In the Name of Allâh,
the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
One often hears these
words repeated, and they are a major reason for the state of failure that the
Ummah is enduring.
These words are rooted
in a state of mental inability, even though this inability is illusory, not
real. Indeed, disabled minds only produce failure.
There is no doubt that
there are things in life that are impossible. This is why when the Prophet –
blessings and peace be upon him – used to take the oath of allegiance from his
companions, he would make them repeat, “[I will listen and obey] to the utmost
of my ability”. Allah – Glorified is He – says “Allah does not burden any soul
with more than it can bear” [2:286]
This shows that there
are some things beyond our abilities. We are not talking about this fact here.
For otherwise we may enter into a prolonged discussion, and end upholding the
illusion “I can’t, it’s impossible”, and moreover giving this illusion an
‘Islamic’ justification!
These two phrases “I
can’t, it’s impossible” – despite their difference in meaning – have become a
law that is used to excuse every failure, negligence and backwardness. They are
used to justify the current backwardness, to numb the senses, to destroy the
resolve of the Ummah, and to kill every success in its infancy.
Many people,
generation after generation, took these two phrases as a beacon guiding their
lives, as a way of thinking that makes them accept the current bitter state of
affairs, and at the same time feel satisfied that there is nothing they can do.
I stand perplexed
before the incredible backwardness of the Ummah, despite its enormous potential
for success, progress, and leadership. I have thought long and hard about this,
and have decided that the most prominent reason for this backwardness – and
there are many – is the illusion “I can’t, its impossible”. This illusion has
turned into an unshakeable principle. From it we take off, and in its darkness
we operate.
How many tribulations
befell us, and are still falling, because of this illusion. The most dangerous
of these is not realizing that this is just an illusion; that it disappears
when we start investigating it. But you will find those who waste a part of their
life defending the idol “I can’t, it’s impossible”. They waste a part of their
life trying to prove that this idol is a solid fact; an unquestionable axiom.
This illusion did not
form overnight. It is the result of an accumulation of many factors, over the
course of many years. Instead of producing men who would lead the Ummah forward
without surrendering to the difficulties and obstacles, we found those factors
producing more hopelessness, failure and despair.
But I am also amazed
at that idolatrous nation that took from difficulties a starting point for its
progress, until it was able to compete vigorously with its former enemies,
without surrendering to psychological defeat, nor emotional despair. Japan rose
from the ashes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to become an important economic power,
and did not make those defeats a reason to cry and hope for the sympathies of
others.
As for Germany, it
came out from underneath the ruins of World War II to become a powerful nation,
and its economy one of the strongest in the world. This despite the fact that
Germany was destroyed not long ago – the period between its destruction and its
rise as an economic leader is less than 30 years.
Let me just imagine.
Had the revivers of the Ummah surrendered to the illusion “I can’t, it’s
impossible”, how would the Ummah have been now?!!
Had Abu Bakr – may
Allah be pleased with him – said, “I can’t fight the Arabs after their
apostasy, and I will surrender to this bitter state of affairs”, what would the
result have been? Simply thinking about that scares me.
Had Imam Ahmad bin
Hanbal – may Allah have mercy on him – not took his solid stand in the face of
the makers of fitnah, backed by rulers who did not realize the danger of what
is being said…Had he surrendered and said, “I can’t, it’s impossible”, do you
think that that great victory for Ahl-us-Sunnah (at the hands of one man!)
would have taken place?
Had Salahu-ud-Din
surrendered to the awful humiliation that the Ummah endured under the
occupation of the crusaders, excusing himself that he cannot take on that great
power that possesses the most powerful weapons, with the unqualified support of
many countries… Had he accepted what many other rulers of his time had
accepted, humiliation and subjugation, together with the guarantee of continued
rule…Had he done this, and said the removal of the crusaders is impossible,
would Jerusalem have been purified from the crusaders and their hatred? How
today is like yesterday.
Had Shaikh-ul-Islam, Ibn
Taymiyah – may Allah have mercy on him – not seriously raised the banner of
knowledge, action and jihad, at a time of when callers to falsehood and
innovation became outspoken, at a time of political and military defeats…Had he
surrendered to the belief “I can’t, it’s impossible”, would history have
recorded for us that huge heritage of heroism, knowledge and challenging of
falsehood?
Had Muhammad bin
Abdul-Wahhab – may Allah have mercy on him – when he found the Arabian
Peninsula living in the darkness of ignorance, innovation and blind following,
had he accepted for himself what other righteous people did, “I can’t, it’s
impossible”, do you think the Peninsula would have awaken from its sleep and
got rid of its idolatry and innovations?
Our long history is
full of such pioneering leaders and revivers, who recorded for us the most
admirable examples the Muslim’s ability to overcome the greatest of physical
and mental obstacles, neither surrendering to psychological defeat, nor
allowing the compound difficulties to numb their senses.
Many would say, “They
were great men, and how few such men are!!”
I say that we did not
know they were great until after they recorded those shinning pages of history
with their admirable victories in different fields. Before that they were just
ordinary men. However, for many reasons, they were able to climb the ladder of
success that made them heroes and leaders. Foremost of these reasons is the
destruction of the illusion “I can’t, it’s impossible”
No comments:
Post a Comment