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for all aspects of existence.
Because this is actually the core around which humanity is developed.
Tawhid is also
a method of integration,
a means of becoming whole,
and realising the profound oneness of all existence.
In other words,
Allah (swt) is One
and the entire universe is united with His plan.
Nothing we do or think,
in other words,
should be separate from this organic relationship to God:
Every action should manifest a spiritual norm which exists in the mind and heart
(Seyyed Hossein Nasr).
This Unity expresses itself for Muslims
in a drive for the integration of human society.
Prayer is obviously part of this;
its an active expression of our submission to Allah (swt)
and our desire to integrate all aspects of our life with Him.
And this Unity of Tawhid manifests itself politically, as well,
in the striving for states based on the humane principles of Allah (swt).
Yet todays world is clearly very far from the Unity of Tawhid that I spoke of earlier.
Muslims who follow current events intelligently are aware
that our modern secular materialist world
is in the process of creating Hell on Earth.
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Allah (swt) warns us in the Holy Quran
against the ruinous environmental, social and political consequences
of Godless materialism:
Since they have become oblivious of God, corruption has appeared on land and in
the sea as an outcome of what mens hands have wrought; and so He will let them
taste [the evil of] some of their doings, so that they might return [to the right path]
(Surat Ar-Rum, 30: 41).
Humanity has cast God out of society.
In contrast,
Muslims are obligated to oppose injustice and oppression
in a dignified and peaceful way.
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This is the only path to sustainable peace that is, peace with justice.
If theres no justice,
theres no peace, no stability, no equity and therefore no lasting peace.
Muslims have a vital role in achieving justice,
because justice is the whole purpose of Shariah (Islamic law);
its the essence of all levels of the society that our religion calls for.
Allah (swt) tells us (4: 35):
O believers, stand firm for Justice, be Witnesses for Allah, even though it be
against yourselves, or your parents and kinsmen, or whether the person be rich or
poor.
And:
And we sent our Messengers with clear signs, and sent down with them the Book
and the balance, so that people may establish justice.
All the Prophets without exception
came to foster the continued evolution of humanity.
We are born as little screaming, drinking animals.
We develop further,
with age and human kindness, InshaAllah (God willing),
into thinking human beings.
Islam gives us the opportunity to further evolve
> into spiritual beings,
striving towards Allah.
The Prophets created a healthy atmosphere for this evolution,
by establishing just social systems.
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This is summed up in Surat al-Asr:
Ayudi
Bismillah
By the token of time,
Verily man is in loss
Except those who have Faith,
And do righteous deeds,
and join together in the mutual teaching of truth and of constant patience.
The horrendous carnage in Iraq alone,
signals a world dominated by the complete loss of divine values,
a complete loss of Iman of Faith in God.
This is not human evolution, but inhuman devolution.
And that is why those who have faith must join together
and do righteous deeds,
as Allah (swt) commands.
Islam calls humanity to return to its natural state:
in harmony with each other,
in harmony with Allah (swt).
This is peace with justice.
Instead of conflicts on the basis of nationality, ethnicity and factionalism,
Islam counterposes a world in harmony,
where we are able to live in equitable relations with each other,
because each regards the other as equally
one of Gods creatures.
It is a sign of the sickness of todays world
that Muslims are being demonised not for any evil that Islam contains,
but for the good that it promotes!
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Think about it for a moment:
If each of us regards each other as his brother or sister,
whom we are compelled to treat equitably and compassionately,
as Allah teaches,
how can exploitation, torture, war and other gross injustices prosper?
Islam teaches that Muslims must treat all creation equitably and compassionately.
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: people are of two kinds,
either brother in religion or companion in humanity.
Its not practising Muslims who sold Saddam Hussein
weapons of mass destruction,
and goaded him into wars against Iran and Kuwait,
but Godless US capitalism.
Its not practicing Muslims who now plan
to imprison and persecute people
simply because they are exercising their right to free speech
and wish to speak-out against immoral wars.
Islam has nothing to explain;
it is John Howards Godless capitalism that must do the explaining!
Thank-you for listening to me today.
I apologise if I have inadvertently offended anyone.
Certainly Allah (swt) knows best.