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Below is an article written by Amr Khaled, published in Almara’a Alyawm Magazine (The Woman Today), on 9/3/2004.

Allah, SWT, says what can be translated as, “Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline; or the dwellings in which ye delight - are dearer to you than Allah, Or His Messenger, or the striving in His cause - then wait until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious.” (TMQ, 9:24)[1].

Calling on people and helping them worship Allah alone are indeed a form of Jihad (i.e. striving for His cause). If a Muslim does not do so, s/he should anticipate what is to befall him or her.

Should a Muslim come to love those eight lawful things more than Allah and His Messenger, s/he must predict what is to become of him or her. Notice that we are talking about loving lawful things. You can probably guess what the case would be with those who love unlawful things and prefer them to Allah and His Messenger.

Abu Bakr As-Sedeeq ((RA)), out of his fervent love of Islam says, "I swear I do not sleep so as to dream." He means: I do not have time to sleep and dream, I live for my religion. "And I never stop thinking so as to let my mind rest" that means: I have no time to sit and give reign to my imagination as regards earthly belongings such as money and women, and things like that. Think of all the girls who would sit for five or six hours dwelling on their future husbands. These are times of their lives that go to a total waste since they have nothing else on their minds.

Recently, some youths were rambling in the streets raising flags and causing a great commotion. One of them asked the others, "Why are we doing this?" Another answered, "Do we have anything else to do?"

Omar Ibn Al-Khatab ((RA)) says, "When can I sleep? I can hardly find time to sleep. If I sleep by night, I would be negligent of Allah's rights, and if I sleep by day, I would be negligent of people's rights. When do I sleep?”

Omar ((RA)) grew pale in color when there was famine among Muslims. He would not eat but oil and salt until he grew dark in color. Biography books differ as regards Omar's color. Some say that he was white; others note that he was dark. Originally, Omar was white, but when there was starvation among Muslims, the companions used to say, “Eat, prince of the faithful.” Omar would answer, “Will I eat when Muhammad's nation does not eat?” The companions say, “We prayed to Allah to end the famine because we feared for Omar.”

Where is our keenness on Islam? Where are the hearts that are overwhelmed with the love of Islam? Where are people who live for Islam, and whose main cause are to uphold Islam in all nations?

The day the Jews came into our country and occupied Al-Aqsa Mosque; they were chanting a certain song. If you listen to that song, you will feel so sorry for yourself and will be eaten up with grief. Do you know what they were singing when they seized Al-Aqsa Mosque? They chanted, Muhammad is dead, he only got daughters. This is not meant to insult women, but rather to insult men. How painful! Muhammad is dead, he only got daughters. I am not saying these things so any of you would rush and break something or harm anyone. I am only saying it so your hearts would be filled with the love of Islam, and you would be keen on it. Listen to the heroic Saladin as he said, "How can I smile when Al-Aqsa Mosque is in shackles?" How can you possibly be joyous in life and not strive for the sake of your religion? How can you not be jealous of Islam?

During al Yamama battle, Muslims were not backed and were almost defeated by Musailama, the liar, and his followers at the start. Al Barra', one of those who memorized the entire Glorious Qura'an, stood out and cried, "What a bad memorizer of the Qur'an would I be if Islam was defeated on my side!" Take a look at him, fellow Muslims. I would be the worst person on earth to have memorized the Qura'an if Islam was defeated on my side. It is not a question of prayers only. It is a matter of Islam becoming part of you.

Al Hasan Al Basri says, “On the Day of Judgment, Islam will proceed looking at the faces of people to see who supported it and who disappointed it. Islam would pass by a man, look at him and say, He disappointed me. Islam would then pass by another, look at him and say, He disappointed me. Islam would pass by a third, look at him and say, He supported me. Islam would then continue to walk among people, until it reaches Omar Ibn Al Khatab. Islam would then lift Omar's two hands up and say, God, I was a stranger until this man embraced Islam.” Abdullah Ibn Mas'oud says, “We were submissive until Omar embraced Islam. Who of us holds Islam so dearly? Who loves Islam that much?” Who would listen to these words and start thinking, what can I do for Islam? What is my duty towards my religion? What is my duty towards my fellow Muslims?

You are required to help bring your fellow Muslims closer to Allah. Do not leave your mate to the devil or to sin. You are expected to talk to people in the politest terms. While at work, you are expected to call on people to pray in congregation. You are expected to help bring your neighbors closer to Allah. You are expected to think about Islam the same way you think and plan for your future. You should always be preoccupied with this idea; what should I do for Islam?

If a friend of yours does not pray, give him a tape that urges Muslims to pray. He may be guided to the Right Path that way. If you hear something in a mosque, hurry and repeat it to all people at work. Additionally, your manners could be the best means of Da'wa (calling on people to worship Allah). Pay attention to your manners, your appearance and your cleanliness. You want to convey a pleasant image of Islam, and of obedient Muslims. You want to send the message that Muslims take good care of themselves and their studies. However, your number one priority should be your manners. Therefore, if you want to call on people to worship Allah and help them, your tool would be manners, manners and manners. Your second priority is people's love. If you love them, you will be able to help them. But, if such a sentiment cannot find its way to your heart, you will fail to achieve what you desire.

The Prophet (PBUH) once walked in on a dying Jewish boy. So, he called on him to embrace Islam. The question here is, why would the Prophet care whether the boy embraced Islam or not? The answer lies in his keenness on guiding people. The boy did embrace Islam, then died. The Prophet came out smiling and said, "Praise be to Allah Who saved him from Hellfire through me." See how the Prophet (PBUH) was happy for saving him from Hellfire. This is how we should deal with people, rather than say, “What do I care? Let him go to hell.” We ought to pray that people be guided to the Right Path.

I know a person who went on a minor pilgrimage in order to pray to Allah to guide a friend of his. He says, “When I came back, he was a different person. He grew close to Allah, though he used to be distant from him.” If you are not keen on Islam, you will slip after being obedient. You will not manage to abide by Islam. Islam has to be your cause in life. Your main concern should be to help guide people to the way of Allah (SWT). Otherwise, you will slip and will be held responsible for Islam.

This was proclaimed by one of the companions; Al Barra'. They are such powerful words, I want you to write down and memorize. In one of the battles, he stood up and declared, "I will only die when Islam is victorious." You, too, say, I will only die when Islam is victorious in my company. Say, I will only die when Islam is victorious in my apartment. Say, I will only die when Islam is victorious in my family. Striving to make Islam victorious should be your main concern.

There is also this very powerful and moving sentence uttered by Abu Bakr As-Sedeeq, "Would Islam be curtailed, while I am alive?" Take a look at that heart and the kind of passion that fills it!

Offer what you have, little as it may be. No one should underestimate himself. No one should say, I do not know enough about Islam in order to guide people. Remember that when Abu Bakr first embraced Islam, he did not know much about it. You probably know more than he did then. But, through him, seven of the Muslims, who later received the happy news that they will be in Heaven, embraced Islam. He managed to do that since he was driven by a passionate love of Islam, and a jealous keenness on it. What did Omar Ibn Al-Khatab possess the day he embraced Islam? He only had the love of this religion and the desire to spread it. If you care that much about Islam, if you fear that people may be thrown in Hellfire, and want them to be admitted to Heaven, if you wish to be with your family, your friends and everyone you love in the same place in Heaven, if you really want all that, you should have zealous feelings towards your religion. You must work for Islam, and call on everyone you love to conform to it. Your heart should be filled with keenness on Islam. You may be able to guide people you love to the Right Path.

Al-Muthana Ibn Haritha was commander of Muslim armies in one of the battles. They were headed to Persia. The army proceeded until they arrived at the Persian borders, where the battle between Muslims and Persians broke out. Al Muthana had divided his army into a left wing and a right wing. Every tribe was in a separate battalion. The right wing was assigned to the Bani Bakr tribe. At the start of the battle, Muslims were ahead of their enemies. Unfortunately however, the right wing was rather weak. Every time Muslims achieved some victory, defeat came from the Bani Bakr side. Al Muthana had no choice but to send a message to Bani Bakr to inflame their hearts with enthusiasm. He therefore sent them a small piece of paper that carried a very brief message. He wrote, "From Al Muthana Ibn Haritha to Bani Bakr, do not scandalize Muslims, do not scandalize Muslims, do not scandalize Muslims."

It is said that victory came from the side of Bani Bakr. Those words turned them into lions. They devoured the Persians, and Muslims were triumphant thanks to Bani Bakr.

I say it to you again, my fellow Muslims, do not scandalize Muslims. Muslims have enough to deal with at present.

Fellow brother, do not scandalize Muslims with your bad manners, failure in college, untidy appearance, not being clean, and ill treatment of people. Do not think that you live for Islam and neglect people.

Fellow Muslims, do not scandalize Muslims. Live for, and according to, Islam. Live your life, fellow brother, with one thing to be concerned about; the day I die will be a day when Islam is triumphant and far above everything and everyone. The best thing in life and the best job ever is to work for Allah, that He accepts your deeds, and uses you to serve Islam, helps you guide people to the Right Path, makes you the key to people's good and enables you to help the orphans and the poor. This is far better for you than all the treasures of the world.

[1] TMQ=Translation of the Meaning of the Qur'an. This translation is for the realized meaning, so far, of the stated (Surah:Ayah) of the Qur'an. Reading the translated meaning of the Qur'an can never replace reading it in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed.

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