Unity among the growing and diverse Muslim community in America, argued to rest on the Quran as the one shared standard rather than traditions, scholars or Hadith. Submitters are described as simple observers of a simple religion who keep the contact prayers and avoid division. Also includes a poem from a youth newsletter and an announcement of the 1997 Submitters conference in Tucson.
By the afternoon. The human being is utterly lost. Except
those who believe and lead a righteous life,
and exhort one another to uphold the truth, and exhort one another to
be steadfast.
(Sura 103)
The Islamic community in this country is growing
steadily—both from the influx of foreign immigrants and from new
American converts. In terms of Islamic practice, there is wide variation
in these newcomers—ranging from Islamically-flavored cultural traditions
or backgrounds with no Islamic influence at one extreme, to great learning
and righteousness at the other. This growth, and the diversity within
this growing community, has stimulated discussion on the need for unity.
Unity implies some commonality of belief and practice. What standards
should be at the base of our unity and how can we teach, share and encourage
them? Where a lack of commonality appears to be contributing to disunity
is the standards we apply to everyday situations. The standards by which
we live our daily lives can be derived from a number of different sources:
religious beliefs, ethnic cultural traditions, habits we have learned
from family and associates, behavior patterns learned from the media,
and from a variety of teachers and scholars. It should be noted that many
of our social behaviors are morally neutral
(such as how we make our shoes, the languages we speak, the types of fruits
we eat). Diversity in such matters merely contributes to the delightful
variety in the Islamic world, and is not a cause for disunity.
...What basic Islamic standards should we have in common in our daily
lives, then, in order to promote unity, and how should they be encouraged?
Righteousness, to be sure, but righteousness according to whom? The one
source we all have in common and upon which we all agree is the Holy Quran.
In it are basic instructions for business, law, family life, and dealings
with Muslims and non-Muslims in a variety of circumstances. If Quranic
standards are not given first place, what standards might prevail? Cultural
traditions, carryovers from paganism, personal preferences, the habits
and opinions of the most influential members (whether good or not so good),
the interpretations of various (often disagreeing) scholars, legalists,
and religious traditions. When Quranic standards are not foremost,
details of ritual may be accorded greater
importance than taking moral responsibility or performing compassionate
service, and contention ensues. In the interest of unity, therefore, the
standards we set for an Islamic community must be from the Holy Quran,
be perfectly clear (3:7), and apply to all community members.
If we prayfully ask God’s guidance in understanding and applying
the standards in the Holy Quran, we can minimize the divisive effects
of basing our understanding on various traditions, scholars, and interpreters—
many of which do not agree [with the Quran, and contradict each other]
(39:29). God’s standards for us have purpose—they are not
arbitrary nor are they like ritual magic. The Straight Path is, rather,
a relationship with God based on our obedience to Him, from which grows
our relationship with everyone and everything else. Applications of Quranic
standards to our daily lives proceed from their purpose and can be quite
specific. For example,
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Standard For Unity
not stealing means not only refraining from shoplifting, street
robbery and embezzlement, but also from any wrongful appropriation
of that which is not our own (such as failure to return what was
borrowed; cheating and plagiarism; failure to pay agreed-upon wages
or bills in full and on time). The process of consensus which relies
on discussion among people whose wills are submitted to God, can
provide a strong foundation for unity. Our goal, in the long run,
is to build the health of our communities?by encouragement, by support
for righteousness, and not by harsh enforcement or hurting one another
with accusations and suspicion (49:12). Even though we will always
be as diverse as the species of God’s trees and fish, God
is One, and if we earnestly seek to obey God, how can we remain
disunited?
Surely, those who are reverently conscious of their
Lord, and who believe in the revelations of their Lord, and who
never set up any idols beside their Lord. As they give their charities,
their hearts are fully reverent. For they recognize that they will
be summoned before their Lord. They are eager to do righteous works;
they compete in doing them. (23:57-61)
God cites the example of a man who deals with disputing
partners (Hadith), compared to a man who deals with only one consistent
source (Quran). Are they the same? Praise be to God; most of them
do not know. (39:29)
Maria Abdin
HAVE YOU SEEN GOD?
Have you seen the night that turns into
day?
Have you seen the birds that can fly like a plane?
Have you seen the stars that are o’ so bright?
The one who created has infinite light.
Have you seen the clouds with their beautiful
shapes?
With one blow from God they all take their place.
God is the possessor of infinite grace.
Him alone I worship cause him I must face.
Have you seen the rise of the sun when it climbs
in the East?
These are the proofs for those who truly believe.
But most do not see it except when in need
And once they receive it then again disbelieve
Have you seen the fall of the rain when in measures
it’s poured?
And then drop by drop in the ground it is stored
Until a plant grows out with such colorful leaves
Be you glorified for creating all these
From the glow of the moon to the shine of the sun
From the blow of the winds to the rivers that run
You have created such a glorious place
But most do not see it, most are too dazed
Just open your eyes up look around and see
I hope that I can so that with God I be.
Shahram Bijan
Editor’s Note:
This poem was reprinted from the Elite, March Edition, 1997. The
Elite is a wonderful new newsletter produced by and for our young
submitters. We encourage all young submitters to contact them to
receive the newsletter and to send contributions. The correspondence
information is given below:
The simple observers are those whom
God endowed with wisdom and knowledge and are not arrogant. They
choose to remain simple. Those who are appointed kings and queens
on earth but decide to remain simple servants of their Lord. The
whole world considers them not worthy, but they are the elite of
the elite. They are described as doomed and following a crazy man,
but they are the intelligent ones whom God chose and guided. They
remain simple submissive worshipers of God alone and trust in Him
alone. They are the ones who examine all words then follow the best.
These are the ones whom God has guided; these are the ones who possess
intelligence (39:18). And when they come across vain talk, they
disregard it and say, we are responsible for our deeds, and you
are responsible for your deeds, peace be upon you. We do not wish
to behave like the ignorant ones (28:55). They never harbor any
hatred towards those who believed (59:10). However, they are harsh
and stern against the disbelievers, but kind and merciful among
themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking blessing
from God and approval. Their marks are in their faces because of
their prostrating (48:29). They avoid gross sins and transgression
except for minor offenses. Their sides readily forsake their beds
in order to worship their Lord, out of reverence and hope. And from
God’s provision to them they give (42:37:38).
Who are these simple observers? The submitters, of course! This
is stated in the scripture as follows:
You shall strive for the cause of God as you should
strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship
on you in practicing your religion—the religion of your father
Abraham. He is the one who named you “submitters” originally.
Thus, the messenger shall serve as a witness among you and you
shall serve as witnesses
among the people. Therefore, you shall observe the contact prayers
and give the obligatory charity and hold fast to God. He is your
Lord, the best Lord and the best supporter. (22:78)
The above verse tells us that any religion that is less than simple
is from other than God Almighty. Simple observers appreciate what
it takes to reduce what is difficult to that which is simple. Glory
be to God who decreed for us the religion that is simple to observe.
Unlike the idol worshipers’ religions or their ways of life—which
are full of nonsense laws and difficult to observe—we are
blessed with a perfect religion of Monotheism, but most people do
not know. Therefore, we must unify our submission to God, reverence
Him, observe the contact prayers and whatever we do, we should never
ever fall into idol worship. Thus, “our contact prayers, our
worship practices, our lives and death are all devoted absolutely
to God alone, the Lord of the universe.” (6:162) This is one
of the reasons we must force ourselves to be with one another in
order to unify all our religious practices, and to be tolerant and
kind with one another by way of communications.
We should remind with the Quran alone, seeking God’s blessing
not as a means to boost our egos or show how smart we are. God already
described us as intelligent and people of understanding. We ask
questions to improve our understanding, not to disbelieve. We are
thus united in one column like the bricks in the walls (61:4). We
reverence a day that is extremely difficult, full of misery and
trouble. Consequently, God protects the righteous from the evils
of that day and rewards them for their steadfastness, with paradise
(76:10-12). They will enter paradise together with
their spouses and rejoice. They will
have mansions upon mansions constructed for them with flowing streams.
This is God’s promise and God never breaks His promise (39:20).
Therefore, we should devote our unified worship absolutely to God
alone, even if the disbelievers dislike it (40:14). We should also
avoid those who do not take their religion seriously and are totally
absorbed in this worldly life (6:70). We should remind only with
this Quran and not dispute among ourselves lest we fail and scatter
our strength (8:46). We should not be like those who became divided
and disputed despite the clear proofs that were given to them, for
these have incurred a terrible retribution (3:105).
The idol worshipers will resent this invitation. This is because
they do not possess vision to observe that which is simple. Instead
they pursue their own opinions and dwell in vain talk and conjecture.
And when they read Quran they pursue the multiple meaning verses
to create confusion and seek different meaning (3:7). Their egos
cause them to disregard God’s revelation. Consequently, God
sends them astray despite their knowledge, seals their hearing and
their minds and places a veil on their eyes; who then can guide
them after such a decision by God? (16:108) Only those who repent,
believe and lead a righteous life will enter paradise without the
least injustice.
O you who believe if you obey some of those who
received the scripture, they will revert you after having believed
into disbelievers. How can you disbelieve when these revelations
of God have been recited to you and His messenger has come to you?
Whoever holds fast to God will be guided in the right path.
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The Simple Observers
O you who believe, you shall observe God as He should be
observed, and do not die except as submitters. You shall hold fast to
the rope of God, all of you, and do not be divided... (3:100-103)
As for him who opposes the messenger, after the guidance
has been pointed out to him and follows other than the believers’
way, God will direct him in the direction he has chosen and commit him
to Hell; what a miserable destiny (4:115).
...Our Lord, direct us to be appreciative of the blessings
you have bestowed upon us and to do the righteous works that please you.
Admit us by your mercy into the company of your righteous servants. (27:19)
Adam (Shayhu) Khalipha
Dear Readers:
Please send your comments, or articles for the newsletter to
ICS/Masjid Tucson,
PO Box 43476, Tucson AZ 85733.
Attention to Abdullah Arik.
1997 Conference
August 29-31, 1997
Tucson, Arizona
God willing, we are planning to hold the 12th Annual United Submitters
International Conference in Tucson, Arizona. The dates of this conference
are tentatively set for August 29-31, 1997.
Please mark your calendar and start making your plans to attend the conference.
Remember that this is a great opportunity to be with Submitters from all
around the world.
Look for more details in the coming issues of the Submitters Perspective.
Who Are We?
During the past fourteen centuries, traditions, customs, and myths have
crept into the religion of Islam. Gradually, they have become dogma or
ritual, to such an extent that anyone who questions them in the light
of the Quran finds himself or herself regarded as a dangerous innovator
and heretic.
Islam is an Arabic word meaning submission to the will of God. Islam
is not a religion of terrorism or compulsion or bigotry. As a matter of
fact, it is a religion of great tolerance and compassion. Islam strongly
supports the civil rights of all people, whatever gender, race or creed.
However, the religion of Islam today is like a precious jewel that is
buried under piles upon piles of man made innovations. Our aim is to purge
these innovations by upholding the Quran and nothing but the Quran alone,
and present the jewel of true Submission to the world.
Write to us for a free catalog and a complimentary issue of Submitters
Perspective. Tell your friends. Help us spread the message of worshiping
God alone, and following the Quran alone.
About this work
Kind
Document
Author
International Community of Submitters
Publisher
International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson