Propagate Islam
In the beginning of the year
1969 CE, in the state of
California, people were able
to transfer data between
two personal computers
which were few metres
apart via a telephone line,
and this was the first such
connection to be
established anywhere.
Before this incident, such a
link was only a concept
which was to be
implemented in the
computer laboratories of
the United States
Department of Defence as
part of their Star Wars
program. The aim was to
have a network fit for
military use.
The number of people who
connected to this initial
network increased rapidly
and developed at a very
rapid rate, such that the
number has reached more
than billion people today,
who are connected through
millions of personal
computers globally, and
this, in the opinion of
many, was the most
important invention of the
twentieth century. Allaah
Says (what means):
“[ Allaah] Taught man that
which he knew
not. ” [Quran 68: 5]
Allaah has made mankind a
successive authority upon
the earth, wherein man
lives and worships Allaah;
He has granted man great
ability of mind and has
created for him upon the
earth things which he can
invest in and utilize in the
obedience of Allaah; so
glad tidings for the one
who utilizes the earth's
resources in the obedience
of Allaah and woe to those
who utilize them in His
disobedience.
One cannot help but be
surprised when he
witnesses the development
of the Internet in light of
the Hadeeth of the Prophet
which was narrated by Abu
Hurayrah in the book of
Imaam Ahmad and others ;
he said: “The Hour will not
come until trials appear in
large numbers, lying
becomes widespread,
markets converge and time
shortens. ” In another
narration, he said: “Until
time shortens and Harj
increases. ” So a companion
of his asked: “What is
Harj?” and he replied:
“Countless killing.”
In the past, the scholars
such as Ibn Al-Khattaab, Al-
Khattaabi, Ath-Thawri & Ibn
Hajar have interpreted the
shortness of time to mean
that time will lose its value
and people will feel that
there is not enough of it to
do anything. Contemporary
scholars like Shaykh ibn
Baaz said commenting on
the book Fath Al-Baari of
Imaam ibn Hajar : “This can
be interpreted to be the
contraction of distance and
the time required to travel
it due to aircraft and cars,
as well as the closeness
that people feel regarding
events due to radio (which
broadcasts these events). ”
However, if we take a look
at the invention of the
Internet, we will see that it
best fits as an
interpretation for this
narration, because the
Internet has made
everything seem closer and
turned the entire world
into a global village. As for
the closeness of markets,
Shaykh Mas ’ood Ad-
Dakheeli said: “It seems
that this is referring to how
the distance between
places has shortened
during our time due to the
various means of
transportation via air and
land, and due to the
electronic devices, like
radios and televisions,
which transmit sound and
images and have made the
markets in different parts
of earth seem near to each
other, so that traders know
about any changes in price
anywhere in the world, and
consequently raise their
prices in their own
locations accordingly, or
decrease them if they drop
elsewhere. ”
Therefore, the closeness of
markets is in three ways:
firstly, the speed of transfer
of market data, secondly,
the physical proximity due
to modern transportation
methods, and thirdly, the
similarity in prices between
markets.
Anyone who is well
acquainted with the
Internet will realise just
how closely it fits the
abovementioned prophetic
narration.
There is one website, for
example, that has three
million items and runs an
international auction on a
number of these items. One
can buy anything via such
websites, and there are
very many of these on the
internet. Also, one can also
display on such websites
what items he himself has
to sell, and this is an
indication that we are living
at the end of time, close to
the Hour, as in the
aforementioned narration,
and that the minor
preconditions of the Hour
are taking place and that
there are about three of
them still left to occur.
After these, the ten major
preconditions will start
occurring. It is worth
mentioning that there is
nothing to prevent a major
sign from occurring
concurrently with some of
the minor signs of the
Hour, as some of the
scholars noted.
The point here is the
closeness of markets and
the shortness of time,
which is fulfilled by the
Internet, and is another
proof of the prophethood
of the Prophet who
informed us fourteen
hundred years ago about
things that are taking place
during our time.
Other narrations related to
the preconditions of the
Hour include the saying of
the Prophet : “Before the
Hour, dealing in trade will
become widespread. ”
Electronic trade has
overwhelmed the markets
and is in the billions of
dollars. He also informed us
that of these signs will be:
“… the spread of adultery
and fornication” as in the
narration in the book of
Imaam Bukhaari . In the
narration of Imaam Al-
Haakim he said:
“ Immorality will spread…” -
In excess of four hundred
thousand pornographic
websites are present on the
Internet which spread
immorality worldwide.
Another relationship
between the Internet and
the preconditions of the
Hour is highlighted in the
narration in the book of
Imaam At-Tabaraani where
the Prophet said: “Before
the Hour, dealing in Ribaa
(i.e., interest and usury) will
become widespread. ” It is
well known that on the
Internet, dealing in Ribaa is
widespread and many
banks have established
websites and set the cost
of a customer transaction
via the Internet as only ten
cents, whereas the cost of
a live transaction inside a
bank building costs one
dollar and seven cents; this
is an indication that as time
passes, dealings inside bank
buildings will become
obsolete and all banking
transactions will be done
via the Internet by people
who are at home or in their
offices. These banks are
institutions that have been
established on Ribaa and
their proliferation on the
Internet has become
evident. Additionally, the
use of credit cards on the
Internet is also widespread.
The prohibited use of cards
like Visa, MasterCard and
American Express, all of
which entail dealing in
Ribaa, causes the wrath of
Allaah to befall the one
using them.
Another matter regarding
the Internet which is
associated with the
preconditions of the Hour
is the saying of the Prophet
as in the book of Imaam
Ibn Hibbaan : “Lying will
spread.” A liar will be
punished in his grave by
having his face ripped
down to his rectum,
because of how his lies
spread among people.
Nowadays, one can lie and
publish this on the Internet,
and it would spread from
the east to the west in an
instant.
A recent survey states that
the number of users on the
internet are more than
billion people, and the
number is increasing
extremely rapidly. 77% of
the Americans say that they
have benefited from it, 44%
say they cannot live
without it, and 87% use it to
call and contact their
relatives. The Internet has
entered the Arab and
Islamic world, but there are
two obstacles which
obstruct it from being used
freely in these countries:
1. The lack of technical
knowledge on an individual
level.
2. The lack of knowledge of
the English language.
On the other hand, the
Internet is potentially very
beneficial; I am not trying
to market the use of the
Internet here, but I am
simply displaying its
benefits as well as its
dangers. There are many
benefits such as:
· It facilitates purchasing
and brings within reach the
display of any item one
desires to buy or order,
such as books etc.
· It facilitates running a
business.
· It is inexpensive to make
calls via it.
· It makes contacting
international research
centres an easy task.
· It enables the swift
sending of mail.
· It enables people to listen
to the radio, watch medical
programs and participate in
discussions.
· It contains many means
that one can take
advantage of in the
propagation of Islam and
calling people to Allaah.
A question arises: how can
we benefit from the
Internet in the field of
propagating Islam? Our
presence on the internet is
very weak, which is a
shame for a Nation that is
supposed to be the best
nation ever sent out to
mankind. I am addressing
here those people who
have a real concern for
spreading Islam, and not
just anyone.
There is no doubt that
there is a spiritual vacuum
in the west as well as the
east, and that people lack a
system which can establish
justice. The world is full of
injustice and oppression; it
is also filled with
corruption and enmity.
People live the law of the
jungle where the strong eat
the weak; this is a world
whose evil knows no limit.
This world is full of people
who commit suicide, have
nervous breakdowns and
many other disorders which
reflect the vacuum we
mentioned earlier, and
people will never live in
justice and peace except
through Islam.
Islam is a religion which is a
mercy to mankind; it is the
only religion which Allaah
accepts from people as
Allaah Says (what means):
“ Whoever desires other
than Islam as religion -
never will it be accepted
from him. ” [Quran 3: 85]
If we acknowledge that
Islam must become the
international religion which
all people should adopt, we
must convey it to mankind
using all available means
and methods. We will not
reign supreme if we fail to
utilize all means to make
this religion dominate, or
else we will be forsaking
Islam and not supporting it.
We are commanded by
Allaah to explain Islam to
the masses and we must
have the sense of
responsibility to spread this
religion worldwide, to the
best of our ability.
Spreading and propagating
Islam via the Internet is
something which cannot
escape us. Even with simple
planning and limited
resources we can establish
projects to propagate Islam
and present them to
people, which will have
very beneficial results.
Thus, we must have the
eagerness to address the
hearts of people and try to
convey to them the light of
Islam.
With regards to spreading
Islamic knowledge:
First: We need a huge
amount of resources and
careful planning and
entities to adopt mammoth
projects and see their
successful completion.
Second: We need to
establish huge databases
for the different Islamic
sciences, in addition to
advanced search engines in
Arabic, because what is
available on the Internet
now is insufficient as well
as substandard.
Third: We need to connect
the masses to the lectures
of scholars via the Internet.
Fourth: We need specific
channels for academic
lectures, where the scholar
delivers them and people
can instantly see him from
their home - worldwide,
because despite the fact
that some of us are blessed
to be around scholars and
be able to attend their
lectures, there are many
others who are deprived of
this bounty as they do not
have either scholars or
students of knowledge
living in their area; this
would open a way for
people to seek knowledge,
the reward for which is, as
the Prophet said, Allaah
opening a way towards
Paradise for the one who
does so.
Fifth: we need to make the
Fataawa of the scholars
reach the masses people
and enable them to inquire
about matters directly via
the Internet by setting
aside certain times for
them.
Sixth: Islamic universities
should teach students
around the world via the
Internet for a small fee to
cover the expenses of such
a project, as is already the
case with universities in the
United States and Europe
that teach worldly subjects
… we must join the
caravan.
Seventh: Another idea is to
publish on the Internet
Masters and PhD degree
theses in Islamic studies
and organise them with
efficient indices, which
would facilitate searching
by Muslims and even non-
Muslims who may thereby
benefit greatly; there is a
yearning to learn about
Islam nowadays among the
non-believers worldwide.
The era that we live in has
seen a revolution in the
field of data and
communications, and we
must take advantage of this
to spread Islamic
information which will
benefit those who search
the Internet. There are
many out there who
compare the world's
religions. There are people
who would like to read the
Quran, or the translation of
its meaning, as well as
prophetic narrations in
order to know the nature
of Islam, its economic,
political and religious
system, as well as all other
things related to this
religion.It is sad to note
that when a researcher
looks through some of the
international libraries
available on the Internet in
order to find information
and references regarding
any type of data he
requires, he finds what he
is looking for indexed in a
very accurate manner, but,
at the same time, we as
Muslims do not have a
single library about Islam
that would serve as an
encyclopaedia on the
Internet for researchers to
find any data they require
about Islam, save it to their
personal computers, and
print it out. Are we not the
ones with the superior
system of life? Are we not
the ones referred to in the
saying of Allaah (which
means): “You will be
superior if you are [true]
believers. ” [Quran 3: 139] If
we are the ones upon the
truth and our religion is
superior, then we must
realistically establish this
loftiness and superiority. If
are unable to conquer the
disbelievers by means of
weaponry, then the least
we can do is conquer them
by spreading this religion
via the Internet.
When one takes a look at
some international radio
stations, he finds the likes
of Monte Carlo, which
spreads Christianity day
and night and is upon
falsehood with claims such
as Allaah is one of three
(i.e., the concept of trinity)
and that Allaah is ‘Eesaa
the son of Maryam, or that
he is the son of Allaah.
They utilise titanic
resources to broadcast such
deceitful information to the
world. On the other hand,
we Muslims do not exert
any effort to propagate our
faith - even amongst the
workers who live among us
such as our drivers and
maids. Indeed, this is a
great shortcoming which
Allaah will hold us
accountable for.
We must exert all efforts
and utilise all means within
reach to teach our religion
and spread it, because
Allaah Says (what means):
“ You are the best nation
produced [as an example]
for mankind. ” [Quran 3:
110]
Why are we the best
nation? Allaah tells us in
another verse of the same
chapter where He says
(what means): “[Due to
your] inviting to [all that is]
good. ” [Quran 3: 104]
Where is our invitation of
people to goodness? Where
are our students of
knowledge? What
happened to the duty of
conveying the message of
Allaah? Where is the duty
of conveying on behalf of
the Prophet ? Anyone can
convey what he knows
about Islam; we are not
suggesting that people
without knowledge should
shoulder the responsibility
of propagating Islam, but
one may know something
and can convey that to
others. What effort are we
exerting to convey Islam?
The disbelievers are
working day and night, as
are the innovators who
spread their ideology that
Allaah is the sum total of
everything in the universe -
and that therefore, even
pigs contain Allaah,
Glorified and Praised is
Allaah above what they
claim; these sects have
many sites on the Internet
translated into various
languages. Some of their
websites contain clear
infidelity, and they have
their homepages in many
languages such as Arabic,
English, Spanish, French,
Chinese, Japanese …etc.
while on the other hand,
the Muslims, who are the
followers of Islamic
Monotheism, are still
lagging behind in this
regard. There are websites
for all the different deviant
sects, such as the
Ismaa ’eelis, Qaadyaanies
(who claim that Ghulam
Ahmad Mirza Qadyaan was
a Prophet after
Muhammad ), Bahaa ’ies
and Satan worshippers.
When one searches for the
word 'Islam' with the major
search engines on the
Internet, the first website
that is listed is that of Louis
Farrakhan's Nation of Islam
– the group that has
destroyed the image of
Islam. Moreover, the search
will also list other websites
that call to and encourage
evils such as committing
suicide.
We must present the pure
Islam to mankind – the
Islam which is based on the
Quran and the Sunnah with
the understanding of our
righteous Salaf . We must
present it in place of the
misguided rationalists who
claim to be intellectuals
and twist the texts of the
Quran and Sunnah in order
to fit their desires and
please the disbelievers -
some of them by rejecting
the texts in the Sunnah.
There are others amongst
them who claim that the
Jews and Christians are our
brothers, and that it is
permissible to exchange
gifts with them during their
religious holidays. They
pass odd Fataawaa in order
to please the disbelievers;
They make statements
under pressure such as that
it is permissible for women
to take charge of ministries
and the judiciary, thereby
rejecting the statement of
the Prophet in the book of
Imaam Al-Bukhaari in which
he said: “Never will a group
of people succeed if they
make a woman in charge of
their affairs. ” These people
spread their garbage via
their websites and their
Islamic rulings spread
misguidance, just as they
do on some of the satellite
television channels.
Misguidance after
misguidance, where is the
Jihaad by means of the
tongue? We must spread
sound belief and faith, we
must spread the pure
understanding of Islam
according to the
understanding of our
righteous Salaf we must
propagate the real Islam in
place of what is being done
by these misguided people
who spread their falsehood
in the name of Islam, and
who collect millions for
their websites so as to
enable themselves to
publish and broadcast their
garbage.
Jihaad is of different types
which Muslims must carry
out. Establishing websites
to propagate Islam and call
the disbelievers towards
Islam, which gives them the
chance to ask questions
and have them answered is
an obligation that we must
fulfil, It is also an
obligation to call the
Muslims to Islam when they
stray away whilst living in
disbelieving countries,
dissolving into western
communities and thereby
regressing into becoming
Muslims in name only -
them and their children.
These people need help
and instruction, and
experience has shown that
the method of using Islamic
Propagation via the
internet is a highly
successful one.
No comments:
Post a Comment