Guarding the Faith after Ramadan

abdullah hakimBy Farhad Khadim

(September 18, 2009) – Guarding the Faith after Ramadan was the topic of a web address by Dr. Abdullah Hakim-Quick on Wednesday night, organized by the Islamic Institute of Toronto

Abdullah Hakim Quick was born in the United States of America and accepted Islam in Canada in 1970. He pursed his study of Islam at the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia and later completed his Masters Degree and a Doctorate in African History at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Quick reflected on four major lessons of Ramadan:
• Increase in Taqwa (Consciousness of Allah). See: 2:183 and Surah Al-Anfaal:29.
• Closeness to Allah.
• Cultivation of Islamic character (Patience, purity in relations, etc)
• Practical Unity and a sense of Ummah (Surah Al-Anfaal:73)

He asserted that these four lessons provide a foundation for the survival of the Muslim character beyond Ramadan.

He stressed the fleeting nature of the physical world and, in many references to the Qur’anic and Prophetic statements, showed that an understanding of the temporary nature of this world and the abiding nature of the next world is crucial for Muslims to navigate the priorities of their lives.

In setting out a practical survival guide for Muslims, he enumerated the following:
• Recognition of the deceptive nature of the material world.
• Conditions for success: Imaan and Tawakkul (Faith and dependence on Allah).
• Avoiding the Major sins.
• Avoiding indecency (sexual immorality)
• Forgiving in anger (opposite leads to divorce, loss of friends, murder, splitting up of masjids, etc).
• Responding to Allah (Ready at all times to hearken to Allah’s signs and listen to the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him.
• Establishing Prayers (Salat).
• Mutual consultation (Shurah) in all affairs (Domestic, community, business and state)
• Constantly giving from our wealth. (Century of crises).
• Standing up against Oppression (Not Terrorism but establishing justice)

The Web seminar (webinar) and other online tools such as webcasts, web meetings, video streaming and online education are quickly becoming a medium of instruction for many Islamic institutions, as they recognize that they can take advantage of a connected world to discuss and share ideas, teach and disseminate the message of Islam.

The Islamic Institute of Toronto will be using these tools in its Fall semester to provide distance education in at least two of its courses. See www.islam.ca for more information.

*Farhad Khadim is the Vice President and Director of Education of the Islamic Institute of Toronto.