Salvation

Salvation. It is on the hearts and minds of billions of people around the world. Much of a person’s belief revolves around where they are going after death and how much impact they, themselves, have on the matter. For atheists it sounds simple: you live, you die, the end. But for the billions and billions of us who believe in one or more deities, the matter is not so simple. To us, how we spend our time in this life has real and lasting (eternal as a matter of fact) implications in the next. So it will come as no surprise to most of you that the matter of “salvation” was one of the single most important issues that drew me to look into Islam. It was part of the litmus test, so to speak, to know how Muslims define a person’s spiritual connection with Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa. At the time, I was just listening to a Muslim talk- a person, at the time, I hardly knew. I did not think I was seeking, didn’t realize I was comparing and contrasting, as I sat and listened.

My walk through Christianity taught me something about human nature…that we are all flawed, corrupted individuals who are not deserving of God’s mercy. Our sin is so great, so ugly, that God Himself cannot look upon it. As a result, we are beyond salvation. We are in need of a savior. Someone who can take all that wretched, disgusting, vile sin and remove it from us so that we may be presentable before God. This is one of the first things I learned. It is also one of the things I struggled with the most. I didn’t feel wretched, disgusting, or vile. I felt imperfect to be sure, in need of a good dose of self improvement and certainly an ongoing prescription of humility, but never so dirty and evil as to be beyond the reach of God’s mercy. I would often ask myself, if God created us the way that he did, imperfections and all, why are our sins so vastly beyond his ability to reconcile? To me, that was not just an insult to the creatures God made us, it was an insult to God Himself. Sin, bigger than God? There’s just no way!

But how then do we take into account man’s propensity for everything from simple bad decisions to the absolute most evil acts imaginable? How does God see our actions? How does He justify or punish them? Are we held accountable at the end of the day or, as atheists might say, is our only salvation in how much good we leave behind when we go? Its an important question to ponder, not just because it determines whether we go to the Land of Milk and Honey or the Land of Fire and Brimstone. It is also important because our belief in salvation will ultimately determine how we approach our time in this life and how we touch the lives of other people.

And so it was that one of my first questions was about the topic of “salvation.” It was explained to me beautifully that Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa asks two things of us, believe in him and strive for good (Qur’an 2:62, 5:69 and elsewhere). He does not need those two things to admit us into His grace, but with those two things, He assures it. Salvation is not earned by our deeds, but rather is dependent on Allah’s grace and mercy.

I know, I know, if only it were that simple. Once you get into the weeds of it, there is, of course, more to it. After all, Allah’s grace is freely given to all who ask for it, but what about Allah’s justice? Additionally, man’s intentions start in the heart where they may be good or bad, sinful or pure, but they are manifest in his actions. So at what point are our actions and intentions weighed in? Where does sin come into all this?

There are so many different explanations of sin and how it impacts our lives, but in each explanation that I have heard, it seems to come down to a sort of sliding scale: the more sin, the further from God, good, enlightenment, etc.; the less sin, the closer to God, good, enlightenment, etc. My oversimplified way of looking at it is that sins are those actions which are bad for us and good deeds are those actions that are good for us.

Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa has given us this life to make choices, so I have for you some rhetorical questions. How can we choose “good” without the ability to choose “bad”? What then is the consequence when we choose “bad”? And how valid would that option be if it were always easy to choose the right path? Thus, we have sin. We have a dichotomy within each of us that is striving for self-perfection while simultaneously attempting to plunge us into self-destruction.

His promise to us was to give us the choice, but it is not the choice to live a perfect sinless life or be damned forever to the depths of Hell. Nor is it so unattainable that we require the ultimate sacrifice of another on our behalf to satiate His bloodlust (God forgive me). The choice is simple, pure, and beautiful. We will sin, we will make mistakes, we will turn away from Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa time and time again. He designed us that way after all. The most important choice is what we decide to do when we fall. Do we turn to Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa for help? Guidance? Repentance? Or do we continue in our sin, down our path of destruction?

Now here is where you may be wondering how we know which choice we are making. In American law, ignorance of the law is not an excuse for breaking it; you can’t simply talk your way out of that speeding ticket by saying you didn’t realize the speed limit was 15 MPH slower than the speed you were driving. It wouldn’t be just or fair, however, to punish someone for all of eternity for a crime they didn’t know they were committing. Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa loves us enough that He does not leave us guessing at His will. His guidance is everywhere, all around us. Even an atheist has a sense of moral right and wrong. Where does that sense of morality arise, if not from Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa? He does not punish one who does not know the weight of the consequences of his actions. In that there is hope, however bleak it may at first appear, that Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa will not punish a single soul unjustly, and He will not make it difficult for a single soul to obtain grace and mercy.

Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa knows we will sometimes choose good, sometimes choose bad, and so He says:

“Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped." Qur’an 39:53

When we sin, Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa asks as little of us as sincere repentance. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Knowing the choice is mine but that Allah is just and perfect in his judgement allows me to rest easy knowing that as I strive one step toward Him, He takes two toward me. When Allah says He is “Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful” throughout the Qur’an, I believe it. For me, it is not the promise of Heaven nor the threat of Hell that inspires me to strive toward all that is good. Rather it is knowing that my actions are pleasing to Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa and that when I do mess up, He is already there, waiting to forgive me. That alone is enough for me.  

Salvation is a complicated subject. I speak only from my  own perspective and my current understanding. If I misspoke, it is due to my own faults and lack of knowledge. All truths I have stumbled across are from Allah subHanaahu wa ta’alaa.

Until next time…السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and his blessings!

Islam and.... feminism?

 

 

Islam and... Feminism?

  In my last blog, I brought up women’s rights and discussed a little about my experience with and opinion of hijab. Since then I participated in a Ladies’ Night at my local masjid. As you may recall from my last entry, our topic for the evening was women’s rights in Islam. Not to go all feminist on everyone all of a sudden, but I thought I would stick to the topic for at least one more blog. Afterall, it deeply and personally pertains to me and it is one of the hottest topics in regards to public perception of Islam. In fact, within a comment thread on a public figure’s Facebook page, a viewer the other day posted the following (and I quote):

“Not only is the Quran contradictory, but it sanctions violence, slavery and sexism as well.

Surah An-Nisa - 4:34 - Men are in charge of women based on some vague thing that Allah supposedly said, women- sorry, RIGHTEOUS women are supposed to be "devoutly" obedient. If a wife does not listen to her husband or who men FEAR to be arrogant to them, they have to be "advised" first, if that doesn't work, don't (sleep with*) them; if that doesn't work, then beat them. Until they, you know, Obey men.

Other issues in the quran:

- men get more than women in terms of property upon death of parents, etc. in the case of faraid law (which is based on the Quran)
 

- men can marry christians, but women can only marry muslims

- you can't take unbelievers for friends and protectors (discrimination based on faith)

- men can marry up to 4 wives - if he can afford to = yet there is no provision for women to do the same”

   Them’s some pretty serious accusations, and yes, it took all my effort not to go all scholastic on the author of the post. To prepare for our evening, myself and several others put hours into researching these and other similar misconceptions. It isn’t because my sisters and I feel the points made above have any sort of validity.  On the contrary it is because they do not, yet are made over and over ad nauseam, leaving Muslimat (female Muslims’) heads spinning. Is the challenger right or wrong? How do we talk to people when they challenge us with these questions? How do we empathize with those women who do experience oppression without validating that what was experienced came from Islam?

During our evening, we spoke of the history of women in Islam, their lives prior to and after Islam was revealed, and what the Qur’an and hadith have to say about women. For me, the experience enlightened me to the varied levels of Islamic education within our ummah (community). Many of the women there were experts in their own rights on the topic so it was powerful to have this time to come together and share our knowledge. What shocked me was the number of women, regardless of their faith, who did not know about the verses and hadith discussed. We did not receive many questions at the end of the night, but those we got illustrated that Muslim women are not all certain of their rights, nor are we all prepared to answer confrontational challenges such as the one above. It showed me how critical such educational opportunities are.

      Let me take just a moment here to tell you a little something more about me: I am stubborn, independent, and have a fierce sense of justice. In other words, there’s no way on God’s green earth (or in His entire miraculous universe for that matter) I would choose to follow a religion that tells me a man is better than me because I was born a woman, takes away my rights, or allows oppression or abuse. I am not qualified to get into in depth exegesis of the Qur’an, but I can tell you, from my perspective, women actually get the one up on men in the Islamic rights department.

   What do I mean by this? In covering just a few of the points we discussed at our lil' get together, I hope to offer a perspective on women in Islam that is not very widely understood. Not the perspective that women are equal to men. Indeed there are areas in life in which the woman gets the one up on the men and visa versa. So we are not equal, as in the same. But we are equally loved by Allah subHana wa ta'alaa and he bestowes upon us equitable (but different) rights and responsibilities.

   Financially, we women get a deal in Islam unheard of in other religions and even in post-feminist America. Surah An-Nisa, verse 34 states “Men are protectors and maintainers (Caretakers) of women, because Allah has made one of them excel the other,and because they spend from their means.”  Men are expected to protect and provide for women. But what if I want to work? After all, women in previous decades fought so hard to have the right to work alongside men. What did Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, teach? Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her, was a successful merchant and the first wife of prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. He never dissuaded her from working and in fact worked for her prior to their marriage and submitted to her wisdom and guidance throughout her life, may Allah be pleased with her. She is just one example, but when it comes to women working, Islam leaves that up to the individuals. When it comes to her wanting to stay home and have her husband support her, the ball is in her court!

Just when you thought, hey that's not so bad... there's more: the money I make belongs to me. I decide if I spend it for the support of the household, save it, or spend it.

Further, if I inherit any money, that’s mine too. So, under Islamic law, what’s his is mine, what’s mine is mine, and I have a right to inherit. Sounding pretty good, eh? The author I quoted above, however, makes a fantastic point. Women inherit less than men. I pray that by now, the reason why is pretty clear. A woman keeps her inheritance. A man is expected to use that inheritance to help with the support and maintenance of his wife, children, and the community. Is this equality? Indeed it is not, but, ladies, think about that.. who is getting the better end of the deal? But rights are so much more than financial, and there are far more important topics than whether a woman can work or how she can use her money.

  

   Men, for example, can marry up to four wives. Of course he has to treat them and provide for them equally or only marry one. But let's pretend he can handle four of us or even just two. I could casually mention here that the “allowance” of up to four women is actually a restriction (as in, ya’ll can’t marry any more than that). That’s true, but not really the point I want to make. A woman has the right to agree to marriage for it to be binding in Islamic law, so she can choose to be one of multiple wives, but she cannot be forced into it. Now I present a perspective for you to consider: a man can only choose from women who are unmarried. All the single ladies… you get to chose from any man who is not related to you and who has less than four wives. In other words, in an Islamic community, you would have far more options. The power is in your hands, ladies, not his. Oh, and by the way, you get to see how he treats women by how he cares for and respects his other wife/wives!

   So women under Islamic law have a broader pool to pick from and we get to keep our dough, but what about this whole beating thing? First, a point to consider: a man who has a propensity toward violence might use religion as an excuse, but doesn’t need a reason to hurt another person; religion is not the catalyst in domestic abuse. A man who is humble and kind, will not beat his wife, nor hurt anyone for that matter, even given express permission. Start holding the jerks responsible and stop letting them have a free pass under the guise of religious doctrine. Nevertheless, Allah subHana wa taa’alaa instructs men to care for women, not beat them. I feel I am about to start an apologetic tangent, so brace yourselves…

  

   The common translation of the verse in question says: “Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.” (Qur’an, 4:34)

   The word “iḍribūhunna” is translated in this passage as “strike;” however, it has many meanings including the following: “to hit, to travel the earth, to set up, to condemn, to give examples, to separate, and to go to bed with them.” As you can see, translating it as strike or beat assumes a level of violence against a woman that is simply not supported by the rest of the Qur’an and is therefore not an accurate translation. Verse 19 of the same surah is translated as “O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion (against their will). And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good.” If you cannot even take back their dowry unless they have committed a clear immorality (i.e. adultery), certainly you cannot beat them for becoming arrogant.

   One more verse catches my attention in regards to men and women although there are many, many more like it. “The believing men and believing women are protecting friends of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Quran 9:71)

   I could write a novel just on the relationship between men and women in Islam, but I think you catch my drift. But don’t worry, I won’t leave you with too many questions. There are many beautiful responses to such accusations and I do not feel qualified, nor do I feel it is necessary to try to get into Islamic fiqh (jurisprudence). If you are looking for a little more meat on the matter, I recommend checking out this video by Yusuf Estes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lgptvKE9rw or this one from Hamza Yusuf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDIAN4I0wBA. Either is far more qualified in the matter than me.  

    I'll leave you with this verse from the Qur'an:

“Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (Quran 33:35)

Until next time…السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and his blessings!

(*editor’s note: I changed one word to “sleep with” in place of profanity)