Who
speaks for Islam?
Question:-
I understand that Islam does not have an
organised Church or a Priesthood or a Pope. Who speaks for Islam?
Answer:-
"O you who believe! Obey Allah, and
obey the Messenger and those in authority amongst you; and if you dispute
(quarrel or argue) about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you
(in truth) believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is better and fairer in the
end." 4:59
Question:-
Who has authority and how do we know that he
has authority.
Answer:-
"O you who believe! Respond unto
Allah and His Messenger when He calls you to that which quickens you; and know
that Allah comes in between a man and his own heart; and that He it is unto
Whom you shall be gathered." 8:24
"Allah is the light of the heavens
and the earth; The similitude of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp,
and the lamp is in a glass, the glass is as though it were a brilliant star; it
is lit from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the east nor of the west, the
oil of which would well-nigh glow of itself though no fire touched it; light
upon light! Allah guides whom He will to His Light; and Allah strikes out
parables for men, and Allah knows all things. (This lamp is found, or the light
is lit) In the houses which Allah has permitted to be exalted and that His name
shall be remembered (or mentioned) therein. His praises are celebrated therein
mornings and evenings. By men whom neither merchandise nor selling (commerce)
divert from the remembrance of Allah and steadfastness in prayer and charity,
who are in awe of the day when heart and eyes shall be transformed, that Allah
may reward them for the best of that which they have done, and give them
increase of His bounty; for Allah gives blessings without stint to whom He
will." 24:35-38
"Nay, but it (the Quran) is a clear
revelation in the heart of those who are endowed with knowledge, and none deny
Our revelations save the wrongdoers (or unjust)." 29:49
"He sends down the angels with the
Spirit at His command upon whom He will of His servants, saying: Give warning
that there is no God but Me; therefore, fear (do your duty to) Me." 16:2
"And should Allah touch you with
harm, there is none to remove it save He; and if He wish you well, there is
none to repel His grace; He makes it fall on whom He will of His servants; for
He is Forgiving and Merciful. Say: O mankind! There has come to you the Truth
from your Lord, and he who is guided by it, his guidance is only for his own
soul; and he who errs, errs only against it; and I am not a warder over
you." Follow what is inspired in you, and be patient until Allah judges,
for He is the best of judges." 10:108-110
"The Exalter of Ranks (or Exalted
above all Ranks and degrees), Lord of the Throne (of Power and Authority): He
casts (or sends) the Spirit by His command upon whom He wills of His servants,
that he may warn (men) of the Day of Meeting." 40:15
"Thus do We expound Our Signs in
various ways, that they may say: You have studied, and that We may make clear
to those who have knowledge. Follow what is inspired in you from your Lord;
there is no god but He, and shun the idolaters." 6:106-107
Question:-
These who have been given knowledge, are you
speaking about Sufis? Are you a Sufi?
Answer:-
Anyone can call himself a Sufi or can be
called a Sufi.
There are people with a range of virtue,
ability, knowledge, superstition, delusion, self-deception and ulterior motives
who set themselves up or are followed as Sufis.
It is not the name that one should be
concerned with but the reality. It is a question of having the insight,
discernment and discrimination and not of argument. Unfortunately the reality
cannot be judged by the unregenerate, ignorant, arrogant and self-opinionated
or persons with low virtue. Allah guides not miscreants and disbelievers.
(2:264, 3:86, 5:67,108, 9:19, 24, 80, 109, 16:37, 107 etc.)
People generally seek and accept whatever
agrees with their own prejudices, desires, and interests. This keeps them in
the position they were in before.
The seeker must be one who has some humility,
is sincere in desiring knowledge and improvement, makes effort to study and
understand what has been given and undertake the correct discipline.
"O mankind! Surely We have created
you male and female (or from a single pair), and made you tribes and families
that you may know each other; surely the most noble of you with Allah is the
one among you most righteous (careful of his duty to Allah); surely Allah is
Knowing, Aware. The dwellers of the desert say: We believe. Say: You believe
not, but rather say: 'We submit'; for faith has not yet entered into your
heart; and if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not diminish aught of
your deeds; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Only they are the believers
who believe in Allah and His Messenger, then afterwards they doubt not and
struggle hard with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah; they are
the truthful (sincere or righteous) ones." 49:13-15
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