We must help each other towards goodness
Since we are all prone to error it is vital that we are reminded to enjoin goodness and forbid evil.
Let’s explain.
When we commit a moral crime (gambling, intoxicants etc.) in secret and feel shame, that crime remains between you and the Creator. When we do not consider sins as wrong and take pride in our sins, the situation is different and that crime does not reside with the individual and Creator only.
The Torah, Bible and Quran forbids believers from spying. So when we see a person slipping into a gambling place but trying to avoid attention, it is wrong to broadcast that person’s activity. However, if a person proudly states they are skilled gamblers, they literally exposed themselves.
Example, in Ramadan a sick person etc. is permitted to eat, drink and repay that day. However, you must show respect to others and Ramadan and eat and drink with dignity. Some time ago, I saw a “Muslim” associate smoking, eating and drinking in public during Ramadan. This flagrant display suggested this person either did not understand Ramadan or did not care. After a chat I realized this person, although “Muslim”, lacked basic Islam and did not want to learn and was okay with their own shallow, low class behaviour.
This reminded me of an incident decades ago.
Some “Muslim” Councillors with the National Party (NP) had convinced Council the “Coon Carnival” where people paint their faces and dance in the street was Islamic culture. After a heated debate I corrected this wrong belief and informed Council the “Coon Carnival” had nothing to do with the Islamic faith, culture or civilization. The NP “Muslim” Councillors were either so uneducated or did not care enough to realize their own understanding of basic Islamic knowledge was utterly wrong.
Often in Council Muslim Councillors vote in favour of bottle stores and liquor hours and non-Muslim vote against liquor hours increasing and so on. The non-Muslims confirm they are aware of the negative impact alcohol has on society and do not support increased availability of alcohol.
The point is, we all error and that is human. However, when we believe there is nothing wrong when we commit errors that is a problem. Also, although anyone can claim to be a Jew, Christian or Muslim etc. that does not imply they are actual believers. Believers may be fallible and sin like everyone else but at least believers must know when they are doing something wrong.
Cllr Yagyah Adams
Cape Muslim Congress