Friday Focus|Justly Balanced Ummah

The Divine Command would have the Muslim Ummah justlybalanced, not indulging in extremes, but maintaining a fine balance inindividual, societal and national matters, as enshrined:

”Thus We have made of you an Ummah justly balanced, that yemight be witness over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves;and We appointed the Qiblah to which thou wast used, only to test those whofollowed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels (From theFaith).  Indeed it was (A change) momentous,except to those guided by God. And never would God Make your faith of noeffect. For God is to all people Most surely full of kindness, Most Merciful.”(2:143)

   

Some commentators have defined ‘justly balanced’ as strikingthe ‘Golden Mien’ being a witness over the nations—the manner in which thenations shaped their destiny. Abdullah Yusuf Ali in his exposition takes’justly balanced’ to mean bringing the light of reason in pruningextravagances, such as the formalism of ‘Mosaic Law’ and ‘other-worldliness’ ofChristianity. Islam is supposed to strike the ‘just balance’ between the twoextremes. Within Islam, the position of witness to whom contenders could appealto, for just interpretation of Divine Norms is held by Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).  

The change of the Qiblah from Jerusalem based Qiblah-e-Awal(Bait-ul-Muqadas) to ‘House of God (Bait-ul-Lah)’ in Kabbah was indeed amomentous change, as it was a test of faith, wherein Muslims were tested intheir resolve to follow a command, however major a departure it might be frompast practices. It was test of resolve to note, whether Muslim Ummah hasdeveloped the spiritual as well as the material wherewithal to follow theDivine Command. The new Qiblah was in fact, the most ancient in history, aswell as modern to symbolize organization as a new nation/Ummah.

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