Written by Umm Abdillah  – 2013.12.16

One more post-Mandela write up would quite naturally fall into the gutter-pile our eyes now merely gloss over. Thus, the purpose of this post is merely to highlight things as Muslims we may have forgotten to take as lessons. After all, the Quran-e-Kareem makes it clear every moment of our lives should provide some lesson: 'And only those understanding will take some moral' Quran, 3:7.

1. As citizens of a now free, democratic South Africa we cannot be disengaged or apathetic toward the plight and struggles of bad governance and corruption, locally and internationally.

The words of the Holy Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]: 'Whoever of you sees something wrong should change it with his hands; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest form of belief.' [Muslim]

2. Leaders and leadership are appointed in relation to the moral fibre and spiritual credibility of their country’s citizens.  It is a two-way relationship. Thus, we need to question the effectiveness of our personal relationships with Allah, and how far we’re embodying that message forward.

This prayer of the Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] highlights this clearly:  “Oh Allah, Do not impose on us such rulers who will have no mercy on us as a result of our sins.”

3. If our Muslim leaders and scholars do not rise to the duties of their posts, Allah will appoint others, less qualified or those with evil double-edged agendas. We should be thankful, rather than critical that our Ulama-led Jamiat bodies have representation at South African official engagements.

4. The importance of salaah in the masjid for our men – those who pray together stay together.

Abu Masud Al-Ansari (r) reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would place his hands upon our shoulders when we would form rows for as-Salat (the prayer) and say: "Stand in straight rows and do not differ among yourselves, or else your hearts will differ due to disaccord…" [Muslim]

5.  Don’t argue with every random fool or every uneducated premise. Expend valuable energy among thought-leaders and where it matters.

A beggar once asked Aishah (r) for charity and she gave him a piece of bread. Thereafter, a well-dressed person asked her for charity and she invited him to sit down and served him food. When she was asked about the reason for the difference in treatment, she said: "The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) instructed us: “Treat people according to their status". [Abu Dawud]

6. Honour our elders and take their counsel. Wisdom is the lost property of a Believer.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: "If a young man honours an older person on account of his age, Allah appoints someone to show reverence to him in his old age."  [At-Tirmidhi]

7. Don’t bend and twist ahadith and Quranic teachings to make Islam more palatable or to take propriety over certain individuals no matter how great their achievements. That type of behaviour insults the core of our Faith even more deeply.  We need to be more certain that our beliefs are true and the best, embodying its ideals rather that seeking to explain them by misinterpretation.

The father of Ali (r), Abu Talib, the uncle of Prophet [pbuh] was an invaluable asset in the fight against injustice during the age of Arab ignorance, yet he died without Ieman.

Mut‘im bin Adi was among those who took a prominent initiative that resulted in the end of the Meccan boycott that caused starvation to the Muslims.

Also, when Muhammad (pbuh) and Zaid ibn Haaritha (r) went to Ta'if to invite its inhabitants to Islam, Mut‘im provided asylum before Zaid (r) returned to Makkah.

Mut‘im bin Adi died a non-Muslim; however, his son Jubayr ibn Mut'im (r) became a Muslim. 

The family of Nuh, Musa, Yunus, and Ebrahim (as) among many other Nabi’s serve as a lesson for us in this regard too.

8. Love for the world – glitter, glamour, name and fame will be the unraveling of us as an ummah. Madiba and his team of freedom-fighters didn’t ask for the accolades and respect. They believed in a higher ideal. This is the same reason we witness Ma Winnie and Graca behaving in such a dignified and unified manner throughout the official mourning period. They removed their personal gains, interests and egos to highlight what Madiba’s struggle was really about.

The Prophet (pbuh): “Love for the world and hatred for death will weaken you.” [Abu Dawood]

9. Political leaders are not infallible – Character dominates

People's loss of faith and optimism can snowball when a leader or hero turns less than nimble in a crisis. Without the magic of media spin-doctors, a leader's ethical, principled core is his or her character.

10. Thanks – If we are grateful and acknowledge a favour, we will be granted more.

The Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]: "He who has not thanked mankind, has not thanked  Allah.” [Tirmidhi, Abu Daud]

Wa Billah at’taufeeq. Ameen

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