Zahira College Colombo - Group 60 Lecture

Zahira College Colombo – Group of 60                                 

7^TH October 2006 – 14^th Ramadhan 1427- Miami Hall, Wellawatte.

بسم الله الرّحمن الرّحيم

ربّ اشرحلي صدري ويسّرلي أمري واحلل عُقدة مّن لُّلساني يفقهو قولي

الحمد لله ربّ العالَمين والعاقبة اللمتّقين والصّلوةُ والسّلام على رسولك سيّدنا محمّد

وأاله وأصحابه وأهل بيته وأهل طاعتك أجمعين - أمّا بعد                        

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرّجيم

بسم الله الرّحمن الرّحيم

فَوَرَبِّ السَّمَاءِ وَالأرْضِ إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ مِثْلَ مَا أَنَّكُمْ تَنْطِقُونَ

My dearest brother and Friend – Justice Saleem Marsoof, President of Zahira College Colombo – Group of 60, Distinguished guests, my dearest brothers, my dearest sisters and my dearest children,

 السّلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

At the outset I would like to thank Allah Azzawajall and then Your President Justice Saleem Marsoof, the members of this Association as well as all those who have been involved in organizing this noble event and gave me the opportunity to participate in such an august; but sentimental function.  Sentimental in the sense, when Br. Marsoof gave me the letter of invitation and when I opened it, the first thing I saw was the Zahira College Emblem – my Alma mater – myriads of memories flashed through my mind. Alhamdu Lillalah.  

Before I proceed with the subject proper, I would like refer to the quranic verse I quoted at the beginning:

فَوَرَبِّ السَّمَاءِ وَالأرْضِ إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ مِثْلَ مَا أَنَّكُمْ تَنْطِقُونَ

51.23 Then, by the Lord of heaven and earth, this is the very Truth, as much as the fact that you can speak intelligently to each other.

When you are speaking – speak intelligently, - use Maxims. adages, comparabilities, exemplifications - quote unprecedented novel examples. extract the root.

55.1 الرَّحْمَنُ - (Allah) Most Gracious!

55.2 عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ  It is He Who taught the Qur'an.

55.3 خَلَقَ الإنْسَانَ   He has created man:

55.4 عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ He taught him intelligent speech

The more the intelligence in your speech, the more the truth that will be expounded – that will be made manifest.

At the sametime, our holy Prophet Muhummed [S] issues us a warning    

قال رسولُ الله (ص):ءافةُالعلم النسيان

و ْإضاعته عن تحدث به غير ًٌَُاهله

THE Messenger of Allah said: “the calamity of learning   is forgetfulness – the calamity of acquiring knowledge is forgetfulness

And the destruction of knowledge, the ruination of knowledge, the waste of knowledge is your talk therewith with those not deserving of it 

I sincerely hope and pray that this sharing of knowledge will not go waste – this knowledge will not be subject to ruination or destruction. Insha Allah.

The Holy Quran again reminds us:

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ

5.44 If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are Unbelievers.

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

5.45 And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are  wrong-doers. – perverted Transgressors

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

5.47 If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are Perverted rebels.

The three Ayaaths emphasizes the fact that whatever you may do, everything has to be judged by the light of What Allah has revealed – by the light of the Holy Quran.   Whether it be your social life, your business life or private life, political life or whatever the divisions that you and I have may have compartmentalized our lives into - any occasion, events, your values, systems, education, vocation – Everything and anything in man’s life has to be judged in the Light of the Holy Quran – if not the Holy Quran describes such people as Unbelievers, Perverted Transgressors and Perverted Rebels.

In order to instil that noble character of judging by the Holy Quran – it is imperative that our character should have been moulded by the light of the Holy Quran.

As individuals - Alhamdu-Lillah you are intelligent and are aware of your responsibilities and commitments – but sometimes it is necessary to send in a

reminder

So the subject  I  want to share with you today is something to do with Character Building in Islam the basic  Foundation in Education on which the edifice of Islamic institutions are built.

The Holy Quran describing our Holy Prophet (S) – says:

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ

33.21 You have indeed in the Apostle of Allah a beautiful pattern of (conduct). An Excellent Example. 33:21

again 

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

68.4 And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.

And verily You are of a high and noble disposition. 68:4

These are the basics in Character Building.

And it is this Noble Disposition and exalted standard of      

character that our Holy Prophet Muhummed (S) strived very hard to ingrain and 

imbue – entrench and establish in the mind of every human being.

He said:                                                                                                            قال رسول الله (ص):

القُرْءانُ مأ ْدَبة ُ اللهِ فَتَعَلَّمُوا مَأ ْدَبَتَهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ

RASOOLULLAHI (S) SAID:

THE QURAN IS ALLAH'S UNIVERSITY: SO LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN THIS UNIVERSITY.  (Bihar-ul-Anwaar (Oceans of Light): vol.92. page.19) 

MUADHDHAB- مأ ْدَبة ُ - MEANS: EDUCATOR, TEACHER, TUTOR, and DISCIPLINER.

So the translation of University is very apt - because Quran is the Educator, Teacher, a Tutor and one that Disciplines

MUADHDHAB ALSO MEANS: ADHAB- أدب - POLITE, WELL MANNERED, CIVIL, COURTEOUS, URBANE, WELL BRED, REFINED, POLISHED, CULTURED.

So the Holy Quran Educates you, teaches you, tutors you and Disciplines you –

Educates you to be POLITE and WELL MANNERED, teaches you to be CIVIL and COURTEOUS, tutors you to be URBANE and WELL BRED, and disciplines you to be REFINED, POLISHED and CULTURED - spiritually, materially, physically, mentally, and aesthetically.

Hence the insistence that everything has to be judged by the light of the Holy Quran.

Islam says that the foundation for character building is first laid in the home. 

HOME is the first and most important school of character.  It is there that every human being receives his best moral training, or his worst; 

for it is there that he imbibes those principles of conduct which endure through manhood, and cease only at death.

It is a common saying that "Manners make the man;" and there is a second saying - "Mind makes the man;"   but 

the most truthful statement than either of them is a third, and that is 

"Home makes the man."

It is mainly in the home that    the heart is opened,      the habits are formed,   the intellect is awakened,    and        character moulded for good or for evil.

From that source, be it pure or impure, issue the principles

and maxims that govern society.                              

The tiniest bits of opinion sown in the minds of children in their home in private - later issue forth to the world, and become its public opinion. 

Remember that nations are gathered out of nurseries, and they who hold the leading-strings of children may even exercise a greater power than those who wield the reins of government. 

Nature itself has made that domestic life should be preparatory to social life, and that the mind and character should first be formed in the home.  

Thus the home may be regarded as the most influential school of civilisation.

Accordingly as the respective members of society - they are

either well-trained or ill- trained in the home – Resulting in the community 

which they constitute to be more or less : 

Humanized and Civilized    or     Tyrannical and Brutal.

The prosperity of a country depends, not on the abundance of its revenues, 

nor on the strength of its fortifications, 

nor on the beauty of its public buildings; 

but it consists in the number of its Cultivated Citizens, 

in its Men of Education,        in its Men of Enlightenment,  and 

its Men of Character; 

Here are to be found its true interest, its chief strength and its real power."

Character is one of the greatest motive powers in the world.  

Men of genuine excellence, in every station of life – 

men of hard work, men of integrity,  men of high principle,

men of sterling honesty of purpose- The holy Quran says -

It is they who command the spontaneous homage of mankind.    It is natural to believe in such men, 

It is natural to have confidence in them, and to imitate them.  

All that is good in the world is upheld by them, and without their presence in it - the world would not be worth living in.

Genius and Talent always commands admiration, But Largely it is 

Character that secures Respect.  

The genius is more the product of brain-power, 

the Product of character is of heart-power; 

Men of genius and talent stand to society in the relation to its intellect, And 

Men of character stand in relation to its conscience; and while

The Geniuses are admired, the Men of Character are followed.

Indeed, the range of most men/women in life is so limited,

that very few have the opportunity of being great.          

But - each man – each of us – you and I – male or female - can act our part 

honestly and honourably, and to the best of our ability.  

Use your gifts which Allah in His Mercy has provided for you, and do not abuse them.  

You can strive to make the best of life. There is no harm in it.   

At the sametime it is imperative that you must be true. You must be just, 

You must be honest, and You must be faithful, even in small things.

When some of the Sahabas said to our Holy Prophet Muhummed (S) – Ya Rasoolullah – how are we to follow every instruction? It is difficult for us to follow every injunction – please tell us one particular thing which we could follow and practise which will help us reach salvation.

Our Holy Prophet Muhummed (S) said : See that your MU’AAMALAH is excellent.- that is all.

MU’AAMALAH – translated means – 

your actions and your transactions -  

See that your actions and your transactions are excellent and above board.

In one word he covered the entire gamut of life.            

Mu’aamalah

Telling us that - In one single word, we can do our Duty in that sphere in which Providence has placed us.

Just look at the virtues as a man in relation to the ordinary duties of life.  

"How many rare things are in you!" Have we thought about it? Have we reflected on it? Have WE pondered over it? Or even tried to understand it? Look at :

A man Who is more loving unto his wife? A woman to her husband

A man Who is more kind unto his children?—

A man Who more sincerely attached unto his/her friend?

A man Who is more moderate unto his/her enemy?

“(Rasoolullaahi (S) said : Do not hate your enemy so much, that one day he 

might turn out to be your friend and you would feel so bad that you had hated him that much; And do not divulge all your secrets to your friend, and one day he might turn out to be your enemy and may use them against you.” – What a balance. 

Where can you get such guidance ?

A man Who is more true to his word?"

A man Who does not laugh at others?

A man who does not spy or slander or back-bite others

These are in you - Simple things in life which we overlook.

Islam says that Indeed, we can always better understand     

and appreciate a man's real character by the manner in which man conducts himself towards those who are the most nearly related to him, his family – kith and kin; 

THAN by his public exhibition of himself as an author, an orator, A 

Philanthropist or a statesman.

This is why Rasoolullah said:                               

قال رسولاالله (ص):

خَيٌرُكُم خَيٌرُكُم لأهلِهِ- وَأنا خَيٌرُكُم لأهلِي

The best of you is he who is best of you to his family and I am the best of you to my family (Tirmizi – by Ayesha)

again he said:

قال رسولاالله (ص):

مَن صَدَقَ لِسَانُهُ زَكَى عَمَلُهُ

He who habitually tells the truth – his deeds are purified

ومن حَسُنَت نِيّتُهُ زادالله ُ فِي رزقِهِ

He whose intentions are good – Allah increases his sustenance.

ومن حَسُنَ بِرُّهُ بِأهلِهِ زَادَالله ُ فِي عُمرهِ

and he who treats his family members well, Allah prolongs his life.

There are people of the very highest standard of character. 

They may NOT have either money, or position, or property, or learning, or power;    and yet 

They may be strong in heart and rich in spirit- 

Rich in honesty, Rich in Truthfulness, and sincerely dutiful.     

There are many persons of whom it may be said that -

They have no other possession in the world but their character, and yet they stand as firmly upon it as any crowned king.

It is said that "A handful of good life, is worth a bushel of learning."  

Not that learning is to be despised, but that it must be allied to goodness.  That is what the Holy Quran says.

Intellectual capacity is sometimes found associated with the meanest moral character  - with abject servility to those in high places, and arrogance to those of low estate.

You and I have seen, intellectually accomplished people miserably subservient 

and debasing themselves in the presence of powerful people and we have also 

seen how these very same people are quite arrogant and harsh to those who are below them, in position, rank, status and class.                  

A man may be accomplished in art, literature, and science,   and   yet, 

in honesty, virtue, truthfulness, and the spirit of duty, they are far – far inferior to many a poor and illiterate peasant.

Do not forget that largeness of mind, depth of thought, appreciation of the lofty morals, experience of the world, delicacy of manner, tact and energy in action, love of truth, Love of honesty, and amiability - All these may be wanting in a man who may yet be very learned."

If such people are at the helm of education, how can they instill the character of the Holy Quran?

Character is property.  It is the noblest of possessions.  

It is an estate in the general goodwill and respect of men; 

Anyone who invest in it--though they may not become rich in this world's 

goods--will find their reward in esteem and reputation fairly and honourably won as well as an enviable station in the hereafter.  

In this life - hard work, virtue, and goodness should rank  the highest. – and 

The really best men should be foremost.

Simple honesty of purpose in a man goes a long way in life. 

It holds a man straight, gives him strength and sustenance, and forms a mainspring of vigorous action. 

But this honesty, must be inspired by sound principles, and pursued with undeviating adherence to truth, integrity, and uprightness – not in fits and starts – but with constancy.

Without principles, a man is like a ship without a rudder or compass, left to drift hither and thither with every wind that blows. Or always moving in the wrong direction.  He is as one without law, or rule, or order, or government.

It is this quality of truthfulness veracity, sincerity and genuiness.  -  more than any other - that commands the esteem and respect, and secures the confidence of others.  

Truthfulness is at the foundation of all personal excellence.  

Truthfulness exhibits itself in conduct.  

Truthfulness is rectitude- DECENCY, RIGHTEOUSNESS, MORALITY – The truth in action, shining through every word and deed.  

Truthfulness means reliableness, and convinces other men    

that this person can be trusted.  

And a man is already of importance and consequence in the world   -   when it is known that he can be relied upon – 

When such a man says he knows a thing, he does know it,--When be says he will do a thing, he can do, and he does it.  

Thus reliableness becomes a passport to the general esteem and confidence of mankind. – The basis of education.

The Holy Quran says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لا تَفْعَلُونَ

O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?

Why do you say things which you do not mean – or do not act upon?

 كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَنْ تَقُولُوا مَا لا تَفْعَلُونَ

Grievously odious is it – most hateful it is in the sight of Allah - what you say 

that which you do not mean. Or what you say and you do not act upon.

In the affairs of life or of business, again it is not intellect that tells so much as character, - 

It is not brains that tell so much as heart, - 

It is not genius that shows so much as self-control, patience, and discipline, regulated by sound judgment.  

Hence there is no better provision for the uses of either    private or public life, than a fair share of ordinary good sense guided by rectitude- guided by righteousness, guided by morality and decency. 

Good sense, disciplined by experience and inspired by goodness, emanate in practical wisdom.  

Indeed, goodness in a measure implies wisdom—the highest wisdom--the union of the worldly with the spiritual. 

One of the Mufassiroons said that : "The correlation of wisdom and goodness, are manifold;     and that they will accompany each other, is to be inferred  -

Not only because men's wisdom makes them good, but 

Because their goodness makes them wise."

Character is formed by a variety of minute circumstances. 

Not a day passes without its discipline, whether for good or for evil.

There is no act, however trivial, but has its train of consequences, as there is no hair so small but casts its shadow.

Thus character is undergoing constant change,    for better or for worse – 

Either being elevated on the one hand, or degraded on the other.

The best sort of character, however, cannot be formed without effort.  

You have to exercise constant self-watchfulness, constant self-discipline, and constant self-control.  

There may be much faltering, there may be much stumbling,   and temporary defeat; 

There may be many difficulties and temptations to be battled with and overcome; -  But 

If your spirit be strong and your heart upright - and 

If you stick to religious teachings - If you stick to divine guidance - no one need despair of ultimate success.  

Your aim should be and to inculcate in children :

Not to become the richest in means, but to become richest in spirit; 

Not the greatest in worldly position, but the greatest in true honour; 

Not the most intellectual, but the most virtuous; 

Not the most powerful and influential, but the most         

truthful, the most upright, and the most honest.

I will wind up with a wonderful hadith and a Point to Ponder.

قال رسولُ الله (ص):

سيأتي على النّاس زمانٌ لا يُكرٍِمُون العلماءَ  إلاّ بثوب حسن                     

Our Holy Prophet (S): said:

There will come a time for people that they will not respect their ‘Ulama – their Scholars – except for their beautiful clothing.

ولا يَسمعون القرءان إلاّ بصوتٍ حسن ٍ

They will not hearken to the Quran – The will not Listen  attentively to the Quran except for the pleasant voice.

ولا يعبدون اللَّه إلاّ فِى شهر رمضانَ

And they will not Worship except during the Month of Ramadhan.

لا حياءَ لنسائهم    ولاصبر لفقرائهم

There will be no shyness in there women and there will be no patience among their poor.                               

ولا سَخاءَ لأغنيا ئهم

لا يقنعون بالقليل          ولا يشبعون بالكثير

Their will be no prosperity among their rich and they will never be contented

with little. And they will never be satisfied even with abundance.

هِمّتهُم بطونُهم

They will strive only to fill their stomachs  - )Their main aim(

ودِينهُم درا هِمُهُم

Their religion will be their dirhams– their wealth Their money

و نساءهُم قبلتهم

Their women will be their Qiblah (Their direction of worship)

و بيوتُهم مساجدهم     

Their homes will be their mosques.

يَفِرّون من العلماء كما تَفِرّ ُ الغنم من الذٌِئب

They will run away from scholars like sheep run away from wolves.

فإذا كان ذالك إبتِلاهُمُ اللَهُ بثلاث خصال ٍ:

Then when they become like that Allah will afflict them with three conditions:

أوّلُها يرفع البَركَةَ من أموالِهم

First He takes the blessing and prosperity from their wealth

والثانية:يُسلّطُ اللُّهُ عليهم سُلطانا جائِرًا

The second is that, a cruel ruler, will dominate them. –   

a tyrannical ruler Will rule over them -

والثالثة: يَخرُجون من الدّنيا بغيِر إيَمان

The third is that they will pass away from this world

without Imaan – without true Faith.

NOW A POINT TO PONDER

Luqman al Hakim was a wise man of great reputation in ancient Arabia. (Chapter 31 of the Holy Quran is dedicated to him) - He was a person of extremely good manners, sublime manners and excellent character and a person of great wisdom.  He was once asked : “O Luqman,  how is it that you came to acquire such sublime manners and how is it that you are full of wisdom?”

He replied :  "I learned good manners from the bad-mannered, ILL-MANNERED – [when others behave very badly, it is repulsive and revolting to me – and If I behave in that manner others too will find me repulsive and nauseating

I learned wisdom from the blind - They do not put their     

feet forward without feeling the ground first. 

There can never be a spoken or written word from which the wise cannot benefit. 

But even a hundred books of wisdom or a hundred speeches cannot make a fool wiser,

if he is not ready to benefit from them. 

Think deeply, Reflect, Ponder and Meditate on these words of wisdom.

May Allah in His Mercy guide you and me, guide us all along the right path – the path of those on whom He has bestowed His favours and protect us all from the path of those who have gone astray. Aameen.

وآخِرُ دَعْوَانَا اَن ِالْحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْن

السّلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته