The Importance Of Learning The Religion Of Islam
In Surah Al A’raaf there is the story of the people that lived by the seaside who were forbidden to catch fish on the Sabbath which was on Saturday. But gradually, some of them declared that Allah has forbidden them to catch fish on this day but not to stop collecting them. So they built a narrow stream through which all the fish got collected, which they picked up the next day. There were three groups in that village, one which indulged in disobeying Allah by misinterpreting the command of Allah, the second did not participate in the sin but were quiet upon the sins of their fellow people. They even discouraged the third group, who were trying to stop the first group from rebelling against the command of Allah.
And ask them about the town that was by the sea – when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath – when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them a trial because they were defiantly disobedient.
And when a community among them said, “Why do you advise [or warn] a people whom Allah is [about] to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?” they [the advisors] said, “To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him.”
Surah Al A’raAf (7): 163-165
Those who defend the Deen will be saved from the punishment of Allah
And when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged, with a wretched punishment, because they were defiantly disobeying.
Surah Al A’raAf (7):165
The punishment of those who dishonored the Deen was severe
So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, “Be apes, despised.
Surah Al A’rAaf (7):166
Standing up for Deen and Defending it is beloved to Allah and fetches His pleasure
There were three tribes of Bani Israel in and around Madinah who were waiting for the last prophet to come. The Banu Quraiza, Banu Nadir and Banu Qaynuka all had a boastful surety of themselves that the last prophet would be Jew. They remained arrogant and looked down upon the uneducated Arabs. To their dismay, Mohammed Ibn Abdullah (peace be upon him) was chosen from the Arabs. The chosen people of Allah were no more the privileged ones. They were replaced by – Khairul Ummah – a Title bestowed upon the followers of Prophet Muhammed ( peace be upon him).
Allah addressed this Ummah as Best of the people but He also added the duties of remaining the best ones.
You are the best of the people brought out for the benefit of mankind, commanding that which is good and forbidding that which is evil and you believed in Allah. Had the people of the book believed, it would have been better for them. They may be believers among them but a majority of them are fasiqun.
Surah Ale Imran (3):110
One of the reasons of choosing the other people over the privileged ones was:
They mixed up the truth with falsehood and concealed the truth knowingly ( Surah Al Baqarah #42)
The Ummah of Muslims should not follow the footsteps of such people and rather stand up for truth and that’s how the Deen is protected.
O you who believe, fear Allah and speak a word directed to the truth. He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment.
Surah Al Ahzab (33): 70,71
In the above ayat, there are four virtues of defending and promoting Deen.
- It is taqwa to defend Deen by standing for truth.
- Allah will improve the affairs of Ummah.
- He will also forgive the sins.
- Such an act will lead to supreme success (paradise).
The prophets were honored because they stood up for defending Deen and promoting it.
Isa Ibn Maryam spread Touhid against an entire hostile Bani Israel and Roman king so Allah saved him from being crucified and honored him
So peace be upon me, the day I was born, the day I died and the day I will be resurrected again.
Surah Maryam (19):33
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) defended his faith against the mighty king Namrood, his own father and his entire people. It was like one man against the whole city.
And mention Ibrahim, He was a truthful man and a Prophet
Surah Maryam (19):41
The companions of the prophets, the sahaba stood up against the mighty Quraish, and the entire Arabia went against them and formed a coalition and marched towards Madina. Allah helped the Sahaba at Khandaq and drove away the enemies by sending a storm that uprooted their tents and strength. Allah rewarded the sahaba with a title – RadiAllahu anhum wa Radu Anhu – Allah will say,
This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.” For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is a great achievement.
Surah Al Maidah (8):119
The person who defends in deen is like he is doing jihad in the way of Allah because he is saving the people from going to hellfire and stopping them from doing shirk while calling them towards Allah. He spreads Tauheed. Allah helps such people and makes the way of paradise easy for them. He gives hikmah, courage, and strength to such people.
So if one has to become a chosen one in the sight of Allah and wants His blessing one needs to promote and defend deen.
