Sat,12 Apr '08. 7.45p.m to 9.30p.m. Alhamdullilah, thanks to my sister i attended the above mentioned lecture. It was so informative and extremely enlightening. I wouldnt say that professor 'enlightened' me in a way that i went into a spiritual trance or something [haha] but it was more of an insight to some murky ideas of Islam that i had. When i came out of the ballroom after his lecture, i felt very contented. Contented with the step i took today to attend the lecture, confident that there are so many many other muslims with me, willing to learn about the religion. Insha allah, may God bless all brothers and sisters who were there today. I managed to scribble a jist of his lecture so that i can post it here for the benefit of us all. Inshallah, i would inform of the forthcoming events before hand so that more of us would be able to make it.
There were 2 parts of the lecture. One about Nabi Muhammed (P.B.U.H) and how he projected humility in his way of life. And the other was about Islam in general. I would put forth the latter topic for today.
Professor started out by providing a simple meaning to Islam. What is the real objective of Islam. I should say, he did put that answer in a very sensible and comprehensible manner. He said that Islam's objective is to bring out PEACE.Peace with your mother,your father, your sister,brother,friends,neighbours and then, through them and eventually peace with Allah s.w.t. Justice is one condition of Islam. It is one condition throught which you can achieve peace.However, being just doesnt mean to be in peace. For example, humans tend to be obsessed with being just that the forget to FORGIVE. and when you dont forgive, there's this persistent anger and hurt within you.This is hinder you from achieving peace. So Islam,in a way, encourages you to forgive and move on.Forgive others and forgive yourself.
He meant something so true. I always believe that God is an energy,a force that binds us together by giving us room to discipline ourselves to HIS principles. I always tell my friends and family that i call god as Allah, you call him as Jesus, some call him Budha, we all have different definitions but they all mean 1 thing.1 God. no matter wat religion you come from, all religion mean good for mankind.That is what religion is about.That is wat God and divinity is supposed to mean. To do good for mankind. To prevent them from deviating from the good. [ sorry if i offended anyone. All that was entirely my own opinion]
Likewise, professor said that with deep understandings of the teachings of different religion we would be able to see the common universal message because all religions mean the same. All the principles taught in every religion is instilled in us naturally but we are just forgetting it.
Following that, he mentioned that Islam is all about knowledge. As in , the faith is only powerful and significant when there's adequate knowledge to support it. He backs up his statement by saying that there is no faith withou deep understanding and knowledge.
I support that. How are we going to be good muslims and follow Islam properly if we do not understand its priciples? This reminds me that, for a person to convert to a muslim through darul arqam in singapore, he/she is advised to have cleared all doubts he/she has about the religion before embracing Islam totally.
Rasullulah(p.b.u.h) often prayed to Allah to give him the knowledge, so that he can worship Allah better. Professor said that humans unknowingly worship knowledge but tend not to worship the creator of the knowledge as much.For example, we aknowledge the knowledge by being arrogant. We get this slight haughty feeling that we know more then the rest. How often have we went like ...'I know!' ? And mind you, its is very anti islamic to potray arrogance.
Inshallah, like the Nabi(p.b.u.h) we shall doa that we are blessed with the knowledge to worship Allah and understand Islam better henceforth.
Professor told us a short story about marriage.It is written in The Quran that 'To be married, is half your religion'.
Once a Parsian came over to Rasullulah (p.b.u.h) and invited him over for dinner. And nabi(p.b.u.h) asked 'with my wife?' and the parsian said 'no, u alone!' and prophet said, ' no, i cant come'. Again,another day,the same parsian came over to Rasullulah (p.b.u.h) and invited him over for dinner again. And nabi(p.b.u.h) asked 'with my wife?' and the parsian said 'no, u alone!' and prophet said again, ' no, i cant come'. This happen thrice in total. And in the end, the parsian said..' yes, with your wife' , and then nabi muhammad(p.b.u.h) accepted the invitation.
We learn 2 things from the above incident. (1) the prophet was so patient with the way he dealt with the parsian brother. He was so soft in the way he kept saying what he kept saying. He didnt say anything more and gave time for him to understand on his own. (2) it was clearly understood that his wife was his other half.
Islam requires its muqmins to be together with your spouse by accepting their faults,strengths, qualities and encourage them to be bounded together out of love. Love and love alone.
Professor raised his voice when he said just 1 thing. That was when he said that racism,segregation,discrimination or anything of that sort is EXTREMELY ANTI-ISLAMIC. We do this unknowingly in our everyday life. We look down on someone simply dressed but give more respect to someone dressed more extravagantly. I think that is so natural. But, now i feel that we should avoid from thinking that way. 1 way is to keep telling to ourselves that, we are all equal in the eyes of god. I think that would help.
Lastly....wrapping up this post. He mentioned that sincerity is essential in being spiritual in Islam. We cannot be spiritual if we (1) do not understand the knowledge and (2) are not sincere. We have to be sincere in whatever we do. Allah will,inshallah, forgive you if you sincerely ask for it.
With this...i end part 1. Hope it has benefitted all. May Allah forgive all of our sins and bless us with humility and knowledge Inshallah. Ameen.
* P.B.U.H = Peace be upon him
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