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Tafseer of Surah ar-Ra’ad, Ayah 11

Allah (swt) has decreed: "InnAllaha laa yoghayyiru maa bi Qawmin hattaa yoghayyiroo maa bi anfusihim" (TMQ ar-Ra’ad 13:11) “Allah will not change what is in any nation, until they all collectively make a change occur in what is in themselves.” (TMQ ar-Ra’ad 13:11) Many from amongst the sincere, and insincere, Muslims utilise this Ayah in an attempt to justify not working for the Khilafah by reviving the Ummah in a collective way. Instead, they claim, that one should perfect what is within oneself first, and only then look to the ills of the society. Thus, they emphasise the perfection of the individual as Allah (swt) has said that he will not change the situation of the people until they first change what is within their own selves. Without under-emphasising the importance of Tazkiyyat un-nafs (purification of oneself) at all, it is necessary to eradicate the above false understanding, especially the idea that through this Tazkiyyah alone one can revive the Ummah.

Umar ibn al Khattab - a true example of radical change

Abu Huraira said, The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "People are like mines of silver and gold; the best of them in the days of Ignorance (jahilliyah) are the best of them in Islam when they attain knowledge.” [Muslim, Mishkat] When looking at this hadith many people will ask, ‘How is it possible for the best in jahilliyah to become the best in Islam?’ The hadith is describing the reality of people and their radical transformation after committing themselves to Islam. Many examples of this can be seen when looking at people around us who were involved in acts of jahilliyah such as organized crime, drugs, alcohol, etc. These same people radically changed their behaviour and became Islamic personalities and active Dawa Carriers. There are some from amongst the Ummah, who find it difficult to see beyond their own defects and cannot see the potential for change within themselves. The example of Umar ibn al Khattab (ra) should demonstrate to us all no matter what our erro

Are you ready to die tomorrow?

We think in detail about certain things, typically things that interest us or which we are directly facing. So football fanatics spend time in following up the latest football news, whose playing who, whose been bought and by which team, etc. People into music would know about the latest chart hits, the top ten, what new bands are on the scene and spend time thinking about this. Movie buffs would ponder about the latest movies, upcoming releases, the latest awards and the like. Despite expending effort in applying thought upon these trivial issues people in Western society often pay little attention to clearly a vital topic, that of death. It has even become a taboo subject to the extent that people try to change the discussion when it is mentioned. It is completely irrational to avoid thinking about death as it is the most definite thing in life. To turn away from it is avoiding the inevitable, know one lives forever. All of us know of people who have died whether within our families,