Darul Uloom Newcastle

Humanity – An Endangered Species

“Popular legend says that he walked about in broad daylight with a lantern in a determined but vain search for a virtuous man”. He might be forgiven today if he is found to be walking in broad daylight not with a lantern, but a flashlight, in search of a virtuous man . Such is the sad and perilous position humanity finds itself in today.

Moral values are very important in that they are the building blocks that ensure the stability and survival of the human community. In recent times moral values, respect, obedience and honesty, are gradually being phased out and are being replaced with vices like base selfishness, rebellion and pride. These vices  have even become fashionable, especially amongst the youth.

Thr Prophet (S.A.W.) is reported to have said that there will come a time when an individual will travel great distances for the sole reason of meeting an honest man. This is a clear indication that there will occur amongst humanity a clear, distinct and gradual decline in  basic human qualities.

The world we find ourselves in today is characterised by two distinct qualities. The ever increasing deminishing human values (humanity at large is donning the garb of animlism) and the increasing number of humans dependant on humanitarian aid for their basic day to day survival.

Look at our world today! It is characterised  by war, famine and political upheaval on a scale never before witnissed in history. This on a global scale. Individually we are faced with incidents of suicide, social strife, murder, sorrow and the dismantelling of the family structure.

Why? Where is this human being heading too? Although every country is committed to “development and progress”, the figures presented by the humanitarian agencies of the world, is unbelievable to say the least. More than 900 million people are completely destitute. Have we considered as to what is at stake when humanity looses its humane values? Can the effects of such a catastrophe even be quantified?

Humanity is in peril. Is it not time that we the Muslim Ummah wake up from our slumber and show humanity the way towards righteousness? We hold the key. It is time we stand up and deliver before we will have to answer for our incapacities in the court of our Creator.

The Miracle of the Quran

INTRODUCTION
The Quran is the greatest book on the face of the earth. It surpasses every other great literary masterpiece in every respect. It is unique and sublime in its content and style. For centuries it has been preserved in the hearts of men, in its pristine and original form. Muslims have complete conviction that the words they recite today are the very same words revealed to Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam fourteen hundred years ago. Not a letter or dot has been changed. Through the course of human history, numerous Muslim scholars were killed, Islamic libraries were burnt and the Quran itself was banned by tyrannical regimes. However, such volatile conditions as these did not succeed in bringing any change to the Quran. Allah is surely the Protector of His great book.

CONTEMPORARY
Another amazing aspect of the Quran is the relevance of its content to the modern age. Answers to contemporary issues, such as evolution, homosexuality, pornography, drugs, abortion, financial crises and so on are found in its pages. Undoubtedly, it is a book of divine guidance, with profound lessons and directives for the betterment of the individual and society.

BENEFITS
To benefit from the Quran one needs to recite it daily. A hadith explains that a reciter will be rewarded tenfold for every letter recited. At least two recitations of the Quran should be completed within a year : one in Ramadhaan and one in the remaining eleven months. Further, it needs to recited correctly with all its rules of recitation and pronounciation. It is unfortunate that many a person goes to great pains to perfect his presentations, reports, speeches and writings but spends minimal time on the greatest of all speeches – the word of Allah!

MESSAGE
The message of the Quran needs to be learnt and understood from experts in the field. Implementation of its teachings holds the solutions for the problems and challenges of the human race. Like the Quran explains, ‘We have made the Quran easy to remember and understand, but is there anyone who will understand.’ (Surah Qamar, verse 17)

May Allah make us from those who recite the Quran in
abundance and practise upon its teachings.