Step-by-step Transition

Come on #myidjourney,

a journey step by step, level by level,

nearing perfection.

Why Progressive Change Allah Knows the human condition the best- He is The Creator, and we are the creation. To ignore His Wisdom is not only foolish but useless. He has taught us how to change our ways and progress in our journey towards near perfection. And this Wisdom, He embedded within the revelation of the Quran;

“And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once?” Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly (recited it with distinct recitation).” [Al Furqaan/The Criterian:32]

Allah did not send down all the laws at one time. The Quran was sent down over a period of 23 years. In the first 13 years of Mecca, none of these laws were sent down. As a matter of fact, the Meccan Surahs were concerned with the knowledge of Tawheed, Shirk, Day of Judgment, Hell and Heaven etc. This allows any persons on the journey to His Jannah, to first build up his/her faith. Then in Madina, the laws were sent down, and that too, over a certain period of time, teaching us that any persons on the journey of change and progress can only change and progress gradually and not overnight- the human condition is such that no human has the capacity, ability nor capability to. Hence implying too, that in this journey of change, one has to be wise, and have steadfastness. This is the Wisdom that Muslims should apply today, especially if they are on the journey of change and progress, which rightly, all humans should do in order to live a really fulfilling life- that is to be near to perfection;

Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the afternoons, and during the last hours of the nights." [Bukhari 39 Book 2 Hadith 32]

Having said that though, one must plant the intention to walk the path towards Allah and His Jannah, to walk The Straight Path and stay clear of any other paths that can distract or lure one from the True Path, before any action can be undertaken for change and progress. If one is complacent and is contented and satisfied with the current state of living which is far from near perfection, then one should fear that one is far from Allah, His Pleasure and His Jannah as well. Gradual Progress Drinking was a part of the lives of the people at that time and Allah’s Wisdom had them quit gradually. If Allah were to completely prohibit drinking all at once, it would have been very difficult for them to abide by that law immediately. This simply shows Allah’s Mercy and Consideration for His creation, and in that too, we the creation should strive to follow His methodology when we are supporting or encouraging each other towards change and progress. The gradual prohibition came in 3 occasions in the following order:

“They ask you about intoxicants and games of chance. Say: In both of them there is a great sin and means of profit for men, and their sin is greater than their profit. And they ask you as to what they should spend. Say: What you can spare. Thus does Allah make clear to you the communications, that you may ponder” [2:219]

Shortly after the first revelation, Hazrat Abdur-Rahman Ibn Auf had invited some of his companions, and as was the custom of the Arabs they had consumed alcohol after their needs. Thereafter, while still in a state of intoxication, the Maghrib Prayer was performed. The leader of congregation (Imam) who was also drunk made an error in his recitation of Surah Kafiroon. Upon this, the second step was taken to prevent the consumption of alcohol when intending to pray afterwards, by the revelation of the following verse:

“O you who believe! do not go near prayer when you are Intoxicated until you know (well) what you say.....” [4:43]

From this verse, we can also deduce that anything permissible that is not haraam but takes one away from his/her acts of worship deprives one from walking the True Path. There were others however, who drank liquor during the intervening periods of prayer until the following incident took place: Uthmaan Ibn Maalik invited a few companions for a meal. After the meal, as was customary liquor was served. Thereafter, they became involved in another Arab custom, reciting poetry praising oneself, family and clan and simultaneously teasing and belittling others who didn't belong to that group. During this gathering, Hazrat Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas (R.A) recited a few lines of poetry in which he criticized and belittled the Ansars of Madinah. Hearing this, an Ansari (R.A) youth became enraged and threw a bone at him, which inflicted a severe wound on the head of Saad Ibn Waqqas (R.A). He then complained against the youngster to Prophet Muhammad after which he made dua'a to Allah: "O Allah! Grant us a clear cut for regarding alcohol." In response to this the 3rd and 4th verses concerning the complete prohibition of alcohol, were revealed as part of Surah Ma'idah:

O ye who believe ! Wine and the game of chance and idols and divining arrows are only the abomination of Satan's handiwork. So shun each one of them that you may prosper. Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist? [5:90-91]

Allah’s Wisdom has showed to us clear proof that the human condition is such that it is weak- and hence something in which there is greater evil than good, and disliked by Allah had to be raised to a level of prohibition simply because the human is too weak to be able to resist from falling into error or sins. And so in its weakness as well, the laws could not be revealed all at one go, as the human being has no capacity, ability and capability to truly change overnight. So… Implant the intent to make the journey. Then grab an organiser or a friend- for you to set your milestones, chart your progress and see to it that indeed- you are nearing perfection! May Allah open your heart to embrace progress and grant you ease in your journey towards Him and His Jannah, surround you with people who are close to and love Him and His Prophet s.a.w. and may we meet each other and Rasullulah s.a.w. and his companions r.a. on The Day.