- Return to Fitra:
In the middle of Surah Al-Rum we find its central theme:
“So set your face steadily to the faith, Allah’s handiwork according to the pattern on which He has created mankind: Let there be no change to the creation of Allah: That is the standard Religion, but most among mankind understand not.” [30:30]
In order for the early believers in Mecca to resist injustice and stand up to corruption, they have to keep their eyes on the truth as displayed by the new religion.
The message is: Do not surrender to the East or the West. Stand up to the false hopes of copying the “superpower”. Stay the course towards victory by adhering to the genuine source of faith, the faith that saves mankind from all false gods and corrupted leaders. “Hanif” حنيف literally means the one who diverts i.e., diverts from all forms of falsehood. The religion of Islam is described as “hanif” and whoever follows its teachings is considered to be in the state of “hanif”. Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) is described in Quran as “hanif”.
“Ibrahim was indeed an Umma, devoutly obedient to Allah, true in faith.” [16:120]
The religion of Islam is compatible with the human “Fitra” .فطرة “Fitra” is the Divine design that preceded time and on which all humans are equally created. It is the receptacle of all the high values that are derived from the Beautiful Names of Allah. Any deviation from Islam is a deviation from the Divine “Fitra”. “Fitra” does not change, and humans are warned against changing their creation and diverting it from the design of its Creator:
“Let there be no change to the creation of Allah.” [30:30]
Furthermore, Quran, the reference of this religion is devoid of error or deviation and hence, described as قيّم :
“Praise be to Allah, Who has sent down to His worshipper the Book, and has allowed therein no deviation, straight.” [18:1-2]
“قيّم” also has the connotation of caring “Is then He who stands over soul” [13:33], and the connotation of overarching مهيمن the previously revealed books “We sent the Book in truth, confirming every book that came before it, and overarching it.” [5:48]
Most of the people who fail to see the value and the role of the new religion are described as ignorant and lacking knowledge.
The following two verses provide the right guidance or the compass for the roadmap that leads humans to success or victory:
“Turn in repentance to Him, and fear Him; establish prayers, and be not among those who join gods with Allah- Those who split up their religion and become sects- each party rejoicing in that which is with itself.” [30:31-32]
The following are the prerequisite milestones of any plan or roadmap:
- Continuous obedience of Allah and always coming back to Him in repentance
- Taqwa: protection against all distractions from the straight path and standard religion
- Prayer: the continuous reminder of the Qibla, the goal, and the continuous adjustment of the direction towards the goal
- Tawheed: as a vision to always unite among the people, and as a counternarrative to “shirk” that divides among the people in order to easily manipulate and exploit them
Today, we ask ourselves how is this possible in view of existing poverty, injustice, oppression, poor education, corruption, and deprivation?
The answer comes at the end of Surah Al-Rum complementing its beginning:
“So patiently persevere: for verily the promise of Allah is true. Do not let those who have no certainty of faith shake your firmness.” [30:60]
Yes! Don’t let those who don’t believe in the certainty of the promise of Allah change your minds and undermine your deep unshakable belief. Patient perseverance صبر is not idle waiting but working hard to change the status quo and anticipate the positive and promising results.
By Dr. Walid Khayr