Bismillah.
*smiling* I know I know it has been ages. But one thing for
sure is that something has succesfully pulled me back in here. Long story cut short, last
Saturday (18th Oct 2014), my family and I went to a leadership
course delivered by one of the Muslim Brotherhood leader, Dr Tareq Suwaidan
from Kuwait. I was excited even the day before knowing that I would be listening to
someone my dad known from his uni as they spent the same years pursuing degrees
in the US. And also I have never met any Muslim Brotherhood leader. Having heard so many
amazing profiles and had wanted to meet them personally and see them with my
own eyes. Alhamdulillah, all praises to Allah for the opportunity to listen and to be in the event.
Below are few points from many that I managed to scribble on
my Samsung gadget while listening:
“History will repeat
itself. Not by event but by cycle.”
“You cannot have change without pain.”
“Huge problems facing the Muslims
today are backwardness in behaviour (look at our behaviour to the parents, if
caught in bad traffic), cleanliness, management, effectiveness and most
importantly in ideology (Islamic understanding) and leadership. Someone asked
me when do you think the Muslim will be ready and revive? I answered him, “When
they can put their shoes properly on the rack in the mosque, then they are
ready.”
“No behaviour will change until you
change the ideology. We often see parents treat their children with punishment.
“If you do like this, you will get this”. It should have been explaining to the
kids and encouraging them. Make them understand.”
“The purpose of Islam and purpose
of the prophet Muhammad sent to us was for us all to be happy here in this
world and also happy in the hereafter. Not to rule the world or to prove that
we are the best.”
“We must think with love not with
prove. It is not our purpose to prove them wrong when they refuse to believe in what we believe. “
“Imam Shafie said that whenever
there is a major opinion clashes among scholars, nobody should attack anyone or
each other.”
“It is not enough to have a good
goal, behaviour, knowledge and intention but not competency.”
“Do not confuse leadership with
taqwa.”
“Age and seniority are not criteria
for leadership. And do not confuse with gender.”
“In leadership, men can decide right away. Women
would normally hesitate. But women are better in three areas; creativity,
consulting, and when they plan men have no hope.” J
“Freedom and free election must
come first then only comes shariah law because shariah can only be effective
under a free environment.”
“It is impossible to be united. So
let’s be united on issues. Look for issue that can unite people.”
“To change the ideology, we must
emphasize on the education and media.”
Of course there are many more and
longer. MashaAllah.
All I can say that the two-hour
session went unnoticeable and it was mind boggling and thought provoking. At the end
of the session Dr Tareq reminds us to reflect on our understanding of the deen
(the religion) as it is the ultimate and ideal solution to many challenges
today. May Allah reward Dr Tareq for his work and effort and make us all under
His guidance and mercy. Ameen ya robbana.
