Insurance, Righteousness,
Audio and Video Tapes.......
Salaam alaikum all
I feel obliged to say a few things about the insurance because of the recent
references to it. When Rashad was asked for an opinion on any matter, he
did not just tell the people that they should do this or that; or this is
supposed to be this way or that way without explaining from the Quran the
reasons for his answer. He would refer to the verses from the Quran. That
was his source. He did not make up laws or come up with understandings out
of nowhere.
We cannot loosely use what he concluded and said during private conversations
or even in Quranic studies without qualifying the time, place, context, reasons
and references for such statements. We know that when he thought something
was crucial for the community, he would give a Khutbah and have it recorded,
or write an article in the newsletter. Yes, we had discussions about insurance,
but he never forced his opinion on the community, nor did he write a single
article about it. Again, his opinion was based on the Quran. Some of the
verses that he based on his opinion about this subject are as follows.
[13:11] ... If GOD wills any hardship for any people, no force can stop it....
[39:38] ... If GOD willed any adversity for me, can they relieve such an
adversity? And if He willed a blessing for me, can they prevent such a blessing?"
Say, "GOD is sufficient for me." In Him the trusters shall trust.
[6:80] ... Nothing can happen to me, unless my Lord wills it...
[3:175] It is the devil's system to instill fear into his subjects. Do not
fear them and fear Me instead, if you are believers.
There are also many other verses that give us the concept that only God can
protect us; and if He wants to give us some trouble, no insurance can
stop it. However, the messenger was also aware that no one submitter was
the same. Trusting in God and coming to the conclusion that God controls
everything and runs everything is a process and cannot be forced on people.
It is a commandment that we shall trust in God. Yet how many of us truly
live that statement every single moment of our lives. If we could, the test
would be over or very easy.
That is why it is dangerous to make statements like "the messenger said this
was Haraam or prohibited" as a general statement. It does not serve any purpose.
It makes the messenger seem as if he is making laws that were not in the
Quran. Instead it would be better for us to quote the verses on which the
messenger based his understanding or conclusion.
For those who want to go back and study the audio and video tapes of Rashad,
there is nothing wrong with doing so, as long as you study the information
in the light of the Quran. If you are referring to those because you think
the Quran lacks that information, you are doing it for the wrong reasons.
Plus you might be implying inadvertently the same thing that Mohammedans
are implying that the Quran simply do not have all the information necessary
for our salvation, and that we need additional sources besides the Quran.
We all know that Rashad always referred to the Quran for his views, based
on the knowledge at his current stage of development. He had to correct
some of the things he was advocating as he later gained a better understanding
of the meaning of the verses in accordance with the will and mercy of God.
If we can stick to what God left us with, the authorized translation of the
Quran, and leave all the details to the growth of the individual submitters,
we will avoid division and unnecessary arguments.
If you arrive at the same conclusion as the messenger in what you should
do in matters that are outside the practices of religion, that is fine. But
keep in mind that each of us come to Submission from different backgrounds.
We all have different circumstances. We all learn at different paces and
have different levels of understanding. Furthermore, none of us is perfect.
In any case, do not force your opinion on others. Take the example from the
messenger who gave us the freedom in such matters, as God instructs us in
the Quran.
In conclusion, be judges of yourselves, not others. Let
the people practice the religion of submission in total freedom, without
fearing reprisal from the fellow submitters. Enjoin others to do the right
things using the Quran, but never force your opinion down their throats.
If we cannot tolerate the freedom of expression or the right to question
and answer amicably, we will never be part of the mission that God sent His
messenger of the Covenant for: To purify and unite all the existing religions
- Submission to God alone.
Abdullah
info@submission.org
