[is-lam] Ahlan-wa-Sahlan 1426!

[A_Dharmawan]

Ahlan-wa-Sahlan 1426!
By: IslamiCity
IslamiCity* -

We date ourselves from the night that the Prophet Muhammad began his journey from Makkah to Madinah, 1425 years ago. This journey is a history in itself and in it is a message for humankind of historical proportions. This journey of the Prophet showed us that it is incumbent upon humankind to pursue the establishment of a Peaceful and Just society.

Physical migration and perseverance is an important milestone on the road to establish Peace and Justice. Intellectual migration from the subjugated minds to an awakened spirit is even more important. Prophet Muhammad was commanded and led to continue the struggle of establishing Peace and Justice for entire humanity. It is inspiring indeed to see the clarity and purpose of his mission in spite of life threatening challenges for himself and his handful of friends at the time of migration.

The message of One God is timeless and universal as started by Prophet Adam and continued by Ibrahim (Abraham), Isa (Jesus) and Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon all of them. Although it is needed everyday but specially as we  mark the beginning of a new calendar year, it is all the more important, to renew the same call that was made by all of the prophets in their own times.

The human society deserves to marvel its scientific achievements but cannot afford to act like an ostrich!. Moral degradation, selective justice, purposeless life, meaningless pursuits are coveted principles of post-modern society. The world today refuses to understand the concept of justice.

Within this global system, the poor South had to "pay" the rich North approximate 264 billion in debt servicing in 1998.  It is estimated that more than a Million children die across the 'Developing World' (a.k.a. Third World) each year because of debt payments. It should also be noted "in 1990 20% of the world's population who live in the richest countries had 40 times the income of the poorest 20%? And by 1995, 90 times as much income."  What is even more distressing, "the world's 100 richest people have a combined wealth of over US$2 Trillion, equal to the annual income of the poorest 47% of the world's people (2.5 billion).  The three richest people have assets that exceed the combined GDP of the 48 least developed countries." 

These statistics are just the tip of the iceberg-and only the economic iceberg at that!  If we examine the data on other structures-from resource control and technology information to everything in between it is even more discriminatory. It is shocking that such severe iniquities have been allowed to persist for so long at the global level. The world is crying out (silently) for conscientious people to step up and stop the exploitation of weak and the inequitable distribution of wealth, and the wide chasm that divides North and South. 

In the migration of Prophet Muhammad , we learn of an amazing blend in the pursuit of establishing Peace and Justice without depriving any one or creating any disparities.  Followers of his mission must examine the much too flexible approaches and compromising attitudes being adapted today. The timeless and universal call of One God must continue to be made but not by compromises. Migration of minds and thinking is the need of the day.

In fact, intellectual revolution is an essential pre-requisite before the socio-political order in a society can be changed. Some people still carry the intellectual baggage of the colonial era. This has prevented them from understanding the issues clearly and to bring about meaningful change in their societies. 

The life of the Last Prophet offers an excellent example to follow in plotting the way out of a quagmire of inequities and injustices.

http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0203-410

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