The Brotherhood

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As some in certain regions in the world are hit by a heat wave, the Malays in the land of the Malays are being touched by a cold and wet weather, whether it is how nature balance itself out or what, would be another question that silently asking each and every one of us that dwells in the lands of the Malay, non Malays included. The answers would be different, based on ones’ experience and depth of understanding.

Good news at last, one of the scholars of Islam, a highly respectable figure offered to be the negotiator or the bridge between two siblings deep in rivalry, PAS and UMNO, both claimed they are championing the cause of good, with different approach and priorities. Both are comfortable to work closely together with non Malays, despite of all glaring differences and yet can't put aside their own differences to actually work together and achieve both objectives in prior time of course, since time is an element that is considered a luxury one can't afford to negotiate.

The bad news, that is just how far it could go. No one is willing to show that they are willing to negotiate since it would be seen as a sign of weakness. The judgement from the mere human beings is considered to be more precious than the view of the One and Only. Besides, we are just a step away from our prized objective, and we are not willing to have a little ukhwah to stop us now. Look at how it turned out for Saidina Ali r.a. and Muawiyah r.a. Nothing good can come out from negotiation. Nothing to be learnt there, we are the ummah of the last days of the earth and they are both considered as the companions of the Prophet and yet, we are not willing to learn from the history that they had gone through. The closest enemies are the worst. We would be driven to please them instead of pleasing the Creator. We are being too attached to them in a way that we are afraid that our actions might offend them and make them displease with us. As if our existence is for their sake and by pleasing them, not God, they would grant us the kingdom and the power that we have been longing to hold beneath our proud self.

Isn't it stated in Al Quran, Allah gives the kingdom to anyone He wills? Everyone is talking about the weaknesses and current humiliation suffered by the Muslims nowadays. While the solution is crystal clear, the ones that claimed they knew the Koran better than anyone else seemed reluctant to place his will under the will of Allah. Why can't he surrender to God while saying and asking everyone else to do the same? Are we too holy and pure that we can defy certain rules and regulations in our religion while others have to obey them fully and without any excuses? Do we really have that special privilege of making excuses for our firmness in standing for what we believe in? Are we truly in the right path or are we being blinded by Satan, the cleverest deceiver, in believing that we are closer to Allah than anyone else and understand better what is needed to be done? We must be clear now since the brotherhood of the Muslims, the oneness of the ummah is at stake here.

Saidina Ali r.a. is much better than anyone of us, and yet he surrendered his will to the will of Allah by seeking negotiations when he was actually winning in dealing with Muawiyah r.a. Are our leaders following his examples?

Some say that the more good and pious one becomes, the harder and difficult the test would be for him, in tandem with his growth, both of faith and intellectuality.
A coolie would not receive a test of a Caliph as it would insult the supremacy and the glory of the ‘Caliphood’ if he were to receive a test designed for a coolie. Wouldn't you think so?

Since the ones that had chosen a very peculiar path of a righteous way said they are very well versed with Al Quran and Al Hadith, I would post the familiar verses and hadith regarding the issue or the mess that we are currently facing.


[3:103]
Hold fast, all of you, to the cord of Allah, and be not divided. Remember the blessing of Allah upon you: When you were enemies to each other, and He brought your hearts together, so that, you became brothers through His blessing. You were at the brink of a pit of Fire, then He saved you from it. This is how Allah makes His signs clear to you, so that you may take the right path.

[3:104]
There has to be a group of people from among you who call towards the good, and bid the Fair and forbid the Unfair. And it is these who are successful.

[3:105]
Do not be like those who became divided and fell into disputes after the clear signs had come to them. Those are the ones for whom there is a grave punishment

[3:106]
on a day when some faces shall turn bright, and some faces shall turn dark. As for those whose faces turn dark, (they shall be questioned): “Did you disbelieve after you had accepted the Faith? Now taste the punishment, because you used to disbelieve.”

[49:9]
If two groups of the believers fight each other, seek reconciliation between them. And if one of them commits aggression against the other, fight the one that commits aggression until it comes back to Allah’s command. So if it comes back, seek reconciliation between them with fairness, and maintain justice. Surely Allah loves those who maintain justice.

[49:10]
All believers are but brothers, therefore seek reconciliation between your two brothers, and fear Allah, so that you may be blessed with mercy.

[49:11]
O you who believe, no men should ever scoff at other men. May be, the latter are better than the former. Nor should women (ever scoff) at other women. May be, the latter women are better than the former ones. And do not find fault with one another, nor call one another with bad nicknames. Bad is the name of sinfulness after embracing Faith. If anyone does not repent, then such people are the wrongdoers.

[49:12]
O you who believe, abstain from many of the suspicions. Some suspicions are sins. And do not be curious (to find out faults of others), and do not backbite one another. Does one of you like that he eats the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor it. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is Most-Relenting, Very-Merciful.

"A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He does not oppress him, nor does he leave him at the mercy of others." [Sahih Muslim].


Some say that it is hard for Muslims to unite since certain leaders are still around and these leaders have not forgotten nor forgiven the pain they had been through when the unity of PAS and UMNO was abruptly severed by certain parties. The wound has not healed. But in the end, we must really look deep inside ourselves and have the courage to ask ourselves are we willing to be like the ones that are depicted in this verse,


[61:2]
O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do?

[61:3]
It is severely hateful in Allah’s sight that you say what you do not do.

[61:4]
Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way in firm rows, as if they were solid edifice.

No earthen soil has never been touched by a drop of rain, what more is the mere human being. We are prone to error and we made mistakes, out of ignorance, most of the time out of pride and uncontrollable desire. We can always remedy them. By doing good deeds after the misdeeds and without the fear of human's judgment. All the praise in the world will not save us from the judgement of God.

May Allah soften the hearts of our leaders to see what really matters. Differences can be sorted out. If we can put aside our differences in order to make a coalition with the ones that have different faith than us, it won't be that difficult to work with those that share the same faith as we do. The hindrance, the greatest of all is only the big pride in our small hearts. We are not perfect. Our unity will make us whole.

Ps - Our enemies are watching.


Further readings:

http://www.danburymasjid.org/page2/brotherhood.htm