Muslim Manhood: Unity begins with U

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Unity starts with you. It ends with you. We hear people talk about unity all the time. Everywhere Muslims live, people are crying for unity of the Ummah, our Muslim Community. With all the talk, how come it has not happened? People have many different answers: "We are divided as a community, we do not care about one another, and we love this life too much".

While many of those contribute to an answer, I have my own answer: Each man and woman is divided within their own souls. They bear witness to this. Most of the people who thrive on speaking about negativity in others suggest verbally and nonverbally there is a conflict inside their soul. So how can a heart with conflict see so clearly? If there is a conflict in someone’s eyes such as bleach or sand or something inhibiting clear vision, can one say they see perfectly? I do not think so.

There is a popular verse in the Qur'an. In chapter 13 (Al-Ra’d), verse 11 there is a portion where most average Muslims translate as

“Allah does not change a condition of the people until they change the condition of themselves.” (Qur'an, 13:11)

The Arabic words from the Quran say something more specific. Yusuf Ali and M. Pickthall translate it a more specific way:

"For him are angels ranged before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him".

The word for change used in this verse transliterates as Yu-Ghay-ya-roo which is third person, plural and present tense. The root word Ghay-ya-ra is in the second verbal form in Arabic which specifically connotes one causing with more intensity and repetition over time (“Language of Revelation”, Siddeeq Jihad, p. 108).

It is an active and engaging form for verbs in Arabic. In this subtlety, Allah is showing us how he wants us to change our own condition from division towards unity. He wants us to engage our hearts constantly. The Arabic words for this transliterates as 'maa' (what) 'bee' (in) 'an-foo-see-him' (selves). We must change what is inside ourselves.

Often, the divisions and the corruptions most of us speak about in the community are spread by backbiting and perpetuating scandals. Our hearts do not see clearly. Thus when we spread news of the community, it usually comes out unclear and negative which often translates to backbiting and scandals. Many times we backbite and spread negativity because of what we heard from someone else. The 108th chapter (Al-Humazah) of the Quran is specifically about people who spread these types of corruptions. Thus, our efforts to reunite the community are corrupt. In our corruption, we get this rush and a voice telling us that we doing the right thing, it’s for the sake of Allah, or it is for the greater good. We continue in the misguidance because we have adopted inappropriate habits in our efforts to reunite.

It is a natural law in science and a supernatural law that to gain positivity, one must emit positivity. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should show hospitality to his neighbor. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest.” (Bukhari and Muslim). The Prophet ﷺ was a firm believer in being positive as we should be.

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