It is only natural to want people to follow what we believe to be correct. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting this. In fact it is an admirable trait to want what we believe is best for others. The problem however is that most human beings do not know how to react to those who remain steadfastly resolute to their own school of thought. As Muslims though we are fortunate that we have the Quran and the example of our beloved Prophet (s) to guide us on how one ought to conduct themselves amidst such a wide array of different beliefs. Consider the following verse for example:
"Call unto the way of your Lord with wisdom and good exhortation, and reason with them in the best way. Lo! your Lord best knows those who go astray from His path, and He knows best those who are rightly guided" (Holy Quran 16:125)
Now ultimately we as Muslims understand that it is Allah who guides. But as the above verse clearly demonstrates, we have a responsibility to behave in a manner that best helps create an environment where the truth can easily blossom. So it is important to remember that our responsibility to behave in the correct manner should not forfeit simply because others have rejected the truth after being presented with clear evidence. Allah will judge them accordingly. But Allah will also judge us on whether we have done our duty. After all it can not be denied that our behavior can attract people to the truth or drive them away from it.
Proof of this is exemplified in the Prophet (s) himself as it was his respect for humanity accompanied with his kindness and compassion which attracted people to adopt the correct path. The Quran attests to this fact with the following verse:
“Thus it is due to mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough, hard hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you…” (Holy Quran 3:159)
If however we behaved and gave dawah in a manner that was in complete contrast to how the Prophet (s) would have behaved, then this would undoubtedly drive people away from the truth. God forbid that be the case as Allah will hold us to account for such a consequence of un-Islamic behavior.
Keeping all this in mind, let us now turn our attention the chorus of the following nasheed:
Why don’t you beat yourself? You filthy Shia
Why don’t you beat yourself? You filthy Shia
Beat yourself, beat yourself, kill yourself, slash yourself
( The mp3 link to the above song is currently down. But here is another nasheed equally as shameful: Click here )
Now although the Prophet (s) never cut himself when mourning the death of a loved one, neither did the Prophet (s) ever behave in such a vulgar manner as to call someone filthy or tell them to go commit suicide simply because they had a different belief.
So in light of the teachings in the Quran and the example of our beloved Prophet (s), how is it possible for self-confessed Muslims to behave in a manner so cruel and vulgar, a manner so contrary to our Prophet (s)? What is it about such people that make them incapable of harmonious dialogue?
The answer can better be understood by first realizing a distinguishing characteristic of those that follow the correct path. That characteristic is that they are typically always on the defense. Take for instance Muslims as a whole. We as Muslims are constantly hounded for our beliefs. We continually have to respond to the false accusations made against us. The reason for this constant barrage of attacks is simply because Islam is a threat to their belief system. It is a threat because the core doctrine of Islam is so rational, that if any other school of thought was to be compared against it, Islam will expose the inherent flaws of those alternative schools of thought.
Unfortunately some of those who belong to those alternative schools are so comfortable in their social standing that they do not want to jeopardize that by reverting to another belief. As a result, they ignore the rational proof of Islam and use the accusations others make against it as a justification for why they are not Muslim.
Yet the people responsible for the hate are those who are too proud to accept the rational reality of Islam. It is these people that feel compelled to not only aggressively insult Muslims but to also come up with as much accusations against Islam as possible. This is designed to serve two key aims.
The first aim is to convince their own self that what they follow is true. By trying to find faults in other faiths, they build a false sense of security that their own faith is now superior.
However you don’t defend your position by attacking someone else’s. This is the last resort of those unable to defend their position. That is why those that follow the truth much prefer their belief to be discussed because the truth is clear from error and because the truth is clear from error, it will defend the accusations made against it while simultaneously highlighting the inferiority of the belief that the accusers of the truth hold.
The second aim is intimidation. The main purpose of the attacks are not designed to guide Muslims, but rather it is designed to show all the non-Muslims that this is the treatment they should expect to receive if any of them are to become Muslim thereby aiming to prevent people from accepting Islam.
Yet have such approaches ever produced any real success for the anti-Islamic movement? There are still reverts to Islam despite the propaganda that is desperately trying to allege Islam is so obviously wrong. But that is really not the point. The point is that although such approaches may produce some minor success in terms of influencing some people not to accept Islam due to the cunning and intimidating propaganda, that short term success will only be to their detriment in the hereafter. Remember if our behavior drives people away from the truth then we will be held to account for that.
Thus the same must be said regarding the anti-Shia movement. The appalling and deceitful behavior that is typically accompanied with this movement will not only be to the detriment of the anti-Shia in the hereafter, but also a detriment in this life as well. That is because they are inadvertently highlighting the same approach and insecurities the anti-Muslims are precisely guilty of which is proving to continually benefit the Shia.
In fact it would be cause for concern if the truth is not vehemently attacked as there is always a war waged against the truth. This is the Wisdom of Allah, that He allow the enemies of the truth to bring the truth in the spotlight so that the accused can now have the right of reply, a reply for all to see. Glory be to Allah.
So to the accusers of the Muslim Shia, here is some more of our reply to you:
Follow Quran and Ahlul-Bayt Rasool said
It is in your books ask why you haven’t read
Better for you to question what you’ve been fed
So you can be a Shia of Muhammad
At Ghadeer what was the meaning of mawla?
You say it was friend we say it is leader
But never there was successors through shura
Not anywhere in the Quran or in sunnah
Rasool said twelve successors but you say four
Rafidha you say but it’s you who ignore
You fight just like the sahaba did before
You must follow the Ahlul-Bayt to be sure
Dispute over Fadak is easy to choose
You’re my choice Zahra the truth you never lose
Yet they side against you how can they confuse?
Your stand a clear sign, no need for more clues
Have you heard what our dear Rasoolullah said?
To anger Fatimah angers Muhammad
It is in your books ask why you haven’t read
Muhammad can’t be angry at the guided
Curse anyone who had harmed the Ahlul-Bayt
There is no reason for you to hesitate
Quran and Ahlul-Bayt will not separate
Anyone who had harmed them we know their fate
You say we have to love all the Sahaba
How can I when they had killed one another?
They fought Ali so they fought Rasoolullah!
Are you going to let them be your teacher?
We ask you pray on our behalf Ya Ali
Ya Allah all our needs come from Thee only
Through the Gate of Knowledge can we soar to Thee
The Ahlul-Bayt taught us tawheed perfectly
We don’t believe Allah has feet as you say
Do you know what type of God that you portray?
You can’t partition Allah in any way
Learn from the Ahlul-Bayt and do not delay
You do not like we thump our chests but so what?
Yes some of us bleed and most of us do not
But we remembered Husayn while you forgot
Like Husayn we too will stand despite your plot
You have the audacity to mock Mutah
Despite it being in Quran and Sunnah
How is it you can mock the law of Allah
The Rasool commanded Mutah remember
Ya Sadiq what a shame they do not know you
You the teacher of theirs if only they knew
They abused one another except for you
For you are the Ahlul-Bayt respect is due
I bear witness there is no god but Allah
And Muhammad is the Rasool of Allah
Yet you call me filthy Shia rafidha
So is this what you call the Rasool’s dawah?
O you Ya Muhammad I will imitate
Truth with me no reason to intimidate
The guided will behave like the Ahlul-Bayt
You aggressors should learn how to contemplate
Yes, brothers and sisters in humanity
Atleast this is what should be our unity
O Where is your Islamic mentality?
Better for you to learn some humility
What ever school our enemies see the same
It is the divide and rule Zionist game
You continue to help them have u no shame?
Your fight will only be our enemies gain
Why is it you fear civil discussion?
Let us sit down in peace and use our reason
But your no match so you turn to aggression
So you hide your flaws but truth you abandon
Islamic Revolution of 79’
All the way to Hizbollah this is our time
The Shia world over no one can confine
Unite and defeat our enemies design
said...
Salaam un alayku bro Rev guard. from: Mujahid Khalfan
What i really like about your article is that you expose the liars. using truth you expose falsehood and retten heartedness. I am very happy you have written sucha n article. I love the song you wrote t the end.. your song that you wrote, does not attck or bash other people, it simply is "making the truth blossom" the way how The Holy Quran would want it to be, and Rasool-Allah
said...
Salam alaykum brother,
It is not easy to respond in such a calm and noble manner after being so shamelessly attacked by those who take great pleasure in spreading hatred against Shia Muslims.
People responsible for hating and insulting other Muslims, display manners not of Holy Prophet, but clearly those of his (sawas) enemies.
These individuals claim to follow the Sunnah of ResoulAllah (sawas).
Astagfirullah! Is spreading hate by using profanities and insults something The Holy Prophet (sawas) did? Did he (sawas)ever recommend that kind of behaviour?
Prophet Muhammad (sawas) had such character that even those who hated and disagreed with him, still respected his kindness and honesty. Then, clearly, those whose hatred towards other Muslims has completely taken over their logic and reasoning do not follow Prophet's (sawas) noble example.
The nasheed you have written, brother Revolutionary, is truly beautiful, mashaAllah.:) May Allah swt reward you for your intention and your effort. Your faith and passion for Truth is clearly evident. And when this Truth you cherish so much was attacked, you did not resort to shameless methods of your enemies; you did not allow your emotions to overwhelm you. You have responded in a calm and respectful manner, and that alone, brother, is victory.
May Allah (swt) keep us clean from feelings of pride and arrogance. May He (swt) cleanse our hearts and remove hate which is like a poison for our minds and souls. May Allah (swt) let mercy and forgiveness grow in us, so that we may become patient and kind towards all His creatures.
Please keep writing:)
Your Sister:)
said...
Aslamalikum bro Rev,
As usual Bro Rev you have failed to amaze us with your modest talent & your tactful nature the article is brilliant no words in the Oxford dictionary can praise you enough and May God reward you for your efforts!
I find it worrying that ppl can be follow falsehood like herds of brainless sheep perhaps they feel safe in vast and empty numbers
if one cannot differentiate between Good and Evil then what is the point of that existence? surely its the choices in our lives that one makes us what we are as ppl as we all know that 'EVERY ACTION HAS A REACTION'
A beautiful and rather profound saying from Ameeral Momineen Imam Ali(as)
'A BELIEVER WILL NEVER HATE YOU AND A HYPOCRITE WILL NEVER LOVE YOU'
suffice to say there ends everything and in my book at the end of the day having senses which open the mind body and soul make life alot easier to appreciate the very simple things in life.
and thats all my P brain can handle for now lol.
If theres a will theres always a way!
solari14
said...
Brother Rev.,
Hit after hit....all of your articles are golden and this one outshines in its perspective and rationality, especially in these difficult times of opposition, hate, and ignorance. Keep doing what you do and realized that all your work is greatly appreciated and inshallah you will get what is due in this world and the next. Salam.
said...
Salam Alaykum brother Revolutionary Guard:)
Where is that article on infallibility? Come on, don't keep us waiting for too long!
:)
Revolutionary said...
ws sajjad ali :),
sorry for the late reply. been going through spritual highs and lows. havent been motivated to continue with the infallibility article. but im hoping to complete it soon inshaAllah.
dont b a stranger inshaAllah, keep dropping by once in a while.
take care