#notinmyname

From what I observe, the incident of Charlie Hebdo has resulted in three major reactions by three different groups of people.

The first is of the ignorants who now come up with a hashtag (which is full of hatred I don't want to write it), who simply conclude that this terrible incident is because of the teaching of Islam, and each and everyone who has something to do with the religion should pay the price. Among this group are those who bombed the mosque in Paris recently, and somehow think that that is the kind of solution which will make the world a better place. I feel sorry for this first group, I really do. But they're not my main focus. Not today.

And then there's a second group, which actually is the reason why I write this. The "JesuisCharlie" group, I call them.

In order to get my point across, firstly, I need you to do something. I need you to imagine someone whom you love most. Someone from whom you have learned so much. Someone who endures every kind of pain you can ever imagine, just to teach and benefit you. Someone who is willing to sacrifice his/her life, for yours. 

Obviously there are many other reasons why we love a person, now I need you to just take time to think of one individual who deserves many (if not all) of those reasons to be loved. Probably it's your mother, your father, your spouse. Perhaps it's your teacher, your professor, your mentor.

Now once you have figured out who that person is, imagine that particular someone is being mocked. Imagine your own mother is being made fun of. Imagine there's a group of people who speak ill of someone whom you take as your role model. It hurts you, doesn't it? 

When you really love a person, even a single false judgement about him/her may bring tears to your eyes. Even when you know that it's incorrect. Of course, you feel sorry for the people who can't see the beauty in the person you love the way you do, but it saddens you, because you understand that that very person doesn't deserve to be treated that way.

And this is where I want to highlight one important thing that, unfortunately, has been missed out among the people in this second group. 

The love of muslims for the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) goes beyond their love of everything else. Muslims love the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) more than they love their own mothers. I know it's not something which everyone can take lightly. And it is not my main intention to make everyone who reads this to accept that belief. But how I wish them to understand how painful for us to see those false judgements given to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). 

I'm not going to beat around the bush, so I'll just leave those who support "JesuisCharlie" with something to ponder over.

If the so-called freedom of speech allows others to mock your loved one in the most horrible way, would you support such thing? Would you be just fine when others are disrespectful to your beloved one, and would you just say 'it's the freedom of speech, they have their own right!' Really? Will you come up with that argument?

#JeNeSuisPasCharlie.

But don't get me wrong. By all means, I never and will never ever justify the incident of Charlie Hebdo. Everyone who loves the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) understand that that horrible incident has nothing to do with the teaching of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), because part of loving him is by doing what he has taught us, his followers, to do. And there simply is no room in Islam for responding to mockery or blasphemy with violence.

As I said, I feel sorry for those who don't get to know the beauty of character of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and end up making such hateful speech towards him, but my anger goes to those who don't understand the teaching of Islam properly, yet act arrogantly, ignorantly, even worse, violently as if they do and have the right to.

I remember an advice of a good friend which goes, "in the era of Islamophobia, take every opportunity to clarify what Islam is not." To some level I agree, but it's the other part of the equation that interests me more. And it is actually the last reaction I've observed.

More often than not, we are too busy to explain what Islam is not, while what has been lost in many eyes of the people nowadays is the beauty of what Islam really is. No doubt, it is our responsibility as muslims to act according to the policy of the Quran.

"And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel (evil) by that (deed) which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is hostile (will become) as though he was a devoted friend." - Fussilat (explained in detail) :34.

We should try utmost to be one of the last group. And I pray that we'll all be able to do the teaching of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) properly.

Character Quest (1)

When it comes to a role model for business in Islam, many will most likely refer to Abdur Rahman bin Auf, one of the most virtuous and super generous companions whom we can also consider as one of the most successful businessmen of his time. To describe his wealth, there was one day when his business caravan--laden with goods (to be sold for business)--was so enormous, so much so that the front camel was on one end of the border city of Medina, while the last camel was on the other border across.

It is understandable why Abdur Rahman bin Auf was such a role model just from how that story beautifully ends (long story short, he gave the whole caravan for charity).

No wonder, radiAllahu anhu.

Only very recently I knew that, on this matter, there's another person to whom the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) actually gave such high appraisal and compliment.1

That person was the Prophet's (PBUH) first business partner when he (PBUH) started to do business in his 20's. He was known by the name of As-Saib bin Abi As-Saib (Saib the son of the father of Saib)--who later on became a muslim--also known as Abu Saib, radiAllahu anhu.

It was narrated that after about forty years (during the conquest of Mecca), the Prophet (PBUH) met Abu Saib, and in front of his companions he (PBUH) said,
"Abu Saib is the best business partner! He would never undercut somebody while doing business and he would never lie and cheat."

Some questions immediately came in mind when I heard about this story, but there was one that intrigued me most: why did the Prophet (PBUH) describe his business partner that way?

In the same narration, it's mentioned that both the Prophet (PBUH) and Abu Saib made a good profit, so obviously they're smart enough to run the business in such young age. So why didn't the Prophet (PBUH) describe Abu Saib from that perspective? 

Meanwhile, you know, when people talk about so-called successful entrepreneurs nowadays, words like "creative" or "innovative" are usually used to describe them. Also, more often than not, people use the word "inspiring."

Although in some occasions I can't help but ask, "how inspiring is inspiring?" Don't you think what's inspiring to one, may not be inspiring to others (vice versa)? Anyway, that's not really my point.

So again, back to my question, why did the Prophet (PBUH) describe someone--being the best business partner, or businessman rather--that way? Why not, first and foremost, mention his intelligence for example? Of course honesty and nobility are very important--I get it, don't get me wrong--but among other qualities this man has, why was that particular attribute pointed out?

I think I'll just end my writing there.


Footnotes
1. One of my favorite episodes of Seerah by Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda, "Muhammad the Business Man & a Marriage Proposal"

In a Moment of Despair

Sometimes, we just feel lonely, isolated and rejected. We feel our own pain in shouldering the stress of a loved one, the loss of a cherished one, the falling of tears from someone who has given up hope. 

But perhaps there's a reason for the pain. Perhaps, -in those moments of defeat, of frustration, of confusion, of separation and of rejection- is a chance for us to intimately connect with one who has experienced so many forms of grief and loss. Perhaps our toil in finding ourselves, in searching for our identities, is one meant to allow us to relate to the confusion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he had no idea what had just happened to him and who he would become upon receiving revelation. 

Perhaps in the heart-wrenching grief of losing a loved one, of learning they have a terminal illness, of praying upon and burying someone who meant more than the world itself to us- is the opportunity for us to dwell in the humanity of the Prophet (peace be upon him), when he lost his mom, his grandpa, his father-figure uncle, his incredible, blessed, beloved wife, his children. He didn't just lose one child. He lost every single one of his children in his lifetime, with the exception of Fatima (may God be pleased with her and them all). He lost his children in their infancy, toddlerhood, in their adult life. He lost his uncle and friend, he lost those whom he loved who he had mentored. And he would sit and weep for them, just as we sit and weep for our lost loves. May God be pleased with them all. 

Perhaps, in the rejection we experience, in the social isolation, in the humiliation- is an opportunity for us to intimately experience the reality of the Prophet (peace be upon him). What was it like to be praying in front of the Kaba and to feel the filthy insides of an animal thrown upon you, by one of your biggest bullies in the city, in front of everyone....only to have your young daughter witness your state and be the one to remove it from your body? Of course he knew and taught her that God would aid him. But imagine if it were us, what would it be like, as a parent? 

What was it like to go to Ta'if after experiencing years of boycott- complete social isolation- after losing your father-figure uncle, after losing the love, light and joy of your life- hopeful, anxious, eager for acceptance of your message and support- only to be laughed at, insulted and chased out of the city by kids hurling stones until your shoes were filled with blood? 

What was it like to be called names constantly, to be teased and ridiculed- to see those who had once praised you and sought your counsel, turn their backs and plot your murder? 

And yet, what would it be like if you continued, if you had so much dedication and determination, that your relationship with God and spreading His Message was enough to keep you going even in your grief? 

There's a reason the Prophet (peace be upon him) suffered so much loss, rejection and isolation. Perhaps one of those reasons was to help us, every single one of us, regardless of what we're going through, connect to him, love him and be able to take his life as an example. He experienced pain and grief, yes, but he had something that continually kept him determined, and that was his connection with God and his life's mission. Part of his life's mission was even to touch people today, centuries later, all throughout the globe- and that includes me and you. 

When we experience emotional and physical pain, remember: so did he. But he kept going, finding strength through his relationship with God. 

We can too.


اللهم صلِّ على نبينا وحبيبنا وقرة أعيننا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين

- Maryam Amirebrahimi