Yusuf Omar – Opinion | 20 March 2017

I have always held the opinion that if you don’t have the legs to climb a wall, at least use your arms to push others over. This life policy of helping others, no doubt, adds beauty to one’s life. How unfortunate are those that use their strengths to become obstacles in the next person’s road to success.

Without a doubt, the greatest human right is the right to Sunnah, the right to practice upon the commands of Allah and the lifestyle of Nabi S.A.W. Just like how we should use our arms to push others over that wall, it is our duty and responsibility to push others over to the greener side, the luscious garden known as Sunnah. In simple words, let us not become obstacles for those that want to practice on the Sunnah of Nabi S.A.W.

I know what you thinking right now. “Yea, these Islamophobes, they just want to destroy Islam and Sunnah!”

No, I am not talking of Islamophobes. Leave them alone for now. I think they take a lot of blame for our actions. I am talking about Muslims. Muslims that become obstacles for others when they want to practice on the Sunnah. So now you asking “how is this even possible?”. “Which Muslim in their right mind will do such a thing?”

Do these sound familiar…

“Na leave the scarf, the Swarovskis make your hair shine out.”

“Yoh, you never shave for two weeks now you looking like a big mufti lol.”

“Why you wearing Khuffs (leather socks), we not going to the North Pole.”

Get my point?

We might not be campaigning with placards against the Sunnah but we fail to realise that sometimes our statements serve as a discreet protest against this perfect lifestyle.

Jarîr R.A. relates that the Nabi S.A.W. said: “Whoever initiates a good practice in Islam and is emulated by others in doing so will get the reward of it and the reward of all those who act upon it without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And whosoever initiates an evil practice in Islam and is emulated by others will bear the sin of it and the sin of all those who act on it without their burden being diminished in the least. ” [Sahîh Muslim]

The latter portion of the above Hadith is what I would like to emphasis on. When we take people away from the Sunnah, we will earn the same amount of sin that they earn. This also means that as the blessings leave their lives, it will leave our lives as well.

Besides that, the anger of Allah will be upon us. This is because a person is trying to be the best but we are standing in his/her way. We are all the creation of Allah. Allah loves when a servant takes a step towards him. Imagine the condition of that person who stands in the way of that step.

We have no idea of the relationships that people have with Allah. We have no idea how much some people want to change their lives. That man wants to grow his beard. He feels the need to obey Allah but every time he stops shaving, we are the first to mock and laugh. We are there, in his face, ready to tease him. Of course, the very next day, he cannot handle the heat and shaves it off.

That lady has been going through difficult times recently. She feels an urgent need to get onto the straight path. She decides it’s time to wear a scarf. Maybe not full time, but the first step has to be taken. When she does fight her inner self and decide to wear it, we are the first ones to pass comments. Forget the Islamophobes trying to ban the Hijab, sometimes we are the ones that ridicule this brave and praiseworthy step.

What about those that are thinking of using the Miswaak but neglect it for fear of being labelled ‘old fashioned’. Sure, we might argue that such people should do it with sincerity and forget about what other people say, but are they not human? Do statements and comments of this nature not affect them?

They are countless girls in our communities that wish to attend Islamic classes and go into Hijab but they are kept back by their parents. There are many boys who wish to grow a beard but society holds them back. They are fed with poisonous statements like “Who will marry you if you go into Hijaab.” “How you gna find a girl with that big beard.”

What’s worst is that we think we are helping them. Remember, if you are a parent, you will be questioned for the actions of your children. If they want to practice on Sunnah, this actually helps you in the hereafter.

Each of you is a guardian and each of you is questioned over his subjects, the Imam is responsible over the people and he is questioned over his responsibility, and the man is responsible over the people of his household and he is questioned over them, and the woman is responsible over her husband’s house and his children and she is questioned over them, and the slave is a guardian over the wealth of his master and he is questioned over it, each of you is a guardian and each of you will be questioned over their responsibility. (Muslim/ Bukhari)

Regarding those that are worried about how that young girl and boy will find spouses, we need to understand that it is not our responsibility to find them spouses. This is Taqdeer and it is a responsibility that has been taken by Allah Himself. Furthermore, if a person is making an effort to please Allah, you telling me Allah won’t make an ‘effort’ to find him/her a suitable spouse?

In conclusion, living in the modern world and practising on the Sunnah is not the easiest thing in the world. It takes a lot of courage and sacrifice. Therefore, when we witness it being done, we need to praise it instead of ridicule it. Chances are that by turning people away from Sunnah, Allah might never grant us the ability to practice on that act. On the other hand, if we find it difficult to implement a certain Sunnah, but we encourage others when they try to do it, there is a great chance that Allah will look at our actions and grant us the ability to implement that Sunnah as well. When a person decides to take that first step, for our own benefit, we need to choose our words wisely. Speaking of words, I recently touched on how destructive the tongue can be. Read it here.

We all speak of human rights, the right to honour, dignity and security. What an irony it is when we fail to uphold the right to Sunnah, a right that brings with it honour, dignity and security.

The greatest tragedy is when a person fights for Islam in the streets with placards and chants but discreetly protests that very lifestyle within his own home.

Yusuf Omar resides in South Africa and holds a BA in Islamic sciences. He is currently a writer/presenter at Radio Islam. He loves playing with words and has an interest in fine arts. He also believes in mermaids. Check out some of his other articles here. Interact with him on Twitter and Instagram.