Inner & Outer Conflicts was the editorial piece for the 2012 Rabbiul Awwal Special.
With the name of Allah, most Beneficient, ever Merciful
Quite a few of the articles selected for this issue have a common thread that runs through them i.e. the influence of modernisation and westernisation on the way we think and the way we behave.
In the article “leaders of bygone days”, all of them were at odds with the west. Even at present, Muslim are in battle with the west in countries such as Afghanistan.
But when we consider the early conflicts in Islam, such as that between The Prophet ﷺ and the Meccans, or that between Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) and yazid, then we have to concede that the west was not always our enemy.
In reality, this is a struggle between good and evil: man made laws versus Allah’s law: capitalism against sharing and most importantly, what appeals to our baser desires and what appeals to our spiritual natures.
This struggle between good and evil takes place on many different levels. It takes place within us, within a family, within a society and the world at large.
Of all levels, the most important is that which is closest to us. Therefore, the conquest of oneself is the most important. The Prophet ﷺ has said: “The most excellent Jihad is the conquest of the self” Bukhari.
It is in Sufism and Tasawaff that we learn about our carnal desires and ways to suppress them. Most of our articles therefore lean towards this subject.
Just as trade can-ot be learnt from books only, Tasawaff too, cannot be learnt from books only. One has to find a true spiritual guide and become apprenticed to him.
We make dua in the manner as thought to us by Allah Subhanatallah: “Guide us on the straight path, the path of those on whom Thou has bestowed Thy Grace, not of those who evoke your anger nor of those who are astray.” Ameen. Sura Fatiha.
Editorial Team.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi 2012
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