TWO MIND SETS
Communal or Islamic
THERE was an article in a well-known Muslim magazine titled ‘The Modern Age and Jihad’. In its opening lines, the article spoke of what it claimed was the terrible oppression that Muslims were suffering, which, it said had led to the emergence of what it called ‘jihadi’ organizations.
This way of thinking is not something specific to just this one Muslim writer, the author of this article. Rather, it is the very same way of thinking of almost all present-day Muslim orators and writers. They claim that the violent actions that present-day Muslims are engaged in is a result of the supposed oppression of Muslims. But the point that needs to be considered here is that during the time of religious persecution the Prophet and his Companions actually faced atrocities on a large scale. One of these have been mentioned in the Quran in these words: “When they came against you both from above you and from below you, your eyes rolled [with fear] and your hearts leapt up to your throats, and you entertained [ill] thoughts about God. There the faithful were put to the proof and they were shaken as if by an earthquake.” (33: 10-11)
The present world is functioning on the established laws of nature. To know these laws of nature and to base one’s actions on them is the only secret of success in this world.
Despite such extreme conditions, the Prophet and his Companions never adopted the method of reaction. Rather, they remained firm on unilateral patience and planned their actions on completely positive foundations. This resulted in the great success of the early period of Islam.
The greatest mistake of present-day Muslims is that they have not been able to differentiate between Quranic teachings and the historical events which took place under certain specific situations. Instead of understanding the present age of religious freedom and planning positively, they have adopted the method of negative actions based on reaction. Today, Muslims throughout the world are engaged in such actions. Almost all Muslim orators and writers today are doing just this one sort of thing. Without any doubt at all, this is a destructive attitude, a wrongful innovation. Till such time as Muslims abandon this innovation they are not going to gain any success at all, no matter how big their supposed sacrifices may be.
The greatest damage that the psyche of reaction causes is that it leads to negative thinking in a person. Such a person begins to live in hate and complaint. The deadly result of this sort of thinking is that it stops the process of a person’s intellectual development. It is not possible for one to think on proper lines and to plan one’s actions on proper lines. If the Muslim community wants the present situation to change, they must know that this can come about only through one strategy— Muslims must unilaterally put a firm end to all their present negative activities, and, motivated by a sincere concern for the welfare of all human beings, engage in peacefully sharing with them Creation Plan of God. Other than this there is nothing that can become a means for the Muslims’ welfare and salvation.
The greatest damage that the psyche of reaction causes is that it leads to negative thinking in a person.
In this world, any sort of success can be had only through wise planning. Complaining and protesting against supposed oppression can yield no result. The present world is functioning on the established laws of nature. To know these laws of nature and to base one’s actions on them is the only secret of success. In the words of the Quran (24: 31), this is the time for collective repentance for Muslims, that is to say, the time to take a U-turn and head towards progress and development.
Informal education can be had
outside the school or university. There
are various means for informal education,
for example, library, journals, seminars and
conferences. The home is also a centre for
receiving informal education. But if other
members in the family are not ready to
accept your ideas, then you should apply
these ideas to your own self. You should
neither hate nor fight with members of the
family, you should only pray for them.