I recently read about this Saudi cleric Sheikh Salman al-Awda (BBC) who wants to stop having a supplication for the destruction of "kuffars" at the end of Friday prayers. Of course, he added the caveat that if "kuffars" are harming Muslim interests it's ok to pray for their destruction. (gotta have that out to placate the masses, donch'a know)
What does that say about Islam and Muslims? ALL non-Muslims have the potential to become Muslim. Sometimes I think that born Muslims forget that once upon a time, their ancestors were "kuffar", too. They forget that Allah (swt) created ALL of us and chooses to guide whom he will to Islam. The very person whose destruction you are praying for today may be in the row right next to you tomorrow.
I've been thinking about this a lot over the past couple of weeks. At first I was really ticked off that anyone would be praying for my destruction (after all, I've been non-Muslim most of my life) EVEN WHILE I WAS LEARNING ABOUT ISLAM. While I know that no one was specifically singling me out, it still hurts. I don't understand praying for the destruction of innocents just because they are different from me.
I asked myself "Would I still have become Muslim if I knew that potentially millions of people were praying for my downfall?" Alhumdilliah, the answer was (and is) "YES!", but I must add a caveat. I most likely would have decided to avoid interacting with folks who actively pray for the destruction of millions of people based on their religion. It seems safer to avoid the judgemental in favor of those who concern themselves with their own actions and reactions.
I ask myself "Should I pray for my family, who are all kuffar, to be destroyed? Or should I pray for Allah (swt) to guide them Islam if it pleases him? Or should I pray for Allah (swt) to guide all of us to a better understanding of Islam and his directions?"
After hashing it out in my mind, now I'm just disappointed and dismayed by my co-religionists. And I think I will continue to supplicate for Allah to guide my "kuffar" family to the light of Islam, rather than their destruction.
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2 comments:
Maybe you shouldn’t take it too personally. After all, even on a broader scale, when people speak of the 'Ugly American' and what the U.S. is doing to the world, it is understood that not every single U.S. citizen is at fault. Yet, generally speaking, when an army is invading a town, no one in that town stops to contemplate if there might be some soldiers who have been forcefully enlisted.. or some who are doing their best to avoid the clash at all.. or from getting worst.. or some seeking a peaceful way out as best as they could in whatever influence they could have over their superiors.. for the townspeople, they hope beyond all hope that some sort of miracle could burn ALL the invaders regardless.
As for myself, I welcome this enlightened cleric's bold step(s) to move people towards seeing humans as humans and help them in differentiating between their hate within religious boundaries and between there hate as a result of so many frustrations and emotional turmoil both inner and outer which has been accumulating for so long. Just as a Christian would (should) ask "what would Jesus do?" a Muslim would (should) be asking "what would Mohammed do?"
No, I believe that it is permissible (&perhaps even necessary?) to pray for the guidance of the living who do not believe in Islam - but only while they are alive.
According to the Ahaadith, initially the mother of Abu Hurayrah radi'Allahu anhu was not a believer and she often spoke in unbecoming language about Rasul'Allah sal'Allahu alayhi wa salaam. Abu Hurayrah RA beseeched Rasul'Allah sal'Allahu alayhi wa sallam to make dua for her guidance and he (sal'Allahu alayhi wa sallam) did so and Allah guided her.
In Sahih Bukhari, there is a Hadith to the effect that when Rasul'Allah sal'Allahu alayhi wa sallam was told. " Verily the tribe of Daws has disobeyed!' He said: ''O Allaah! Guide Daws and bring them. O Allaah! Guide Daws and bring them!''
In another account, the following is recorded: "Al-Tufayl ibn Amr Al-Dawsi radi'Allahu anhu visited Makkah in the early days of Islam, and despite being warned by the Quraysh against meeting Rasul'Allah sal'Allahu alayhi wa sallam or listening to him, he met him, understood his message and embraced Islam. Rasul'Allah sal'Allahu alayhi wa sallam told him to rejoin his people and to invite them to accept Islam. He did so, and although a number of his relatives and tribesmen embraced Islam, the majority took a hostile attitude. When he thereafter went once to see Rasul'Allah sal'Allahu alayhi wa sallam who asked about the Daws tribe regarding their attitude to the Islamic message, Al-Tufayl said: "Messenger of God! Daws has taken an attitude of determined rejection, and they deserve that you pray to God to punish them." Rasul'Allah sal'Allahu alayhi wa sallam turned to face the qiblah and raised his hands to pray: "My Lord, guide Daws to the truth and bring them into the fold." (Related by Al-Bukhari and Ahmad)."
However, once a living unbeliever dies in a state of unbelief; we are forbidden by the Qur'an to pray for their forgiveness: "Do not hold prayers for any of them if they die, and do not stand by their graves: they disbelieved in God and His Messenger and died rebellious." (Qur'an c.9 v.84)
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