By Lamin Darboe, Leicester, UK:
CAN WE BE PROUD OF OUR RACE & TRIBE?
We are equal in the sight of Allah and there is no superiority in terms of colour, nation and tribe except for "taqwa" righteousness.
Everyone must have this basic knowledge that Allah, our creator is the one who knows what is best and how to measure what is best. He rightly said that our land, language and label does not confer any superiority simply because these characteristics are not made by our choice but pre-ordained.
You can be be proud of your external or mundane achievements, acquired abilities but not what you never acquired through effort. Today many of the qualities that we think make us distinctive thud a source of self-pride are in reality accorded to us by our creator Allah jalla jallaluhu.
Basically your tribe, city or village you were born, the parents to whom you were born to, are not our deliberate choices but the choice of our creator, so if you are intelligent and humble, these favours must not make you proud.
Allah decides them in HIS magnificent knowledge billions of years before your soul was even created.
A wise and deep thinking person should not be even proud of his or her externally acquired privileges because it's all out of the favour of Allah jalla jallaluhu.
He could have made you disable, ill or lazy to the extent you can't earn your living. So all means of acquiring livelihood is facilitated by Allah and we must always be thankful to Him.
If there is any tangible and beneficial exhortation, it will be, let not your tribe, language, wealth make you proud to the extent yiu look down on others because these are pre-ordainments and favours from our maker who revealed what is the criteria for excellence.
One can be tempted to ask, why did our creator made us tribes and nations. It's simple to manifest His power and glory that we can create one human race, or different colours with the same features yet can speak thousand different languages. It for recognition and lesson for us yet the most important reality is that everything our creator does is not for frivolity but a TEST.
Our race and tribal differences is a test for us so that our creator will judge us by our conduct in ways we behave ourselves toward each other. To see whether we will oppress each other, be arrogant and proud because of our race or tribe. Whether we will preserve the right of others, deal justly and honestly with others irrespective of racial or tribal differences.
As the saying goes, the refuge of a scoundrel is his or her resort to nationalism, tribalism and racism because his has no externally effort base quality to show for or exhibit him or her self-pride.
Success and distinction in the spiritual and even in the mundane realm should not be judged by achievements or privileges that in the greater scheme of things are actually favours of our creator.
Some he He gave cognitive ability, some creative ability, some excellent humanity, some justice, some technical resources, some natural resources, some peace, some justice and honesty, otherd cannot live without oppressing others in many diverse ways, otherd are grateful for the little thry have and some want everything for themselves and could travel thousands of miles to pursue that goal even if is means killing others, colonizing, subjugating and exploiting others.
All these scheme of things are a trial and shall be ultimately be judged and rewarded by the creator in the hereafter.
Make no mistake and think all the injustices, aggression, suppression and oppression will be overlooked, no my no means, not rewarding evil and good will make our creator unjust.
The Quran states
Surah Ibrahim, Verse 42:
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ غَافِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّالِمُونَ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الْأَبْصَارُ
Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.) do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.
Surah Ibrahim, Verse 43:
مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِي رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ وَأَفْئِدَتُهُمْ هَوَاءٌ
(They will be) hastening forward with necks outstretched, their heads raised up (towards the sky), their gaze returning not towards them and their hearts empty (from thinking because of extreme fear).
Justice shall ultimately prevail and everyone to his or her deeds and let nations which oppress others for their own utility and progress beware that the ultimate justice shall prevail since we are not created without purpose.
If we don't do things without purpose how could we ascribe purposelessness to the most wise and able creator.
And behold, it is indeed our righteousness and benefit to humanity that distinguished us and our goods works is what shows our taqwa especially those done sincerity to seek the pleasure of our maker.
A person is successful even though by worldly standards is very poor, if he gain the pleasure of his maker and enter Janna.
The Quran states
Surah Al-Mutaffifin, Verse 26:
خِتَامُهُ مِسْكٌ وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ
The last thereof (that wine) will be the smell of musk, and for this let (all) those strive who want to strive (i.e. hasten earnestly to the obedience of Allah).
Wa feezalika fal yataana fasaill mutanaafissoon
Wa feezalika fa yaamalill aameloon.
Let me conclude
Surah Al-Hujraat, Verse 11:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَاءٌ مِّن نِّسَاءٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ بِئْسَ الِاسْمُ الْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: "O sinner", or "O wicked", etc.]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.).
Surah Al-Hujraat, Verse 13:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqun (pious - see V. 2:2). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
I end with the famous advise of Luqman the wise to his son..
CAN WE BE PROUD OF OUR TRIBE
We are equal in the sight of Allah and there is no superiority in terms of colour, nation and tribe except for "taqwa" righteousness.
Everyone must have this basic knowledge that Allah, our creator is the one who knows what is best and how to measure what is best. He rightly said that our land, language and label does not confer any superiority simply because these characteristics are not made by our choice but pre-ordained.
You can be be proud of your external or mundane achievements, acquired abilities but not what you never acquired through effort. Today many of the qualities that we think make us distinctive thud a source of self-pride are in reality accorded to us by our creator Allah jalla jallaluhu.
Basically your tribe, city or village you were born, the parents to whom you were born to, are not our deliberate choices but the choice of our creator, so if you are intelligent and humble, these favours must not make you proud.
Allah decides them in HIS magnificent knowledge billions of years before your soul was even created.
A wise and deep thinking person should not be even proud of his or her externally acquired privileges because it's all out of the favour of Allah jalla jallaluhu.
He could have made you disable, ill or lazy to the extent you can't earn your living. So all means of acquiring livelihood is facilitated by Allah and we must always be thankful to Him.
If there is any tangible and beneficial exhortation, it will be, let not your tribe, language, wealth make you proud to the extent yiu look down on others because these are pre-ordainments and favours from our maker who revealed what is the criteria for excellence.
One can.be tempted to ask, why did our creator made us tribes and nations. It's simple to manifest His power and glory that we can create one human race, or different colours with the same features yet can speak thousand different languages. It for recognition and lesson for us yet the most important reality is that everything our creator does is not for frivolity but a TEST.
Our race and tribal differences is a test for us so that our creator will judge us by our conduct in ways we behave ourselves toward each other. To see whether we will oppress each other, be arrogant and proud because of our race or tribe. Whether we will preserve the right of others, deal justly and honestly with others irrespective of racial or tribal differences.
As the saying goes, the refuge of a scoundrel is his or her resort to nationalism, tribalism and racism because his has no externally effort base quality to show for or exhibit him or her self-pride.
Success and distinction in the spiritual and even in the mundane realm should not be judged by achievements or privileges that in the greater scheme of things are actually favours of our creator.
Some he He gave cognitive ability, some creative ability, some excellent humanity, some justice, some technical resources, some natural resources, some peace, some justice and honesty, otherd cannot live without oppressing others in many diverse ways, otherd are grateful for the little thry have and some want everything for themselves and could travel thousands of miles to pursue that goal even if is means killing others, colonizing, subjugating and exploiting others.
All these scheme of things are a trial and shall be ultimately be judged and rewarded by the creator in the hereafter.
Make no mistake and think all the injustices, aggression, suppression and oppression will be overlooked, no my no means, not rewarding evil and good will make our creator unjust.
Justice shall ultimately prevail and everyone to his or her deeds and let nations which oppress others for their own utility and progress beware that the ultimate justice shall prevail since we are not created without purpose.
If we don't do things without purpose how could we ascribe purposelessness to the most wise and able creator.
And behold, it is indeed our righteousness and benefit to humanity that distinguished us and our goods works is what shows our taqwa especially those done sincerity to seek the pleasure of our maker.
A person is successful even though by worldly standards is very poor, if he gain the pleasure of his maker and enter Janna.
The Quran states
Surah Al-Mutaffifin, Verse 26:
خِتَامُهُ مِسْكٌ وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ
The last thereof (that wine) will be the smell of musk, and for this let (all) those strive who want to strive (i.e. hasten earnestly to the obedience of Allah).
Wa feezalika fal yataana fasaill mutanaafissoon
Wa feezalika fa yaamalill aameloon.
Let me conclude
Surah Al-Hujraat, Verse 11:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَاءٌ مِّن نِّسَاءٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ بِئْسَ الِاسْمُ الْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: "O sinner", or "O wicked", etc.]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.).
Surah Al-Hujraat, Verse 13:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqun (pious - see V. 2:2). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware
I end this article with the famous advise from Luqman the wise...
Surah Luqman, Verse 18:
وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ
"And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster.
Thank you all and have a blessed eid.
L Darboe
Leicester Editors Note:
Views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Gunjur Online. Got an opinion article? send it to us at GunjurNewsOnline@gmail.com