Sunaa’ al-Hayah

- Life Makers -

Episode 2 – Introduction Part 2

In the name of Allah the All-Merciful, the Ever- Merciful.    Praise be to Allah (SWT), the Cherisher and the Sustainer of the worlds.  Peace, prayers, and blessings be upon our illiterate Prophet Muhammad (SAWS[1]), and his family and companions.

We had started introducing our project, Life Makers, as we named it last time.  Today we are here to continue together what we have started.  In this episode, after discussing the goals of the program and what we expect of it, we will tackle the following points:

• The reason behind the program, Life Makers, and the difference between it and the previous program, Wa Nalqa al-Ahebba (Meet the Beloved).
• Why we chose the motto, “Together we shall make life.”
• Is there really any hope for us to succeed?

In the coming episode inshallah (if Allah permits), we will tackle the following points:

• How did the West deal with the problem of renaissance?
• The rise of the Muslims and how it could be achieved.
• Introducing the work plan and the duration of the project.

There is another goal for this episode besides reminding Muslims that we have reached the rock bottom in life.  That goal is; understanding Islam correctly.  Islam is not only about how to pray or fast; this is not in any way an underestimation of ibada (worship).  However, many people have stopped at that point and consider Ramadan and the hijab (the veil) to be the ultimate end.  This program aims to correct this misconception.  Islam is all about making life; it is all about successful and excellent people who understand the true essence of Islam.

I will start here by reciting to you the most important ayah (verse) in the Qur’an.  The future of Islam depends upon this ayah, which we recite daily in Surat al-Fatiha (The Opening).  We recite it seventeen times in obligatory prayers and more than that in the supererogatory ones.  In that ayah, Allah  says what can be translated as, “You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).” (TMQ, al-Fatiha:5)[2].  The very obvious meaning here is that we beseech Allah (SWT) to help us in worshiping Him.  However, it has another meaning, which is very crucial, and important; this meaning is the core of this program.  The other meaning is that Allah (SWT) has subjugated this universe for our service.  This universe is ours. In the Qur’an, we find many ayahs repeatedly stating that it has been subjugated for us.  We frequently read ayahs in which Allah  says what can be translated as, “To be at your service.”  Then, Allah’s saying which can be translated as, “You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).” (TMQ, al-Fatiha:5), means that we use everything that Allah (SWT) has created for us in this universe to succeed in life and worship Him, as He deserves.  This ayah epitomizes the whole religion of Islam.

Ibnul-Qayem says that Allah (SWT) has collected all the Holy Scripts in three books namely: the Torah, the Bible and the Qur’an.  Then, He gathered all three of them in the Qur’an, and then the Qur’an in Surat al-Fatihah, then al-Fatihah in that particular ayah.  The whole religion of Islam has been summarized in this ayah.  Unfortunately, we only perform half of it; that is, we worship Allah (SWT) but we do not make use of what He has subjugated for us.

Man never asks for help except in difficult and critical matters.  We are still so far from these matters so we became content with Allah’s saying which can be translated as, “You (Alone) we worship.” (TMQ, al-Fatiha:5).  The West performed the other half (which we left out), in which Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).” (TMQ, al-Fatiha:5). The West worked, achieved, produced, and chose the difficult and hard parts of life, and Allah (SWT) helped them all the way.  However, they did not direct their effort to the other half, thus, their civilizations fell as well. 

Those who performed both halves are those who deserve the following ayah in which Allah says what can be translated as, “The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace.” (TMQ, al-Fatiha:7). 

This ayah has not been entirely applied as a whole except once; during the rule of the Islamic civilization since the days of the Prophet (SAWS).  It has never been applied since then.

No matter how religious Muslims become, they will not advance as long as they have not applied the other half of the ayah.  This is what our program, Life Makers, aims to remind you.

To make a real life we need both halves.  Let us try to understand the whole picture.  When we disregard the part where Allah says what can be translated as, “You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)” (TMQ, al-Fatiha:5) we will fail in the part where Allah says what can be translated as, “You (Alone) we worship.” (TMQ, al-Fatiha:5).  I’ll give you the proof of what I’m saying.  The means by which we worship Allah (SWT), namely: the prayer mat, the string of pebbles, even Fanus Ramadan (a toy-lantern especially made for children to play with during Ramadan), and the Adhan clocks (which indicate prayer times); all are made in non-Islamic countries.  Hence, we have failed in the second part. 

Let me explain further, the standard measurements in our lives, in general, and our economical projects have all been set by the West.  They did not make them so as to befit the Qur’anic ideals but to be suitable for their own way of life.  From the meter, to the kilometer, to the ISO standards, to the number of stars evaluating hotels.  If you want to build a luxurious five star hotel for tourists, you will not be able to make one.  To build a five star hotel recognized by the world standards, the hotel must serve wine and it must have a casino.  If you object to this and say that it is haram (forbidden in Islam), then you will not get the world recognition that the hotel is a five star hotel.  Who decides this? Unfortunately, not you.  You do not have the right to say yes or no.  You do not own the keys of economics.  You are only a parasite who wants to enter the world of business.  The rules of the game are set only by the fittest.

So as you can see, even the worship will be tarnished.

We must spread our wings and fly to be like the makers of the early Islamic civilization, worshippers by night and knights by day.

It is only the essence of worshipping in Islam that leads to success in life.  There is another meaning in life, some strong meaning related to the reason behind creation and its goal.

After observation and lots of studies, Plato came with a theory that Allah (SWT) has made the universe and then forgot all about it.  Allah (SWT) replies with what can be translated as, “…and your Lord is never forgetful.” (TMQ, 19:64).

Karl Marx came with a theory that Allah (SWT) wanted to play and have fun (may Allah (SWT) forgive us), so He (Allah) created people to play with them.  The reply to this came very clear in the Qur’an where Allah says what can be translated as, “Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose).  And that you would not be brought back to Us? So Exalted be Allah, the True King, la ilaha illa huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne!” (TMQ, 23:115-116).

Elia Abu-Madi was completely lost with regards to the purpose behind the creation of the universe.  He wrote a poem that explained his loss and perplexity about why he was created.  The answer comes very clear in the Qur’an where Allah  says what can be translated as, “And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)” (TMQ, adh-Dhariyat:56), and Allah (SWT) further says what can be interpreted as, “And (remember) when our Lord said to the angels, ‘Verily, I am going to place (mankind) as a vicegerent on earth.’” (TMQ, 2:30).

Next comes the ayah in which Allah  states what can be translated as, “And He taught Adam all the names (of everything).” (TMQ, 2:31).  These names are the names used in our technological daily lives.  Allah (SWT) taught Adam (AS) all these names.

You must start by searching for a career and a means of success so that your Islam would not be called incomplete.  If you do not do so, then beware because you might be one of the believers referred to in the dua’a (supplication) of Omar Ibnul-Khattab (RA) in which he says, “Allah, I complain to You from the might of the immoral and the impotence of the believers.”  Beware of this dua’a, as Omar (RA) is one of the believers promised with jannah (paradise).

Remember the dua’a of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) in the morning supplications, “Oh Allah, I take refuge in You, from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of dept and from being overpowered by men.”

Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) shows us how to be life makers even after we die, he says, “When man dies all his deeds are terminated except for three: a charity paid continuously in his remembrance (i.e. an economical project that he has carried out during his life), a knowledge from which others would benefit (i.e. study and toil), and a good offspring calling Allah for him (i.e. raising a generation).”

Even on the Day or Judgment, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) tells us, “If the Day of Judgment began and in the hand of any of you was a palm shoot, then implant it first.”  Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) also says, that on the Day of Judgment, man will be asked about four things: his youth, his life, his wealth and his knowledge.

Isn’t it strange that the first three ayahs revealed unto Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) contain the verb ‘read’ twice and the verb ‘teach’ also twice?  Allah  says what can be translated as, “Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists).   He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).  Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.  Who has taught (the writing) by pen. Who has taught man what he has never known.” (TMQ, 96:1-5).  Even the means of education and knowledge (the pencil) is mentioned once and this is the first thing that Allah (SWT) spoke of in the Qur’an.

Surat an-Naml (The Ants) speaks about excelling in civilization.  Surat al-Hadid (The Iron) encourages military industry.  Surat al-Mulk opposes unemployment.  Even Surat al-Jumu’ah (Friday) (which is a holiday) encourages people to work before As-Salat (prayer) and after it.  Allah  says what can be translated as, “O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salat on Friday (Jumu’ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business (and every other thing).  That is better for you if you did but know! Then when the (Jumu’ah) Salat is concluded, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah (by working, etc.), and remember Allah much: that you may be successful.” (TMQ, 62:9-10).

The many models of successful people start with a small idea, as we mentioned before.  An idea that utterly dominates the person and becomes his premiere feeling as Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) says, “No one correctly performs this religion except he who takes it as a whole.”

Remember Avicenna who was named, ‘Prince of Physicians’ by Europe.  He was the first to put the basic principles of modern medicine.  His book, Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb (The Canon of Medicine) had been taught for four centuries.  When asked about how he reached the solution for all these difficult equations, he answered that the secret lies in a Qur’anic ayah is which Allah  says what can be translated as, “Thus We have made you [true Muslims–real believers of Islamic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah], to be a moderate (intermediate) nation.” (TMQ, 2:143).  He explained that whenever something was difficult for him he used to search for its middle.

In the second year after the hijrah (the Prophet Muhammad's migration from Makkah to Madinah), Abbas Ibn-Firnas made the first trial to fly in the history of mankind.  He was motivated by the ayah in which Allah  says what can be translated as, “O assembly of jinn and men! If you have the power to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass beyond (them)! But you will never be able to pass them, except with authority (from Allah)!” (TMQ, 55:33).  He implemented that ayah.  He gathered the people of Cordova to witness his trail.  Most people believe that he failed, but in truth, he succeeded, despite breaking his legs upon landing.

Ibn-Khaldun is the founder of sociology and the first man to put the basics for the life cycle of nations and the effect of geography and weather on the attitudes of people in his book’s muqaddimah (prolegomena).  What motivated him was the ayah in which Allah  says what can be translated as, “Many similar ways (mishaps of life) were faced by nations (believers and disbelievers) that have passed away before you, so travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who disbelieved in Allah and his Messengers.” (TMQ, 3:137).

Which of you would take an ayah from the Qur’an and say I shall follow it to succeed?

We reached the answer for the sixth question, namely, what is the difference between this program ‘Sunaa’ al-Hayah - Life Makers’ and "Wa Nalqa al-Ahebba - Meet the Beloved?”  They are both like the wings of faith of Islam.  The program Wa Nalqa al-Ahebba helps us in the half of Allah’s saying which can be translated as “You (Alone) we worship.” (TMQ, al-Fatiha:5).  It helped us in establishing and extending our roots deep down into the earth.  Sunaa’ al-Hayah says that we need to reap the fruits.  It is as if both programs follow Allah’s saying which can be translated as, “See you not how Allah sets forth a parable? A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches reach so high to the sky.” (TMQ, 14:24).   Therefore, Sunaa’ al-Hayah shall make the roots produce fruits.

Let us think together and see who this program will address? I tell you that it mainly addresses the youth, the hope of the future; this treasure that the Arab world possesses.

1. Youth: according to a world status statistical report conducted by the UN showing the age distribution of the world’s population, the Arab world has more than 38% of the world’s population under 14 years old.  This means that the future is in the hands of the Arab world.  We ask ourselves, what is that future that we own? It is the future that we will make together with our own hands.
2. The woman: she represents half the community and she brings up the other half.
3. The parents: they are responsible for bringing up their children.
4. Non-religious people: it is necessary to build their personality in order to awaken our nations and bring honor to them; something that we all need.
5. Non-Muslims: so that our countries may develop.  We need to bring success to everybody.

Adding my idea to yours will not result in two ideas but in an infinite number of ideas.  It is as if some one is standing between two mirrors, he will see infinite reflections for his image.  It is exactly something like nuclear fission.

We agreed together that this project is not an individual one; it is a project for the whole nation: our project.  It is a project with which we will challenge our status and circumstances.  This program depends upon your ideas.

We have a practical assignment for next time until we meet.  I want your suggestions concerning what we should do to succeed.  What should we do to get out of this dark pit? Think and send us your proposals.  We anticipate every word from you because your ideas will help accomplish our goals for this project.

To answer the last question; how can you express such confidence that we will succeed? I remind you that anybody who lives for an idea, giving this idea life, can achieve it.  We must face the challenges; life is a test, as Allah says what can be translated as, “and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good.” (TMQ, 21:35).

Challenges are divided into three kinds: an easy challenge that does not encourage the person to innovate, an impossible one that leads to depression, and a challenge that unleashes one’s potentials and powers.

We are now facing a challenge that unleashes all potentials.

Let us watch a five-minute film that will show you a contemporary, unique story of success.

The story is entitled: Khaldun.

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