Assalamu-alaikum
:salam2:
Brothers and sisters I agree that we have enimies outside the Ummah and that they really dont want us to prosper but our biggest problem lies within. If we were the rulers once it was only with the help of Allah SWT and with strong faith in him and his deen. It was due to following of Rasul-Allah SAW's and his companion's sunnah and example.
So, if we are down and out now its basically due to our own short comings. Allah says in the Quran,
Verily! Allah does not change the condition of a people until they (first) change that which is in their hearts
Al-R'ad
So when they turned away (from the Path of Allâh), Allâh turned their hearts away (from the Right Path). And Allâh guides not the people who are Fâsiqûn (the rebellious, the disobedient to Allâh).
As-Saf
Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected Faith by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted in Excesses. (78) Nor did they (usually) forbid one another the iniquities which they committed: evil indeed were the deeds which they did. (79)
Al-Ma'ida
Allah SWT told us a lot about the previous Ummats and the reason I see is that we may take heed from it. So that we do not fall into the same traps as they did. So that we can be well aware of the consequences of those actions. So that we may understand and act the way Allah SAWT wants us to. The Quran has a really wonderful way of teaching things, just take a look at Surah Jumua,
It is He Who has sent amongst the Unlettered a messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom― although they had been, before, in manifest error― (2)
The similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Mosaic Law, but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong. (5)
Jumua
In the above ayaat Allah SWT first reminded us that Allah swt has send his messenger SAW and that he SAW, by Allah's will taught us what we did not know,
"to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture (Law) and Wisdom― although they had been, before, in manifest error"
And as the Surah progresses Allah SWT tells us the similitutude of those before us who were given and were blessed with Allah's book, law and wisdom but threw it away behind their backs,
"The similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Torah, but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong."
And then there were promises from Allah SWT to them that if they would have abided by his books and message he would have always helped them and provided for them,
And if only they had acted according to the Taurât (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord (the Qur'ân), they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet.
Al-Ma'ida
At another place Allah SWT tells us about the reason for their expulsion from the title of CHOSEN PEOPLE,
And remember Allah took a Covenant from the People of the Book, to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it; but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! and vile was the bargain they made! (187)
Al-e-Imran
Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment. And Allâh is not unaware of what you do. (85)
Al-Baqarah
So the very basic problem with us is being far away from the Quran and Sunnah and things will not change for us untill we change ourselves because Allah SWT does not wrong us but we ourselves do that.
Truly! Allâh wrongs not mankind in aught; but mankind wrong themselves. (44)
Yunus
And if we are not going to change our ways then, Allah SWT says,
"It may be that your Lord may show mercy unto you, but if you return (to sins), We shall return (to Our Punishment).
Al-Isra
So its our time to return towards Allah and to repent and to cling to Quran and Sunnah. We have our chance as people before us had thier's
Generations before you We destroyed when they did wrong: their Messengers came to them with Clear Signs, but they would not believe! Thus do We requite those who sin! (13)Then We made you heirs in the land after them, to see how ye would behave! (14) But when Our Clear Signs are rehearsed unto them those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us, say: "Bring us a Reading other than this or change this."
Yunus
Is it not what we are trying to do and atleast showing by our actions and deeds,
"But when Our Clear Signs are rehearsed unto them those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us, say: "Bring us a Reading other than this or change this."
What, in my humble opinion, we have to do is that we have to return to Allah and seek his forgiveness,
May Allah gives us all hidayah and courage to stand for him and to follow the Quran and Sunnah completely
> We have to help our fellow muslims particulary with learning and following our deen. And to make them understand that our success lies in the following of the will of our creator.
> We have to make our own people understand that its our responsibilty to help our brothers and sisters who are in need and not to take advantage of their miserable conditions.
> We have to tell them that its Allah's mercy upon them that they are in the place of a buyer and not in the place of the seller who has to sell themselves to feed their families.
> We have to understand and to remind ourselves that our strength lies in uniting on the Quran and Sunnah and have to pray to Allah SWT to change our condition
> We have to TURN TO ISLAM
And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this Qur'ân), and be not divided among yourselves[], and remember Allâh's Favour on you.
Aal-e-Imran
It is reported by Abu Sa'eed Khudri (Radhiyallaho anho) that the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: "Whoever sees a forbidden thing being done, he must prevent it by the use of his hand; and if he has no power for this action, then he should prevent it with his tongue; and if he cannot do this even, then he should at least consider it a vice in his heart, and this is a very low level of one's faith."
(Muslim)
It has been reported by Nu'maan bin Basheer (Radhiyallaho anho) that the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: "There are people who do not transgress the limits (laws) of Allah, and there are others who do so. They are like two groups who boarded a ship; one of them settled on the upper deck, and the other, on the lower deck of the ship.
So, when the people of the lower deck needed water, they said: 'Why should we cause trouble to the people of the upper deck when we can easily have plenty of water by making a hole in our deck.' Now if the people of the upper deck do not prevent this group from such foolishness, all of them will perish - but if they stop them then they all will be saved."
(Bukhari & at-Tirmidhi)
It has been reported by Ibn Mas'ood (Radhiyallaho anha) that the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasal-lam) said: "The decline and fall of Bani Israa-eel started thus: when the pious among them saw certain sins being committed by the transgressors, they forbade them from doing the same; but when the sinners did not repent, the pious because of their relationship and friendship continued to mix with them. So, when this state of affairs began to prevail, Allah caused their hearts to be accursed in the same manner." (i.e. the hearts were also affected with the disobedience of the transgressors).
Then in support of this, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) recited a verse of the Holy Qur'an, which says: 'The disobedient and the transgressors among the Bani Israa-eel were accursed by Allah.' On this, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) emphatically instructed his Companions: "(To avoid such decline) you people must enjoin upon others to do good deeds and prevent them from doing forbidden things; you should restrain every tyrant from tyranny and invite him towards truth and justice.*'
(Abu-Dawud & at-Tirmidhi)
These are the words in Abu Dawud, and the words in at-Tirmidhi are: "The Messenger of Allah, (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), said, 'When the Children of Israel fell into acts of disobedience, their men of knowledge forbade them, but they did not stop. Then they sat with them in their assemblies and ate and drank with them, so Allah caused the hearts of some of them to be tainted by others. Allah cursed them on the tongue of Da'ud and 'Isa ibn Maryam. That was for their disobedience and overstepping the limits." The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), who had been reclining, sat up. Then he said, "No, by the One who has my soul in His hand, until they bend them to the truth completely!"
O' Ummah, let us stand firm together and help each other to overcome this situation which we have dumped ourselves into with our own deeds,
Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment. (2)
Al-Ma'ida
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allâh, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allâh is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allâh is Ever Well¬Acquainted with what you do.[] (135)
An-Nisa
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allâh as just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Well-Acquainted with what you do. (8)
Al-Ma'ida
And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this Qur'ân), and be not divided among yourselves[], and remember Allâh's Favour on you.
Aal-e-Imran
