Our Rolling Down From Exaltedness To Nether Position

Holy Quran has emphatically counted some of the most important characteristics of Muslim Ummah, thought to be vital for its survival as a vibrant community and also for playing a dynamic role on the stage of history in the comity of the nations. About more than half of the first millennium of its past history when it was really vibrant, it possessed all these qualities and since it is void of these, it is in the state of a dismay and lifelessness. In fact these qualities were forerunners of astonishing achievement of this Ummah in almost every field of life, including the knowledge of science of which the Western nations are boastful today. It had transformed a magnificent civilization and gave birth to the Muslim Renaissance which many of the nations, including most advanced West today, tremendously benefitted from.

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The very first of these characteristics is to maintain its state of being Ummat Wasat. Allah says:
“And thus We have made you a median (just) community that you will be witness over the people and the Messenger will be witness over you…” (Al-Baqarah: 143)

According to the definition of two of the famous Arabic linguistics, Feroz Abadi in his ‘Al-Qamus Al-Muheet’ and Raghib Asfahani in his ‘Mufredat Al-Quran’ the term ‘Wasat’ is the central point of a body, the middle point or line in many points and lines, the balanced position and the just policy between undue favoritism and prejudices. When the term is applied on a community, it explicitly manifests its moderation, fairness and reasonability. The quality of being ‘Wasat’ community required the Muslims to avoid all the shows of extremism, may they be in expression of their feelings and views or taking stances in the policies and actions.

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The second of these was our status of Khaira Ummah (The best of people). The term ‘Khaira Ummah” encompasses all the good things which everyone is in need of and beneficial for all. Wisdom, justice, good, virtue and honour are some of them, this Ummah is necessarily supposed to have in it. Here in spite of the fact that the Quran has given it the name of ‘Kheir’ I have not included the wealth with other examples. That is because where we find the term kheir used for the wealth in the Quran, a clear contemptibility for it can easily be sensed there. As a refulgent quality of this Ummah the Holy Quran mentions it saying:
“You (the believers) are the best of the people ever raised…” (Ale-Imran: 110)

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And the third salient feature of this Ummah was that the believers always kept themselves above from living only for their selves and their families. All that they wanted was not particular for them but bountifully for all around them. They were giver more than being the takers. They were raised for bringing good for whole of the mankind (Ukhrejat Linnas). No blessing from Allah was thought higher than the guidance. The Muslims were bound to ensure possibly making this greatest blessing reach every person and every corner of the earth through their missionary spirit of Dawat and Tabligh. They were the distributers of these boons and bounties the Divine gifts making them the first choice for others without any concept of being the monopolists of all that Allah had bestowed upon them as His gift. The Messenger, be peace and blessings upon him, is reported to have said:
‘The one who brings comfort and ease for the poor with his wealth and treats the people with justice and equality is the real believer.’ (Tahawi)

Our Holy Prophet, SAW, repudiated those who claim to be the believers but egocentrically keep their own selves at the top in preference, do not like for the others what they prefer and like for themselves. This behavior of selfishness is affront to civilized values set by Islam.
“You have been raised up for mankind…” (Ale-Imran: 110)

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The fourth of these promising things, had been their dutifulness in the matter of Amr Bil Ma’ruf, Nahi Anil Munkar. This is the duty every Muslim is religiously obliged to do in his domain, in his family, at his work place, in the locality he lives and in the society he is a part of. Once we start brooking the moral epidemic, we can never be safe from getting tainted with them. For last several centuries our remaining indifferent in this case has proved much more dangerous than withstanding attacks of dengue mosquitoes, which cause a serious fever with a great loss of lives. Amr Bil Ma’ruf and Nahi Anil Munkar is actually a venture more important than chemical sprays to kill the mosquitoes long before stemming of plagues. All of us have to take part in eradicating the moral evils from the society according to our authority and influence. The wording Fa Illam Tastati’ (so if you don’t have the power or authority) in a Hadith indicates that for fulfilling this duty a Muslim is accountable in accordance with his power and social position. A basic reason for our being Khaeira Ummah was undertaking the responsibility of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.
“You enjoin that is right and forbid that is wrong (and evil).” (Ale-Imran: 110)

The Messenger, be peace and blessings upon him, has said:
‘I swear by the One in Whose hand my life is, you will have to enjoin that is right and forbid that is wrong, if not then it is much probable you become subject to the punishment of Allah. In that case you will murmur your invocations but Allah will not accept your invocations.’ (Tirmidhi)

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And last but not the least is their Firm Belief in Allah. Belief in Allah is the radiance and the light of the hearts and the inner power of men. One of the major grounds of our title of Kheira Ummah was Faith in Allah. Allah’s favours upon us are always proportional to the degree of our Iman (Belief). The Prophet of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him, once said:
‘Any one of you, who wants to know about his rank in sight of Allah, should see what in his own sight the position of Allah is. Because, Allah gives the position to His servant proportionate to the position the servant keeps with him for Allah in his heart.’ (Al-Hakim)

In another a bit short Hadith the same fact has been told:
‘The one, who wants to know what is for him with Allah, should see what he has for Allah with him.’ (Ad-Darulqutni)
“And you believe in Allah.” (Ale-Imran: 110)

As the Muslims, how much benevolence, blessings and help of Allah we deserve, all depends on how much sincere we are in our claim to be Muslims, how much obedient and loyal we are to our Lord and how much firm and strong we are in our belief in Allah, the most Exalted, most Benevolent. Allah’s promise is:
“So, do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad. You will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers.” (Ale-Imran: 139)

Our state of distress and agony, our backwardness in every field of life and our failure to protect ourselves in face of the intrigues and aggressions of our enemies for last several centuries has been only because, as Ummah we have lost all the characteristics mentioned above. We are no more holders of the attribute of Ummat Wasat bearing witness over mankind of truth of the all truths, Islam, nor do we show any traits of Kheir Ummah. We are constantly in deficient in making just, wise and balanced policies. Our inaptitude to make progress in our worldly life and bravely and sagaciously face the challenges is for a long time open to our opponents. We are neither sincere with and sacrificing for each other nor faithful and obedient to our Lord. It was enough for our being made rolling down from the exaltedness to the lowest position.