Background
One of the areas that we are currently struggling mightily is in the area of honor within the Christian Church.
Lineage
Introduction
In this post, I will like to share from a couple of Islamic sites.
The hope is to offer an introduction on how the Koran looks unto honor.
Mohammad Ali Shomali
- “Certainly We have honoured the Children of Adam”
- Our responsibility is to utilise our capital and add to it. If we do not add to it, and lose it instead, then this is a serious loss. We are to appreciate, safeguard, and add to it. We must also pass it in our own social circles. A dignified person treats others with dignity, and never humiliates them. Those who humiliate others lack dignity in themselves. People of dignity never use abusive words. A true believer never descends into dishonour.
- Allah Is The Source Of Dignity And Honour
- The dignity of Allah is the source for any other kind of dignity. He is the absolute source of dignity just as He is the source of light
- And one whom Allah has not granted any light has no light.
- In the Qur’an, there are several terms and notions that refer to the dignity of Allah; perhaps the most obvious one is ‘izzah, which appears – along with the derivatives from its root – 119 times, mostly relating to Allah Himself.
- Whoever seeks honour [should know that] honour entirely belongs to Allah. To Him ascends the good word, and the righteous deed elevates it.
- مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ
- That dignity belongs entirely to Allah does not mean no one else can possess it; rather, it means that all ‘izzah belongs to Allah as the source and then He gives to others. It is a gift from Him. Creatures do not really own it, but they receive it from Allah. Then the verse goes on saying: “To Him ascends the good word, and the righteous deed elevates it.” Allah says if you want dignity, you must be aware that it belongs to Him. And the means of ascending to that source is by rising up. You cannot aspire to connect to Him and have ‘izzah by being stagnant. You must move and ascend. This is done by having al-kalim altayyib which refers to proper beliefs (‘aqidah), and a proper understanding of your position, where you come from, what your Creator expects of you, and what your future holds. Afterwards, the verse mentions a very subtle point: when it comes to beliefs, Allah says that our ‘aqidah ascends. But when He then mentions righteous conduct (al-‘amal al-salih), he says that good deeds help lift the ‘aqidah higher. ‘Aqidah rises up and then al-‘amal al-salih acts like a lift, taking it to a high position. This is because we are our ‘aqidah. Our beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes – which are more important than our actions – are what shapes the way we understand God and the world. What is in our minds and hearts is crucial, and then our actions help us to move forward. In a sense, every person is identical to his or her ‘aqidah, and the actions are helpers enabling one to move upwards. Like a person who lives in a building with 100 floors; to access the top floor he will go into the lift, press the button, and go up. What is rising is the person; it is the lift that helps him rise. His beliefs are the key to that rise, and righteous conduct help the beliefs rise further. We must therefore invest in our ‘aqidah, and then our imaan will produce righteous conduct.
- Those who take the faithless for allies instead of the faithful Do they seek honour with them? [If so] indeed all honour belongs to Allah.
- الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِنْ دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِنْدَهُمُ الْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ الْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا
- In this verse, Allah refers to people who associate themselves with those who are against the faith and the truth. In the Qur’an, the term kafir in most cases refers to those whom deliberately deny and reject the truth. Allamah Tabatabai, in his al-Mizan, says there are different types of kufr, one of which is kufr al-juhud, the most commonly-mentioned type in the Qur’an; such as the rejection of truth by people such as Abu Sufyan, Abu Jahl, and Abu Lahab. Therefore, kafir does not simply mean ‘non-Muslim’. Those strong verses against the “kuffar” must be understood properly. Allah says that some people try to associate themselves with those who deny and reject the truth. This does not mean simple friendship; rather, wilayah means to associate and belong to their camp, to join them and to work with them for the same aims and objectives. Allah asks: ‘Do they seek honour and dignity?’ It is a mistake for people to join gangs and suspicious groups because they are concerned with the low numbers in their own groups and feel a lack of a sense of belonging. The kuffar who reject the truth deliberately may have many assets such as power and wealth, but they do not have dignity. Do not think that you will get dignity by joining them. Truly, dignity in totality belongs to Allah, and He is the ultimate source of it. Of course, He will give this to others as a gift, but no one owns dignity as He does.
- Remain Steadfast With Honour
- وَلَا يَحْزُنْكَ قَوْلُهُمْ ۘ إِنَّ الْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا ۚ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
- Do not grieve at their remarks; indeed all might belongs to Allah; He is the All-hearing, the All knowing.
Sometimes people break our hearts, especially when they do not appreciate a great mission we seek to attain. Some show fervent interest and passion, and some ridicule instead. Allah tells us not to allow their words and mockery to affect us. They cannot reduce our honour, nor add to it. We must do our work, and if they do not appreciate it, or even abuse us, we must not worry, for all honour is with Allah. The way the prophets were treated is very disturbing. They were ridiculed, tortured, exiled, and killed. But they maintained honour and sought it from its source. And today it is they who have honour. Today no one respects the likes of Fir’awn and Namrud. Those who were ridiculed, tortured, and killed have honour today: Musa has honour, Ibrahim has honour, Nuh has honour. In the long-term, honour is only for those who perform good deeds, even if people of their time do not appreciate them and do not understand them and what they say. In the long-term, it is only truth that will prevail; only good intentions, actions, and beliefs will determine who has dignity.
- The Hypocrites
- يَقُولُونَ لَئِنْ رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الْأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الْأَذَلَّ ۚ وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
- They say: “When we return to the city; the mighty will surely expel the abased from it.” Yet all might belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and the faithfuls, but the hypocrites do not know.’
This verse refers to the opinion of the hypocrites who were under the leadership of Abdullah ibn Ubayy. They would say to one another that there is no reason to fear the Prophet, as they regarded themselves as honourable, and their plan was to expel from the city of Medina those that they deemed to be devoid of dignity. They felt that Prophet Muhammad and the Muslims did not have honour. This verse makes it clear that the opposite is true. Honour and dignity belong to Allah, then to the Prophet, and then to the believers. Allah is the Source, and whoever is closer to the Source has more of it. Hence, Prophet Muhammad, being the closest to Allah, has a very high level of honour, and then the believers. Non-believers also have honour, as they too are created by God, but the closer a person is to the source, the more they will have. However, people like Abdullah ibn Ubayy did not understand this. Not only did they not have honour, they also suffered from ignorance ( jahl ). They wrongfully thought that they possessed honour and that the Holy Prophet lacked it.
- Whoever seeks honour [should know that] honour entirely belongs to Allah. To Him ascends the good word, and the righteous deed elevates it.
- In the Qur’an, there are several terms and notions that refer to the dignity of Allah; perhaps the most obvious one is ‘izzah, which appears – along with the derivatives from its root – 119 times, mostly relating to Allah Himself.
Islamic Quotes ( iquotepics.com )
- Honour Through Islam
- We were the most humiliated people on earth and Allah gave us honour through Islam. If we ever seek honour through anything else, Allah will humiliate us again.
- Honor Belongs to Allah Entirely
- And let not their speech grieve you. Indeed, honour belongs to Allah entirely. He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
- Advise Secretly
- The one who admonishes his brother secretly, he has advised sincerely and has honored him. If he does it outwardly (among others) then he has dishonored and shamed him.
- Feel Shame
- Uqbah bin Amr Al-Ansari narrated that the messenger of Allah (saw) said, Among the words people obtained from the First Prophecy are: If you feel no shame, then do as you wish.
- Strength of Mind
- The wise person is the one whose mind controls him from every disgrace.
- Honour The Old
- If a young man honours an older person on account of his age, Allah appoints someone to show reverence to him in his old age.
- Beware What You Say
- The tongue is very small and light but it can take you to the greatest heights and it can put you in the lowest depths.
- Say Good Or Remain Silent
- Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet ( s.a.w ) said: Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, then let him honor his guest. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, then let him say what is good or remain silent.
Learning in the Open 