Isolation, Kashmir & Myanmar

“On no soul do Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray:) "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden Like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith." Surah Al-Baqarah) verse 286- the Holy Quran.

“Every soul gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns.” These lines from the Holy Quran are echoing in my mind today, and after a bit of investigation I found the following information, I will connect the dots later but for now please bear with me:

According to Wikipedia: Augmented reality (AR) is a shared experience of a real-world environment where the objects that exist in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory methods, including visual, audio, feelings of touch, sensations/emotions and sense of smell.

If we all remember the law of physics discovered by Sir Isaac Newton: to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.

I have a deep belief that this law of physics is not limited to merely some lab experiments but it is amongst one of the greatest truths discovered by a human being.

For the last few months, we all have seen the painful and traumatic experience of Isolation that our Kashmiri brothers and sisters went through and are still enduring. Then, it was the Citizen Act,by Modi which was equally resisted by many Muslims and Hindus all over India, this law wanted all non-Hindus (especially Muslims) to leave India, so a particular group of people can live happily in Isolation from the people who don’t pray, eat or live like them.

Of course, how can we not forget the famous Wall which the US President Donald Trump wanted to make because he wanted only the white Americans to happily live in Isolation from the brown and black or coloured people.

Brexit, a nationalist approach (disguised by pragmatic patriotism) to keep everyone who is not British out of the United Kingdom. Why? Because everyone assumed that they will be much happier if they live in Isolation from the people who are not like them.

We have the pivotal Muslim countries like Saudia Arabia, UAE and many other rich Muslim countries who prefers to stay away, or more appropriately in Isolation from the conflicts of Palestine, Myanmar refugees, Kashmiris, Palestine and displacement of millions of Muslim from India. Why? because they have billions of business/ trade deals with countries who directly or indirectly have a role in these conflicts.

Myanmar Muslim  

Indian Occupied Kashmir

Now let’s see us how we, the great Muslim community of Pakistan is doing? Thankfully, most of us pray regularly in our own mosques. Yes, we all have our own personalized mosques- because we cannot even imagine going to a mosque which do not follow our interpretation of Islam. Today, Muslims are divided into so many castes, communities and sects only because we cannot tolerate people who disagree with us.

We follow the Sunnah of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but we tend to conveniently forget his last sermon (khutbah):

“……… All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor does a black has any superiority over white except by piety (taqwa) and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone………….”

After reading this beautiful sermon, where do we think we stand today? Every one of us has actively created walls and barriers within ourselves, Isolating our compassion, sensitivities and care for the other. And if anyone even try to cross those walls we push them, because we love to live in Isolation away from the people who do not look like us, who do not belief like us, who do not worship like, or who do not live like us. We have created isolation from each other on the foundations of racism, religious superiority,  caste/ creed system, colours of skin- much, much long before than this Covid-19 isolation.

But you know what…. the joke is on all of us. Even with our millions of emotional barriers- we all are suffering from isolation and fear together, we all are in this situation together, Covid-19 gives a damn to our US/ Canadian citizenship, nor does it care if someone is a prince or a pauper; all it knows that it has to create fear and Isolation because we have attracted to ourselves- our new augmented reality.

To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction...“every soul gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns.”

Stay safe- in peace and compassion..

Sonya Syed. 

For further reading complete sermon of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Reference: Arab News

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his last sermon (Khutbah) on the ninth of Dhul Hijjah (12th and last month of the Islamic year), 10 years after Hijrah (migration from Makkah to Madinah) in the Uranah Valley of mount Arafat. His words were quite clear and concise and were directed to the entire humanity.

After praising, and thanking Allah he said:

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O people, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn Abd Al-Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived…

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O people, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O people, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except bypiety (taqwa) and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O people, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born.

Reason well, therefore, O people, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qu'ran and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people”.

(Reference: See Al-Bukhari, Hadith 1623, 1626, 6361) Sahih of Imam Muslim also refers to this sermon in Hadith number 98. Imam al-Tirmidhi has mentioned this sermon in Hadith nos. 1628, 2046, 2085. Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal has given us the longest and perhaps the most complete version of this sermon in his Masnud, Hadith no. 19774.)