10 January 2010 By
El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan
Assalaamu Alaikum (Greetings of Peace):
ALLAH, The
Most Just, has instructed us all in The Noble
Qur’an (the final revelation to all humanity):
“Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him,
and that you be kind to your parents. Whether one or
both of them attain old age in your life, do not speak
to them contemptuously, nor repel them; but address
them in terms of honor. And out of kindness, lower to
them the wing of humility, and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow
on them Your mercy, even as they cherished me in
childhood.’” (Surah 17; 23-24)
There are many
lessons in this
tragic
story
According to the
Houston
Chronicle report (see below), this now deceased
Pakistani mother, Tabassum Khan, cherished her son.
She loved him, sacrificed for him, and attempted to
control his self-destructive impulses. While his
father was absent from the picture (no doubt a factor
in this young man’s disturbance), there were
other male elders in the picture. However, from the
comments made to the Houston Chronicle reporter (if
accurate), they were out-of-touch in terms of what
this young man (and many others in America like him)
really needed.
We often hear
the term “American Islam,” more often than not
with a derogatory spin. But the fact of the matter is,
just as there are two Americas, there are also
two sides to this phenomenon called “American Islam.”
This young man, and his equally disturbed
co-conspirator, reflects the more secular and
narcissistic “American Islam.” What is important to
note is that they were not born this way. They became
this way through a process of acculturation (or de-Islamization)
over the course of years.
This is a very
important point that shouldn’t be lost, because a well
organized effort is being made to drive as Muslims as
possible (especially young Muslims) away from their
deen (Al-Islam). And as I said to a large audience a
few months ago (predominantly made up of young
Muslims), one of the most important challenges they
face in America is to “have faith in your faith!”
I made an
observation many years ago in a book entitled Why
Our Children Are Killing Themselves, which in the
present context is worth revisiting:
“It is my humble
opinion that the religion which has long held
sway in the Western education system is the religion
of atheistic materialism: the worship of man’s own
intellect and limited empirical knowledge. This
process of indoctrination begins on the elementary
level, continues through the secondary level, and by
the time young minds pass through college or
university “training,” in many cases, perhaps most,
they have been so deeply and efficiently
materialized that they lose the ability to believe
in anything beyond their own limited powers of
observation. Cut off from and feeling no
accountability toward a Divine Creator, the process of
developing young minds devoid of sound ethics, values
and moral principles efficiently produces brilliant,
psychotic, state-of-the-art criminals and malcontents
in many areas of social endeavor.”
These words are
even more relevant today than they were in 1989 when
first written. What we are witnessing today serves as
a vivid example of what can happen when people of
faith (irrespective of creed) lose themselves in a
lais-sez-faire ethos.
It is reported
that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was once asked:
“Who is most deserving of my attention?” The Prophet
replied, “Your mother.” The questioner than
asked, “And who is next?” Again the Prophet replied,
“Your mother.” Again the questioner asked, “And
who is next?” And again the Prophet replied, “Your
mother.” It was only after the fourth inquiry that
the Prophet replied, “Your father.”
In the earliest,
most formative years of a child’s life, the bond with
mother is the most important connection a child has.
And this is why the last Messenger of ALLAH (pbuh) is
also reported to have said: “Paradise lies at the feet
of mother.”
These two young
men have committed a crime that will be with them for
the rest of their lives; and, according to the book of
ALLAH (SWT), will follow them into the next life. May
ALLAH (The Most Merciful) have mercy on Sr.
Tabassum Khan; may He forgive her sins and grant her
Paradise. As for her son…I can only pity the years
ahead.
This is another
wakeup call, O Muslims. I do hope we’re listening.
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