Book Review: Islamic Awakening Between Rejection & Extremism

Islamic Awakening Between Rejection & Extremism by Yusuf al Qaradawi

May Allah SWT guard us all against excessiveness and extremism and direct us toward the straight path.

Ibn Masud said: "Ruin is caused by two traits - pride and despair. Happiness cannot be attained without effort and a struggle. A vain person does not make any effort, because he believes that he is perfect, a despairing person does not make effort because he believes it is useless."

Those who do not live for Islam and for its propagation and do not partake in the problems and hardships that beset the Muslim nations are self-centred. Such people have no right to tell those who believe in Islam and live by it that they are wrong and should change. And if they seize that right by force, no one will ever listen to them.

This book explores extremism among muslims. It must be stressed that there is no extremism in Islam. It is only the muslims who are extremist.... or are they?

Yusuf al Qaradawi tries to answer this.

Extremism is the furthest point from the centre. This is totally against the characteristics of Islam. In fact moderation and balance is a fundamental trademark of Islam. Allah SWT says in the Quran:-

"Thus we have made you an ummah justly balanced, that you might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger is a witness over yourselves." (2:143)

Qaradawi goes on to give examples from the Quran and Sunnah to amplify this point.

Extremism does not only apply to those who are over zealous in interpreting the Quran but equally also to those who disregard Islam as a way of life. Lack of knowledge, comprehensive knowledge, can lead to extremism.

The apparent lack of will power by the powers that be, to uphold the syariah and propagate Islam pushes away the youths striving for the cause of Islam. Any request to uphold the syariah is met with punitive force or disregarded. The religious authorities turn a deaf ear to the cries of the youth and are cohorts of the ruling elite and are thus despised and not trusted. How then can they stand with authority in front of the ummah and expect the ummah to listen to them? On the contrary, everything they say will fall on deaf ears.

These are some of the issues discussed. The question that begs an answer is: "What is the remedy?". It is perhaps best to quote al Qaradawi himself:-

"No one can possibly deny that the official religious establishments in the Muslim world can indeed play a positive role by giving guidance and genuine Islamic knowledge to the young, if the establishments were free to manage their own affairs without interference from people in power. However, in the absence of that freedom they remain lifeless skeletons."

I found this book enlightening. It gave me a better understanding of certain Islamic percepts. As seekers of truth and knowledge, our quest will never be over. For we are on a journey till we meet our Lord, Allah SWT.

Book Review: Two Faces

Two Faces by Syed Husin Ali

I have had this book for sometime now. My first attempt to read it some years back failed after a few pages. It has taken this long to finally read this book. Its a thin book less than 200 pages. It is simply written and an easy read. After all, I like books that are easy to read.

Two faces chronicles S. Husin Ali's detention without trial under the draconian ISA. A detention that lasted for almost 6 years. A period of his life that was snatched from him and his freedom denied. He traces the events that occurred from the time of his arrest until his release.

He was arrested without the issuance of an arrest warrant, as if it was done at whims and fancy of the powers that be. There no need for any evidence, suspicion was enough, no matter how ridiculous.

As with most detainees, he was tortured and harassed. Lies, deceit and false promises were some of the mind games used. Sleep deprivation, physical and verbal abuse was also readily employed. These dastardly acts belie the true human nature. I can not phantom, how is it that one man can be so cruel to another man. I could feel his anguish and frustration. The agony of missing out on 6 years of his life.

As S. Husin saysin his foreword:

"The ISA is still being enforced and has deviated from its original purpose........ Experience has show that it is so easy for people to be branded, accused, detained and tortured........."

"In humility and with sincerity I wish to remind those leaders who have promised to review the ISA to do so as soon possible. The time has come for the ruling elite to repeal the act and not merely to amend it."

That was written in 1995, how true those words are even today. My prayers are for all past and present ISA detainees.

Book Review: Muhammad The Ideal Prophet

Muhammad The Ideal Prophet by Sayyid Sulaiman Nadvi

I have had this book for quite some time now. However I only read it recently and I must say it was a pleasing and illuminating read.

I initially thought that this book was 'just another biography' of the prophet. With that thought I put off reading this book for quite a long while. Now having read it, its not 'just another biography'.

The author takes us through conclusive arguments and discourses to establish the fact that indeed Muhammad is the ideal prophet for all of mankind. He establishes the need of prophethood for the good of humanity. He then proceeds to illustrate convincingly, the reason Muhammad is the ideal prophet.

He goes through the abundant historical data and facts regarding the life and times of Prophet Muhammad from the time even before his birth to his death. Data which is irrefutable, that even the distractors of Islam have to admit to its authenticity. No other prophet or men of religion have ever had their entire life span recorded in such detail. His life is an open book for us to examine the events and turmoils of his life and his mission.His sense of justice and fair play His compassion dan love. His devotion and steadfastness. In short the 'living Quran'.

All of this and more is discussed. Sayyid Sulaiman goes on to show that Prophet Muhammad was man who practiced what he preached. How as a husband, a father, a statesman, a military commander, Prophet Muhammad set up practical examples for all of us to follow. No matter who we are or what we do, there will always be some practical example in the life of Prophet Muhammad to guide us.

Sayyid Sulaiman has managed to bring forth these distinct points commendably. In so doing, he has illuminated what has always been there, but obscure to some of us.

In parting, I just need to mention that this book is based on a series of lectures delivered by Sayyid Sulaiman in Madras in 1925. After more than 80 years, this books is ever so refreshing.

Book Review: The Guide

The Guide by R K Narayanan

Books written by RK Narayanan are easy reads. They are light hearted, down to earth and deals with the lives of ordinary people in India. The characters and situations are what we can identify with.

The Guide a simple story of the tangled lives of a guide and dancer. It tells a tale of a shopkeeper turned guide who falls in love with dancer. As fate should have it the dancer is married, to man who more interest in cave paintings than his wife's talent. The guide on the other hand has a genuine interest in the dancers talent. His praise and admiration for her leads from one thing to another, and finally they become lovers.

The guide makes her a successful dancer but their lives become complicated. He is incarcerated for a while, while she continues to prosper. The guide becomes a yogi, upon his release, not by choice but by circumstances.

RK Narayanan has written this simple story very nicely. Although at certain parts, I felt he was rushing to tell his story. All in all a nice short story.