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Society (The Evils of Isolation)
bhaloo
06/17/01 at 13:14:01
slm Society (The Evils of Isolation) by Salim Morgan KNOW that among both the worldly and the spiritual objectives of Islam are issues which rely on mutual aid and assistance among Muslims and that cannot come about except via"society" (social mixing) and the intermingling of Muslims with one another. In fact, our very survival as Muslims and our protection from our avowed enemy Iblis depends on our holding fast to the society of Muslims and avoiding isolation and separation. Allah's Messenger (sas) warned us about this. "Verily Ash-Shaitaan is the wolf of mankind like the wolf of [who preys on] sheep. He takes distant one who wanders to one side. So beware of the canyons and hold fast to the group, the masses and the masjid." Shaitaan the accursed is well aware of this weakness and sends constant expeditions against mankind to separate and divide them from one another in every way he can. The Prophet (sas) said: "Iblis places his throne upon the water and then sends out his expeditions. The closest of them to him are those who create the most strife (fitnah). One of them will return and say, 'I did such-and-such' and he will say, 'You have done nothing'. Then one of them will come and say, 'I did not leave him alone until I created division between him and his wife.' He brings this one close and says, 'You are the best'." Staying together and connected as Muslims is essential to our well-being and the way to it is adherence to the good character and good interaction as exemplified in the Qur'an and the Sunnah.  The Prophet (sas) said: "Whoever did not show thankfulness for a little will not show it for a lot. And whoever did not thank people will not thank Allah. Conversing about the favors of Allah is gratitude and turning away from it is disbelief. The collective is mercy and isolation is punishment." After reading the above, use it to understand Allah's statement: {By the night as it covers over (1) By the day as it manifests clearly (2) By the One who created male and female (3) Verily your strivings are varied (4) As for the one who gives and fears Allah (5) And acknowledges the best (6) So we will make way easy to ease. (7) But as for the one who is miserly and feels free of need [for others] (8) And belies the best (9) So we will make easy his way to hardship (10)} Allah describes here those who GIVE, FEAR ALLAH and ACKNOWLEDGE THE BEST. It is narrated here that "the best" is Paradise or all of the favors of Allah upon us in general. So, the one who is grateful to Allah for his favors is also among those who fear Allah and among those who "give", which means they give help and/or things to others - which by definition means that they are not isolated and cut off from others.. On the contrary, the other group is described as being miserly, i.e., not wanting to help others with what Allah has given them. Allah says about them "istaghnaa" which means that they feel no need for others. In other words, in their evil and miserly hearts, they would not help others except only as they felt that THEY may need something from those others instead of seeking the pleasure and reward of Allah in that help or that giving. This is so normal in our times that it is not even considered the exception! This feeling of "istighnaa" (lack of need for others) is the fundamental ignorance which underlies all miserliness and selfishness. The slave of Allah realizes always his profound poverty and need before Allah no matter what he seems to possess at the moment. So, as the hadith says, this one shows no gratitude neither to Allah nor to other Muslims. There are many benefits from mingling and staying connected to the Muslims. Among them are teaching and learning, helping and receiving help, learning and exemplifying manners (adab), the pleasure of one another's company, getting thawaab (reward) for maintaining the rights of others, learning humility, gaining experience and insight from these experiences and larning from them. These are some of the many benefits of the society of Muslims and our holding fast to one another and not separating ourselves. Teaching and Learning If one isolates himself before learning much about Islam such that he knows all of his obligations toward Allah and toward others, there is no good in his isolation. Ar-Rabee' ibn Khaytham said: "Gain knowledge before isolating yourself (for worship). Knowledge is the foundation of the deen and there is no good in the isolated worship of the common folk." On the other hand, if one isolates himself after learning Islam for the purpose of worship, this may be of benefit to him personally, but will be a harm to the Muslims at large who are in desparate need of the knowledge which he has acquired. So, his obligation to benefit others with that knowledge does not leave room for him to isolate himself from the Muslims even if there might be some benefit in that for him. Since imparting this knowledge is fardh kifaya, the previous statement is more true when knowledge and its people are relatively scarce. There is great reward in teaching others when the intention is righteous and sound. If however, one does so out of desire for reputation and to have a large number of followers, that will be his destruction in his deen. Economic Benefits, etc. Muslims have needs to receive benefits from one another such as employment, physical help, etc. and to give that help to one another. In a Muslim society, there is a need to intermingle and be connected so that these needs may be discovered and fulfilled. In a mixed or Muslim-minority situation it becomes even more critical since giving and receiving such benefits exclusively with the disbelievers introduces all kinds of corruption into the Muslims. One who had needs has no choice but to be connected to the Muslim society to seek the fulfillment of those needs. One who has some ability to benefit others in this way should not choose isolation over connection as this will leave unmet needs among the Muslims. There is a great reward for involving oneself in the needs of others and this should never be neglected for extraogatory acts of worship.  The Prophet (sas) said: "Every Muslim is the brother of every other Muslim. He does not oppress him nor turn him over [to his enemy]. Allah is occupied with the needs of one who is occupied with the needs of his brother. Whoever relieves a Muslim of some hardship, Allah will relieve him of one of the hardships of Qiyama. Whoever conceals [the fault of] another Muslim, Allah will conceal [his faults] in Qiyama." Learning Adab and Imparting Adab Even in the hardness and ill manners of others there is benefit for the slave of Allah. Dealing with them is a training in which there are many benefits. He must practice maintaining wisdom and patience in the face of their annoyances and transgressions. This requires learning to "break" the self, learn humility and learning to suppress anger and rage seeking the reward of Allah. All of these benefits will be lost by one who isolates himself form the Muslims. The Prophet (sas) said: "The strong is not the one who overpowers others. Rather, the strong one is the one who maintains control of himself in anger." And note Allah's statement on the subject: {Those who give in easy times and in hard times. And those who suppress their rage. And those who are forbearing with people. And Allah loves those who do good. (134)} Islam provides the training to elevate the character to levels of wisdom, forbearance and fruitful and benefical interaction with others. One who learns Islam and does not mix with the Muslims is like one who spend his life training an animal but never rode it. The only benefit is that the animal will not bite him or kick him. Likewise, the isolated but learned Muslim will withold his harm from others and will not experience their harm, but his training is incomplete and has not born any fruit. Companionship Companionship is something needed by human beings. It can be something highly praiseworthy when one seeks the companionship of people of knowledge and piety from whomn they will benefit. In any case, companionship should be for some of the time with those whose companionship will not corrupt the remainder of your time. Strive always for your conversations during such companionship to be regarding Islam. Gaining Allah's Reward and Helping Others to Do So Relationships with other Muslims give many opportunities for thawaab from Allah Most High such as attending their funerals, visiting the sick and responding to invitations. Allah rewards all of these actions because they bring joy to the heart of the believers. As for helping others to gain Allah's rewards, this is by having an open door to the Muslims so that they may come to give condolences, visit them when they are ill or congratulate them on some good fortune. All of these give those others opportunities for more reward from Allah. Humility You cannot practice humility if you isolate yourself. In fact, it is commonly so that arrogance was the cause of choosing isolation over intermingling in the first place.
NS

Re: Society (The Evils of Isolation)
amatullah
06/20/01 at 20:09:47
Bismillah and salam, Masha'Allah great post! Who is the author?  I read the name, but is he a scholar? Where can I find more of his work? Another plus for socializing is mentioned in this hadith sahih narrated by Al-bukhari: "The believer who mixes with people and bears their insults with patience is better than the one who does not mix with people or bear their insults with patience" This topic braught a few points to mind 1. How can parents adequately and realisticaly compensate for the social aspect of public school, if they are home schooling? 2. The internet is a great sociolizing venue for, otherwise, busy muslim mamas and wives, or is it?

Re: Society (The Evils of Isolation)
bhaloo
06/20/01 at 23:50:46
slm Hmmm, his website is down for some reason, when it comes back online I'll post the link, you can read some more of his khutbahs on my web page in the khutbah section. http://members.home.net/arshad/khutbahs.html Salim Morgan speaks at ICNA conventions from what I remember (I might be wrong in this regard).

Re: Society (The Evils of Isolation)
amatullah
06/23/01 at 08:01:49
Bismillah and salam, are there no married or parent citizens here?

Re: Society (The Evils of Isolation)
BroHanif
06/23/01 at 13:41:16
A.W.W. [quote]Bismillah and salam, are there no married or parent citizens here? [/quote] What do you mean ? I'm married. Salaams

Re: Society (The Evils of Isolation)
amatullah
06/23/01 at 16:12:07
Bismillah and salam, Khair insha'Allah. I only wondered since noone answered my earlier question regarding socializing for your home-schooled children and for married sisters whether mothers or not (yet, insha'Allah). s'all!
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