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Alhamdulillah, once again Allah Ta’ala blessed me with the opportunity
of travelling to Europe for the purpose of da’wah. A business
conference was hosted by the Islamic Council of Europe in Brussels at
the Sheraton Hotel, which was largely attended by prominent non-Muslim
businesses from various places around the world. The objective of the
host was of commercial interest. However, this platform was also used
to subtly blend in da’wah with the objective of the conference.
Among the guests there were scientists, biologists and technologists
representing large companies around Europe and America. All the
participants attended the conference for commercial interest and
not to attend a da’wah session. This was a completely different
audience from the ones I am accustomed to and I had to consider their
mindset in my presentation, especially in view of their object of
attending the conference. Addressing such an audience is a challenge
as we are used to addressing Muslim audiences who appreciate the
Qur'ān and Hadīth. Such an approach is meaningless to non-Muslims. In
my opinion, the time to penetrate such audiences is long overdue.
There are influential people in many sectors of life who are exposed
to one dimension of Islam only and most of the time it is the
incorrect one. There is no doubt that the affluent and wealthy do play
a vital role in influencing politicians. This is a trend all around
the world. We need to be proactive. Unfortunately, we are caught up
with petty and trivial issues and direct all our energies in
insignificant matters. The broader and bigger interest of Islam is
unfortunately left out. Hereunder is a summary of my presentation.
The time allotted to me was 30 minutes and it was right in the middle
of the conference from 12:00 to 12:30 when all the guests were present
and focused. I commenced 5 minutes before time. The M.C. noted the
interest of the audience and requested me to take an additional 10
minutes, Alhamdulillah.
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful. We praise and
glorify Allah and may peace and salutations be upon all the Prophets
of God, be it Adam, Noah, David, Solomon, Jacob, Jonah, Joseph, Moses,
Jesus and all other Prophets of God including Muhammad, the final
Prophet and Messenger of God. Āmīn.
At the outset, I express my gratitude to the Islamic Council of Europe
for hosting this programme and inviting me to address you.
Distinguished guests, I am grateful for the opportunity to interact
with you. It gives us the opportunity to know each other and
understand each other’s philosophy and ideology. The world has become
a global village. It is not what it used to be where we lived in our
own communities and societies.
Technology has opened up the world for us. At the press of a button, a
person in the north can conclude a deal with a person in the south. A
person in the west can conclude a deal with a person in the east. We
can no more live in isolation and seclusion from the international
world. Interaction with each other has become an indispensable part of
life. The international world now is part of our community and society
and we have to understand each other’s mindset, ideology and
philosophy. We cannot live in complete isolation and seclusion. What
happens in one part of the world affects the other part of the world.
If there is an economic boom in USA, all the markets of the world
react positively. If there is a recession in the USA as is happening
now, all the world markets react negatively and tumble.
In our interaction with each other, we have to be objective and
honest. We have to cast aside all prejudices. Yesterday, as I entered
Heathrow Airport, I observed the thought-provoking statements on the
HSBC billboards along the walkway to the immigration. One billboard
read, “The world would be a dull place if there was only one opinion.”
Another billboard read, “We appreciate different views, it is
stimulating.”
Then I saw two pictures with opposite expressions. One was a bunch of
carrots under which was written “Order”. Next to that was a picture of
carrot juice under which was written “Chaos”. The next two pictures
were the same bunch of carrots and carrot juice. However, now under
the bunch of carrots, it was written “Chaos” and under the carrot
juice it was written “Order.” Two same pictures but opposite
expressions. In my understanding, these billboards were meant to
instil tolerance in people and consider the next person’s point of
view.
A junior counsel went to a senior counsel for advice. The senior
counsel hosted his junior counsel with tea and poured the tea until it
began to flow over the saucer and on the table. He told his senior,
“enough sir.” The senior continued until it poured over. The junior
thought to himself, what advice will he give me as he cannot even pour
tea properly. The senior then counselled the junior, “Sir, my advice
will overflow from your heart and mind unless you create space in
yourself to accept my advice. The tea overflowed because it did not
have space in it.
Distinguished guests, the religion of Islam is perfect and absolute.
Apart from ritual worship being an integral part of Islam, every other
aspect of life is also directed by principles and values. Even food
and dietary laws of Islam are by divine order.
A physician came to reside in Medina. When the patients consulted him,
he enquired the reason for that. He was advised that our beloved
Prophet
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advised, “The stomach is the house of sickness.” Our Prophet advised
us to balance our diet. If one eats dates, balance it with cucumber.
Dates have heat and cucumber is cooling.
The very animal from which we derive our meat must be slaughtered in
the most humane way causing the least amount of pain in the animal.
There should be an incision that severs at least three of the four
veins causing the maximum flow of blood from the animal
Dr. Shalz and Dr. Hazim from the Veterinary School in Hanover, Germany
conducted a comparative study between the conventional way of killing
an animal and traditional slaughter.
In the conventional method, the EEG (electro encephalograph) and the
ECG (electro cardiograph) recorded pain in the brain of the animal as
opposed to the traditional method of slaughter. Upon incision, the EEG
and the ECG did not record any pain in the brain of the animal. Three
seconds after the incision, the EEG and the ECG recorded deep sleep
and unconsciousness. Upon six seconds, the EEG and ECG recorded zero.
This clearly exemplifies the fact that the wisdom of Islam emanates
from divine order.
Meat contains iron which is an integral part for the survival of the
red cells. Meat also has zinc and vitamin B12. When slaughtering an
animal and consuming meat, we are mindful of these bounties of God and
remember Him. We take His name upon slaughtering the animal. It is
ingratitude to consume His bounties and not to remember Him.
Distinguished guests, we all are here for our own commercial
interests. Be that as it may, let us unite on common grounds,
propagate and promote good to make this world a better place to live
in.
Presently, the world is facing two major challenges, viz. the concept
of justice and equity and developing the underprivileged. One part of
the world has one criteria of justice and equity whereas another
regards to be unjust and inequitable. One cannot judge the trees of a
forest in one season and make a conclusive judgment on the trees for
all four seasons. For that, one has to be in the forest in all four
seasons. How can we judge a nation from outside? We should go within a
nation and live within them to understand the nation. A judgment from
outside especially from prejudiced sources is unjust and unfortunate.
We even owe justice to God by believing in His existence and Oneness.
An atheist professor once asked his student, “Can you see God? Can you
touch God? If you cannot see God and you cannot touch God, then there
is no God.” A bright student stood up and asked the class, “Can you
see the professor’s brain? Can you touch the professor’s brain? If you
cannot see nor touch the professor’s brain, the professor may not have
a brain.” (At this point, the audience expressed delight)
The second challenge we are facing is developing the poor and
underprivileged. Most of us come from wealthy nations representing
large firms. While we enrich ourselves, we should not be selfish and
self-centred. Unfortunately, many of us have joined Club 99.
Once, a king was sitting in his palace looking out of his balcony. He
saw a labourer with his spade and hoe in hand full of joy and
happiness. The king was puzzled that such an ordinary peasant who
barely owned anything and who had to toil so hard was so happy. He
asked one of his courtiers regarding this. His courtier mentioned that
the reason for this was that he had not yet joined Club 99. The
courtier advised the king to give the labourer 99 gold coins, not more
and not less and then observe his attitude. The king gave a bag of 99
gold coins to the labourer.
The following day, on his return home, he saw this labourer in a very
agitated and disturbed state. He summoned the labourer and asked him
regarding his condition. He told the king that when he took the bag of
coins home, he found that there were only 99 gold coins. The whole
night he planned and plotted on how to increase one more coin to top
it off to 100.
In the morning, this caused him to get into an argument with his wife
and family. During the day, he was grieved and concerned regarding
maintaining the 99 coins and increasing it to one hundred. Being
unsuccessful, the tension had mounted upon him and he was unable to
find peace due to this preoccupation. The courtier then told the king
that this peasant has lost his contentment due to joining club 99.
Once, a hungy student was going from house to house begging for food.
He came to one house. A woman gave him a glass of milk. He was
satisfied and satiated and there was no need for him to continue
begging for that day. Life carried on. This student qualified as a
specialist in medicine and finally became a consultant to doctors.
Once a woman came with a rare disease and the matter had to be
referred to him. He saw the name and realized that she was the same
woman who had given him a glass of milk. He gave orders to offer her
full treatment. When she was cured, her greatest worry was the bill.
The professor wrote behind the bill, ‘Fully paid for with a glass of
milk’. When she saw that, she became extremely emotional. The doctor
then reminded her how he appreciated her favour to him with a glass of
milk. Today it was his turn to repay her.
In conclusion, I wish to share with you a very comprehensive verse of
the Qur'ān. The Qur'ān is the direct word of God revealed to Prophet
Muhammad 1400 years ago. Every word and alphabet of the Qur'ān is
preserved as was revealed. Reading the Qur'ān is communicating
directly with Allah.
Allah says, “Allah enjoins to do justice, to adopt good behaviour and
to give relatives (their due rights), and forbids shameful acts, evil
deeds and oppression. He exhorts you, so that you may be mindful.”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي
الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ
يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
In this verse, the core of Islam is expressed; three things one ought
to carry out and three things to abstain from.
The first thing is justice. What a wonderful place this world would be
if we implement truth and justice? The second thing is to love the
creation of God and be favourable to all. The third is to be
specifically favourable and compassionate to our relatives who also
deserve our love, compassion and assistance.
Allah then prohibits three things. He prohibits immorality, every
wrong and oppression. These six points are the prescription for peace
and tranquillity in the world.
In the Qur'ān, you will be amazed to discover issues of modern science
and discoveries, chemistry and biology. To quote a few examples:
The Qur'ān points out the origin of life in a verse, “And we have
created every living thing from water, will they not then believe.”
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ أَفَلا يُؤْمِنُونَ
The Qur'ān discusses the origin of this world, the famous big bang
theory in the following verse, “Do not those who disbelieve see that
the heavens and earth were joined then we separated them.”
أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا
The Qur'ān speaks about the mountains being pegs, a very recent
scientific discovery. The Qur'ān speaks about steel and iron being
extra terrestrial, another recent scientific discovery and still a
mystery.
Who could have told Muhammad all these things 1400 years ago when
science had not yet discovered all these issues?
Gentlemen, your guide and solution in life is indeed the Qur'ān. If
you are honest, you will see the path to peace.
The above are some of the points presented at the conference. The
presentation was very much appreciated by the audience, the majority
of whom were non-Muslims. May Allah accept it and make it a means of
guidance for mankind.
C
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