The Country of Rabbani~

I would like to start with an analogy. Let's say you are from another country, and wishing to be the residence of another country. Voluntarily wishing to be in the country, he is obliged to comply with all the requirements to enter the country i.e. passport, identification card, agreement of behaving well and not to create havoc in the country he wants to reside and live in.

When he is already in the country and becomes the permanent resident, after signing the contract, whether he like it or not, he is adhered by the rules and laws of the country, no matter what kind of laws they are, logic or not. He must accept that he will be arrested if he misbehaves. He will be dispelled out of the country if he outlaws the rules.

From another perspective, if we want to invite people from other countries to live in our lovely and peaceful country, we must show and magnify the greatness of our country and convince them why they should live here. Why would they come and live in our country while corruptions are everywhere, riots happen everyday, people stealing from each other, poverty has become crucial, economical crisis, laws only in the books and libraries, everyone does the bribery, low health consciousness, uncontrollable diseases, so on and so forth.

The same applies for Islam and the so-called Muslims. After pronouncing the syahadah and declaring himself as a Muslim, he is bound to adhere to all rules and regulations set by the country of Rabbani, the country of God. The country says you have to do this and that, you can't do this and that, which affects all the people living in it, they can't cross the boundaries set by the country. Becoming the law abiding resident means to comply with all the laws, and not to take them partially, not to only take what we think suitable for us, and neglect all other laws.

On the other hand, why would we bother to ask others to embrace Islam and live in the country of Rabbani, while most of the Muslims themselves are having trouble to comply with the rules and laws of the country of Rabbani. They would prefer to stay in their own peaceful systematic corruption-free country rather than to be in the country where terrible people lives. They just see it by their own naked eye. We say that our country provides the best system in the world, yet the people are living miserably, not even complying with the so-called best system in the world.

Two lessons that I would like to point out here is, first, when we pronounce the syahadah, we are meant to commit to all the obligations stated by the Quran and the Sunnah. Why would we attend to the worldly declarations, but when it comes to Islam and syahadah, we never cared less. Second, let us all correct ourselves first, and then other muslims surrounding us. It would be hard for non muslims to be attracted to Islam and embrace Islam while the muslims themselves are creating the barrier against the non muslims.

Two ayats that I want you to ponder upon, both from surah al Baqarah,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَآمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ

O you believers! Submit all of you to God and do not follow Satan’s footsteps. He is indeed your open foe. (2:208)

لا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى لا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

There shall be no compulsion in religion. The right way is henceforth distinct from error. He who rejects false deities and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a most firm support that never breaks. God hears all and knows all. (2:256)

Wallahu'alam.