Bayaan from Masjid Un-Noor - We are all the same - 2 November 2018

Bayaan from
Masjid Un-Noor
We are all the same
Delivered 23 Safar
1440
(2 November 2018)

That is why we a
We are all
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Respected friends and elders. Asaalamu Alaikum. Thanks to
Allah I stand here today to deliver a Bayaan. This is all inspired by Allah, the most merciful
without whom we cannot do anything. All for the pleasure of Allah as it is expressed in the
Holy Quran.
This is a little Bayaan inspired by an article I picked on the Yaqeen (institute for Islamic Research)
website. It is written by Zohair Abdul-Rahman and Nazir Khan.
I have of course also enhanced it with a few of my own observations, but it is such a profound
article.
Let us just start with a few things. It is true we are all humans. In the greater scheme of
things, we are all the same. If we could an alien just arrived here “what are the differences
of humans?” the alien would probably say that we all look the same, react the same, talk the
same, act the same – probably running away, but that is something else.
And it is probably correct. We are by and large the same.
However, there are of course differences. These can really only be seen when we get closer to
the actual unique individual.
It is all about personality. The article is claiming that too often we see Muslims not being
comfortable in the Masjid or in Islamic gathering. Dress code, beard, norm, traditions, the
correct way and all kind of man-made rules may just invade a young mind. Or an old mind
for that matter.
Islam embraces diversity. Islam has the breadth necessary for all to thrive and to use the
talents Allah has given us. Remember, we should all grow in faith and feel a part of this mission.
So, where do we then differ.
Personality! And then it also walks into skills.
The article states that our Prophet Muhammed (SAW) had an ability to choose people according
to their personality best suited for a task.
I can mention one – indeed one of my heroes: Bilal. Going from slave to minister of finance is
not a bad career jump.
Here is a Hadith to this extent:

the same -
re so different
“Indeed Allah Most High created Adam from a handful that He took from all the earth. So
the children of Adam came in according with the earth, some of them came red, and black
and white, and between that, and the lenient, the hard-headed, the filthy and the pure”
(Jani’ al-Tirmidhi, 3212)
Somehow, this Hadith talks about the three defining things in humans: physical appearance,
personality and character. We could also call it body, mind and spirit.
But let us also look at the exact words of Allah:
Surah 17:84
Everyone acts in his own way, and your Lord knows best who is rightly guided
It could also be: Everyone behaves according to their nature (Shakil)..
Personality is really something static. It is the way we are born, somehow. Personality is also
value-neutral.
It is where we walk into character, that we see value systems coming to the fore. Character
can be changed. Character can be lumbered with anger, humility, generosity, sincerity, patience,
and so on.
Now we see why this here is important.
What is it we must work on as Muslims: Character. That is what Allah has commanded you.
But Allah has also given you a choice. You can choose to do the easy thing or the right thing.
It is also said: Give Allah what is right, not what is left”. Our Prophet (SAW) said: “I was sent
to perfect good character”
(Muwatta Malik).
Here is a direct quote:
“In a fascinating passage, Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH) answers the question of whether one
should focus on strengthening one’s faith (imān ) by first starting with abstinence (zuhd),
knowledge (‘ilm), or acts of worship (ibādah ). He replies:
“People differ in this regard. From amongst people, some find knowledge easier than zuhd,
some find zuhd easier than ‘ilm, and some find ibādah easier than both of them. What is
prescribed (mashroo’) is that everyone acts according to what they are capable of goodness
based on the verse “Have taqwa of Allah as much as you are able” (64:16). So when the
branches of faith become crowded, a person proceeds with what is most pleasing to God by
acting according to what he is most capable”.
Ibn Taymiyyah. Majmoo’ al-Fatawa, vol. 6, pp. 651-652.

We are all
Ibn Taymiyyah goes on to explain that what becomes the most virtuous action
for a person is whatever comes more readily to him and provides the
greatest benefit to his faith, even if that action might not be intrinsically better
than other actions.
For instance, a person who finds voluntary prayers at night onerous might
benefit far more from engaging in more recitation and contemplation of the
Qur’an, or more dhikr (remembrance), and these actions may be considered
more virtuous for this individual.
As a corollary, no one can belittle the good deeds of others, since only Allah
knows which of them are most valuable and most virtuous for which person.
What is really said is that Allah has created us with different personalities.
What is easy for one person is not so easy for another person. And that is also
fine.
Now comes the learning part:
We should also as true Muslims show respect for other people. Which way of
worship is ‘the best’? well, we don’t know, do we?
We should therefore never look down on one person for doing something
(within the overall faith concept of course) which is according to this person’s
personality and character.
Surah 16: 116
Do not falsely declare, ‘This is lawful, and this is forbidden’, so as to invent a
lie against Allah.
What we have here is really a warning to respect all. To not cast ourselves as
the judge of all and sundry. Who am I to say what the will of Allah is? This will
border on arrogance, and that is not surely not pleasing to anybody.
If we now return to the first part of this Bayaan, it is also about making space
for diversity. Insofar as we are all the same and very different, Islam can and
will accommodate us all.

the same
Why was Islam so successful in the first few hundred years? Because it respected
diversity! It was really a matter of welcoming everybody, with their
faults (and who is faultless?), their personalities, their characters, their way of
worshipping, cultural differences.
The overall Islamic word is really UNITY. We are united in this. We have the
same basic understanding of Islam and what it is to be a Muslim.
… and that is for the pleasure of Allah
I am grateful to the Almighty for having granted me this new opportunity
to address you today and I thank you for having given me the time to talk to
you. First give me hidayah and to all mankind success, only on the command
of Allah and the lifestyle of the Prophet Mohammed, Sallaalahu Aleihi wasalaam.
Ameen.
Asaalamu alaikum
Ilyaas Otterstrom
076 503 1282