Have you ever pondered as to why submitters
are always in the minority? Why is it that those who worship God
alone are always in the minority? Why is it that those who strive
to follow God’s commandments, to create balance and harmony,
to avoid evil mischief are always in the minority?
You are the best community ever raised among the
people: you advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and you believe
in God. If the followers of the scripture believed, it would be
better for them. Some of them do believe, but the majority of them
are wicked. (3:110)
This is nothing new. All we need is to reflect to the time of Abraham
when he advised the idol worshipers to the submission of God alone,
the majority, including his father, rejected him.
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Today whenever we encounter our fellow
human beings placed on this planet temporarily, they are either
submitters or rejectors. You will find that the majority to be the
rejectors. We can find rejectors and disbelievers in all forms of
religion as well as within our family unit. Whatever religion one
is following, there will always be an edict to worship other than
God alone. Family members may also bow to these edicts and be easily
consumed by the practices of the majority without knowledge or through
blind ignorance.
When our revelations are recited to them, clearly,
those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Which of us
is more prosperous? Which of us is in the majority?” (19:73)
Advising family members and friends | can
only lead to two avenues. One is to have factual discussion which
may open their hearts and minds to receive guidance according to
God’s will, hence returning them to submission. The other
is that they will totally reject the presentation of facts based
on the Quranic evidence and remain rejectors.
Retrospectively throughout past history, submitters have always
been in the minority and the rejectors have been in the majority.
God willing may the table change for the future.
If you obey the majority of people on earth, they
will divert you from the path of God. They follow only conjecture;
they only guess. (6:116)
G. Ali
Australia
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| Reflect to the time of Noah. We find that after his dire warning
to the majority of the people of the consequences of their evil
deeds, the majority rejected him, including his son.
Journey back to the time of Lot who confronted mischieviousness
of his community. He begged the community to uphold the hospitality
he offered to his guests, the majority rejected him, including his
wife, and thus they all suffered the wrath of God.
Going back to time of Moses, he, too, faced the rejectors, not
only from Pharaoh and his consorts, but also from his own people.
Upon receiving the ten commandments, the majority of his people
rejected him and his position. His brother, Aaron, was consumed
in the fervor of worshiping the golden calf.
The majority of those who believe in God do not do
so without committing idol worship. (12:106) |
Ramadan
The Month of Fasting
Dec 30, 1997 --- Jan 28, 1998
O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as
it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.
(2:183)
Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed,
providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute
book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those
who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other
days. God wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may
fulfill your obligations, and to glorify God for guiding you, and
to express your appreciation. (2:185)
The new moon timings to determine the month of Ramadan are as follow:
Dec 29, 1997 at 16:57 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
Jan 28, 1998 at 06:01 GMT
Therefore, the first day of Ramadan is Dec 30, 1997, and the last
day of Ramadan is Jan 28, 1998.
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