Background

Home > About Classical Islam > Our Projects > Background

In the past 100 years the Muslim world has gone through more changes than it has gone through in the last 100 years. The Muslim ummah (Muslim nation) has gone through many changes and the effects of these have led the Muslim ummah to deteriorate...

Introduction

Assalama Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatahu

In the past 100 years the Muslim world has gone through more changes then it has gone through in the last 100 years. The Muslim ummah (Muslim nation) has gone through many changes and the effects of these have led the Muslim ummah to deteriorate in many ways which have had long lasting negative effects. As a result of the changes that have taken place we see the Muslim ummah in a state in which we see it presently.

We can see the Muslim Ummah situation is very sad, many people are trying to cure the problems of the Ummah as some people have set up charities, others have set up Da'wah groups and some have tried to make amends to this situation in their way.

What this shows is concern (Fiqar); this is very good but unfortunatly due to having no Islamic State or any leadership we are left with having to deal with problems of the Ummah ourselves.

We have with these concerns set up an organisation which would help to develop certain characteristics within the individual in order for them to be immune from negative external influences.

This organisation was set up in 1996 with a few brothers and sisters who were very concerned with the current situation of the Muslim Ummah, projects were set up and great results were seen over time.

The organisation started to develop and grow and better ideas and input was placed in order for it to improve.
The continuous development of this organisation brought attention from senior scholars who became very supportive and consented to this organisation.
Senior scholars from around the world have come to know of this organisation and they have shown their approval and expressed that there is a need for such an organisation which would help the Muslim Ummah with the intention we have.

Our organisation is set up to teach knowledge which has been transmitted through the 4 authentic schools of thought.

The four schools of thoughts all emerged and were established in the time of the pious predecessors (the 3 rightly guided generations). The prophet (peace be upon him) told us that the 3 generations are rightly guided. Insha-Allah the pious people who lived in these 3 generations are rightly guided.

Within these generation lived the 4 great imams who started the 4 schools of thoughts, the names of the these 4 Imams are:
Imam Abu Hanifa (R.A); Imam Malik (R.A); Imam Shaaf’i (R.A.) and Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal (R.A)

These Imams and other classical scholars all had the great fortune of either learning knowledge directly from the Sahaba (R.A) such as Imam Abu Hanifa (R.A) (who had seen at least 7 companions of the Prophet peace be upon him) or like the other Imaams who had studied under the students of the Sahaba (R.A), so the knowledge they gained is authentic and history is proof of their piety and knowledge. These great scholars had gained their knowledge through great hardships and difficulties and through their efforts of collection of Hadith, Islamic Law and principles of Islamic jurisprudence were developed for our benefit.

These four schools of thought (Hanafi, Malaki, Shaffie and Hanbali) are in common harmony and mutual respect amongst those who accept and follow the knowledge passed on through these four schools of thought. Over 98% of the Sunni Muslims follow a particular school of thought.

Method

At present there is some confusion amongst the Muslims who due to the lack of understanding of Islam and without the guidance from scholars, read Quran and Ahadith (sayings of the prophet peace be upon him) and after reading these, they come to their own understanding of what it could mean, which can lead to misguidance and confusion.

To learn the principles of Quran and Hadeeth and to understand the exalted words of Allah (S.W.T), takes many years of study and sincerity. In the past, the classical scholars and their students would dedicate their lives and travel thousands of miles to just learn one Hadeeth. Once a student came to Imam Malik (R.A.) and asked if he could be his student, the Imam advised the student to remain in his companionship. After 5 years the Imam started to teach him. While the student was in the Imam’s company, the student had already acquired good Akhlaq (manners), principles of being a student, value of knowledge, piety and spiritual development.The Imam wanted the student to develop qualities and appreciation of knowledge which is a part of the traditional method of learning knowledge. Without these certain qualities the knowledge would not be as beneficial.

From history we can see that there is a principle where Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) gave knowledge and understanding to his Sahaha (companions), the Sahaba (companions) passed on their knowledge and understanding to their students (scholar) and their students (scholar) passed on this knowledge to their students (scholars) and this principle has continued until today through the system of learning either by a sheikh or through an institution in which the subjects relating to Islam are taught. After completion the student would be an Alim (scholar) and he or she would be qualified to teach Islam.

It is unanimously agreed that we must follow a scholar in our guidance and there is much evidence to support this because this was also a practice during the time of the sahaba (companions). After the demise of Prophet (S.A.W) certain Sahabi such as Abdullah ibn Abbas (R.A.), Abdullah ibn Masud (R.A) Abdullah ibn Zubair (R.A) were experts in explaining the Quran, Hadith and Islamic law.

With this background it helps to understand that the organisation is here to help people learn Islam according to the understanding given to the Sahaba (companions) from Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and the knowledge that has arrived through their students (Scholars) to present day scholars.

The way we intend to teach Islam would be through traditional methods which existed in the time of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and projects which are agreed by scholars. In this present time the value, sincerity and appreciation of knowledge is unfortunately not the same in comparison to the Classical scholars.

We would like to help people develop qualities within those who wish to learn.

Below are some of the methods in which we are intending to do this:

Project 1

* Darse - Teaching of Quran and Sunnah by a Qualified Scholar

Project 2

* Teaching Children

Project 3

* Conferences to invite people of Islam

Project 4

* Website

Project 5

* Da'wah Stalls

Project 6

* Literature (Books, Dawah leaflets, Booklets)

Project 7

* Youth activities

Aims

Our aims and intentions are:

* People gain knowledge through scholars and live their lives to be pious and valuable members of society.

* For a Muslim to be proud and have dignity, respect and value in the world.

* By living our life and duplicating our lives to the lives of the Sahaba (companions) and the pious predecessors, we would bring back qualities of piety, taqwa and fear of Allah (S.W.T) in our lives and thus it would bring us closer to Allah (S.W.T).

* As by living our life according to the sahaba (companions) we would REVIVE the True understanding and example of the Quran and Sunnah and eliminate any cultural traditions and innovations which are unacceptable to Islam.

* Our fellow brothers and sister REVIVERS of Islam.

Below are a few Hadith amongst many which support our aims and intentions:

The Prophet (S.A.W) has said:

“I send glad tidings and blessings upon people that will come and take the impurities out of the Deen and revive the Sunnah.”

In another narration under the authority of Hadhrat Abu Huraira (R.A), the Prophet (S.A.W) said:

“Whoever revives my Sunnah at the time of corruption of my Ummah for him there is the reward of a hundred shuhadaa” (Martyrs). (Abu Dawood Shareef)

In another Hadeeth: Sayyidina Amr ibn Auf (r.a) narrates that Prophet (S.A.W) said:

“Religion (Islam) began as a stranger. And (a time will come when) it will return to that condition as it had begun. So may the ghuraba be happy. They are those who will rectify the corruption & disorder that the people will create after me in my Sunnah”. (Tirmidhi Shareef)

Solution

In the days of ignorance the Prophet’s companions were the nomads, weak and poor. They acquired the Sunnah and beliefs from the Prophet (S.A.W) which gave them the status of Sahabee (R.A). The implementation of Quran and Sunnah brought them success, victory and banished illnesses in the society.

At a time when the Ummah is facing issues and troubles we continuously react to them but we are not solving the problems.

We as Muslims have no apparent long term strategy. The aim of our organisation is to give a long term solution to problems and to return and seek the answers from Islam as Allah (S.W.T) has placed guidance for us within Islam.

We intend to revive the Quran and Sunnah and help people implement it in their lives, so they can also be successful and be respected members of society and positive representatives to non Muslims, who can see the beauty of Islam through our good examples and our conduct of life as positive members of the community.

Reviving the true understanding of the Quran and Sunnah consists of solutions for the ailments and troubles of the Ummah (Muslim nation). Prophet (S.A.W) was an example to mankind and Jinn, his way of life is the perfect way of life which brought success to all those who implemented it.

Page created: 05/12/2007
Page last updated: 16/05/2008
Page views: 4221

Related Articles