Religion

Importance of Islamic Environment
By Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi

What is environment? It is defined as is “a surrounding; something that surrounds, all the conditions, circumstances and influences surrounding and affecting the development of an organism or group of organisms.”
Everything needs an environment. If there is a right environment it will grow and develop, if it is a bad environment it will not grow, or it will not grow in the right way. There are various types of environments: Natural environment (right air, right food, and right water), Social environment (right family, right economic condition, right political condition, right education, right friends and neighbors)
In the Qur’an and Sunnah there is a great emphasis on being a good person; but there is also an equal emphasis that one should always try to be with good people and should try to make a good environment.
There are many ayat and ahadith on this subject. I would like to mention a few to emphasize this point:
And be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship) (al-Baqarah 2:43)
O Mary! Worship thy Lord devoutly; prostrate thyself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down. (Al ‘Imran 3:43)
O ye who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in word and deed)
(Al-Tawbah 9:119)
And keep your soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not your eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds. (Al-Kahf 18:28)
Allah has mentioned the prayer of the disciples of Jesus –peace be upon him:
“Our Lord! We believe in what You have revealed, and we follow the Messenger; then write us down among those who bear witness.” (Al ‘Imran 3:52-53)
We are also told to avoid the bad company and bad environment:
When you see people engaged in vain discourse about Our Signs, turn away from them unless they turn to a different theme. If Satan ever makes you forget, then after recollection, sit not in the company of the wrong doers. (Al-An’am 6:68)
When their eyes shall be turned towards the Companions of the Fire, they will say: “Our Lord! Send us not to the company of the wrong-doers.” (Al-A’raf 7:47)
So the Ark floated with them on the waves (towering) like mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who had separated himself (from the rest): “O my son! embark with us, and be not with the Unbelievers!” (Hud 11:42)
The Prophet – peace be upon him - used to remind the believers to associate always with the righteous people and make good friends.
The example of a good friend and a bad friend is like a perfume dealer and a black smith. From the perfume dealer either you will buy good perfume or you will get good smell, but from the blacksmith you will get burns on your body or clothes or you will get bad smell. (Al-Bukhari)
A person follows the way of his friend so let each one of you see whom you take as friend. (Musnad Ahmad)
The commentator of this Hadith explain it saying:
Human dispositions act like a thief. The company affects in reforming or corrupting the condition of a person. Imam Ghazali said, “Association and companionship of a greedy person incites greed; companionship and association of contented person increases contentment and less desire for the worldly things. Because human nature is made to follow and imitate, sometime the nature without knowing steels habits of others. (Tuhafat al-Ahwadhi Sharh Jami’ al-Tirmidhi)

How to make Islamic Environment?
1. At home we should try to make our homes more Islamic. We should have good posters and art works on the walls. We should have good books, good recordings and watch good videos and good TV programs
2. We should earn Halal and eat Halal food. Halal income and Halal food nourish the body and soul both.
3. Meet with all people with friendliness; but make your friends only those who are morally good people. Also join those groups and associations that work for moral, righteous and charitable causes.
4. Try to influence others with your character and kindness; do not be influenced by others’ wrong ways and habits.
(Khutbah at ISOC – Shawwal 2, 1426/ November 4, 2005)

-DrSiddiqi@aol.com