For decades now, Islam has been preached and taught in a Traditional way. It takes far more than just the Declaration of Faith (Shahadah), the performance of Salat, the payment of Zakat, the Fast of Ramadhan and the performance of Hajj to make us “believers”.
The Traditional approach is based on the Qur’an and Ahadith, and dealt with as subjects under Islamic Jurisprudence, Fiqh, Tasfir Qur’an, Ahadith, Tasawwuf etc. These are all knowledge-based sciences, establishing the intellectual state of a Muslim. They produce specialised individuals in accordance with their field of science.
Traditionally, an ustad or ustazah will tell you that according to Hadith, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said that if you build a mosque, Allah will bestow upon you a mansion in paradise. Anyone listening to this may be influenced to do so because of the reward. The message is valid, except that does not take in the wider picture. If you study accounting there is a subject dealing with ‘profit and loss’. It will reflect the state of your financial affairs. Therefore, is it not possible that you could lose the mansion as a result of your debts?
Islam cannot be viewed in a literal context. For example, if you read in Hadith, of a lady providing a thirsty dog with water from a well and as a result of this act gained entry into heaven, do not assume that if you imitate her, you too will gain entry into paradise. It is an educational example of how Allah works in the traditional context but it definitely is not how Islam is viewed in a wholesome context. If you think that memorizing the Qur’an (becoming a Hafiz) is great. The answer is “yes” but it will only become wholesome when you are the embodiment of it. When ‘Aishah (r. h.) was asked concerning the character of the Prophet (s.a.w.), she replied, “He is the Qur’an,” (Muslim).
Islam has to be conveyed in a more wholesome manner and not on a piece-meal basis. Life has evolved and become complicated and as such has to be viewed in a wider context.
