- Seminars and Lectures abroad / 8.Australia
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- ٠08 Australia
Dear brother and sisters in faith, may Allah bless you all and make Paradise your residence, wherein you will abide eternally.
Scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, but they vary in their levels of knowledge. The knowledge of some of those scholars is spread within their cities, while some other scholars’ knowledge is spread within their countries or within one or two continents in this world. There are some great scholars whose knowledge, education, good manners and morals are spread among every home, shop, corner and car. Their words take root in people's inner souls after taking hold of their hearts; all people like them because their words spontaneously become fixed in the mind, which makes each seeker of knowledge, education and guidance likes them.
One of those great men is a scholar whose words have become as a gentle cure to the hearts seeking healing (from doubts), whose words quench the thirst of people in the middle of the wasteland, whose words are like a fresh breeze which blows after the intense heat. This scholar’s words are like the stillness of the sea after its agitation. Actually the following words of the poet are applicable to him:
If you have the best and the most perfect manners
Then you will be loved by all people
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He is the great Islamic caller to Allah, and the pious scholar, the guest of our Islamic community, the guest of Australia, the Islamic scholar Dr. M Rateb Al-Nabulsi may Allah protect him. We will host him in this blessed evening to make a conversation with him from the heart to the heart so that he will hopefully respond to our questions, may Allah reward him greatly.
Dear listeners, I will welcome on your behalf this great scholar in the studio of the Voice of Islam's Radio Broadcasting. Dear scholar, you are welcome, May the Peace, Mercy, and Blessings of Allah be upon you
Dr. Nabulsi:
And may the Peace, Mercy, and Blessings of Allah be upon you too. O Allah, make me worthy of this praise, I may not deserve it. I ask Allah His Forgiveness.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Respectable scholar, we will devote this episode of our program to talk about Proselytizing topics. Actually, there are caller to Allah here in Australia, and in everywhere, but before tackling this matter I want to tell you that a lot of people ask this question: How did your call to Allah start? When, where and why did it start?.
The Signs of Allah as a whole are passable ways to Allah
Dr. Nabulsi:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of Creations, and Peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad (the faithful and the honest), upon his family, and upon his companions who are good and chaste, who are the trustees of Prophet Muhammad's call and the leaders of his banners. O Allah our Lord, lead us out from the depths of darkness and illusion, unto the lights of erudition and knowledge, and from the muddy shallows of lusts unto the heavens of Your Vicinity.
Mr. Ibrahim, may Allah reward you immensely. There are signs of the universe, there are signs of the creation, and there are ayaat (verses) of the Noble Qur'an which are His Word. These universe, creation and Quranic signs as a whole are passable ways to get closer to Allah. One of the Quranic Ayaat is the following Ayah in which Allah the Almighty says:
"And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."
This Ayah, which is the Word of Allah, confirms that no one on this earth is better in the Sight of Allah than he who calls for Him; he who saves souls gone astray ; he who leads the heedless ones to safety and happiness; he who clarifies the facts of faith to the people, and he who helps them to correct their mistakes and to remain steadfast on the Straight Path. In fact, the Noble Prophet PBUH was the best caller to Allah. Allah the Almighty says:"O Prophet (Muhammad PBUH )! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, * And as one who invites to Allah [Islamic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allah (Alone)] by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light (through your instructions from the Quran and the Sunnah the legal ways of the Prophet PBUH ). "
However, the callers to Allah vary among themselves, and I ask Allah the Almighty that the callers to Allah everywhere arepious persons.
The call to Allah is ordained on every Muslim
Anyway, the call to Allah is not, as some people think, the mission of the scholars in particular. Rather, the first critical point is that the call to Allah is ordained on every Muslim, and the proof is in the Noble Ayah below in which Allah the Almighty says:
"O Prophet (Muhammad PBUH)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, * And as one who invites to Allah [Islamic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allah (Alone)] by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light (through your instructions from the Quran and the Sunnah the legal ways of the Prophet PBUH ). "
That was the first proof. Consider the following Noble Ayah:
"Say (O Muhammad PBUH): "This is my way; I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite sh3er to Allah i.e to the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. "
Which means that whoever does not invite unto Allah is not following the Prophet PBUH "I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite sh3er to Allah i.e to the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. "
Allah the Almighty says:
"Say (O Muhammad PBUH to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah), "
Actually, the call to Allah is two kinds between which there is a big difference; the individual duty, and the collective duty. The collective duty is ordained on the Muslim community such that if some people carry it out, then no Muslim is considered blameworthy. The Collective Duty type of call to Allah needs a well-informed, learned person who dedicates his/her full-time to acquire the Islamic knowledge. One whose profession is to call to Allah, and whose specialization is to respond to each question which removes all suspicion. On the other hand, the individual duty type of call to Allah is imposed on each Muslim; i.e. every Muslim on the surface of the earth should be a caller to Islam within the limits of his accurate Islamic knowledge. This is confirmed by the following Hadith in which the Noble Prophet said:
((Convey from me even if it is a single Ayah))
So every Muslim should be a caller to Allah within his knowledge. For example, when a Muslim feels deeply touched by the interpretation of a noble Ayah, he should convey it to his brother, his friends, his business partners, his friends in evening meetings, in evening parties and in every picnic.This Muslim becomes a caller to Allah by conveying these meanings to his friends and aquqintances. Hence this kind of call is an individual duty of each Muslim whether he likes it or not. The Prophet PBUH said:
((Convey from me even if it is a single verse))
This meaning is also confirmed by the following Noble Ayah in which Allah the Almighty says:
"By Al-'Asr (the time). * Verily! Man is in loss, * Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism)"
The call to Allah is not restricted to the preachers
There are four pillars of survival and success in this life and the hereafter, Allah the Almighty says:
"And do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf) which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar) which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad, etc.)."
So, recommending one another to the truth is the call to Allah, which is on pillar of success in this life and the hereafter. You may hear the common Muslim saying: “This does not concern me. I am not a preacher”. Who told you so? If you listen to the interpretation of only one Ayah in a Friday Khutba (sermon), if you listen to the interpretation of only one Hadith, or if you hear a narration of the great life and work of a noble companion of the prophet you then have an obligation to convey to the people around you. You have an obligation to convey to the people around you, the wisdom and guidance you understand from the Book of Allah, from the Sunnah of His Prophet, and from the biography of his companions.
Had the Muslims applied this Divine Guidance, we would have been in a better state. Therefore, I would like to convince the dear listener that the one who calls to Allah is not only the preacher. Have you not gotten influenced by reading a book? Have you not read an impressive biography of a noble companion? Have you not heard a great explanation of a Noble Ayah from a khateeb (the one who delivers sermons) in a mosque? Then, you are ordered to do convey that knowledge you acquired within the level of your knowledge and you should convey it to all people.
So, the call to Allah is not restricted to the preachers. Rather, it concerns each and every Muslim.When someone leads his brother to faith, he is really thanking Allah for the blessing of guidance which he has been given by Allah. The highest form of thanks for this blessing of Allah’s guidance to us is to convey it to sh3er. Hence, the critical point here is that this kind of call to Allah is an individual duty.
With regard to the collective duty, it is related to thorough full time study, to deep and profound knowledge, and to spending a long time trying to comprehend the meanings of the Word of Allah (the Almighty) and the Sunnah of the noble Prophet. Those scholars are great figures and top-level men whom Allah allowed to call for Him. Hence, this is a clear proof that the call to Allah is ordained upon each Muslim within his knowledge and among the people he knows. On the other hand, the collective duty is another thing which requires full-time dedication to acquiring knowledge, which also requires deep knowledge, thorough study and contemplation. Those scholars are top-level men whom Allah chooses for each era. As a scholar said: for each era, there is a scholar who elevates it (through knowledge).
This is what I hope to be clear to you, dear brother.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Respectable Dr., what is your opinion about the obstacles a Muslim preacher faces these days?
Dr. Nabulsi:
The Muslim preacher must possess many characteristics and at the top of those characteristics is knowledge. Allah has never taken into His sponsorship anyone who does not possess knowledge of “Deen” – The commands of Allah. By the way, may Allah reward you immensely Mr. Ibrahim. When someone writes the letters Dr. before his name, that means he has studied in elementary, preparatory, and secondary schools. It means that he has a license, a general diploma, a diploma in a special field, a master's degree, and then a Doctorate degree. The letters Dr. mean these eight certificates. Similarly, the word ' a believer' means that he knows Allah the Almighty, he knows His Method, he knows the passable way to Him, he moves toward the target he was created for, he is good for all people, and he is a knowledgeable person. As it was said: Allah would never make aman who does not have the knowledge of Allah’s orders and commands as his protégé (Wali). Had Allah made him his protégé (his Wali), He would have taught him. So, the believer has a moral character. It is impossible and even a thousand times impossible for a believer to lie, to defraud, to plunder other's wealth. This contradicts with faith, or even with the minimum level of faith. A believer knows Allah, so he follows His Method. How are people divided? They are divided into sects, creeds, trends, cults, religions, and doctrines, while Allah the Almighty divides all His servants into only two types. Allah the Almighty says:
"As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, * And believes in Al-Husna (Paradise)."
He believes basically that he was created for Paradise. Allah the Almighty says:
"For those who have done good is the best (reward, i.e. Paradise) and even more (i.e. having the honor of glancing at the face of Allah) "
Al-Husna (the best) is Paradise. A believer believes that he is created for Paradise, not for this worldly life. Accordingly, a believer avoids disobeying Allah and follows His Method, pays the cost of Paradise and tries to get closer to Allah through performing righteous deed.
"As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, * And believes in Al-Husna (paradise)."
So, he believes in Al-Husna, and he believes that he is created for Paradise. He fears disobeying Allah, and he remains steadfast on the Straight Path,gives charity and does righteous deed.
The believer's weapon is his perfection and righteousness
Actually, at the top level of mankind there are two types of people: The powerful people (oppressors) and the Prophets. The powerful people possess people's necks (they have power and control over people). On the other hand, the Prophets possess people's hearts. There is a big difference between those two categories of people (Prophets and oppressors). Furthermore, the powerful people (oppressors) use sh3er to take care of their own selfishinterests while the Prophets live to take care of other people's interests. In Addition to that, the powerful are praised in their presence, while the Prophets are praised even while they are absent (after their death). There is no one on the face of this earth but he is either a follower to thepowerful or a follower to the Prophets. I ask Allah the Almighty to make us among those how follow his Prophets since prophethood reflects Human perfection, and the people who follow the prophets have a part of that perfection.
So, the weapon of the believer is his perfection, sincerity, honesty, modesty, righteousness, and piety. This is the real righteousness. So we are in need of practical concepts, not theoretical ideas as the latter brings no benefit to Islam. People sometimes boast that they have an Islamic background, culture, perceptions, interests, and trends. We are in need of real Islam; i.e. we need to put the orders of Islam into effect.
It was said that the universe is a silent Qur'an (the creation of the universe shows the Greatness of Allah).The Prophet is a walking Qur'an (he followed the orders of the Noble Qur'an), and the Qur'an is a talking universe (with regards to the scientific facts stated in the Noble Qur'an before anyone at any time in history had known about it). We are in need of the believer who is a role model and who leads us on the straight path. A believerwho faces the same pressures as we do, the same things, the same obstacles, and the same stresses which keep us away from Allah. This role model believerwho has triumphed over his inner-self and who has followed the Method of Allah is indeed a true believer.
Hence, Allah the Almighty has classified His servants into two types:
"As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, * And believes in Al-Husna."
The first type of servant believes that he is created for Paradise. Therefore, he fears to disobey Allah and bases his life on giving (in charity). I onceread a book about the biography of the Noble Prophet PBUH. The author of the book wrote in the introduction: “O you who came to this life and gave and never took; Who sanctified the whole existence; who took care of human matter; Who recommended the rule of reason; Who weakened the herd mentality. O you whose excellence enabled you to be one above all but you preferred to be among all. O you who loved mercy; Who considered justice as your law, and love as your instinct, and excellence as your specialization and the people's problems as your act of worship.
Safety and happiness
When a person is a follower of a Prophet, he should first obey the orders of Allah, and then try to get closer to Him through righteous deeds. At that point, he will be safe and happy. The latest census shows that there are seven billion people in the world. I assure you that all seven billion people have two basic needs: safety, and happiness. No human being likes to be poor or sick or disabled or to have a problem with his children or his wife? Rather, everyone likes safety, happiness, a lot of money, a beautiful wife, well-behaved children etc.
Safety and happiness is an essential need in all humans. However, all those basic needs will not be fulfilled except by applying the method of Allah the Almighty. The fact of the matter is that we are in need of safety, happiness, and a third need which may somehow be odd -- it is the continuation of our existence. Man by instinct is interested in the safety, the perfection and the continuation of his existence. Safety is achieved through following the straight path. Happiness is achieved through performing righteous deeds, and the continuation of one’s existence is achieved through bringing up children properly. Doing so, Our children will be a comfort to our eyes (we will be pleased with them) and they will be as we wished.
Once, 20 years ago, I was in America. I told people there: if you held a high position like that of President Clinton, if you were as wealthy as Onasis, and if you were as knowledgeable as Einstein, while your son or duagther are not as you like (if they are heedless of Allah and never obey Him), you would a most miserable person.
I would like to address the dear brother of the Muslim community in this country, and I'd like to say to them: unless your children are righteous, there is a great problem. Virtually, the most serious issue people face when they immigrate to a non-Muslim country is that the father does not want his children to be heedless of Allah. His childrenmay abandon their father’s native culture, their father’s nation’s objectives, their father’s native civilization, the values and principles of their father’s nation. That is a very big problem for the dear brother when they immigrate to a non-Muslim country.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Respectable Dr., you have almost travelled to many countries, in the east and the west, in the north and the south, and you got acquainted with Muslims' circumstances there. How do you evaluate the call to Allah (Dawah) nowadays? Are you satisfied with it?
Dr. Nabulsi:
It is most gratifying to know that in these countries, there are many great callers to Allah who address the Islamic communities here in ways they understand and can relate to. Actually, when I travel to a foreign country, I face facts circumstances, and conditions that I do not know about.However, if there is a very honest scholar residing there, he could accurately identify problems, and could put forth the right solutions for them. In fact, we live our lives on this earth, but we forget about the eternal life. No one can comprehend the meaning of eternity. To approximate, if you take the digit one and follow it with three zeros, the number would be one thousand, when it is followed with another three zeros, then the number would be one million, when it is followed with another three zeros then the number would be a billion, and when it is followed with another three zeros the number would be a trillion. Now, if you take the digit one and follow it by zeros from my place to the Pole, or from the earth to the sun, which is about six hundred and fifty million kilometers and in each millimeter there is a zero, what would that number be? Now, if you put this big number in a fraction as its numerator, while the denominator is infinity, then the value of this fraction would be zero.
Actually, this world is not worth in the Sight of Allah a mosquito's wing, the Prophet PBUH said:
((Were this world worth a wing of a mosquito, He would not have given a drink of water to an infidel))
This world ends with death; i.e. death ends the strength of the strong, the weakness of the weak, the richness of the rich, the poverty of the poor, the handsomeness of the handsome, the ugliness of the ugly, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the stupidity of the stupid. Thus, death ends everything, and the reward, which ends by death is not befitting of the generosity and the greatness of Allah the Almighty. Rather, the reward of Allah is eternal which lasts forever and ever.
Preparation for the Hereafter is the real cleverness
Actually, if each person has a chart, the believer's chart would be in an upward trend forever, and death would be a point on this upward trending line. On the other hand the disbeliever's chart would be in a sharp upward trend, then there would be a sudden shocking drop in that chart at the time of death, as death ends everything. What does the dead take with him to his grave? He only takes with him his righteous deeds.
When you look at the house of a wealthy man who had died, you may ask yourself: who bought these extremely expensive chandeliers, who chose the floor tiles? Who chose this wonderful wall paint? Who chose this ornamental ceiling plaster and wall designs? And who chose this luxury furniture? It is he, the dead person, whose body is now buried in the ground under all that.
Hence, the real cleverness, victory and wisdom is to do proper preparation for the Hereafter. Once, I attended a funeral of one of my dear brother in faith. When they put the deceased in his grave andput the tile over his grave and shoveled the soil on top of it to bury him, and then left him and went back to their homes, by Allah Who there is no God but Him, I felt that the wiser and the smarter one is he who prepares himself (who performs righteous deeds) for this hour.
It was narrated in the relic that when the deceased is placed in his grave he is told:
((My slave, people went and left you alone, and they buried you in the ground, even if they stayed with you they would not benefit you, and no one remains with you but Me, I Am the ever living Who never dies))
I believe that utmost cleverness, intelligence, wisdom, prudence, self-love is to prepare yourself for the hour of death. Sometimes, humans neglect to think about death.They only want to live their moment happily, which is the biggest mistake people make. Humans are only interested in their good health and in their large income, and theyonly want to enjoy their lives. However, after this moment, when will his death come? No one knows. He may die in a traffic accident. He may die of natural causes, or from a cardiac arrest or an illness that hits his nervous system like paralysis for example or a terminal illness. A person may die in his country, in another country, on the road, on a plane, or at sea, or elsewhere. However the critical question to be asked here is: what did he prepare for this hour? A poet said:
Each creature will die and no one will remain
But the Owner of Pride and Majesty (Allah the Almighty)
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No matter how long night lasts, at the end dawn will surely come
No matter how long man lives, at the end he will be buried in his grave.
***
Every human no matter who long he lives in good health, one day
He will be carried to be buried
So when you follow the funeral of someone to the grave
You should remember that one day people will follow your funeral
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Man's cleverness is to think about his destination in the Hereafter
Humans in this life are motivated initially by self-love. Simply stated in a term which may not be well liked by people,, a human being is motivated by his selfishness. Out of his selfishness, his love for himself, and out of trying to achieve safety and happiness, a human being remains steadfast on the Straight Path of Allah. This is called a fateful issue.
Consider the example of a man who went to a picnic, but the food there tasted so bad that he did not enjoy it. However, it was just a one day event then everything ended. One the other hand, if he chose a profession he did not like, he would have to face that choice and deal with it every day. Therefore, there is a big difference between making a bad choice which ends after that one time event, and between choosing a profession which a person ends up not linking. The latter is a fateful issue which this person would have to deal with everyday of his life.. So thinking deeply is a must when it comes to fateful issue in our lives.
Listen to this unforgettable story: once, one of the most powerful non-believers, Naim Bin Masud, came to fight the noble Prophet PBUH. While Naim was sitting in his tent shortly before the battle, he asked himself: “why did I come here? Why do I want to fight this man? What sin has he committed? Has he shed blood? Has he violated other's honor? Has he plundered other's wealth? Why don’t you use your mind, O Naim?” Naim was the leader of the tribe of Gatafan, and he was a highly-regarded and respected non-believer among his people. Upon pondering these questions, Naim left his camp and went to the Muslims' camp to meet with the Prophet PBUH. The Prophet PBUH asked Naim about the reason he came to the Muslim camp. Naim told the prophet PBUH that he came to him to announce that he embraced Islam.
It was mentioned in authentic narration that the victory in the “trench battle” was secured by Naim Bin Masud when he was able to stir up hatred between the Jews and t the non-believers of Quraish by meeting with each one of them separately and that is how the Jews and the non-believers of Quraish were defeated.
Hence, only one moment of reflection may have a significant impact on a person’s life. Therefore, when someone enjoys a very comfortable lifestyle in a country, he should ask himself: “Isn’t there a death?” Of course there is a death and therefore he should prepare himself for it through performing righteous deeds.
Once, I was in America, a country known for its various aspects of civilization, development, comfort, and luxury beyond imagination. I asked them surprisingly (I was just kidding): “Do people in your country die?” They answered: “Of course they do!”I then said to them: “As long as there is death, we are all the same since death ends everything for everyone.”
In conclusion, man's real victory is to think about his ultimate destination. No matter how long we live, life is transient while the destination (our second life) is eternal.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Respectable Dr., in replying to this next question, I would like your answers to be comprehensive, all-encompassing, exquisite, inspiring, precise as much as possible., “What is the role of the Muslim immigrant in a non-Muslim country?”
The role of the Muslim immigrant in a non-Muslim country
Dr. Nabulsi:
To be precise, a Muslim Immigrant in a non-Muslim country has two roles: the first role is to remain steadfast on the straight Path of Allah, to be pious, to be honest, to be sincere, to bring up his children properly, and to discipline himself in order to present the ideal example of a Muslim to the western society. I swear to you by Allah that if the Muslims or if the Muslim communities in other countries followed their religion perfectly, people in the West would have a more favorable view of Islam. However,, alas, blunders and fraud are sometimes committed by Muslims there and that is a grave problem.
The Noble Ayah below has a very accurate meaning, Allah the Almighty says:
"Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the disbelievers, "
When a disbeliever meets a Muslim who, for example, lies and who overstates his working hours or who falsifies official documents and certifications, the disbeliever would then be convinced more of his own religious beliefs. The disbeliever would mistakenly conclude through the lies and improper behavior of the Muslim that Islam is fraud. So when the disbeliever sees the Muslim doing wrong and harm, that disbeliever would be convinced of his own religion (of infidelity). A neglectful and non-conforming Muslim is a trial for the disbeliever -- He would essentially make the non-believer turn away from Islam by his improper behavior.
Once, I visited Germany.. I found out that most of the Muslim Community members were making false statements to the unemployment office stating that they do not have work in order to receive unemployment compensation. The unemployment office employees who gave them that compensation knew for sure that they have dirty undeclared work, i.e. smuggling.
How would a German respect a Muslim after knowing that this Muslim had made false statements about being unemployed while in reality he was working and earning two incomes? The strangest thing is that there is also something called an artificial divorce practiced by members of the Muslim Community in order to receive compensation as well. I believe that the Muslim who does such things is committing a crime against Islam because he brings down the value of Islam in the sight of the Western people. The non-Muslim who finds the Muslim lying, making a false statement, saying words which are not true, and doing work of poor quality, that non-believer would be certain that his own religion (infidelity) is better that Islam. Therefore, that Muslim convinced this non-believer of his non-Islamic religion and was a trial for him.
"Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the disbelievers, "
The believer should be very careful, because people consider him a good example to follow. Actually, when a Muslim does wrong to sh3er in his own country, it is ascribed to him. On the other hand, when a Muslim does wrong in a non-Muslim country, it is ascribed to Islam. Since this wrong-doer is a Muslim, they would believe that Islam is the one who failed to discipline, refine, and elevate this wrong-doing Muslim. In that case, it is as if his sin is doubled and multiplied.
Mr. Ibrahim:
In your talk, you said that when a muslim person’s children grow up to be non-muslim that is the biggest loss. When a Muslim parent’s child grow up to be non-muslim, it is as if that parent has lost everything. What is your advice to the Muslim parents here in Australia?
Objective evaluation is a basic principle of life
Dr. Nabulsi:
I want to start with this simple preface: In the past, all our issues were descriptive in nature. For example, you say: This is a noisy house on a public road. However, nowadays we have a measurement standard for noise and it is called the decibel (dB). The decibel (dB)is a unit for measuring the intensity of a sound. For example, it is said that when a plane is landing, it makes a sound that measures 140 dB.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Please Dr., I’m sorry for interrupting you, there are dear brother who are phoning us and would like to ask some questions. I would like to tell the brother and sisters that whoever would like to address a question to the respectable Dr. Nabulis should phone us and we would write it and present it to him. Or you can send your question through Facebook, Insha-Allah.
Dr. Nabulsi:
When you say that you are a Muslim, you will be in the spotlight. When a Muslim does something wrong in a Muslim country, it will be attributed to him alone. On the other hand, when a Muslim does something wrong in a non-Muslim country, it will be attributed to Islam and not to him. Actually, this is a very critical point. A Muslim should abide by the teachings of Islam in order to elevate his rank in the Sight of Allah, and in order to sway the non-Muslims towards Islam. A Muslim should be on the straight path, pious, honest, sincere, chaste, generous, and hard-working. Of course, for non-Muslims actions speak louder than words. Non-Muslims are not concerned with Muslim philosophies and great ideas, Muslim research, Muslim evidences and proofs, Muslim Poetry, Noble Ayaat and Ahadith. Non Muslims are only interested in Muslims actions, and that is evident.
When I evaluate a man solely based on his actions my assessment would be an accurate and objective assessment and not an assessment based on affiliation. Actually, any person, any society, any state, or any nation, which evaluate its members according to their belonging to a particular class, or sect, has no value at all in the Sight of Allah. Therefore, unless our evaluation to sh3er is an objective one and is based on morality and righteous deeds, we would not succeed in this life. Hence, the objective evaluation is a fundamental principle.
Mr. Ibrahim:
What is the role of the parents?
Caring for children is the most important thing in life
Dr. Nabulsi:
As I mentioned earlier, there is a unit for measuring the intensity of a sound, like when you say that the plane’s noise level is 140 dB when landing. Likewise there isa standard or units of measure for bringing up children properly. If the Muslim who lives in his Muslim county is in need of one thousand of these units, then the Muslim who lives in a no-Muslim country is in need of one million of them because of the trials and the obstacles there.
Mr. Ibrahim:
In one of your lectures you said: If a parent thinks that by remaining in the non-Muslim country someone in his progeny might be a non-Muslim, then that parent should leave this non-Muslim country, and he should not reside there.
Dr. Nabulsi:
I attended the Maya conference in Los Angeles several times. During one of those Maya conferences, Dr Al-Qaradawi, one of the famous Muslim scholars, addressed the Muslims who reside in non-Muslim countries saying: “…Unless you are sure that your great grandson would be a Muslim, you shouldn't stay in those non-Muslim countries…” Later, I went back to my country Syria and there was a medical conference which was attended by a hundred Syrian doctors who lived in Detroit. One of those doctors from the conference invited me to his daughter’s wedding. I delivered a speech during the wedding ceremony where I quoted the words of Dr. Al-Qaradawi: “…Unless you are sure that your great grandson would be a Muslim, you shouldn't stay in those non-Muslim countries…” At the end of the wedding ceremony, one of those doctors who were at the wedding came to me and asked surprisingly: “…did you say my great grandson?” I affirmed and told him that is what Dr. Al-Qaradawi said. He then replied: “My son is a non-Muslim”, then he wept.
So, before a person decides to reside in a non-Muslim country, he should think about the fate of his children and his wife and whether they would be abiding by the commandments of Allah or not in that non-Muslim country.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Does the word “…he should not remain in the non-Muslim country” mean that he is obligated to leave that non-Muslim country. What if he knows for sure that it would happen in the future (that his grandson will not be a Muslim) as if he is Seeing it in front of his own eyes?
Whoever neglects bringing up his children has lost them
Dr. Nabulsi:
If he returns to his country but neglects to care for his children, such as here, it would not make any difference. So the most important thing is that he should care for his children. I know few people here who truly care for their children. If parents give their children guidance, care about those children learning Arabic, pay close attention to their religious upbringing, their Salah, etc. then that would be a very good environment for raising those children. If on the other hand, the parents neglect their children, then there is a big problem and the parents would surely lose them.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Respectable Dr. you've delivered an interrelated series of lectures on bringing up children properly.
Dr. Nabulsi:
Yes, it is about 64 episodes.
Mr. Ibrahim:
In fact, our meeting today is too short to speak about those episodes. However, the bottom line of our dialogue today is that there are many Islamic schools in Australia. Many Muslim parents who live in Australia enroll their children in those Islamic schools thinking that doing so would ensure for their children a good Islamic education. Accordingly this would absolve those parents from any sin. Is that true?
No one can replace the father in being responsible for his children
Dr. Nabulsi:
I strongly believe that no one on the face of the earth could replace the father when it comes to his responsibility before Allah the Almighty. The child should be closely followed by the father who has that responsibility towards his children.
Once, I visited a extremely well run orphanage where the orphans there were receiving excellent care and living in a great environment. I said to myself: “…If these orphans were living with their fathers, it would be better for them than all this luxury they have at the orphanage”. The father has a unique position, he considers his son as continuation for him, and his happiness is to see his child safe. So, when the father neglects raising his children, there would be a big problem. No matter how much care we provide the orphans at these orphanages, no one can replace the father in his role.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Respectable Dr., many specialists said that divorce causes many problems for the children. And in Australia, as in other Muslims communities in non-Muslims countries, there are so many divorce cases, to the extent that it has become a normal thing for Muslims. I want to highlight the impact of divorce on the child. What are the harms of divorce? And how does it impact the children?
What are the effects of Divorce on Children?
Dr. Nabulsi:
I always say to my Muslim brother in Syria: “…when you marry and have children, you should forget about placing your interests in the forefront…” A father who places his own interests ahead of that of his children is as if he is committing a crime against his children. Imagine a child whose parents get a divorce. When parents get divorced there is a great deal of emotional harm to their children who would be torn between their mother and father. Actually, one of the reasons for children rebelling and becoming troubled children is the family problems between parents.
So, when a man gets married and has children, he should no longer place his own interests ahead of that of his children because he has become a father with a great mission which is to rise his children properly according to the teachings of Islam. Actually, when man has a righteous child, that man would feel an unimaginable happiness. Allah the Almighty says:
"And those who say: "Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the pieous ones (Muttaqueen)"
Consider the example of a father who has righteous children. That father would have a great deal ofpeace of mind. On the contrary, when a highly successful father has rebellious children, he would be most miserable despite all the success and fortune he has achieved in this life. Therefore, I ask my dear brother to maintain their safety and happiness through bringing up their children properly.
Mr. Ibrahim:
This was your advice for parents, now what about the young people who listen to you? What is your advice to young men and women in this time of tattoos, stylish haircuts, Immorality, internet and sh3er?
Convincing young men is very important!
Dr. Nabulsi
Actually, there is no way to deal with the youth except through convincing, because the youth are subjected to two extremes. A young man needs a craft, a job opportunity, a job which fills his spare time. A young man needs a house to live in, and a woman to marry, then and only then it would be possible for him to devote himself to get to know Allah. However, when this young man finds that all the roads are blocked in front of him, then he would find himself subjected to two extremes. The first extreme would be religious fanaticism, where he falsely accuses people of Kufr(infidelity), and commits acts of violence. The second extreme would be pornography and prostitution.
We are suffering from these two major problems, and the backbone of a nation is its youth. Therefore we should care for and support our children by providing them with jobs, early marriage, and suitable housing. These are crucial issues relating to our nation. Therefore, if the active and productive class of our nation, the young people, who can contribute to the development of this nation are financially, socially, and psychologically disabled, our nation will never progress. So, when a father does his best to secure his children jobs, houses, and work opportunities, he would have given them a tremendous push to cross half the way on the path to Allah the Almighty.
I feel that in Syria, or in other Muslim countries, a father's main concern is to support his children financially until they get married.
Once, I heard of a man who travelled to France. There, he ran into a man standing on the bank of the Sein river. When the traveler got to talking to that man and inquired about what is troubling him, the man replied: “I wish to kill my father because he married my girlfriend.”In contrast, a Middle Eastern father’s main concern would be to support his children financially and to help them get married and start their own families. Such a father may even sell his house in the city to buy 5 houses in the suburb, and would sacrifice all the amenities and services of living in his city house in order to provide his children with their own homes and thus facilitate their marriage. Hence, the real triumph isn't achieved through outward appearances, but through trials. When a father cares for his children, their marriage, their work and their faith, he would then have fulfilled his fatherly duty successfully.
I believe that if a woman raises her daughters properly and chooses righteous husbands for them would definitely enter Paradise when she dies. Although this mother has never uttered a single word to call people to Allah, but she has raised her daughters properly to be chaste, virtuous, on the straight path, and pious, then she has chosen for them pious husbands and therefore would be in paradise for that. Such a mother would enter Paradise because there are many ways to enter Paradise. There are ways to enter paradise through our daily lives at home, at work, in the street, etc… It was said: “The ways to the Creator are as countless as the number of the breaths drawn by Allah’s creation.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Respectable Dr., this is your 4th visit to Australia. I would like to ask you a question and I hope you do not find it silly.What things are in Australia and are not in our Muslims countries and visa-versa?
Things exist only in Australia, not in Muslim countries
Dr. Nabulsi:
Undoubtedly, bringing up children properly is of the utmost importance. In general, in our Middle Eastern countries, the son grows up in a conservative family and looks up to his conservative family members as his role models. He has a conservative paternal or maternal uncle for example. Wherever he goes, he finds a conservative environment and possess a minimum basic level of our values. On the other hand, whoever lives in non-Muslim countries would find that it is too easy to commit the major sins. Even at their schools there is no accountability at all. Therefore, the situation is very critical.
Actually, although the Muslim community in the disapora clearly enjoys the advantages of the western world like freedom, welfare, etc. there is a strong possibility of losing their children. So, the successful one among those immigrant parents is the one who pays attention to this matter and looks after his children.
So, nothing in the Diaspora is more important than raising the children properly. It is easier to raise children in the Muslim Countries as the cousin, the uncle, the neighbor, etc are following to the commands of Allah. Most of the people in Muslim Countries perform the acts of worship, perform salah and obey Allah. Although nowadays Muslim Countries have adopted many of the Western Countries ways of life, however the Muslim Countries still have their special qualities.
How do we solve this problem here? It is through living in communities. Once, I was in Detroit. The entire area there is inhabited by Muslims. Therefore, all the neighbors are Muslim, which makes it easier to bring up children properly. So the moral corruption is extremely prevalent in the Western world as a whole and not just in Europe, or in America.
Consider the following hypothetical example: A man in America loved a girl and informed his father that he wanted to marry her. However, his father said to him: “No, my son, this girl is your sister, but your mother does not know.” This meant that his father had committed fornication with that girl's mother. Then that son loved another girl but his father told him that she was his sister as well. When this son told his father that he loved yet a third girl and wanted to marry her, he heard the same reply from his father. The son got angry, and told his mother everything that had happened. When the mother heard what her son told her, she said to him: “You can marry the girl you love (among those three girls) because you're not his son, and he does not know it!”
Mr. Ibrahim:
Respectable Dr., of course we will have many get-togethers with you during your stay in Australia. We are all eagerly awaiting the big day of festivities when insha-Allah, you would deliver a comprehensive inclusive speech. I would like to ask you about the impressions that you have of the Muslim Community during your last visit. What kind of impression do you have of this community?
The impacts left by the Muslim community on Dr. Nabulsi
Dr. Nabulsi:
Actually, this impression deepened when I visited another Muslim Community in other countries. Once, I visited Brazil where the Muslim Community members in that country are among the wealthiest in that country. There is a great number of the Muslim Immigrants there who are meat merchants, so they are fairly wealthy. However there is no Islamic radio station there, and the offspring of most of that Islamic Community are non-Muslim. Even the offspring of the one who built a mosque in San Paolo are non-Muslim. I always speak about the Islamic Broadcasting Service in Australia as a good example to follow. One can hear each day an Islamic Lecture, an Islamic Commentary, a Fatwa (advisory opinion), Noble Ayaat and Noble Ahadith, and consequently the listener will always be in touch with his religion. So, I wish that every Muslim community all over the world would start with broadcasting due to its far reaching impact. For example, out of the Bounty of Allah, in Syria I have four lessons broadcasted daily over the radio. This means that each day, 12million people listen to me, hence broadcasting has a far reaching impact on the Muslim Communities anywhere. The Muslim Community here in Australia paid attention to this point and created this Islamic Broadcasting Service which is one of its biggest achievements. On the other hand, as I mentioned earlier, the Muslim Community in Sao Paulo, Brazil are among the wealthiest in that country, but they do not have Islamic broadcasting. Therefore moral corruption is extremely widespread there. This is the most important point with regard to this topic.
Mr. Ibrahim:
There are many honorable scholars who came to Australia and gave Fatwas that creating an Islamic Broadcasting here is more important than building a mosque. Do you agree?
Importance of creating an Islamic broadcasting
Dr. Nabulsi:
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly because the Friday Khutba is delivered at the mosque every week for half an hour, while an Islamic Broadcasting Service offers Islamic programming and lectures all day long.. Undoubtedly, I never really knew the value of Islamic Radio in Australia until I visited Montreal in Canada and Sao Paulo in Brazil. The members of the Muslim Community in those countries are incredibly oblivious to Allah. You would hear things like “…My grandfather was a Muslim…”, they incredibly neglect the teachings of Islam. There, I prayed in the mosque that was built by one of those Muslim Grandfathers whose progeny was not Muslim. Here, in Australia, there is an Islamic Radio which is having a significant positive impact on the local Muslim Community.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Respectable Dr., we will receive the questions of the dear brother in this live broadcast, so whoever wants to send a question to Dr. M. Rateb Al-Nabulsi, can call us now because the interview is about to end. After this broadcast is over, you can send us your questions to the Voice of Islam or through Facebook. We already have some questions, and as I said whoever wants to ask a question should call us before the end of this broadcast.
Questions and answers
Question: A handicapped sister is receiving medical care from Home Care. Is it halal (permissible) to uncover parts of her body while getting medical treatment from a non-Muslim nurse?
Uncovering parts of the body before a non-Muslim nurse
Dr. Nabulsi:
Of course, it is permissible. To be exact, the best alternative is to seek medical treatment from a Muslim female doctor. However, if there were no Muslim female doctors then the next best thing is to see a Muslim male doctor. If those options were not available, then the next best thing is to see a female non-Muslim doctor then a non-Muslim male doctor, and those are the four possible alternatives in order.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Question: Dear Dr. Nabulsi, a sister asked: In your opinion, what is the fate of someone who spreads lies and makes trouble among people?
The fate of he who spread trouble and hate among people
Dr. Nabulsi:
Of course he will receive severe punishment.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Question: A Muslim young man used to abide by the teachings of Islam and used to perform Salah and he even travelled to Mecca to perform Hajj. However, when he went back home he stopped performing Salah. What role can his parents play to help him get back on track, not to mention that he has righteous friends?
The faith based on imitation is fragile and weak
Dr. Nabulsi:
He suffered a setback in his faith because his faith was not profound nor was it strong. His faith was weak and it did not stand the test of Hajj’s severe congestion. So, when a person bases his faith on imitation, it would be like a fragile building which would crumble at the slightest difficulty. On the other hand, if a person’s faith is firm, it would not change even if everyone on this earth turns to Kufr (infidelity). Thus, varying faith is not a simple matter. If a person’s faith was based on certain overwhelming emotion, it would not endure some difficulties or challenges. Hence, a person’s real triumph is to have such deep rooted faith that if everyone on this earth leaves their faith, he or she would not follow suit..
Mr. Ibrahim:
In this case, what is the role of the parents?
Parents are totally responsible for their children
Dr. Nabulsi:
I believe that parents are utterly responsible for their children. You and sh3er can help sh3er’ children who may need help. However, when it comes to to truly raising your child there is none who can do the job except you. So the father's main role is not only to have a child, rather it is to raise this child properly, to educate this child, to teach this child good morals and values. However, our great problem is that the one who does not have something cannot give it -- the bad mannered father cannot teach his child the good morals. We are in need of knowledgeable fathers who know Allah the Almighty, who know the truth, the Method of Allah, the way to get closer to Allah, and the reasons of happiness and misery.
Mr. Ibrahim:
There is a clash between Muslims and Muslims as immigrants. How could a Muslim face this clash while raising children?
A Muslim should choose righteous friends for his children
Dr. Nabulsi:
Actually, an Immigrant Muslim Parent should ensure good friends for his children. Although Immigrant Muslims tend to congregate around specific areas and form communities in the countries they emigrated to, yet there is no cooperation among them. Of course, your child is in need of a friend. If you choose your child’s friend from a conservative family like yours, you would be assured that your son would have good manners, morals and values. Thus, there should be a kind of cooperation between the Immigrant Muslim families, since cooperation is a divine order. In fact, the people who are far away from Allah the Almighty (the infidels) cooperate between one another on immorality and corruption, so it behooves us as Muslims to cooperate with one another on morality and guidance to Allah’s path.
Mr. Ibrahim:
Of course, we are receiving too many questions and we will try to address them as we get them to us..
Respectable Dr., you cannot believe how happy the Muslim Commuity is with your presence among us, and of course you know the Voice of Islam radio broadcasts your lectures every day. We broadcast one of your lectures in the morning before breakfast, and one at lunch time and one in the evening. We are very pleased and it is a great honor for us that you accepted our invitation. I'd like to take the last group of questions because our time is almost up.
Question: Respectable Dr. Nabulsi, there are Muslims who were born Muslims by virtue of having been born to Muslim Parents. What about individuals who were born non-Muslims? Will they enter Paradise or Hell? What is their culpability? After all, they did not choose to be born to a non-Muslim Family.
Mind and Fitrah are enough to lead man to know Allah
Dr. Nabulsi:
Allah the Almighty has granted human beings a mind, and the scholars provided a clear interpretation of the Noble Ayah below that would address this question:
"And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning)."
The word ' Messenger' in this Ayah could be interpreted as the mind. So, Allah the Almighty has granted human beings a mind and a Fitrah (natural innate instinct which recognizes Allah). Even if a person has never attended any Islamic lectures, nor attended any Khutba in a mosque, nor read any Islamic Books, still when that person commits an immoral act or a “sin”, that person would feel uncomfortable. Thus, Allah has granted mankind Fitrah, a psychological criterion, and has granted mankind a mind and guiding principles. Even if a person did not search for or find the guiding principles of Allah, the mind and the Fitrah are enough for people to know Allah the Almighty. Thus, the guiding principles are an additional element of guidance.
It is exactly like a student who attends the best of schools. This student has the best teachers, the best learning facilities, attends the best lectures, has the best books, and over and above all of that, his father has hired a private teacher to come to his home to teach him. The private teacher would not be necessary rather it is an act of kindness and generosity on the part of that student’s father. Allah the Almighty says:
"Indeed Allah conferred a great favor on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad PBUH) from among themselves,"
Allah has granted them the message as an additional element, while He has created the whole universe to show His Existence, His Oneness, and His Perfection. So Allah has granted mankind a mind which is based on causality, non-contradiction, and teleology. Allah has granted mankind Fitrah, and has created the universe, and the universal signs.
Consider the example of a person who goes out an buys food and eats it all alone and does not give his own hungry mother who lives with him any food to eat. Even if this person has never heard any Islamic lectures or teachings, that person would know that he has wronged his mother -- that feeling this person experiences is out of pure Fitrah.
The harmony between Islamic Guiding Principles and Fitrah
What is the reason for the psychological wellbeing caused by faith after repentance? It is because of the harmony between following the religious guidance and Fitrah. You are (figuratively) programmed according to the Guiding Principles of Allah. When you follow the Guiding Principles of Allah you will find peace of mind. The evidence of that is mentioned in the Noble Ayah below in which Allah the Almighty says:
"So set you (O Muhammad PBUH) your face towards the religion of pure Islamic Monotheism Hanifa (worship none but Allah Alone) Allah's Fitrah (i.e. Allah's Islamic Monotheism), with which He has created mankind."
So, you are programmed to be aligned with the Islamic principles, and when you apply its teachings you will find comfort. It is exactly like a Mercedes which is designed to be driven on a paved road. If you drive your Mercedes on an unpaved road full of d
