You can benefit people unless they become fanatic-Part 2/4

You can benefit people unless they become fanatic-Part 2/4

Fanaticism exists in all types of groups such as the followers of Albany vs Bimbaz vs al-Jaamiya and others in the Wahhabi circles. But today, let me turn to the majority Sunni community and address this problem for it exists within groups that call themselves Sufis, Political Islamic movements...etc. When you are infected with this disease you live in a world of your perception, and it's not a world of "we Muslims" rather a state of mind of "us vs them" and it gets worse if you have embodied the famous saying of George Bush junior "you're either with us, or against us" and at this point you are living in a world of illusion proclaiming to be part of a large Ahlusunnah while you can't see a true Sunnis except for the ones in your own group. And, when a person is infected with fanaticism he doesn't realize it, because in his mind he has a perfect explanation for his stands, Allah the Exalted said:

شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ ۚ كَبُرَ 

Which means: (He (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islam) which He ordained for Nuh صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (Noah), and that which We have inspired in you (O Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ), and that which We ordained for Ibrahim صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (Abraham), Musa صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (Moses) and 'Iesa صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (Jesus) saying you should establish religion (i.e. to do what it orders you to do practically), and make no divisions in it (religion) (i.e. various sects in religion) Ash-Shura/13

Before we examine what Al-Ghazali said, let us talk about how following one's desire (hawaa) can trick a person making him think he's defending the religion while he's egotistic. And, to do that let us go back four centuries to the writing of Shaykh Imam Jamaluddin Muhammad bin 'Abdullah Al-'Aydarus Baa'alawiy the Hadrami, the Yamani born in 970 Hijri. He became a well-respected scholar in India and died there in 1031 Hijri. He authored the book Eydaah Asrar Al Muqarabiyn (Explaining the Secrets Knowledge of The Highly Ranked) أسرار علوم المقربين
And here let me point out that extremism ( غُلُوّ ) or fanaticism (التَّعَصُّبِ), are a very powerful psychological state where the person in this predicament isn't aware of his action, and waking up from his state may take years, if ever. But the key to success is knowledge first and being honest with oneself next. I will add Al-Ghazali writing on the next peace to further explain and on part four I will attempt to discuss the cure.

Shaykh Imam Jamaluddin said: [ Extremism is also counted under the category of desire, and it's a filthy category related to religious beliefs, for it desecrates and isolates one. Those that are most extream in religion are infected with a type of foolishness in their religious acts. Thus, their main religious character becomes argumentativeness, animosity, and their path is fanaticism and hatefulness for he who opposes them. ]

Know may Allah guide you that the ill desire tricks the person in many ways, and sometimes it renders the person behaving like an insane person while he's oblivious to his actions. This happens when a person goes extreme (ghulow). Extremism falls under the categories of desire. Desire (hawaa) here means to move away from the truth. When extremism gets hold of a person he starts to behave awkwardly and he becomes argumentative, close-minded and increasingly hateful and resentful for those who do NOT conform to his group. His religiousness becomes faultfinding, shaming and belittling others who are not part of his circle.
And when your character becomes argumentative this will suck the trait of spirituality out of you, hence you're not striving to read the Quran, pray at night, or make dhikr daily with a clean heart and with joy rather your mind is mostly busy thinking how to win an argument. It's so rooted in one's heart even in the prayer he/she mostly thinks about winning an argument. It's like what Imam Al-Awza'y (who died in 157 Hijri) said:
"إذا أراد الله بقوم شراً فتح عليهم الجدل ومنعهم العمل"
Which means: "If Allah willed for people to go stray he will open for them the gates of argument and prevent them from observance ('Amal)"/related by Ibn 'Asakir in Tarikh Dimashq (History of Damascus)
or the saying of Ma'ruf Al-Karkhy (who died in 200 Hijri)
إذا أراد بعبد خيرا فتح عليه باب العمل و أغلق عليه باب الجدل و إذا أراد بعبد شرا أغلق عليه باب العمل و فتح عليه باب الجدل
Which Means: If Allah willed the good for His servant He will open the gates of observance and close the gates of dispute and if He willed evil for a servant he will open the gates of dispute and close the gate of observance." (related by Hafidh Abu Na'im in Hilyat al Awliyaa

And Allah's messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said:
" مَا ضَلَّ قَوْمٌ بَعْدَ هُدًى كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا أُوتُوا الْجَدَلَ "
This means: "People never became misguided after being guided unless they became argumentative" related by Ahmad in his Musnad.

This among many other narrations and saying of scholars points to the dangers of this attitude. And as such those severely infected with this illness will read this writing of mine while struggling in their mind of how to refute these points because fanaticism and argumentative behavior sicken the heart to the extent even pure advice will agitate such person thinking what's behind it.

As Imam Jamalu-Din says: [Their religiousness becomes faultfinding, degradation and showing contempt to others and this is a very filthy path that ruins the servent's religiousness. You should be extremely careful of such a thing.]

In the world of fanaticism, you are convinced that your group is the best and even though you have very little acts of good deeds you still think you are better than those who are not in your group. There are millions upon millions of Muslims worldwide, but the one who's swimming in fanaticism feels as if Allah's blessing doesn't descend accept on his circle. When you mingle with the different groups that are fanatic you will notice this behavior, and amongst those who claim to be Sufi you'll find many who claim some sort of a shortcut that makes them above others, and this is the complete opposite of true Sufism that emphasizes humbleness. And if you want to excel in anything just look to those who mastered it and copy what they have done and those who became great examples of good Muslim in our history have strived to copy they way, acts and teaching of Allah's messenger prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ so be humble and work on yourself in perfecting your obligatory prayer, Sunnah, reading Quran and by making the habits of the Masters part of your habit and this is how high ranks are achieved and not by belittling others or thinking great of yourself and living in a world of fantasy while truly being cutoff from exemplifying they way of Allah's messenger صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ in your daily life. Life is short work every day to better yourself, and wake up and don't let death surprise you while you are still drowning in the world of your imagination.

As Imam Jamalu-Din says [These extremest overly praise their Imams (shaykhs), and end up destroying themselves in their love for their shaykhs; thereby, practicing what they are prohibited from doing.]

This happens among all groups from Sufis, those focused on Fiqh, theologians ('Ilmul kalam/Tawhid) or Politically motivated Islamic movements. This extremism blinds you leading you to think ill about other Muslims. This makes the person unwilling to be objective or willing to listen.

In the circle of those focused in Fiqh you hear thinks like at this time there is no faqih (scholar) equal to ours, or who dares to say anyone is more knowledgeable than our Shaykh to the point of animosity. Among those politically motivated you hear them say "today there is no one who knows what is best for Muslims except so and so. And, In the circle of the Sufi claimers, you hear thinks like no wali is equal to our shaykh today he's the ghawth and qutub of this era, and These emphases embolden these groups to think they are the best and they become incapable of thinking of "we Muslims" rather it becomes "us against them." Are you going to be asked about the status of your shaykh on the day of judgment? So why not focus on that you are obligated to do foremost. You see people argue and get personnel in thinks Allah didn't obligate them with.

One may praise and love his shaykh but not to the point he wants every Muslim he befriends to have the same view of his shaykh and certainly not to the point he feels hateful against any Muslim who doesn't adhere or submit to his favorite shaykh. You measure people and love them for their piety and not for which group they belong to. once I had a religious teacher who traveled overseas and came back to Canada, and I heard he had kept distant and started going to other masjids from our gathering, so with my immature attitude, I felt resentful to the point I didn't even say salam when he was standing across the street and when he came to a family wedding I didn't bother to speak to him and I am sorry, for this is not the way a good Muslim behaves and this is the path of fanaticism. Do not make a judgment based on an assumption, and do not live in a world of assumption.

Shaykh Imam Jamaluddin Said:
[We are ordered to be balanced in our love for the Imams and religious people and to leave out extremism. 'Umar bin Al-Khattab may Allah be pleased with him said: "Do not let your love be a total infatuation and do not let your anger be destruction" and Allah's messenger صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said:
Do not exaggerate my praises as the Christians have done with the son of Mary. Verily, I am only a salve, so refer to me as the slave of Allah and his messenger.
And, 'Ali may Allah be pleased with him said: Be on the middle path where the one behind can follow you and the extream can return to you]

As for the hadith Imam Jamaluddin stated its famous Hadith and we learn from it not to go extream in our lover of prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ to the point the Christians went calling 'Isa صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ the son of God. We also don't go extream in our love for the Awliya', Shaykhs, or leaders to the point we can't comprehend them sinning or making mistakes as if they are prophets, forgetting the saying of Imam Malik:

" كُلُّ أَحَدٍ يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ وَيَرُدُّ إِلَّا صَاحِبَ هَذَا الْقَبْرِ "

Which means: "All you take from and reject except the one in this grave (referring to prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ)."

As for the saying of 'Umar the shaykh Imam Jamalludin stated its narrated by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad and its as follows:
حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ أَسْلَمَ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ , قَالَ : " لا يَكُنْ حُبُّكَ كَلَفًا ، وَلا بُغْضُكَ تَلَفًا " ، فَقُلْتُ : كَيْفَ ذَاكَ ؟ ، قَالَ : " إِذَا أَحْبَبْتَ , كَلِفْتَ كَلَفَ الصَّبِيِّ ، وَإِذَا أَبْغَضْتَ , أَحْبَبْتَ لِصَاحِبِكَ التَّلَفَ "

Which means: Zaid bin Aslam told us from his father from 'Umar bin Al-Khattab that he said:
"Do not let your love be a total infatuation. and do not let your anger be destruction.' I asked, 'How is that?' He replied, 'When you love, you are infatuated like a child. When you hate, you desire destruction for your companion."

You don't know what life will bring and you may dislike the one you loved and love the one you disliked. And, In the next writing, we'll go back further to the era of Alghazali and look to his advice and may Allah grant us wisdom and guidance. And Allah knows best

To be continued....