Dr. Waffie Mohammed
The first Trinidad national to have earned a doctorate in the study of Islam, Dr. Waffie graduated from the University of Karachi with a PhD in Islamic Studies, obtained in parallel with Al-Kamil certification from the Aleemiya Institute established by Dr. Fazlu R. Ansari.
On his return to Trinidad, Dr. Waffie contributed to the development of the Muslim communities located throughout the country and the region, while at the same time serving the wider national communities. This led to his appointment to the Senate in 1981, and his later appointment as Director of the Muslim World League regional office for the Caribbean and Latin America, a position in which he contributed to global Muslim development, until his retirement in 2003.
Dr. Waffie is currently serving as the Principal and Director at the Markaz al Ihsaan Institute of Islamic Theology. He also serves as a spiritual leader of the local chapters of the Qadri and Nakshbandi Orders within Islamic Spirituality Circles.
The author of numerous books, articles and publications dedicated to Islam and contemporary social issues, Dr. Waffie also has a growing number of pioneering works in contemporary Islamic studies. Dr. Waffie blogs often at http://drwaffie.blogspot.com
Preparation
- By Dr. Waffie Mohammed
- Published 01/14/2011
We cannot fathom
the capacity and capability of the Holy Qur’an and Allah
bears testament to this in Surah Al Isra
‘Say:
"If the mankind and the jinns were together to produce the like
of This Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they
helped one another.’ (17:88)
One of the
beauties of the Qur’an is that it came to take mankind out of darkness
into light. One way of achieving this is that Allah
has shown man the workings of nature. For example He says in
Surah Yaseen;
‘And a
sign for them is the night, We withdraw therefrom the day, and behold,
they are in darkness. And the sun runs on its fixed course for
a term (appointed). That is the decree of the All-Mighty, the
All-Knowing. And the moon, we have measured for it mansions (to
traverse) till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk.
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip
the day. They all float, each
in an orbit.’ (36:37-40)
There are many
messages that can be derived from these verses [ayats]. One of these messages
is that everything that has been created is going about their respective
missions. We have to benefit from the creations of Allah
and use the blessings and favours He has bestowed upon us for our own
welfare.
If you happen
to die now what will happen? People may miss for some period of
time but at the end of the day life goes on with the rest of the creatures.
All creatures are fulfilling their purposes; what about you? What
are you doing to earn the garden?
Even Muslims
will be thrown into the pits of hell and when they have been punished
for their wrongs Allah will remove them and place them in paradise; and even then their title
will be ‘the dwellers of hell’. Assess your own situation.
Which direction are you heading in? Do you feel that you can cross
the bridge of pul sirat with ease or will you have problems?
Beg your Lord now not then. Beg for forgiveness and for guidance.
When Prophet
Sulaiman (ra) was at the peak of his knowledge and understanding he
made a beautiful dua to Allah, and we should all make an effort to learn this prayer and recite it
regularly:
‘My Lord
inspire and bestow upon me the power and ability that I may be grateful
for Your Favours which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and
that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me
by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves.’ (27:19)
Brothers and
sisters the year is coming to an end. Take stock of your own selves.
Make amends for the shortfalls that you would have made. No one knows
when they will be leaving this world so let each and every day be a
day of preparation so that if perchance Allah
decides to take us back we will be prepared.
We have to
leave this world one day, the only issue is that we are not sure when.
Be serious and prepare properly so we’ll have hopes of a beautiful
meeting with our Lord.
We are all
slaves of Allah. A slave is someone who has no say of his own. Satan was not
a true slave, Pharaoh was not a true slave and we see how their end
was. Be like the companions of Prophet Muhammad. Whenever they were asked a question, even if they knew the answer,
their response was always ‘Allah
and His Rasool
knows best’.
May Allah forgive us all and bless us and enable us to rise with the righteous on that promised Day and may He allow us to get close to Him, insha Allah.