Muslim Congress Phone Conference - 3rd session with Moulana Baig

Topic:  How to keep our intentions pure and deal with the praise of others when doing Islamic work.

Moulana Baig: When we’re on the right path, Shaytan finds other ways to block our progress and a big way is through giving us feelings of self-pride. Ujb is eventual pride over what we have done or what we do.  When you do become religious or more practicing the first thing he will try to do is to make you think that what you’re doing is better than others, and this happens to everyone involved in Islamic work.  It goes against the idea of ikhlas. Allah says in the Qur’an, lillahi finil kharis (not sure exact transliteration).. those who do things for Allah sincerely are people whose actions will be accepted by Allah swt.  When we look at how we know if we have this or not.. you do something in which your name is involved (president of a club), compared to something where your name is not involved (volunteer work), then when you do both these things you need to evaluate the interest level in both. If you see the interest level is the same, then you are doing good work, but if you see yourself not having the same interest level, then you see some insincerity. Allah is not there so you work harder, this is an issue of ikhlaas. Now you look to see, why this is happening? It’s because your working for the people, working for your name. You have this world and the akhirat.. if the aakhirat is not waht you are working for, then you are in the worst situation.  The Qur’an says "they lost in this world and the hereafter", you need to understand that you are dealing this issue, and resolve it. You also have to know the confidence of what Allah is & what is Shaytan is. For example, when Imam Ali (as) went to defeat amr ibn dawood, after he cut of his head and was walking back with it.. he was walking back with a swagger.. almost seeming proud and arrogant and some of the companions questioned him. But he wasn’t proud, he was just confident that he was on the right path and that is not ujb.  Ujb (religious arrogance) involves thinking that people are lower than you and raising your status.. at this point you need to evaluate

Topic: Should we boycott lectures of speakers whose views we are not necessarily in line with? how do we filter the good for the bad from these lectures when we don't necessarily know

Moulana Baig:  Knowledge is important to look at in light of the words ilm and hikmah.. they are both different and we should understand what the difference is. If you see someone who is always backbiting, but you know he is an Alim (is learned), you can still gain from the things he has learned without learning those bad habits from him. For example, if there is an Alim that doesn’t stand against oppression, you can still learn from him. But here in America, you don’t have alims. Instead what you have over here is people who are not alims occupying the Mimbars. They are just coming and giving speeches so even if you want to learn from them you can’t because there is no basis. For example, no matter how much you go to a nurse, the nurse can never be a doctor. The only way you can get a doctor is if you go to one. And this issue isn’t even about being an Alim, it’s about having a good voice and being able to speak. So essentially, the only difference between you and him is that he can speak and you cannot. It’s as if a nurse puts on a doctors clothes and acts & talks like a doctor in a doctors clinic. We need to put our foot down and question them. Do any of us ever go to see a doctor who says ‘I am self-taught’? For our health, we only want a well qualified doctor to help us, but the same for some reason does not apply when it comes to Islam.  Another issue with this is regarding the Mimber which is a very real and symbolic thing which stands for the representation of the Prophet (saw) and the Imams (as). It is a trust given to the believers by the Imams. It is our responsibility to honor and respect the mimbar by making sure the people speaking on it are Alims and not some jewish professors, but from Ulemah learning from other Ulemah, going back to Imam Jafar al Sadiq (as). If you see people who just have a phd in islam, they tend to just misguide the people.  They make the Islamic ideology strange.. one of the things that happens here is they say.. I was with someone yesterday and they were saying, I think that Imam Khomeini (ra) was too harsh because he executed a lot of people. This statement is completely inaccurate, there was a court system in order inline with Shariah, so if they were found guilty then they were punished for it obviously. We need to ask them, is Allah more compasionate or are you? Therefore, whose laws will be more compasionate, Allah's or ours? So if His law allows a Christian to be punished, it is out of compassion. Anything otherwise is coming from the influence out of the west or anyone else. When the ulema came to the people to teach them about islam, people refused to accept and acknowledge it. When they said to do hijab, they said what are you talking about? Our elders didn't do hijab and now you want us to do it? So here in America, you have these speakers who charge $500-$800 per speech. Why do we need to hire these people? Whose path are they following? And what is worst is that we are sitting them on the Mimber of the Prophet (saw) and the Mimber is getting insulted. So what we need to realize is that if we are sitting someone on a Mimber, they have to have sufficient knowledge. For example, if you go to a doctor verses a nurse, its not a big deal if when you go to a nurse and they make a mistake, it's your fault for going to her in the first place because the nurse was not qualified to begin with. But if you go to a doctor, then it's not your fault if he or her makes a mistake because they were qualified but they them-self made a mistake.

Question: The people in this community are so lost in terms of different types of scholars. How do you educate these people? They think everyone who is sitting on the mimber is a religious scholar and take all of their words equally. How do you prevent this from happening?

Moulana Baig: This is the same issue that lead to the martyrdom to Imam Hussain (AS). People didn't care about who the khalifah was, whether it was Ali (as) or Muawiyah (la). When people don't care about the deen, about the religion, about the hereafter, why will they care who the Khalifah is or who is sitting on the Mimber? For example, if you don't care about your home, then you don't care if something happens it. If there is no interest, then these details don't matter. With the Mimber it is the same thing, if we don't care about Islam then we also don't care about the Mimber because your letting anyone go up there and talk about Allah's final religion. If this is the attitude we have, then this is what leads to the death of the Imam. Our people need to wake up and realize that this is the same attitude people had with Muawiyah (la) and Ali (as), or Abu bakr and Ali (as). This lack of interest, really shows that we don't care. The thing that matters, are the things whose details you care about such as how nice your car or home is and this is because these are the things that are real for us unfortunately.

Topic: How to break down ethnic and racial barriers within our communities.

Moulana Baig: Having a good understanding of the nation we live in is very important in terms of dealing with this issue. Many of the immigrants, such as our community members, who come from Pakistan, Iran, India, Lebanon, ect. don't have a perfect understanding of Islam. They were born into Islam and would only deal with Shias from their own countries and cultures. Now they came to America and they have to deal with Muslims from different countries all over the world, people they would only come in contact with when they went on a ziyaraat trip. If you look at the Prophet's (saw) last Hajj Khutbah, he addressed this issue of equality and denounced discrimination, however many people disagreed with him unfortunately. Until we get to know each other, we will always see each other as "different". We also need to realize that all of the differences these Muslims have are all differences in unIslamic things such as rituals and culture; we all have the Quran, Ahlul Bait (as), ect. The differences only exist because we have made unIslamic things important to us. Now that we have understood the goal, we need to spread the message. We also need to keep in mind that it's very hard to teach an old dog new tricks, although we should keep trying, our best chances of succeeding is within the next generation because these types of issues don't exist with this generation. If we look at cities like New York or Chicago, we see that the masjids are separate based on ethnicites. As a result, only the Pakistanis know the Pakistanis, the Iranis know only Iranis, ect. So there will still be an issue with the next generation because they had that gap. But we can still work to fix that. What we should work on is newer masjids who are multicultural because they did not have enough people, so they had to unite as Shia, not as Pakis or Iranis, and build a Masjid. For example, in Austin, Texas. Unfortunately, it's the older established masjids that are very difficult because these issues should have been addressed in the 80's when they were being created. It's really the newer ones that are run by younger people who are easier to work with. That is why it better to work with the open-minded youth about this, rather than the adults.

Topic: Suggestions on ways to develop better Shia-sunni unity in MSA's and college campuses.

Moulana Baig: The first thing to do is that Sunnis come in with broader Islamic topics, obviously not on Ashura or Eid-e-Ghadeer. The important thing is to give them our input in all over-lapping issues such as Hajj, oppression, ect. Unfortunately, we also have the Salafi elements who don't know whether or not to treat you as a Muslim. A few days ago, a Mufti of Saudi Arabia issued a fatwa sayings that the Saudi Councile will not allow shias to be apart of that. It's these issues that are seperating us and causing more issues for us. We also need to realize that every MSA is different; some are very exclusive while others are very open-minded. So what we need to do is create an environment where we ask, what does it take to be a Muslim? Everyone agrees in the Kalma, in the Allah, The Prophet, the angles, the day of judgement. It's after the Prophet (saw) that  the difference comes. So if someone chooses Abu Bakr and the other Ali for their succeeder, does that make them a non-Muslim? We should make it clear to them that any Muslim who calls another Muslim a kafr, how does anyone have the right to say that to someone who says La Illah Illallah a Kafr? Ask any alim if that is okay. To say that someone is a non-Muslim is not possible because everyone agrees that a Muslim is someone who believes in Allah and Prophet Mohammad (saw). We need to tell each other that yes, you are Sunni, I am Shia, but we are Muslim first. Yes we have our differences, but we need to overlook that and work together as we are both Muslims.

Question: Can you tell us how to deal with MSAs who are very Sunni-dominated and Shia influence is minimal. 

Moulana Baig: The issue is that we are not active in Sunni masjids at all. We should be in the Sunni masjids, having a relationship with them. The problem is that all of these kids go to their Masjids and unite there. We need to build our relations with them starting in their masjids so they see us as Muslims. We need to be doing the work outside so that it will influence them. If we don't, then all that they are learning is coming from their Shiekh. *CUT OFF* 

Question: It's very difficult to begin to talk to Sunnis when the differences are political and deal with Khilafat. How do we over some these differences?

Moulana Baig: We need to realize that youth in MSAs have very little knowledge regarding Islamic history. For example, I went to a university and asked people "who is Muawiyah?" and none of them knew. I asked them if they knew Fatima (as) and, again, none of them knew. Even if you look at the Sunni sisters, you find that they have very little axis to knowledge because they don't have Moharrum or Wiladat or Shahuadah events, and it's not like they can attend many of the discussions with Sheikhs because they are male dominant. So their only source is from Jumah Khutbahs who are again, mostly geared towards the males.

Question: We really need to have dialog between our Shia moulanas and Sunni shiekhs.

Moulana Baig: it needs to be done on local levels. We need to identify those Shiekhs whom are open-minded. For example, there is a Christian community that is close to ours. I also had a good Christian friend who understood christianity every well. So since we want Christians to know their true faith, I would refer those Christians to that friend of mine. So we need to do the same thing with Sunnis. We need to find Sunni Shiekhs who know and understand their religion so that we can refer our Sunni brothers and sisters to them in order to pass on correct knowledge. This will, in a way, get them to listen to the Shia voice, through their shiekhs as oppossed to a Shia who may, in their opinion, may be giving them the wrong history and information.

Question: How do Sunnis read and translate their Quran? My friend showed me a verse that was talking about Shias dividing away.

Moulana Baig: Well Shia in the Quran means friend. Allah says in the Quran, do not associate with Allah and do not divide into different groups of people. And the opposite of this is when He says, hold onto the Rope of Allah and do not divide. Well we believe that the rope of Allah is the Ahlul Bait (as) where as Sunnis have a different interpretation. What we need to keep in mind is that not believing in this does not make you a non-Muslim.

Topic: How to do amir bil maroof and nahi anil munkar with one's parents

Moulana Baig: We all know that amr bil maroof and nahi anil munka are wajib on us in certain circumstances. However, when it comes to our parents and we see our parents going haraam, how do we address it appropriately? Well this varies with every situation and every parent. We all want to do this without being disrespectful and while getting the message across appropriately. So it's very hard to answer this question without knowing the individual set of parents and the parent-child relationship. We just need to keep in mind the importance of keeping family relations. Sometimes it works to tell someone who is influential to them, or to simply follow Islam and be an example to them.

Topic: How to perfom Amir bil Ma'roof wa Nahy anil Munkar with our Sunni Br/Sr.'s without them attributing our advices to a difference of belief.

Moulana Baig: Again, we need to get Sunni Alims involved. We need to find the right Alims for them to contact so that they know the information is accepted by Sunnis. We can also refer to their websites or their books.

Question: How affective are books such as "Then I was Guided" for Sunnis?

Moulana Baig: These books are good to start discussions and to address certain differences that exist. We really need to be aggressive with educating them because we always should be passing on the love and knowledge of the Ahlul Bait.

Topic: How to make girls understand the importance of Hijab

Moulana Baig: It's very hard to make a girl understand the importance of Hijab if the mother herself does not wear hijab. Now we also need to encourage girls from a young age. We should praise them when they do hijab, so that they are encouraged and feel better about themselves. Looks is very important in this society, so if they are praised, then they will be more likely to consider wearing it. When the girl finally reaches the age of 9, we then should explain the reasons why Muslim women wear it. The key is to build it up from a young age, not bring it upon them when they are in high school because it will make them feel awkward. We need to try to get them to enter school by the age of 8 with hijab so that when they grow older, they will eventually appreciate and understand it. There is also a big problem with girls who are surrounded by girls who do not wear hijab, such as their relatives and cousins. As concerned parents, we need to be careful that they do not become too influenced by these relatives. If we see a girl struggling, then we really need to explain hijab to her, but if she just wants to enjoy life then its very hard to get to her.

Question: There are hijabis in certain communiteis who are looked up to by younger girls, but the hijabis are not wearing proper hijabis or do not live a hijabi lifestyle. Then you have certain members in the community of condemn hijab and say it is fanatic. With all of these conflicting views, how do we pass on the right message of Islam?

Moulana Baig: Hadith by Imam Ali - there will be women who are covered from heard to toe, but they will not be wearing hijab. We have to understand is that, wearing hijab with your arms uncovered, or your hair showing, your hijab is not there. If your not doing the whole thing, why are you doing it at all? It's like trying to live a healthy life-style while at the same time smoking a cigerate. We need to realize that people see you as what you present yourself as. We don't know the life-style of everyone, and we don't really want to know. However, to see a girl who does improper hijab, it says a lot about the life-style she is living. Yes, you are right, that we need to let these people know that they were affecting the young girls in the community. At the same time we need to ask our young girls, "who is your role model, these girls or Fatima (as)"?

Question: If there are girls in our household who do not wear hijab, but we are trying to encourage them, will we be held accountable on the day of judgement for them not wearing hijab?

Moulana Baig: We need to ask them, why would you even want someone to be able to look at you lustfully? When a girl goes out without hijab, you give random men the ability to eye you up and down, and you give them a chance to to make you feel so cheap and worthless, to nothing more than an object. If you did not try to encourage them and get them to state, then yes you will be held accountable for not having tried to enjoin good and forbid evil within your own family.

Question: What do you do if you know someone wants to stop wearing hijab? What advice can you give to those dealing with this situation?

Moulana Baig: You need to explain to her what are the advantages and disadvantages of hijab. Without hijab, you are just like anyone else and are disrespected. You need to explain it from an ideological perspective. When Allah (swt) will ask you, what will you possibly tell him? For these measely 50-60 years, your throwing away your afterlife? This idea and thought needs to be drilled in. Maybe refer her to someone else whom she may be influenced by.

Question: What if you did not train a girl properly from an early age, and now the girl is 15-16 and you realize it's importance, how do you try to influence them?

Moulana Baig: You can’t do same thing you did when they were young. Have to give them reasoning, start in baby steps like wear it when you go to center. Encourage tell them it is more becoming of them. Ask them if Allah wants them to do it why aren’t they? If they haven’t learned by 13, 14 they are tuned into the world already, it’s hard to get them to know. You really have to try hard, make them strong enough to wear it. 

Question: How can communities who lack in Daw'ah work, begin doing Daw'ah in their communities?

Moulana Baig: These communities, most of them, they obviously do not know how to do Daw'ah. But what they do have, is a location where people can meet. Most of the time, they are used only once or twice a week, and the rest of the week it is closed. So what we can do is take advantage of these locations and make arrangements to meet in these places and maybe do activities or discussions or meetings there with non-Muslims. You will be amazed that if you put your masjids name in the yellowpages, how many people who are interested in Islam will call or stop by. For example, one night I came into the masjid to read Maghrib namaaz, and two people came knocking randomly and asked for Islamic books and information. Imagine if the masjid was open at all times, how many people would be coming. If the people come and no one is there, what are the chances that they will come back? And if your masjid does not have the resources to remain open at all times, then they should post the times it is open for say weekly programs or namaaz.