Three Are Responsible For Cultural Deterioration

Speech by Maulana Khaja Shareef, Jamia Nizamia, at 'Fitna-e-irtadad aur roktham' event organized at Mugalpura playground, Hyderabad
Published in Muslim Murasu, April 2012

In earlier times, people were attracted by good character of Muslims and they embraced Islam. But now, Muslims are renouncing Islam. This does not happen usually. This is a fitna (problem) of this age. Allah brought Muslims to spread religion. But Muslims are now leaving Islam.
Aalim, family members and people of the neighborhood should share the responsibility. Consider there is a murder in a neighborhood. According to Fiqh rules, if the murderer is not identified within a specified time, then all the inhabitants in that area will be held accountable and made to pay fine. This is called kasana. A murderer with a cruel mentality has stayed among you and you allowed him to commit this grave crime. The crime will belong to entire people of that Muhalla.
Islam spread through good character. Rasoolullah toiled hard for 13 years in Mecca. Then he continued in Medina for six more years. In this 19 years, 4000 or 5000 people had accepted Islam. Hudaibiya agreement was signed in Hijri 6. Ten years of peace was announced. Islam is not religion for war. In these peaceful years, people of Mecca traveling to Sham used to stay in Muslim houses in Medina. They witnessed lifestyle of Muslims. Muslims did not sermonize in this period. But their character was impressive. The way they behaved with parents, good character of wife, showing hospitality to even harshest enemies attracted people of Mecca. Fifty thousand people newly joined Islam in these two years.
Khaira Ummath is needed for everyone. Each creature needs you. “kuntum khaira ummathi ukhrijath linnaas”. Now situation has changed. Muslims are moving away from Islam.
Imam Malik (rah) collected some rare Hadees. Solution to this problem is found in book Muatha. There is no new way for Islah (reformation) of people. People can be reformed only in the way that was used to reform earlier communities. There is no other way. ‘Lai yaslaha’.
Practical model; amali tadbeer. Quran describes many societies that have gone astray and communities that were reformed. If all that can be put in one line, we need role models. If there are role models, people will overcome obstacles and come close. We don’t have models in our houses. There is not even a conducive atmosphere. You have to become role models in your houses. I hear that in some families in Hyderabad, parents and children sit together and watch vulgar films. We have to prepare for Janasa if this is true. Parents should discipline their children if they do wrong. Inna lillahi.
Parents have become reason for Irtadad. Shaitan has vowed to stray us. Surah 7, Al Ahraf, verse 16. I will sit on your straight path. ‘la akvudanna lahum sirathal mustakeem’. They love and spread indecency. Surah 24, Noor, verse 19 – allazeena yuhiboona an tasheehal fahishath.