May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon Muhammad who was been sent as mercy to the worlds, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgment. A Word to the Aliman Center, New York (USA) After that, we are truly grateful to the Aliman Center, and to the vigilant brothers leading it, headed by Sheikh Muhammad Othman – may Allah preserve him. He graciously extended the invitation of the Society of Faith for us to deliver instructional lectures for the benefit of the Muslim community residing in the city of New York, on the occasion of the blessed month of Ramadan in the year 1420 AH. Allah, the Exalted and Mighty, granted success to our efforts to conduct these lessons in favorable conditions and a wonderful atmosphere, enhanced by the profound sentiments and emotions of this community thirsty for knowledge about their religion. They are eager for the divine solutions, which, by the grace of Allah, abound in this religion. These solutions encompass all their problems and the future of their children. Each night, we have been delighted by the presence of a lively Muslim audience, filled with sincere love and rapid interaction, opening their hearts, ears, and homes to us. They inquire about our well-being and reassure us, extending their assistance whenever we need any service. The Society has generously provided us with everything, and may Allah reward this Muslim audience and make them advocates and protectors of this true religion. I believe that the diverse composition of the Muslim community in America, representing various Islamic countries and others, should give it a unique and distinguished character compared to other Muslim communities worldwide. This distinctiveness should manifest in interaction, understanding, cooperation, and contributions. If individuals with sincere intentions continue to guide this process, adhering to an Islamic approach based on the Qur’an, Sunnah, Prophetic traditions, and the righteous predecessors’ examples, it will prevent falling into pitfalls that lead to disagreements and divisions. These pitfalls have consistently eroded the efforts of Muslims, extinguishing the flame after initially blowing upon it. Therefore, the guidance and empowerment of this community should not be confined to a single event in the year, such as the month of Ramadan. Instead, concerted efforts should be made to organize courses over days and weeks, focused on education, awareness, and guidance. These efforts could culminate in scholarly seminars and international meetings with Muslims from around the world, fostering cross-pollination of ideas, strengthening bonds, and fortifying the defense of Allah’s religion and the religion of humanity as a whole, if they choose the path to the Divine. This necessitates involving all segments of this community, forming special committees for proposing, planning, thinking, and managing these activities, while allowing for opinions and evaluations, aiming to enrich, diversify, and ensure the continuity of projects and the Society. Furthermore, those overseeing this youthful Society of Faith – blessed be it, by the permission of Allah – should diversify their sources of support to establish a strong foundation for community education. This could involve greater reliance on donation drives and creating other vital facilities to enhance the Society’s resources, covering its material needs and enabling it to achieve complete independence in this field. A symposium relating to endowments (waqf) in Islam and its educational, social, and economic role would be highly beneficial in raising awareness within the community about the significance of charitable works and their effects on immediate and future outcomes. The most important aspect to note about this Society is its realization of the role of preachers in inspiring high aspirations, igniting the spirit of cooperation and solidarity among Muslims. However, those responsible for the Society should be cautious in selecting suitable individuals for specific roles and circumstances. This should be done without resorting to routine practices and assigning the same faces to the same roles and tasks. This process is the key to pushing forward. It should not be left to mere consensus or personal inclinations. Furthermore, any consideration must be in line with the higher interests of Islam and the Muslim community, and people should entrust their decisions to their faith. Aliman Center should believe that its excellence is rooted in divine causes, one of the most significant being the honoring of scholars and elevating their status, both materially and morally, as they are direct catalysts for activating the donation process. It is not commendable for them to be instrumental in raising much and receiving only a little. Harm to Islamic charitable projects usually stems from deficiencies in one aspect and excesses in others. Clarity should be maintained, and the desire for uniqueness and independence should not override collective opinions. These efforts should be in line with the best interests of Islam and Muslims, and decisions should be based on faith. Finally, the scholars deserve commendation wherever they are, as they are encouraged to continue giving and solving problems, enabling them to ponder over the significant issues affecting Muslims. They are the heirs of the prophets and the heirs of knowledge, and when they speak the truth, they are rewarded. When they remain silent, they commit a sin. As Allah Almighty says, ‘Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture – those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse, except for those who repent and correct themselves and make evident [what they concealed]. Those – I will accept their repentance, and I am the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.’ May Allah Almighty bless the efforts being made by Sheikh Muhammad Othman and his esteemed colleagues in propagating the Qur’an’s message and reviving the Sunnah’s teachings through the Society of Faith in the land of the Americans. May He make us guided guides to the path of the Lord of the worlds. Written by Ibrahim bin Ahmed Al-Wafi, Professor at Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, Morocco.”
Lorem Ipsum