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Page last edited on 29 May, 2003
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O Muslim brethren! Excel on the excellent middle path
And it is thus that We appointed you to be the community of the
middle way, so that you might be witnesses before all mankind and the Messenger
might be witness before you. <...contd...> (Holy Qurán 2:143) Yes, you
are the Ummat-e-wasat
(The Community of Middle-way)
Islam neither teaches extremism nor rejection. It teaches neither arrogance nor
ignorance. It teaches neither self-gratification nor asceticism. Infact, it
condemns them all. What then does it teach? It teaches a
beautiful middle way, a critical balance between unworthy extremes. This is the path of justice, of compassion and mercy for fellow creations, of continuous
striving to do good, a continuous struggle against the forces of evil and of
oppression, always bearing witness to truth with courage, patience,
kind-heartedness, forgiveness and complete hope in
the mercy of God. Such is the path to seek the pleasure and approval of God.
But what a difficult path it is! Walking on the extremes seems rather easier and
fascinating than walking on this middle path. Indeed, walking on this middle path is a difficult task
that can be performed by none
but the most exalted in character and morals. And it is for the performance of
this task that Allah has chosen and appointed the Muslim community. And to
accomplish this task, we have the last book of Allah - Qurán - and the Sunnah
(tradition) of the last messenger (pbuh). A task which is about leading the
world, as a lamp spreading light, showing the way in an abyss of darkness. But
are we geared for it? Are we working for it, or are we being lazy? Let each one
of us individually ask ourselves 'are we playing a constructive role in
fulfilling this exalted task?'. And let us ask forgiveness often from God for
any shortcomings and hasten to the doing of good.
Elaborate meaning of Ummat-e-Wasat: The Qurán has called the Muslims as the Ummat-e-wasat in chapter 2
(surah al-baqarah), verse/ayat 143. Commentary (tafsir) of the verse follows.
And hold fast, all together, unto the bond with God, and do not
draw apart from one another. And remember the blessings which God has bestowed
upon you: how, when you were enemies, He brought your hearts together, so that
through His blessing you became brethren; and [how, when] you were on the brink
of a fiery abyss, He save you from it.
In this way God makes clear His message unto you, so that you might find
guidance, [The Qurán 03:103]
and that there might grow out of
you a community [of people] who invite unto all that is good, and enjoin the
doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong and it is they,
they who shall attain to a happy state! [The Holy Qurán 03-104]
UNITE: Hold Fast, All Together, unto the bond with God
Do not despair of God's mercy. [The Qurán 39:53]
Sicknesses of the Ummah today & Quranic medicine
Renowned scholar of the 20th century Bediuzzaman Said Nursi in his famous
Damascus sermon had talked of 6 sicknesses facing the Muslim Ummah &
prescribed their Quránic medicines. We reproduce a summary of his sermon in the
form of a table.
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Sicknesses of the Muslim Ummah
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Quránic Medicine |
| (1) The rising to life of despair and hopelessness in social life |
Hope |
| (2) The death of truthfulness in social and political life |
Honesty |
| (3) Love of enmity |
Love of love & enmity of enmity |
| (4) Not knowing the luminous bonds that bind the believers to one another |
Care, compassion and affection for one another |
| (5) Despotism, which spreads, becoming widespread as though it was various contagious diseases |
Mutual consultation |
| (6) Restricting endeavor to what is personally beneficial |
Courage & self-sacrifice |
Also Visit: Dawah - Inviting to Islam
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