Foundations for an Excellent Muslim Community: an excellent article brought to you by Bihar Anjuman, the largest online group from Bihar or Jharkhand

The Foundations for an Excellent Muslim Community

Dear brothers and sisters,

Let us have full consciousness of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala, so that we return to him only in the full state of submission.

As part of an excellent Ummah, we carry out our daily responsibilities as Muslims. At the same time, we must continue to improve ourselves in other aspects of life, through knowledge and excellent character.

These two factors are important in our efforts to build an excellent Muslim community. So what do knowledgeable, and possessing good character mean to us?

Dear brothers and sisters,

Knowledge is very important in our efforts to fulfill the development of an excellent Muslim community.

When we have knowledge, we know that as good Muslims, it is only right that we hold strongly to the Islamic principles and guidelines, while at the same time adapting to our changing environment.

Adapting ourselves in a community or a country does not mean neglecting Islamic teachings and guidelines. However, adapting here means an ability to continue living with other communities and creating progress, without disregarding the teachings of Islam.

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Rasulullah SAW said:

“Let not one of you behave as a blind follower and say: My (behavior) depends on others. If others are good, I will be good and if others are bad, I will be bad. But you must strengthen your principles (and be strong). If others are good, you are good. And if they are not, then you strive to continue being good”. (Hadith narrated by Imam Tirmizi)

Dear brothers and sisters,

In our efforts to build a knowledgeable Muslim community today, we must also not forget to appreciate Islamic civilization and history. Learning from the past enables us to understand current issues and overcome the challenges of modernization.

When we appreciate the greatness of past Islamic civilizations, we can develop those advancements, by way of properly understanding current issues today. On then can we solve these challenges, and provide guidelines and models for future Islamic generations.

Such spirits will place the Muslim community on a path towards excellence and make the ummah a respected and dignified community. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala says:

O you who believe! When you are told to make room in the assemblies, (spread out and) make room. Allah will give you (ample) room (from His Mercy). And when you are told to rise up [for any good deed], rise up. Allah raises the status of those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge. And Allah knows all of what you do. [Surah Al-Mujadalah : 11]

Dear brothers and sisters,

Besides appreciating the advancement of the Islamic civilization, another important attribute is by interacting and learning from other civilizations and races, who are at present, more advanced than the Muslim community in all fields of knowledge. This will give us the confidence to continue developing and moving towards progress and growth.

Other civilizations portray positive values, such as industry, discipline, and many others that we must learn from and apply in our lives. There is nothing wrong with this in Islam.

In fact, the Muslim community can learn from the positive values of the other communities who live together with us. Likewise, they can learn from what we can offer to others too.

All this can be gained, if we are not shy of interacting and learning from other races to improve ourselves and consequently, improving the image of Islam.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Besides knowledge and principles, good character is as important in making the Muslim community an excellent one. It is pointless to possess intelligence and knowledge but lack dignity and exemplary manners.

Therefore it is very important for us to have high morals and strong spirituality in order to overcome the challenges of living in a modernized society.

Good moral values and a deeply embedded spirituality are the motivators of a Muslim community to be bolder in facing changes and challenges in living in a multi-racial society.

This bravery and confidence will produce a Muslim community with a strong faith, good character, knowledge, tolerance and always contributing positively towards the development and progress of the community and the country.

Which is why, it is important for us, the Muslim community, to realize that the spirituality of Islam does not in any way stop us from achieving progress. In fact, Islam guides us towards the values.

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

Hopefully, by implementing these values in each and every one of us, that is to say, by:

Holding strongly to the principles of Islam while adapting to a changing environment.
Understanding the Islamic civilization and appreciating other civilizations
At the same time, possessing good characters and strong spirituality,

Insha-Allah we will be able to achieve our vision to be a Muslim community of excellence. Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin…