Islamic Activity and the Medium Nation^[1]

by His Eminenz Ayatollah Scheich Mohammad al Yaqoobi

If we, as supervisors, want to evaluate the social activities of the Islamists, be they members of the Seminary (i.e. hawzah), members of the Islamic political parties, or Islamist thinkers and intellectuals, we will hit upon two eminent lines

The Fist Line and Category represents those who are wholly engaged in the social activity without paying any attention to self-building, self-disciplinary, and self-perfection, thus forgetting the most essential aim for which they have engaged themselves in such activities.

For such individuals, all standards have been turned upside down. They have seen the right as wrong and the wrong as right,[2] their activities changed into struggle for gaining worldly pleasures, and their clashes with the tyrannical powers changed into struggle for coming to power, but not for bringing down oppression or establishing justice, reformation, and noble life. Gradually, they have become aloof from their principles without feeling this fact, because the bearing of power on the mentality of the imperious person is psychological.

In this regard, the Holy Quran reads: “Be not like those who forsook Allah, so He made them forsake their own souls. These are the transgressors.’’ (59/19)

Man can hardly take notice of such bearing and recover his senses except when God, the Almighty and Blessed, endows him with a favor from His side, or he can find an honest and well-wishing friend who shows him the right path, or there is still in his heart and conscience a remainder of pure soul by which he lives.

However, if these three factors are missing, man will sink to the abyss when it would be no longer the time for escape! Then, regret would be useless, God forbid! The tyrannical political parties that raise Islam as their motto are the best example of this category.

The second Line and Category is represented by those who have preferred isolation and self-retreat. They have therefore lost their spirits, determination, and enthusiasm towards activity and dedicated all their concerns to their special affairs.

This is so either because of the failure of the experiment of the earlier category of Islamists, which left negative bearings on this category and imputed dishonor to them, or because the individuals of this category failed to carry out their mission adequately, or because they despaired of reformation and making changes.

As a result of such state of despair, they have felt frustrated and as a reaction, they abandoned all social activities. Unfortunately, a big number of the students and virtuous personalities of the Seminary of Najaf and other Islamic schools can be included with this line and category.

Although the holy city of Najaf comprises thousands of religious study-seekers, it cannot find a single person who may extend a hand of advice, instruction, and true guidance to this city and treat the social deviations and the ignorance of people with the laws and manners of the religion that are widespread therein.

Beyond doubt, both categories have turned away from the Straight Path, which the medium nation is supposed to take. Referring to this fact, the Holy Quran says: “Thus, We have appointed you a middle nation, that you may be witnesses against mankind and that the Messenger may be a witness against you.’’ (2/143)

Hence, none of these two categories are worthy of acting as witnesses against mankind, according to this holy verse, because they both have shown shortcoming.

As for the first category, they have obviously moved away from the religious law. Moreover, they have involved themselves in a big number of major sins and destructive wrongdoings on the top of which is the failure of those who take upon themselves the headship of people to manage their affairs adequately. Actually, he who assumes the leadership of a people and takes the responsibility on behalf of them, although it is very rare to find such individuals, is liable for every item of their affairs. On account of that, his interrogation by God the Almighty will take more much time than the others.

While I was reciting Surah al-Qasas (Chapter: the Stories, No. 28 of the Holy Quran), I came to the last verses of it where the story of Korah (Qarun), the terribly rich man of the Israelites whom God the Almighty gave “so many treasures that their very keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men.” This social situation of him was so seductive to many people who wished they had been in his place.

Narrating Korah’s story, the Holy Quran says: “So, he went forth among his people in the pride of his worldly glitter. Said those whose aim is the life of this world, ‘Oh that we had the like of what Korah has got! For he is truly a lord of mighty and good fortune!’ But those who had been granted true knowledge said, ‘Alas for you! The reward of Allah in the Hereafter is best for those who believe and work righteousness, but this none shall attain save those who steadfastly persevere in good.’ Then We caused the earth to swallow up him and his house and he had not the least little party to help him against Allah nor could he defend himself. Those who had envied his position the day before began to say on the morrow, ‘Ah! It is indeed Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it to any of His servants He pleases! Had it not been that Allah was gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up! Ah! Those who reject Allah will assuredly never prosper.’’ (28/79-82)

The world we are living in is in fact not like the world of Korah so that it deserves that man abandons his principles for its sake! Those who wish they were in the place of so-and-so who holds powerful positions will very soon discover that God the Almighty only wanted their benefit when He protected them from being entrapped by such positions of power.

The people of the second category have in fact neglected the concerns of their people, while a hadith (prophetic saying) holds that he who begins his day without paying attention to the concerns of the Muslims is in reality not one of them.[3]

Moreover, those represented by the second line and category have forsaken their responsibilities for promoting the Word of God and promulgating the teachings of His religion, because they have enough knowledge and experience to do so, and any one who has learned the knowledge is answerably required to promulgate and convey it to the others, taking into consideration the fact that on this day, the most proper opportunity is available for exerting efforts in the blessed field of Islamic activity.

However, if a certain person or a party that raises an Islamic motto fails to undertake his responsibility as it should be undertaken, this should not be taken as a pretext to retreat and fall back, no matter how much thorny and full of obstacles the path would be.

In the formula that is said during visiting the shrine of Abu’l-Fadhl al-Abbas, we can find the following statement: “I bear witness that you never slackened or recoiled (from your duty).” Thus should the medium nation that God, the Blessed and Exalted, wants us to represent be. In every age and time, there must be such a medium nation no matter how great sacrifices must be given or how great obstacles, pressures, suspicions, and frustration may be faced in the path of the medium nation playing its role. Referring to these factors, the Holy Quran says: “Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. Of them some have completed their vow to the extreme and some still wait but they have never changed their determination in the least.  (33/23)”   

In his book of al-Amali, Sheikh al-Sadouq has reported the following: As for the exegesis of this holy verse: “Say: ‘With Allah is the conclusive argument. If it had been His will, He could indeed have guided you all,’ (6/149)” Imam al-Sadiq is reported to have said, “On the Resurrection Day, the Exalted Lord will ask His servants separately, ‘O My servant, have you been knowledgeable?’ If the servant answers in the affirmative, God will say to him, ‘You should have thus followed your knowledge in your behaviors.’

If the servant answers in the negative, God will say to him, ‘You should have learnt so that you would apply your knowledge to your deeds.’ Thus, God will overcome in all cases. This is the conclusive argument meant in the holy verse.

The whole world is expecting from you alone, i.e. the Iraqis in general and the Religious Seminary of the Holy Najaf in particular, to introduce to them the genuine Islam that has been conveyed by the Holy Prophet and recognized and followed by the Ahl al-Bayt (the Holy Prophet’s Household)—the true Islam that is devoid of distortions and misleading and false conceptions that have been imputed to it. You are now required to be within the ones entrusted with this great trust: “And for this, let those aspire who have aspirations.’’ (83/26

The whole world can find the pure and genuine Islam no elsewhere than with you, because you are its essence and origin. Today, all means of activity are available and you can effortlessly communicate with the whole world through the internet.

[1] A discourse of His Eminence Ayatollah Sheikh al-Ya’qubi with the delegation of al-Fadhila Party, the Municipality of Rusafa II, Baghdad, on the 21st of Sha’ban, AH 1429 corresponding to August 23rd, 2008 on the first annual occasion of the martyrdom of Eng. Abu Abdullah Abbas, a member of the Municipality, and with the delegation of al-Fadhila Party Bureau in the city of Ali al-Gharbi.

[2] The Holy Prophet (¥) is reported to have said, “What shall you do when you see the right as wrong and the wrong as right?”

[3] Sheikh al-Kulayni, al-Kafi 2:164, H. 5.

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