An Advice to University Freshers

Since 2012-12-09

...at university, we are caught in a constant struggle between that which our Islamic morals and values call us towards, and that which typical university life tends to promote.

 

Islam is not, as many people incorrectly assume, merely a religion, but instead, a way of life which practically deals with all facets of human living encouraging both man and woman to live out their lives in the best way possible. Of course, it may be argued that this is something relative, but in defining the term ‘best’, a mere glance at the Qur’an, is enough to understand that the ‘best’ way is that which is in keeping with the highest morals and standards whilst perfecting our interactions with one another.
 
{Verily, this Quran guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad SAW, etc.). who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise).} [Surah Israa’ 17:9].
 
{إِنَّ هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا}الإسراء: 9
 
 

 

Transliteration: Inna hatha alqurana yahdee lillatee hiya aqwamu wayubashshiru almumineena allatheena yaAAmaloona alssalihati anna lahum ajran kabeeran
 
In everyday life, no less at university, we are caught in a constant struggle between that which our Islamic morals and values call us towards, and that which typical university life tends to promote. Undeniably, the thrill of clubbing, consuming alcohol and drugs, and sexual flirtation (all of which are momentary) are attractive to young hearts and minds, yet the reality of these vices are more than apparent once the moments lapse. Clubs are indisputably the most wicked of places given that they manage to gather all forms of evil under one roof. Alcohol and drugs only provide a momentary lapse away from reality, but if reality is good as many claim, then why the need to leave it? Sexual flirtation only leads to more, and in the end we are left with fornication, adultery, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, all abhorrent in the sight of God and corruptive in nature.
 
There is no lasting benefit from sin; indeed there can never be, for good is not born out of wickedness but out of goodness: guidance from God which is accepted in the hearts of beings. Thus it is upon us to cling to that which is righteous in the sight of God and shun those who call us to disobedience. Indeed, our Lord is One and to Him alone are we obedient.
 
{...like one whom the Shayateen (devils) have made to go astray, confused (wandering) through the earth, his companions calling him to guidance (saying): Come to us. Say: Verily, Allah’s Guidance is the only guidance, and we have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the Alamin.} [Surah Al An’aam 6:71].
 
{...كَالَّذِي اسْتَهْوَتْهُ الشَّيَاطِينُ فِي الْأَرْضِ حَيْرَانَ لَهُ أَصْحَابٌ يَدْعُونَهُ إِلَى الْهُدَى ائْتِنَا ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّـهِ هُوَ الْهُدَىٰ ۖ وَأُمِرْنَا لِنُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ} الأنعام: 71
 
 

 

Transliteration: kaallathee istahwathu alshshayateenu fee alardi hayrana lahu ashabun yadAAoonahu ila alhuda itinaqul inna huda Allahi huwa alhudawaomirna linuslima lirabbi alAAalameena
 
These shayateen work most notably as our peers at university, they encourage (unknowingly through their misguidance) that which is sinful, and in a bid to foster a sense of belonging we go along. Thereafter, we become caught up with the notion that religion is backward and that true rationality and sense belongs to that which is secular. So naturally, such an individual comes to feel inferior amongst his/her non-Muslim friends, and hides his/her faith assuming that it is something to be ashamed of.
 
Such a view is extremely wrong, not only from the point of view that low moral standards should never be perceived as being superior, but that the Muslim inherently accepts that death is inevitable and that the final judgment is the ultimate form of pressure (as opposed to peer-pressure) that we should conform to. Likewise we are told in regards to the various ways of life,
 
{And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.} [Surah Aali Imran 3:85].
 
{وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ} آل عمران: 85
 
 

 

Transliteration: Waman yabtaghi ghayra alislami deenan falan yuqbala minhu wahuwa fee alakhirati mina alkhasireena
 
Furthermore, Islam is a perfect way of life, as God the Most High expounds,
{This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.} [Surah Al Ma’idah 5:3].
 
{الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا} المائدة: 3
 
Transliteration: alyawma akmaltu lakum deenakum waatmamtu AAalaykum niAAmatee waradeetu lakumu alislama deenan
 
To be a Muslim is an honour that Allah the Most high bestows upon people, for had He willed we would have been misguided. Thus, Allah warns that if a people are to disregard such guidance they will be easily replaced,
 
{O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islam), Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him;...} [Surah Al Ma’idah 5:54].
 
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّـهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ...} المائدة: 54
 
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo man yartadda minkum AAan deenihi fasawfa yatee Allahu biqawmin yuhibbuhum wayuhibboonahu
 
{But honour, power and glory belong to Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad SAW), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.} [Surah Al Munafiqun 63:8].
 
{...وَلِلَّـهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ} المنافقون: 8
 
 

 

Transliteration: walillahi alAAizzatu walirasoolihi walilmumineena walakinna almunafiqeena la yaAAlamoona
 
The Muslims, those who truly submit to God and are conscious of His divine presence not only live in ways that are most upright, but carry a sense of nobility and superiority in being the true worshippers of the Most High. They neither feel a sense of shame nor are they shy about that which Allah has ordained, but instead, speak openly in righteousness, calling towards it, and are committed to Islam and content with it in this life, whilst hoping for God’s mercy and eternal success in the next.
 
{You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in Allah...} [Surah Aali Imran 3:110].
 
{كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ...} آل عمران: 110
 
Transliteration: Kuntum khayra ommatin okhrijat lilnnasi tamuroona bialmaAAroofi watanhawna AAani almunkari watuminoona biAllahi 
 
It is in this vein that the Prophet Luqman advised his son, and in understanding the will of his Lord, he said,
 
{"O my son! If it be (anything) equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Verily, Allah is Subtle (in bringing out that grain), Well-Aware (of its place). (16) "O my son! Aqim-is-Salat (perform As-Salat), enjoin (people) for Al-Ma'ruf (Islamic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief in the Oneness of Allah, polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil and bad), and bear with patience whatever befall you. Verily! These are some of the important commandments ordered by Allah with no exemption. (17) "And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster. (18) "And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the voice (braying) of the ass."} [Surah Luqman 31:16-19].
 
{يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهَا إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُن فِي صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ أَوْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّـهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٦﴾ يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ ﴿١٧﴾ وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ ﴿١٨﴾ وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ وَاغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ الْأَصْوَاتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِيرِ} لقمان: 16-19
 
 

 

Transliteration: Ya bunayya innaha in taku mithqala habbatin min khardalin fatakun fee sakhratin aw fee alssamawati aw fee alardi yati biha Allahu inna Allaha lateefun khabeerun (16) Ya bunayya aqimi alssalata wamur bialmaAAroofi wainha AAani almunkari waisbir AAala ma asabaka inna thalika min AAazmi alomoori (17) Wala tusaAAAAir khaddaka lilnnasi wala tamshi fee alardi marahan inna Allaha la yuhibbu kulla mukhtalin fakhoorin (18) Waiqsid fee mashyika waoghdud min sawtika inna ankara alaswati lasawtu alhameeri
 
To act in the way that Luqman advised his son is neither archaic nor ‘outdated’, but incorporates that which any individual with sound intellect would state was good advice. Many modernists claim that Islam must be changed for contemporary society but they overlook the fact that Allah is timeless and so are His words. Thus, the Qur’an is timelessly applicable, the principles it establishes are evidently divine given the great spiritual and wordly benefit that is accrued from them.
 
 

 

In analyzing the contradictory claims of Western secularism that Islam and its tenets are archaic, we note their criticisms of the implementation of capital punishments which they claim demonstrates Muslim barbarism. However, it is extremely contradictory that those who scorn the shari’ah for capital punishments (especially neo-cons) have nothing to say about the fact that the US (a neo-con government) also imposes the death penalty, either by frying you (electrocution) or poisoning you (lethal injection). Many people claim that were shari’ah to be implemented to the fullest extent everyone in the UK would either be beheaded or amputated, a preposterous claim which actually implies that all British people are criminals! Furthermore, many secular Britons have repeatedly iterated that shari’ah has no place in British society and law, yet, not only has Islamic finance been thriving in the west where Britain’s Islamic finance sector is bigger than many ‘Muslim’ countries such as Pakistan and Egypt (as well as 55 colleges and professional institutions offering education in Islamic finance in Britain – more than anywhere else in the world!), but the government has sought to promote it and is currently taking into consideration the ethical grounds upon which it stands as Islamic banks have come out of the current financial crises in much better standing than conventional banks.! [1]
 
This shows us that those who claim that Islam is archaic merely speculate, as actions (such as the government seeking to promote Islamic finance) speak much louder than words. Thus, in analyzing the reality of Islam as an intelligent individual, there can be no doubt that the divine way of life ordained by Allah the most High is of the highest merit. Islam is supreme and will continue to be, something Muslims wholeheartedly submit to, and the path that guides to God is indisputably the supreme one.
 
{Say (O Muhammad SAW): "This is my way; I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allah i.e. to the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allah (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah; those who worship others along with Allah or set up rivals or partners to Allah)."} [Surah Yusuf 12:108].
 
{قُلْ هَـٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّـهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي ۖ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّـهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ} يوسف: 108
 
 

 

Transliteration: Qul hathihi sabeelee adAAoo ila Allahi AAala baseeratin ana wamani ittabaAAanee wasubhana Allahi wamaana mina almushrikeena
 
 
Amanpaul Dhaliwal
 
 
Notes
 
[1] For a more in-depth discussion on such contradictions, see Nizami. M. Reasoning with the Unreasonable. http://www.islam21c.com/politics/134...e-unreasonable