I sit here today asking myself what is the purpose of life? We as young people wake up every day not fully aware of our true purpose in life. The real reason why we've been placed on this land. Yes, indeed we say by tongue that we are created to worship none other than Allah (swt) and to follow the Sunnah of the prophet (pbuh) but it seems to me that none of us have really comprehended the true meaning of believing in the oneness of Allah. Were so caught up in the web of lies that we don't realize that were leading ourselves in the path of jahanam. Dear brothers and sisters I am not trying to lecture anyone for I am full of mistakes but I just wanted to remind my fellow brothers and sisters in Islam a issue that we tend to overlook. One that concerns us all whether young or old.
We live in a society that only wants to consume things never wanting to give anything in return. We as Muslim individuals need to be setting an example for other individuals to follow. One that all people from all walks of life would be compelled to apply in their daily lives. Our beloved prophet (pbuh) used to give his neighbors and fellow companions whatever they needed. He was all about giving. But us in the other hand seem to be doing the exact opposite. Doing our best to get the most money its OK it doesn't matter if we have to fall on haram while were at it, it seems. Have we forgotten the Sunnah of Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (phub) ? We are supposed to be the example. Those, which others would want to, embrace their way of life and learn about. But it seems to me that we are making people see Islam and Muslims as uneducated worthless people. Who cheat, deceives, disfigure and deform what America stands for.
Our beloved Prophet (pbuh) has said in numerous narrations’ to seek knowledge even if it means going to China. We on the other hand have been blessed with the opportunity of receiving a free education and having nothing to lose while were at it. But what do we do with that golden opportunity we simply throw it in the trash. Indeed we have couple of hundreds of Somali Students going to Colleges and Universities but the numbers of high School dropouts are increasing. It seems the longer we stay in America the more we seem to put our customs, religion and traditions in the trash.
Another good example of a golden opportunity that we don't take advantage of is voting. Most of us don't vote because as I have said earlier were either too busy feeding ourselves the web of lies that we will return back home and govern our own countries. Yes alhamdulilah that’s a great plan but its time that we must wake up and smell the coffee and wake up to reality. Should we just sit there waiting to hear the news that we can all go back to Somalia and in the meantime just wait? Or should we be making something of ourselves and learning new things that, we will be able to take with us when were going back home? You see we also have to let our voice be heard about issues that matter to us and to chose those who we believe can get the job done into office? Because if we don't vote somebody else controls our communities. They write the law and it is put into law and our money pays for it. So we might as well vote and make sure that the needs of our community are met. If all Muslims over the age of 18 go out to vote and give their power to the leader (meaning the imams of the masjid) and then the leader could go out to the representatives and that way he can share with them the concerns of the Muslim Community. That way the person running for office will most probably would take the leader seriously when he sees the power and all of the people who have placed their power in him. That way the imam could ask for the person running for office to give the Masjid or the Community Center a specific amount of money from that which has been collected from the Muslim Citizens that which reside in that Community who have paid federal taxes.
It seems as if the enemy can always find a way to keep the Muslims separated even if it’s over the smallest things. Now they’re separating us into different camps the Shii, Salafii, Theyii, Heii, Sheii, and Whatiii whatever they can to keep us a part. Because they know that as soon as we come together its over. They know that Islam is not isolated to only Africans but to all people regardless of where they’re from. They know that we have something stronger that bonds us all together which is the belief in the oneness of Allah (towhid).
Dear brothers and sisters who must know that the only responsibilities that we have is not that of which is to provide for ourselves but also those to ones society. We must be law-abiding citizens. If we work together to better our community we would be able to attract more people to Islam. This is our opportunity to spread the message of Allah. Some of our other responsibilities to our society are to give back in community service. Meaning we should be the ones attracting homeless people, organizing food drives in which we give the homeless people free food. We show the people within our communities the beauty of our deen. Then only can we say we have reached true success. Dear Muslim readers none of us is guaranteed to live to see tomorrow but what we can do is make good use of our time. We must not let a single minute to waste. We need to take charge and take part in our communities.
We must cultivate our souls and minds and fulfill these social responsibilities that we have upon ourselves. We must deliver the message and be as one. Keep in mind that when you’re out in the public your not caring your name and image but rather the names of all Muslims all over the world and their image. So think twice before you do something and when you’re doing anything do it to enhance the Ummah in whatever form, way or capability. For it is only you who has the power to empower other individuals to see the beauty of this beautiful deen.
This article was inspired by a Khalid Yassin lecture that I went to.
