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Propagatiag Good

PROPAGATING GOOD
Question:

What is meant by propagating good?

Answer:

 Islam has named every noble action “good” (khayr) and has enjoined people to invite others towards goodness. God Almighty says, “Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good”[3: 104], just as He enjoined people to do good things themselves.

Indeed in Islam, in addition to this, there is a reward for someone who guides to what is good exactly as there is for one who actually performs that act himself for as the Prophet (God’s blessings and peace be upon him and his progeny) says, “He who points the way to something that is good is as if he performs [the good action himself]”[46].

Good action are divided into two categories:

1.        Good deeds that Islam has specifically designated such as prayers, coming to the aid of the needy and feeding the hungry.

2.        Good works which are covered by the general principles laid out by Islam, even if Islam has not made a specific stipulation for them, such as building schools and hospitals, establishing charities for providing clothes and food for the needy, facilitating marriage contracts and so on. 

Therefore in the view of Islam, a Muslim is a person who does good and at the same enjoins good to the extent that the Prophet (God’s blessings and peace be upon him and his progeny) says: “Removing something from the road that might cause injury is a good deed”[47].

Surely if human beings would act upon the directions of Islam in doing good and propagating what is good, no one would be in need and the world would be changed into a paradise of well-being where goodness, prosperity and friendship would prevail throughout the earth.

COMMEMORATIONS

Question:

What is meant by commemorations?

Answer:

Islam has made the holding of celebrations and commemorations in memory of the Prophet and the impeccable Imams, whether it is for happy events, like their birthdays, or for sad ones, like the days on which they died, something that is recommended and highly desirable.  In a hadith it is related that, “Our followers are from us, they are joyful in our joy and are grieved in our grief”[48]

Question:

What benefit do these commemorations have?

Answer:

The many benefits they have include:

1.        Encouraging the good. If people see that the good and upright are the object of respect then their souls are inclined towards good, so that they in turn may also generate respect.  Just as these commemorations are an encouragement towards good and laudable deeds so they also arouse an aversion to what is bad and reprehensible

2.        Creating role models.  If man has a personal esteem for someone, he will take him as a role model and will try to make his own life conform to the qualities of whom he is in awe.  This is because in man’s character there is a tendency towards spiritual advancement and the raising of oneself towards the ranks of those who are at the peaks of humanity and at the highest level of nobility and virtue. 

3.        Appreciating those who are concerned with the betterment of society.  Such people are by right the object of respect, be it during their lifetime or after their demise. 

4.        In addition, these commemorations usually involve people gathering together and the holding of seminars and lectures and so there accrue from them benefits for the community, some of which we have already mentioned with regard to the Pilgrimage to Makka and praying in congregation.  Moreover these gatherings are usually not simply commemorations but also contain aspects of guidance and admonition so that the benefit is two-fold: the benefit from the actual event and the benefit obtained from spiritual instruction.

5.        If such a gathering is accompanied by colourful decorations when celebrating a joyful occasion and by black ones for sorrowful commemorations, this will have a greater impact because then the eye participates with the ear in the quest for understanding and inspiration and so the response to what is good and the aversion to what is bad will be stronger.

Question:

Give some examples of commemorations:

Answer:

For instance: 

1.        The Birthday of the Holy Prophet, of Fatima al-Zahra’ and the 12 Imams (peace and blessings be upon them all).

2.        The Festival (‘Id) of al-Mab‘ath1 when the Prophet (God’s blessings and peace be upon him and his progeny) was told by God to commence his Prophetic Mission to the people  - on 27th Rajab2.

3.        The demise of the Prophet, Fatima al-Zahra’, and 11 of the impeccable Imams (peace and blessings be upon them all).

4.        The Festival of Ghadir (‘Id al-Ghadir) when at a place called Ghadir Khumm the Prophet (God’s blessings and peace be upon him and his progeny) appointed ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib as his khalifa (successor) over the Muslims  - on 18th Dhu ’l-Hijja3. 

5.        The Islamic festivals of ‘Id al-Fitr (breaking of the fast) on 1st Shawwal[49] and ‘Id al-Adha (the festival of Sacrifice) on 10th Dhu ’l-Hijja.

6.        One of the days of grief is the Arba‘in, the fortieth day of mourning for Imam al-Husayn, on the 20th Safar[50].

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