Avoid deriding others..............

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا يَسۡخَرۡ قَوۡمٌ۬ مِّن قَوۡمٍ

عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُواْ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّنۡہُمۡ

وَلَا نِسَآءٌ۬ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيۡرً۬ا

مِّنۡہُنَّ‌ۖ وَلَا تَلۡمِزُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ

وَلَا تَنَابَزُواْ بِٱلۡأَلۡقَـٰبِ‌ۖ بِئۡسَ ٱلِٱسۡمُ ٱلۡفُسُوقُ

بَعۡدَ ٱلۡإِيمَـٰنِ‌ۚ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَتُبۡ

فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

"O ye who believe! let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor let some women laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist (and repent), are (indeed) doing wrong (evil &' unjust)."

(Qur'an: Hujurat: 49: 11)

REFLECTION

In our social relationship, some of us find it amusing to ridicule, mock, jeer, scoff at, laugh, make fun or taunt at others. It is especially so, when we are in a kind of cliques or grouping. Why do we do this? It is due to our self-conceit and arrogance. Never for a moment do we consider that such behaviour is wrong. In such association or gathering, each one tries to deflect attention of their own defects by projecting the weakness of others, especially of those people we consider to be outside our circle, outside our group. We feel secure with our buddies, joking and laughing like the old witches of "Macbeth" who fail to see their own evil and ugliness. Some of us even considers it a norm to do this, and any attempt at changing this behaviour amongst our peers is met with accusations of having "no sense of humour", "too serious", "no fun to be with" etc. But the "joke" is actually on us if we indulge in such practice, as Allah s.w.t. says: "it may well be that the one derided is better" than ourselves.

Deriding others has many forms. Verbal derision, sarcasm, by gesturing, mimicking or even giving nicknames - which aims at ridiculing the person. If we are to analyze what motivates our actions, it is that unashamed pride and conceit we think of ourselves. And because we are usd to directing these derision towards others, we do not feel how it can possibly hurt. What if others were to do it to us?

SERIOUSNESS OF THIS COMMAND

Although in this verse, by using the male gender it generally is quite sufficient and usually applies to both, male and female, yet Allah repeated the command by specifically addressing the women, lest some people may try to excuse themselves from this command just because they are not men. This, indeed, demonstrates the seriousness of the command, that it is to be observed by every Muslim, as it removes any ambiguity, lest some may try to seek excuse by legalistic arguments. There is no doubt that this commandment applies to every Musim - both male & female.

RESPECT DIGNITY & HONOUR OF PEOPLE

Also, one aspect of the teaching of Islam is that it emphasises respect towards the honour and dignity of others - everyone - Muslim as well as non-Muslim. All mankind are the childrem of Adam a.s. and deserves the appropriate respect because Allah s.w.t. says:

وَلَقَدۡ كَرَّمۡنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ

"And We have honoured the sons of Adam" (Qur'an: Isra': 17: 70)

So every mankind must be respected. Some perhaps may have tarnished this God-given honour upon themselves but, we are not to seek out nor assume this, but we are to give everyone the benefit of doubt, and unless there are clear evidence to the contrary, we are still to respect them. As towards those whom Allah s.w.t. has chosen, especially the Believers, by virtue of them being a believer, Allah s.w.t. in fact has conferred special honour upon him/her.Their honour are given with the support and assurance by Allah s.w.t. Himself, thus we are duly warned in this verse:

بِئۡسَ ٱلِٱسۡمُ ٱلۡفُسُوقُ بَعۡدَ ٱلۡإِيمَـٰنِ‌ۚ وَمَن

لَّمۡ يَتُبۡ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

"Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (Indeed) doing wrong (evil & unjust)."

WHAT'S IN THE NAME?

Our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w/ teaches us the importance of names. Amongst the duty of a father is to choose a good name for his new-born child. Those early Companions of the Prophet s.a.w. with names that signify bad or something negative, were told to change them with good names - sometimes the Prophet himself chose it, or confer it for them.

Why the stress on this? Actually one's name is the personal point of reference, around which one builds one's identity (shakhsiyah).Self referencing through what we call ourselves has auto-suggestive effect and can be a (du'a) hope of what we would like to become.

Alas, in today's world, Muslims may be influenced by trends, peers and the media world with their ways which may not be appropriate for Muslims. Nicknames, pseudonym, ID's, aliases are being adopted without care as to whether it contain positive or negative connotations. In fact there is a trend towards choosing the most abhorrent & repulsive names, as these are even regarded as trendy and cool, as its use becomes common-place. Muslims must be warned that there are names/nicknames if used by a Muslim, or even if the Muslim relented and approved of its used by others towards him - where its meanings indicates evil or anti-Islam or blasphemous - may even make him an apostate (murtad). NA -'UDzU BIL-LAA-HI MIN-DzAA-LIK!

Examplary Muslims as role-models promoting Islamic ways are indeed rare, or if there exist would be ignored by mainstream media. The media infact are promoters of todays role-models.Those Muslims who are the trend setters, or those who weild influence in media and entertainment industry, leaders in society and organizations, must be very careful not start something or suggest it in their works, be it trend or fashion or practices, that may lead to loss of Islamic values and identity amongst younger Muslims- especially amongst those who love to imitate (Hub-but-taq-lid). Remember, after being a believer, to then choose to become less than this is demeaning and an act of injustice (zulm). Unfortunately, artistes and public figure (idols) today would seek out the most controversial approaches & practices to gain publicity, rather than be the paragon of virtue showing what is most beneficial to the upliftment of the spirits (Ruh-hiyah).To loose the dignity and honour already conferred by Allah s.w.t. upon Muslims, would indeed be most regretful and unjust. Others may try to influence Muslims to shed their adherence to Islam and Islamic teachings, tempting them with their role-models. This agenda may even be adopted by Muslim promoters in media & entertainment industry, now! What would be the consequence, if this blind aping by Muslims continue unchecked? We seek the protection of Allah fro every evil & harm of this! May He always keep us and every Muslims, firmly under His Guidance.

OUR DO'A

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغۡ قُلُوبَنَا بَعۡدَ إِذۡ هَدَيۡتَنَا وَهَبۡ لَنَا

مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحۡمَةً‌ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡوَهَّابُ

رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسۡرَافَنَا فِىٓ أَمۡرِنَا

وَثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ

ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ

"Our Lord!" (they say), "let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us mercy from Thee: for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure.

Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and anything we may have done that transgressed our duty; establish our feet firmly and help us against those that resist Faith.

O Allah, send peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his companions, and his family and all those who follow them in righteousness till the Day of Reckoning" Ameen.

WaAllaahu a'lam

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