`I just got back from a trip from downtown Toronto, Canada at the 9th annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit Convention, "Rules for the Road of Life - Reviving the 10 Commandments in the Modern World" during Christmas weekend.
The convention is a yearly effort usually during Christmas break to revitalize Islam - especially in the youth- overcome misconceptions and strengthen society at large. It's not only for Muslims either. There are non-Muslims who attend, evident by the handful of people who convert on-the-spot at the convention.
Speakers come from around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
The program attracts nearly 400 volunteers (as of 2009), and up to 20,000 participants.
RIS has annual themes - this year's was the 10 Commandments given to Prophet Moses - and honored by the three Abrahamic faiths: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. A similar set of guidelines was given to Noah, also known as the seven Noahide Laws.
Summed up in 10 rules: (1) not associate anything with God, (2) do not make any carved images, (3) do not take the name of your Lord in vain, (4) remember the Sabbath is holy (as Jummah is for Muslims) (5) honor your parents (6) do not commit murder (7) do not commit adultery (8) do not steal (9) do not bear false testament against your neighbor and (10) do not covet (take from that which is not yours).
RIS took the Islamic and humanity aspect of the 10 commandments to look for clues on how these instructions still apply in the modern world and how following the commandments effect life.
Muslims are a part of the Human Family:
The three-day weekend long lectures and speeches hosted topics reaffirmed the necessity of having morals, tolerance, and accepting others and working together for the sake of humanity.
Sherman Abdal Hakim Jackson, professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Michigan, said those who are on the wrong side of the 10 commandments, they will not be a part of the moral code of society.
To do this, Jackson said Muslims need to abide by the same rules they expect from non-Muslims.
"We want non-Muslims to be truthful about us. What do we say about them?," he said, referring to journalists who cover the Muslim populations fairly.
Jackson said fairness comes with a price.
Aisha (radiallah-hu-anha) said Prophet Muhammad (sallalahi-wa-salam) said, "Whoever seeks Allah's pleasure at the expense of men's displeasure, will win Allah's Pleasure and Allah will cause men to be pleased with him. And whoever seeks to please men at the expense of Allah's displeasure, will win the displeasure of Allah and Allah will cause men to be displeased with him. (Ibn Hibban, Saheeh)."
In other words, when people commit actions in order to please people, they lose the blessings and pleasure of God, but when they do the right thing for the sake of God's pleasure, they are rewarded and liked by God and the people.
Jackson asked the audience, "What are you willing to give up for the honor of your people...and for Allah?"
For example, if a person helps an elderly person cross the street to please God, they will be rewarded and people will like them. If they do the same action to show off, they will be disliked and their actions will show it.
Muslims need to be dignified, said Jackson. "When people see how much you respect your own religion, people respect you."
(To be continued)
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