A Term Appointed For Respite

I am tired of hearing outcries from fellow Muslims about Rushdie being knighted. Was talking to Lima about it as well. We have a crumbling, if not already crumbled constituency, half of my city fears drowning in either rainwater or darkness or both tonight, we have a circus of a military dictatorship, and yet our opposition chooses not to go to the streets about any of this, rather a person who blasphemised Rasool Allah SAWS.

Actually, no. What gets to me is why just about everyone is giving SO much of importance to a worldly status of recognition given to a non-believer. The only reason why all of this is such a big deal is because we are choosing to make this world the be-all and the end-all. What ever happened to believing in an Akhirah (Hereafter)?

The largest opposition party that professes to be a religious one wants to carry on a nationwide protest against the move for knighting him. Whatever for? Because he presented our Prophet SAWS in a poor light? The same Prophet SAWS who told us to be in this world as if we were mere travelers? And exactly what good are we causing his SAWS' sunnah by creating such a fuss about a non-Muslim nation choosing to honor a non-believer in this world by recognizing him for blasphemizing the Prophet SAWS?

I would understand a person who denies the Akhirah to think this to be a big deal because hey, we only live once and once we die there is nothing to look forward to. So we either make or break our future. Why is a Momin thinking the same way? This world is not even a drop as compared to the ocean of the Akhirah. Then what explains this frenzy to be recognized and in this particular case, to not allow recognition? And that too, by worldly standards set by an openly non-believing monarchy?

We have been promised an appointed term for respite, and if Rasool Allah SAWS clearly defined gheebah and bohtaan (back-biting and slander), who are we to redefine its extent? Did he SAWS not face slander and blasphemy in his own time? And why do we think ourselves to be better judges of how to go about this?

There is a calm in my heart not because I condone Rushdie's actions that hurt my Ummah's sentiments, rather because I believe in Divine justice, as it has been promised to me and remains an article of faith for me.

020.129
Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, (their punishment) must necessarily have come; but there is a Term appointed (for respite).

020.130
Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun, and before its setting; yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day: that thou mayest have (spiritual) joy.

020.131
Nor strain thine eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them, the splendour of the life of this world, through which We test them: but the provision of thy Lord is better and more enduring.

020.132
Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for righteousness.

The Word of Allah, Surah Ta-ha (Ta-ha) 20:129-132