We are here at these crucial days of this era to revisit the Deen as prescribed by God, which has been polluted and has been directed in an opposing direction from that of the Sirat-Al-Mustaqi’m. We can utilise this forum to discuss and exchange our understanding of the Deen and the Kita’b of God, by which HE guides to the Sirat-al-Mustaqim. We are here to look back to the Deen in the sight of God, according to HIS guidance in HIS Revelation (Kita’b) in the Reading, called the Quran. Surely, we are here not to debate or quarrel, but to help each other in the Way of God (fi’- sabi’lillah) to exchange our individual understanding in utilising our God-gifted a’kl (intelligence), being privileged at this era of human history.

The essence of urges for what we are involved in discourse at this forum is to check whether whatever we do in the name of God in serving HIM is commanded by HIM in accordance with His guidance as HE revealed and explained in the Quran. On the contrary, if we fail to discharge our duty to God to examine the root causes that we, the Submitter to God (Muslims), are suffering from the prevailing oppression and ignorance around the world. God might never forgive us for our disinclination to serve God alone with a SINCERE heart in the domain of the Deen (see: Q. 98:5).

Why would we need to engage in a debate that generates acrimony? Surely, an argument for playing a win-win game is, in fact, counterproductive, and we must be accounted for such worldly selfishness before God on the Day of Judgement. Are we in a competition for anything? Is any such competition would help our accountability on the Day? If we believe in God and place our ultimate trust in HIM and HIS words in HIS verses in the Quran, we will certainly agree that God is witnessing us as to what we do and what we think, and HE would make us responsible for our action in this world and on the Day of Resurrection. HE knows and reads our hearts and is well aware of the purpose of our engagement in the Deen (see: 50:16).

So, we propose circulating a healthy discussion between the brothers and sisters, engaging in the same purpose to serve God only. A proposition or a statement can be rebutted by revealing its inherent flaws and fallacies by engaging a logical counterargument supported by compelling evidence, i.e. reference from the Quran. Most importantly, we should address the content and the text – instead of an individual or his/her persona, who has made such points or propositions to pursue an argument or a logic in question. A significant dilemma that few brothers/sisters may be suffering from is that of the emotion, so as being emotional, that prevent a fundamental human right to be exercised – the freedom of expression.

Ironically, when logic is departed or made such rational sense deserted from the domain of a discussion, the attack on an individual to assassinate his/her character is imminent, being a common norm in most gatherings. However, being the few amongst the few faithful followers of God’s words and guidance, we should behave according to what God teaches us by HIS Kita’b as explained in the Quran. In doing such, if any statement or proposition seems preposterous, lacks sincerity, and seems misleading, we could ignore or step away from such discourse as God guides us in Q. 25:63, 28:55. At the same time, we should remind ourselves, the command of God as in Q. 16:125. Only then – we may be able to control our emotions and prevent ourselves from being judgemental to others in imposition the supposition that we may be holding subjectively.

For a healthy discussion and dialogue to proceed to a fruitful outcome, we must agree – brothers and sisters – that – we all AGREE TO DISAGREE on any point or logic that one may present in a discussion. In doing so, we must remember that it is the text or argument that should be on trial or in scrutiny – not the person’s personality that should be touched upon.

There may be certain instances that one may disagree with the other. So, what? It is his/her unique understanding that only matters to him/her because if each of us is sincere in our engagement with each other for the sake of God’s pleasure, HE may pardon us for any such shortcomings in our understanding. And most importantly, at the end of the day, we all are responsible for our individual deeds, and no one is responsible for others. It is only the message that matters most, for which we bear a responsibility to convey to others sincerely.

We all know God says concerning the one ummah that we can unite ourselves in the Way of God as HE states int the following terms:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ –

[Q. 3:104] “Be a community that calls for what is good, urges what is right, and forbids what is wrong: those who do this are the successful ones”

.وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ –

God helps and assists us – HE is the Most Merciful.

Salaa’mun Alykum