall Allah’s Help arrive?’. Yes certainly, the Help of Allah is near.”certainly, the Help of Allah is near.”

Nature of this struggleNature of this struggle Inherent struggle- Allah (SWT) has ordained this Inherent struggle- Allah (SWT) has ordained this

struggle in the human nature to work hard struggle in the human nature to work hard against all adverse factors to achieve excellence.against all adverse factors to achieve excellence.

Preserving morality.( Akhlaq) Highest moral Preserving morality.( Akhlaq) Highest moral conduct and characteristics as described in conduct and characteristics as described in Quran and shown in the life of Prophet Quran and shown in the life of Prophet Mohammad (SAW).Mohammad (SAW).

Freedom. 1- Freeing oneself from all false Freedom. 1- Freeing oneself from all false deities and accepting submission to Allah alone.deities and accepting submission to Allah alone.

2- Safeguarding human rights.2- Safeguarding human rights.

Levels of this struggle.Levels of this struggle.

Personal level.Personal level.

1- Inner Struggle. 1- Inner Struggle.

A- Against Satan. Araf 7:22A- Against Satan. Araf 7:22

B- Against inner evil lust. Yusuf B- Against inner evil lust. Yusuf 12:5312:53

Nafs AmmarahNafs Ammarah

Struggle at the personal Struggle at the personal level.level.

Al Baqarah 2:155 “ And certainly we Al Baqarah 2:155 “ And certainly we shall test you with some of fear, shall test you with some of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits but give glad tidings to the fruits but give glad tidings to the patients.”patients.”

You shall be testedYou shall be tested

Al Imran 3: 186 “ You shall be Al Imran 3: 186 “ You shall be certainly tested in your wealth and certainly tested in your wealth and properties in your person and you properties in your person and you shall certainly hear much from shall certainly hear much from people of the book and the polytheist people of the book and the polytheist which will grieve you.which will grieve you.

Levels of this struggle.Levels of this struggle.

Struggle at Family Level.Struggle at Family Level.

. Islam commands to establish a strong . Islam commands to establish a strong family system and encourages Nikah. family system and encourages Nikah.

. This includes nucleus family ( Husband , . This includes nucleus family ( Husband , wife and children) and the extended wife and children) and the extended family with defined rights and obligations.family with defined rights and obligations.

. This family system nurtures, safeguards . This family system nurtures, safeguards and strengthens excellent morals and and strengthens excellent morals and guarantees freedom.guarantees freedom.

Struggle in family circle.Struggle in family circle.

Al Taghabun 64:15 “ Your wealth and Al Taghabun 64:15 “ Your wealth and your children are a trial and whereas your children are a trial and whereas with Allah there is a great reward.”with Allah there is a great reward.”

Al Munafiqoon 63:9 “O you who Al Munafiqoon 63:9 “O you who believe! Let not your wealth or your believe! Let not your wealth or your children divert you from the children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, they are the losers.”does that, they are the losers.”

Struggle in the society at Struggle in the society at large.large.

Muslim Ummah ( community) is Muslim Ummah ( community) is assigned this task to struggle in a assigned this task to struggle in a collective way to:collective way to:

A- Call to the path of Allah(SWT) by A- Call to the path of Allah(SWT) by sharing the beauty of Islam and sharing the beauty of Islam and enjoining good.enjoining good.

B- Forbid all sinful and evil in the B- Forbid all sinful and evil in the society.society.

Trials are inevitable in the Trials are inevitable in the path of this struggle and path of this struggle and

are from Allah.are from Allah. Al Taghabun 64:11” No calamity befalls Al Taghabun 64:11” No calamity befalls

but with Allah’s permission, and but with Allah’s permission, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart. Allah is all knower of his heart. Allah is all knower of everything.”everything.”

Al Imran 3:142 “ Do you think you shall Al Imran 3:142 “ Do you think you shall enter paradise before Allah tests those enter paradise before Allah tests those of you who struggled in His way and of you who struggled in His way and tests those who are Sabirun (patient).”tests those who are Sabirun (patient).”

Reaction to the trialsReaction to the trials

Al Fajr 89:15 “As for man, when his Lord Al Fajr 89:15 “As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honor and tries him by giving him honor and bounties, then he says,’ My Lord has bounties, then he says,’ My Lord has honored me.’ But when he tries him by honored me.’ But when he tries him by limiting his sustenance, he says,’ My Lord limiting his sustenance, he says,’ My Lord has humiliated me.’has humiliated me.’

Al Maarij 70:19,20,21 “ Verily, man was Al Maarij 70:19,20,21 “ Verily, man was created very impatient. Discontented created very impatient. Discontented when evil touches him. And miserly when when evil touches him. And miserly when good touches him.good touches him.

Objectives of the trialsObjectives of the trials Increasing the strength of faith and resolve in Increasing the strength of faith and resolve in

difficult circumstances.difficult circumstances. Increasing the rewards and place in Jannah.Increasing the rewards and place in Jannah. Forgiveness of sins.Forgiveness of sins. Differentiation between true believers and the Differentiation between true believers and the

hypocrites. Al Imran 3:166-167” And what you hypocrites. Al Imran 3:166-167” And what you suffered on the day(Uhad) the two armies met suffered on the day(Uhad) the two armies met was by the leave of Allah in order that he might was by the leave of Allah in order that he might test the believers. And that He might test the test the believers. And that He might test the hypocrites “hypocrites “

Truth to prevail and the falsehood to be defeated.Truth to prevail and the falsehood to be defeated.Al Isra 17;81 “Say truth has come and falsehood has Al Isra 17;81 “Say truth has come and falsehood has

vanished. Surely falsehood is bound to vanish.”vanished. Surely falsehood is bound to vanish.”

History of this struggle and History of this struggle and trials.trials.

Adam was tried through the Satan in Jannah.Adam was tried through the Satan in Jannah. Noah was tried by rejection of his people and Noah was tried by rejection of his people and

his disbelieving son and wife.his disbelieving son and wife. Ibrahim had several trials.( Rejection from his Ibrahim had several trials.( Rejection from his

people, migration, Ismail and his sacrifice, people, migration, Ismail and his sacrifice, leaving his son and wife in Makkah)leaving his son and wife in Makkah)

Ayub was tried through prolonged illness.Ayub was tried through prolonged illness. Daud and Suleiman had trial of power and Daud and Suleiman had trial of power and

wealth.wealth. Musa faced trials from Phiron and his people.Musa faced trials from Phiron and his people. Isa was tried by his people’s rejection and Isa was tried by his people’s rejection and

plot to hurt him.plot to hurt him.

Struggle and trials in Struggle and trials in MakkahMakkah

Prophet Mohammad (SAW): Went Prophet Mohammad (SAW): Went through persecution. Examples: through persecution. Examples:

1- Uqba bin Abi Moeet once put cloth 1- Uqba bin Abi Moeet once put cloth in his neck and tried to choke him to in his neck and tried to choke him to death.(Bukhari)death.(Bukhari)

2-When asked by Aisha, Prophet said 2-When asked by Aisha, Prophet said that the most difficult day in his life that the most difficult day in his life was the ‘ day of aqaba’ the day in was the ‘ day of aqaba’ the day in TAIF. ( Bukhari and Muslim)TAIF. ( Bukhari and Muslim)

Struggle and Trials in Struggle and Trials in MakkahMakkah

Companions of the Prophet were Companions of the Prophet were persecutedpersecuted

Abdullah Ibn Masood reported that Abdullah Ibn Masood reported that following 7 people were first to following 7 people were first to announce their IMAN.announce their IMAN.

Prophet Mohammad, Abu Bakr, Prophet Mohammad, Abu Bakr, Ammar, Sumayyah, Sohaib, Miqdad, Ammar, Sumayyah, Sohaib, Miqdad, Bilal. Latter 5 went through worst Bilal. Latter 5 went through worst persecution. ( Ahmad)persecution. ( Ahmad)

Instructions to the Prophet Instructions to the Prophet in this struggle & trials.in this struggle & trials.

Surah Muzzamil 73:1-11 Surah Muzzamil 73:1-11

1- Stand up in Salaat at night.1- Stand up in Salaat at night.

2-Close relation with the Quran.2-Close relation with the Quran.

3-Remembrance of Allah and dependence 3-Remembrance of Allah and dependence upon him.upon him.

4- Sabar ( patience and perseverance)4- Sabar ( patience and perseverance)

5-Do not argue with wealthy arrogant 5-Do not argue with wealthy arrogant opponents of truth.opponents of truth.

6-Stand up and warn . ( Surah Mudathir74,1-6-Stand up and warn . ( Surah Mudathir74,1-7)7)

Struggle and trials in Struggle and trials in AmericaAmerica

Before 9-11Before 9-11Trial of affluence, children, demand on time, Trial of affluence, children, demand on time,

responsibility as Dai Ilallah.responsibility as Dai Ilallah.After 9-11.After 9-11.Hate crimes.Hate crimes.Islam and Muslim bashing.Islam and Muslim bashing.Detention of Muslims and deportations.Detention of Muslims and deportations.Surveillance of Muslim organizations and Surveillance of Muslim organizations and

masajids.masajids.Fear factor.Fear factor.

Response of Muslims in Response of Muslims in AmericaAmerica

Turn to Allah, building strong faith and sincere Turn to Allah, building strong faith and sincere actions.actions.

Strong Muslim families and communities around Strong Muslim families and communities around the masajids.the masajids.

Strengthen national Muslim organizations building Strengthen national Muslim organizations building bridges with all including Christians and Jews. bridges with all including Christians and Jews.

Share the truth and the beauty of Islam.Share the truth and the beauty of Islam. Political participation and activism.Political participation and activism. Peaceful struggle for preserving morality, Peaceful struggle for preserving morality,

freedom and justice for all making alliances with freedom and justice for all making alliances with like minded citizens of all faiths. like minded citizens of all faiths.