Uloga religije u modernom svijetu / The role of religion in the modern world

Uloga religije u modernom svijetu

Draga braćo, jasno nam je da je islam religija koja promoviše balans umjerenost i harmoniju u svim aspektima ljudskog života. Uzmimo za primjer post, post ne samo da doprinosi fizičkom napretku, već nam pomaže da učvrstimo svoj duh, odnosno da duhovno budemo jači. Dakle, kad muslimana pogode životni izazovi u današnjem modernom dobu, obadva aspekta su neophodna svakom insanu (duhovni i fizički)

Promjene u ovom svijetu je realnost ovog svjeta i ljudskog života, međutim brze promjene donose sa sobom i modernosti, čak i prije nego smo u mogućnosti da se prilagodimo na nove promjene, mi se suočimo sa još jednom fenomenalnom promjenom ili razvojom. Ali isto tako ne možemo poreći da je modernost u službi čovjeka i da nas služi u tehnološkom napredku.

Međutim modernost je takođe donjela sa sobom i valove koji bi potencijalno mogli ugroziti vrijednosti i identitet ovog ummeta. Na primjer, određeni način života koji su ne važeće vrijednosti i morala a koji se mogu primjetiti je kao jedan od uznemirujućih efekata te modernosti. Slično tome je i da je cilj da čovjek živi samo radi jednostavnog zadovoljavanja strasti kroz ovosvjetske užitke se takođe ubraja u modernost ljudskog života.

Kao muslimani, kojima je data uputa i vjerovanje, i taj iman i vjera usađuje visoko povjerenje kod vjernika kad se susretne sa modernim iskušenjima. Mi vjerujemo da je ovaj svijet povjeren nama od strane Allaha dž,š, i naša obaveza je da upravljamo s tim. A kada Gospodar tvoj reče melekima: "Ja ću na Zemlji namjesnika postaviti!" – oni rekoše: "Zar će Ti namjesnik biti onaj koji će na njoj nered činiti i krv proljevati? Zato mi nebi trebali gledati na modernitet u cjelokupnosti kao vražiji ili šejtanski. Kao halife i namjesnici na ovoj Zemlji moramo ustvari da se borimo i nosimo s tim iskušenjima i preusmjeravati ih u našu korist.

Trebamo iskoristiti sve što se može iskoristiti i okoristiti s istim. Ali ove stvari zahtjevaju od nas duhovnu zdravost. Zamisli ako je moguće duhovnost da se odgaja i njeguje, onda je  takođe moguće da bude izvor naše snage.

Tako isto nećemo biti pometeni i zbrisani sa sadašnjom modernizacijom koja nas je okupirala. Poslušajmo ovaj hadis poslanika a,s, kada kaže: Nemojte biti od onih koji kažu; Ako drugi rade dobro i mi ćemo! A ako oni čine grijehe i mi ćemo! Buditi čvrsti i postojni, pa ako jedni kažu mi ćemo raditi dobro i vi činite dobro, a ako kažu mi ćemo činiti zlo onda vi nemojte griješiti. Imam Tirmizi od Huzefe r,h.

Ovo je draga braćo polod duhovnog blagostanja,  zdravlja i čistote. Jer uspjet će samo oni koji dođu pred Allaha sa čistim srcem kako kaže uzvišeni u suri Šuara 88-89: Na Dan kada neće nikakvo blago, a ni sinovi od koristi biti, samo će onaj koji Allahu srca čista dođe spašen biti." Dini islam nas ne uči da se zatvorimo i izoliramo od ovog svijeta ili zajednice i realnosti ovog svijeta, kao što isnam ne uči svoje sljedbenike da se izdvoje  potpuno iz ovog svijeta ili da sve vrste izazova odbiju kako bi spasili i očuvali svoju religioznost i duhovnost. Islam nas uči da izgrađujemo svoja sela koji su izolirani od drugih ljudi, na osnovu imana i vjerovanja koje mogu biti sačuvani jedino na taj način.

Takve tvrdnje su protiv islama, islam je došao da unapredi i da reformiše ljude i zajednice pa i sisteme. Pa ako bi mi otvorili stranice naše historije, mogli bi naći da su naši preci uspjeli da očuvaju i izgrade duhovnost a koja je ujedno izgradila i velike civilizacije. Oni su doprinjeli cijelom čovječanstvu. I ove civilizacije su građene na imanu i vjerovanju, na takvaluku i bogobojaznosti. Postigli su fenomenalan napredak i razvoj. Oni nisu činili nagodbu u fundementalnim islamskim principima. Ustvari ti fundementi su doprinjeli cijelom čovječanstvu kao cjelini.

Draga braćo, islam nas uči da budemo dio javnog života, ne da se zatvaramo u svoje jazbine. Islam nas uči da gradimo ljudsku civilizaciju koja će unapredit ljdski život, koja će mu pomoći da duhovno bude jači i stabilniji. 

The role of religion in the modern world

Let us strengthen our resolve to increase our taqwa to Allah s.w.t by obeying His commands and abstaining from what Allah has prohibited upon us. May Allah grant us strong faith (iman) as a source of strength to face the various challenges in life?

Dear brothers, it is clear to us that Islam is a religion that promotes balance and harmony in all aspects of human life. Take fasting for example; not only does it contribute to our physical well-being; it also paves way for us to cultivate our spiritual strength as well. Thus, when Muslims are faced with many challenges of living in today's modern world, both aspects are indispensable to the individual.

My dear brothers, change is a reality of this world and in human life. However, the rapid rate of change currently brought by modernity is unprecedented in human history. Even before we are able to adapt to a new change or master a newly found science, we are confronted with yet another phenomenal change or development. We cannot deny that modernity has served us in technological progress; and in the flow of knowledge and information in this borderless reality.

However, modernity has also brought along waves that could potentially threaten this ummah’s values and identity. For example, certain lifestyles that are void of values and morals can be seen as one of the troubling effects of modernity. On a similar note, the notion that the purpose of this life is simply to pursue worldly happiness and the satisfaction of human desires through worldly pleasures –or Hedonism – is also deemed to be among the main features of modern humans today.

As Muslims, we are surely guided by our faith, and this faith instils a high sense of self-confidence in facing any of these new changes and challenges. As Muslims we believe that this world is entrusted to us humans by Allah s.w.t. It is thus our duty to manage it well. Thus as Muslims, we should not see modernity as wholly evil and destructive. And as God’s appointed caretakers of this world, or Khalifah, we should instead face these changes and challenges, by shaping them to our advantage. We should then reap whatever we can of its benefits and rewards. We should not be desolate by our fate, but instead be resilient to whatever that is imminent.

My dear brothers, this would require our spiritual well being! Imagine if spirituality can be grown and nurtured, it can also be a source of our strength. At the same time, we will not be easily washed away by the currents of modernity that has engulfed us currently, let us reflect upon a hadith of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w: Do not be “followers” who say: If others do good, we will do good and if they commit a sin, we will commit a sin. Be firm in your stand, if others do good then you should also do good, and if others commit a sin then do not transgress yourselves. [Hadith reported by At-Tirmizi from Hathaifah r,a]

This, my dear brothers, is the fruit of a spiritual well being. This is also the kind of spirituality that we wish to build as a fortress to protect our family, and ourselves so that we could achieve success in this world and the Hereafter. Allah s.w.t says in surah As-Shu’ara’ verse 88: "The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, but only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a sound heart.

When we speak about the importance of spiritual well being as a fortress, this should not mean that we imprison ourselves from the realities of life. Islam does not teach its followers to isolate themselves from the world and society, or reject all of the changes on the basis of ‘preserving’ one’s religiosity or spirituality. This particular strand of spirituality is obsolete and stagnant. It teaches Muslims to build their own villages, which are isolated from other people, on the grounds that faith and religion could be preserved by doing so.

Such claims are against the teachings of Islam. Islam came to develop and reform. And if we are to open the pages of our history, we would find our ancestors have succeeded to nurture the kind of spirituality that built great civilisations. These then contributed towards humanity as a whole. And these Islamic civilisations were built on the foundations of faith and taqwa. We would find that while they achieved phenomenal progress and developments, they did not compromise on fundamental Islamic principles. In fact, upon scrutiny, these principles actually contributed to the progress of humanity as a whole.

My dear brothers, Islam is a religion that teaches its followers to engage and be part of public life. It teaches us to build a human civilization that prioritises human development, equipping him with strong spiritual values, and the drive to continuously reform all aspects of human life, no matter the challenges.

May Allah s.w.t grant us a clear understanding and a strong determination to continue to be the people who bring mercy to this world, armed with spirituality and a pure heart?