True Imaan (Conviction in faith) - Story mentioned by Ibn-e-Kathir.

Imaan brings about the ultimate conduct and good character.

There’s a beautiful story mentioned by Ibn Kathir. True order in society can only come about as a result of imaan. Even if all the laws and best police force has been established, there will not be morality.

There was one man from Banu Isra’il who needed to borrow money. He went to another man and asked for a loan. This person then asked who can vouch for him. He said, “Allaah is enough as a wakil.” The man did not argue.

He said, let us at least get a witness. The man said, “Allaah is enough as a witness.” The man did not argue.

There was a river that separated their homes. The borrower promised to meet the man at a certain day and time at this place to return the money to the lender.

The time passed. When the man arrives at the river, the river is over-flowing. The people who normally run the ferries to cross the river are not there. The borrower is sitting there with the money, frustrated that he had given his word and now was in this predicament. He stands and waits, but gets more frustrated. He takes a log, carves a hole in it and puts the money in it. He writes a note to the man that this is the money he owed him and if it reaches him, then it is done.

He throws the log into the river and makes du’aa to Allaah that it reaches the lender. This was out of his frustration from the idea of cheating the man.

On the other side of the river, the man was waiting. He sees the condition and realizes the man cannot come. The time passes so he decides to go home. Before going home though, he wants to pick up some wood. He sees a log floating into the water. He takes it home. When he begins to chop it, he sees the money and the note. His loan is completed.

The borrower, however, is not comfortable in his position. He thinks he should have returned the money as it had been given to him. So he waits some days, the water subsides. He gets some more money and crosses the river to the lender’s home. He tells the man that he has returned to pay him back and how he could not make it previously. The lender could be thinking that he has already received the money, but he could be getting more from him. He told him that he received the log. Their imaan was firm. One man’s imaan wouldn’t let him rest and the other’s wouldn’t let him cheat.

An excerpt from "Islam and Modernism" by Mufti Taqi Usmani.

"Modernity" is a double-edged sword which can be used for the benefit of mankind and to cut its own throat. Hence any new thing is neither acceptable just for being new nor refutable just because it is new. That much is clear and obvious but the most important question is, "What is the criterion to decide which invention is useful and acceptable and which is harmful and not acceptable?"
One way to determine this standard is to follow the dictates of reason alone. Hence, in secular societies this decision rests with logic and reasoning. But the difficulty in it is that those people who robbed humanity of all the attributes of morality and character in the name of 'Modernity' and put it on the road to barbarism and brutality were all men of reason and philosophy, and there were none among them who had not made pure intellect as their guide. The reason is that once free of the Divine Guidance of Wahy intellect becomes a beloved of every Tom, Dick and Harry, so that each of the different kinds of contradictory elements, consider it to be their exclusive property, while in fact it belongs to none of them. In such an "Intellect" one can find glamorous justifications for every evil concept and filthiest of action. For example, the names of Hiroshima and Nagasaki cause humanity to sweat with shame, but the scholarly and world-famous book "Encyclopedia Britannica" has mentioned the disasters caused bv Atomic Bombs in these cities after the introductory sentence as follows: "Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill estimated that by shortening the war the Atomic Bomb had saved the lives of 10.000.00 US soldiers and 250,000 British soldiers". (Britannica vol.2, p.647, 1950).
Several examples of similar rational interpretations can be presented. With due apologies to modesty I would like to present another example in the light of which the correct position of pure intellect would become clear.
In the history of Islam there has passed a sect known as 'Batiniyah'. A renowned leader of this sect Ubayd-ullah alQirwani has written:
"What can be more surprising that a person having claim to wisdom acts so stupidly that he has with him a beautiful sister or daughter. His wife is not so pretty, he marries his daughter or sister to a stranger. If these ignorant ones had any trace of wisdom they would have known that they themselves had a greater right on their sisters and daughters than a stranger. The main reason of this stupidity is that their Master has forbidden good things on them."
No matter how you react to this disgusting and repulsive statement. it is an obvious example of what havoc is caused by human reason when it is not guided by Divine Guidance. What argument is there with reason to reject this hideous suggestion of marrying ones real daughter and sister? Hence we see that the dream of 'Ubayd-ulla Qirwani is coming true centuries afterwards, and voices are being raised in some Western countries to legalise marriages with real sisters.
In short, carried away by the wave of Modernity, if the decision for good and bad is left on reason alone the result will be that no value of life will remain intact. Besides, man will be lost in the labyrinth of contradictory opinions and concepts from which no way out can be traced. The intellectual level of every person is different from the other. The reason is that, independence from the Divine Guidance of Wahy is regarded by man as freedom, but in fact he becomes the slave of his beastly passions and sensual desires. This, is the worst form of servility. In the Qur'anic phraseology it is
termed as Haw-a( lj *)that is passion, and it is about this that the Qur'an declared:
"If Truth becomes subjected to their passions great tumult will occur between the earth and skies and the creations therein."
(23:71)
A group of philosophers has been mentioned in the discussions of Legal Theory. Their concept of morality is called the Cognivist Theory. The famous legal expert Dr. Friedman has summarized this view in his book "Legal Theory" in these words:
"Reason is and ought only to be the slave of the passions and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them" (P-36)
The end result to be derived from this view, in the words of Dr. Friedman, is:
"Every thing else but also words like 'good', "bad", 'ought', 'worthy' are purely emotive, and there cannot be such thing as ethical or moral science" (pp.36-37).
However bad or wrong this view may be to form the basis of moral conceptions, it provides a true and realistic interpretation of secular reasoning. Factually, there can be no other outcome of submission to secular reason that no such thing as "Morality" should exist in the world, and nothing but passions should govern the words and deeds of man. In fact secular reasoning and 'morality' can never go together because a stage is arrived in the pursuit of 'modernity' when a man's conscience regards an action as bad yet he feels bound to adopt it because 'modernity" and secular reasoning offer no argument to reject it. The western thinkers of today are helplessly facing the same predicament. A large number of British thinkers do not like the legalization of homosexuality adopted by the Parliament a few years ago but they were obliged to accept it because in the doctrine of a purely intellectual "modernity" there remains no option but to legalize every evil that has prevailed in the society. How admonishing are the words of the Wolfender Committee which was appointed to consider this issue:
"Unless a deliberate attempt is made by society acting through the agency of the law to equate this fear of crime with that of sin. There must remain a realm of private morality and immorality which in brief and crude terms is not the law's business."' (The Legal Theory).
In fact, once reason alone is made a judge to decide what is good and bad Man will be deprived of every standard that may be used as a basis to stop a new practice harmful to society. Reason has to be made to follow Divine standard of good and bad. The law-makers are extremely worried that in the presence of the general trend of modernity what method can be adopted through which at least some exalted human values might be preserved. An American judge Carduzo has written that the most important legal need of today is that a philosophy of law should be organized which could create a harmony between the contradictory and antagonistic demands of stationary and revolutionary values. But the fact is that this job cannot be done through reason and philosophy. The entire disruption has started because the function of Wahy (Divine Revelations) has been imposed on the intellect of Man and in this way a burden has been placed on his shoulders which he cannot bear. It is only on the basis of some valid arguments that a law can be called perpetual and free of changes but the human intellect is incapable of producing any such argument. Today some people may regard a law as unalterable on the basis of their reasons but tomorrow others may realize that it is not fit to be a perpetual law and they would declare it alterable. The only solution to the problem is that instead of making himself a slave of his passions he should submit to the Being Who created him and the entire universe. Since that Being is fully aware of all the changes that would occur, no body else can determine which principles of law are unalterable.
The famous author of jurisprudence, George Paton. has written:
"What interests should the real legal system protect? This is a question of values in which legal philosophy plays its part. But however Much we desire the help of philosophy, it is difficult to obtain. No agreed scale of values has ever been reached indeed. It is only in religion that we can find a basis, and the truth of religion Must be accepted by faith or invitation and not purely on the result of logical argument." (Portion: Jurisprudences p.121).
In short secular intellect has totally failed to define good and bad. Hence there is no solution to the problem except that Man should seek guidance from God and follow the revealed doctrines. There is no other way of salvation for humanity. The Quran said:
"Is he who has a clear proof from his Lord like those to whom their evil deeds are made alluring and they follow their caprices?" (Muhammad: 14)
Hence the only solution to the problem is that every new trend or custom and convention should be judged, not on its apparent shine and glitter but on the basis of standards laid down by Allah, the Lord of the Universe Once one finds any injunctions of Allah and Mis Messenger concerning it. then it must be followed without the least hesitation. The Qur'an says:
"And it is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter to have choice in their matter" (Q: 33:35)
Another verse of the Holy Quran speaks:
"But no, by your Lord, They will not believe until they make you
(O Prophet) the judge of what is in dispute between them, then find
no vexation in their hearts over what you decide and submit with
full submission". (Q:4:65)
Whatever injunctions Allah has revealed in His Book or through His Messenger (PBUH) pertain to such matters that if they are let to be decided by reason they have led to aberrance: and since Allah is well aware of all the past and future happenings only His commands can be obeyed in every time. Hence it is stated:
"Allah makes clear (His commandments) to you. lest you go astray. And Allah is Knower of every thing." (Q: 4:176)
This makes another thing about "Modernity" very clear that the need for Divine Revelations (Wahy) and commandments of Allah was felt because it was difficult to achieve true guidance in this matter through intellect alone. It is. therefore, essential that the Divine Injunctions be followed exactly as they are. It is a wrong practice that any prevalent custom of the time be first taken as correct on the basis of self-reasoning, and then attempts be made to lift the Qur'an and Traditions to it by making distant interpretations. Such a method cannot be called submission to the Will of Allah.

Rather it amounts to alteration and amendments for which no man is authorized, because that would annul the very purpose of sending Divine Guidance. True submission means that the commandments of Allah should never be allowed to be altered or modified even if the entire mankind collectively so desire. Allah savs:
"And perfect are the words of your Lord in truthfulness and justice; there is none who can change His words; and He is the Hearer, the Knower. And if you (O Prophet) obey most of those on earth they would lead you astray from Allah's way. They follow nothing but surmise, and they do but guess. Surely your Lord knows best who astrays from His way. And He knows best who are rightly guided." (Q: 6:115-117)

"(And when Our clear revelations are recited to them) those who
hope not for the meeting with Us say. "Bring a Qur'an other than
this or alter it. Say (O Prophet) "It is not for me to alter it of my
own accord. I follow nothing, except what is revealed to me" (Q:10: 15).
This kind of true obedience may bring opposition of the people and one may face difficulties but those who stand this test of the time, are rightly guided in this world and the Hereafter. Allah says:
"And those who strive in Our way. We shall certainly guide them in Our ways. Indeed Allah is with the good-doers." (Q: 2:69)
It is not the way of a true Muslim that he accepts what he finds to fulfill his material desires and rejects what calls for some material loss or puts him through some trials. This attitude, in Qur'anic terms, leads one to lose both in this world and in the Hereafter.
"And among Mankind is he who worships Allah upon the very
edge—so that if good befalls him he is contented with it. but if a
trial befalls him he turns round on his face. He loses this world and
the Hereafter. That is indeed a manifest loss." (Q; 22:11)
The only way to judge between desirable and undesirable modernism is to examine it in the light of Qur'anic injunctions. If it is not in opposition to Allah's Commandments it may be accepted otherwise it must be rejected without misinterpreting and distorting it even though it may be against the common trend of time. Reproaches and mockery coming from the people should not be allowed to change his firm belief. A true Muslim has a clear answer to such negative remarks provided by. the Qur'an:
"Allah mocks at them and lets them loose in their impertinence in which they keep wandering." (2:15)
This attitude is meant for such affairs of life as have been ordained to be Obligatory. Incumbent. Traditional. Desirable or Forbidden and Detestable. Hence these injunctions are unalterable in every period. However, for things that fall under the category of being "permissible" man has been authorized to adopt or to abandon them according to the needs and demands of time. In fact, there are very few matters which Islamic Law has explicitly defined as Obligatory, Incumbent. Traditional, Desirable. Forbidden and Detestable, and are unalterable. On the contrary, most of the affairs of life fall under the category of "permissible" and decisions about their adoption or rejection can be made according to requirements.
We can see that the field of activity with regard to modernism as provided by Islam is very vast in which one can live a modern life without deviating from the way of Allah in the least. In them Man may apply his intellectual abilities and may achieve enormous heights of knowledge, discoveries as well as Science and Technology, and make them more and more useful for mankind.
The greatest challenge for the Islamic world today is to recognize these limits of "Modernity", without interfering with the confined limits of unalterable injunctions of Islam. Unfortunately the present attitude of the Islamic world is in clear contrast to this. Our scholars have been markedly slow in the spheres which demanded their active efforts, while they are actively busy modernizing the unalterable Commandments of Allah with the consequence that Muslims are deprived of the amenities and comforts that modern time has provided to humanity and the evils of modernism are at liberty to prevail in our society with no check from our side. May Almighty Allah give us the ability and courage to fulfill our obligations to modern times while safeguarding our ideological heritage.

Full Book (E-pub format) can be downloaded from: http://ia600605.us.archive.org/4/items/IslamAndModernismByMuftiTaqiUsmani/42345132-Islam-and-Modernism.epub