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Showing posts from July, 2011

Governance in Islam

In the following verse, Allah tells Prophet Daud (alaihe salaam) that I have made you a khalifa in the earth ( خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ ) so govern among people (فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ ) with truth (justice) and do not follow your own desire ( بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ ). I find it significant that Allah tells Prophet Daud to govern among people and not rule over the people which suggests that correct understanding of "khalifa" is not "badshaah" as it is translated into Urdu below rather Ziauddin Sardar's translation of "trustee" will be closer to the meaning. Also, the verses lays down some guiding principles for the ones occuping the office of khalifa or by extension anyone in the position of governance that it should be done with justice and not one's desires. Pickthall (And it was said unto him): O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy in the earth; therefor judge aright between mankind, and follow not desire that it b

In case of emergency, break glass

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In Surah Saffat, mentioning the story of Yunus, how he fled from his nation, then while crossing the river, his ship was caught in a storm and his name came up in the lots and he was thrown overboard then a ship swallowed him, Allah says that he may have remained there had he not been doing the tasbeeh. And had he not been of those who exalt Allah. He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected. [ Saffat: 143-144 ] So according to traditions Prophet Yunus recited this famous dua: And we are advised to recite this dua whenever in difficulty. But should this dua be our first line of defense in trouble? Prophet Yunus was of course in a situation where he can not try anything else but remember Allah but shouldn't we be first trying all we can and then only leave the result in the hands of Allah? So in cases of emergency, first break glass, turn on the fire alarm and use the fire extinguisher.