November 1997: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 3

Majority vs Minority

Proclaim: "The bad and the good are not the same, even if the abundance of the bad may impress you. You shall reverence God, (even if you are in the minority) O you who possess intelligence, that you may succeed."

(5:100)

Have you ever pondered as to why submitters are always in the minority? Why is it that those who worship God alone are always in the minority? Why is it that those who strive to follow God’s commandments, to create balance and harmony, to avoid evil mischief are always in the minority?

You are the best community ever raised among the people: you advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and you believe in God. If the followers of the scripture believed, it would be better for them. Some of them do believe, but the majority of them are wicked. (3:110)

This is nothing new. All we need is to reflect to the time of Abraham when he advised the idol worshipers to the submission of God alone, the majority, including his father, rejected him.

Today whenever we encounter our fellow human beings placed on this planet temporarily, they are either submitters or rejectors. You will find that the majority to be the rejectors. We can find rejectors and disbelievers in all forms of religion as well as within our family unit. Whatever religion one is following, there will always be an edict to worship other than God alone. Family members may also bow to these edicts and be easily consumed by the practices of the majority without knowledge or through blind ignorance.

When our revelations are recited to them, clearly, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Which of us is more prosperous? Which of us is in the majority?” (19:73)

Advising family members and friends

can only lead to two avenues. One is to have factual discussion which may open their hearts and minds to receive guidance according to God’s will, hence returning them to submission. The other is that they will totally reject the presentation of facts based on the Quranic evidence and remain rejectors.

Retrospectively throughout past history, submitters have always been in the minority and the rejectors have been in the majority. God willing may the table change for the future.

If you obey the majority of people on earth, they will divert you from the path of God. They follow only conjecture; they only guess. (6:116)

G. Ali

Australia

Reflect to the time of Noah. We find that after his dire warning to the majority of the people of the consequences of their evil deeds, the majority rejected him, including his son.

Journey back to the time of Lot who confronted mischieviousness of his community. He begged the community to uphold the hospitality he offered to his guests, the majority rejected him, including his wife, and thus they all suffered the wrath of God.

Going back to time of Moses, he, too, faced the rejectors, not only from Pharaoh and his consorts, but also from his own people. Upon receiving the ten commandments, the majority of his people rejected him and his position. His brother, Aaron, was consumed in the fervor of worshiping the golden calf.

The majority of those who believe in God do not do so without committing idol worship. (12:106)

Ramadan

The Month of Fasting

Dec 30, 1997 --- Jan 28, 1998

O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation. (2:183)

Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. God wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify God for guiding you, and to express your appreciation. (2:185)

The new moon timings to determine the month of Ramadan are as follow:

Dec 29, 1997 at 16:57 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Jan 28, 1998 at 06:01 GMT

Therefore, the first day of Ramadan is Dec 30, 1997, and the last day of Ramadan is Jan 28, 1998.