IQRA

Ramadan Afterthoughts: Crisis in follower-ship as well as leader-ship

BY MUNEEB NASIR

Celebrating Eid on the same day in North America is no longer just a community issue but it has percolated down to become a family one.

Many extended families are finding themselves in a most difficult position where family members are starting and ending the month of Ramadan on separate days because they attend different Islamic centers or subscribe to different views.

This is a pitiful state for a religious community to be in, especially one that values relationships so highly.
 
Indeed, it is a crisis of authority at all levels – from leaders to followers.

Will Muslims be able to celebrate Eid on one day in North America?

Occasionally, but it would not be by consensus any time soon.

It would only be as a result of circumstance – that is, if the moons align properly it may happen once in a while.

So improving this most difficult situation should be the objective of leaders and followers alike and new approaches are required.

The issue needs to be framed properly. 

Infected by Greed, Paralyzed with Fear

By Muneeb Nasir

(Friday Khutba delivered at the University of Toronto on Friday, October 10, 2008)

The headlines are furious.

“Meltdown anxiety”; “Bail-out anxiety”; “Depression”. The financial crisis has consumed the world over the past few weeks.

I read one headline that captures the essence of the crisis:  Infected by greed, paralyzed with fear

Underlying this situation is a most serious spiritual problem in the industrialized world today which is reckless and untrammeled greed.

As a news article puts it:

“Greed caused the disgraceful corporate scandals that are filling the news; Greed has produced a system that has given money to the rich and in effect taken it away from the poor; Greed is responsible for the obscene salaries of CEOs; Greed is responsible for the endless stress and ruthless competition of the workplace and the strains and tensions in the conduct of our relationships; Greed generates the reckless ventures that, in part, caused the financial crisis the world finds itself in;  Greed causes expensive wars that shatter lives.”

Allah alerts us to what greed and wantonness leads to and to learn from those who went down this path in the past.

“How many cities have We destroyed that exulted in their livelihood? Here are their homes now uninhabited after them except for a few? (Qur’an 28:58).

The Prophet, peace be on him, said: "Beware of greed (avarice), since greed (avarice) destroyed those who came before you. It led them to shed their blood and make lawful what was forbidden for them." (Reported by Muslim).