The Loss of the Ghetto Mentality
The state of Muslims today is that almost all of them indulge in
negative thinking. Both religious and secular Muslims, men and
women, suffer from having this negative frame of mind. Talk to any
Muslim, attend any number of their gatherings, visit any Muslim
institution, read any Muslim newspaper or magazine and you will
find no constructive approach to any of the problems of the Muslim
community. Although negative thinking is invariably directed
against others, it is a very unfortunate fact that negative thinking
does harm to the negative thinker himself, and not to those who are
the subjects of his negative thought. This is the law of nature, and
this law is unchangeable.
Negative thinking implies the prevalence of a ghetto mentality.
This way of thinking is bound to create a separatist mentality. Those
with this mindset start living in their own cells, they do not interact
with others, and the baneful result of this ghettoized thinking is the
kind of backwardness which causes them to lag behind others.
The secret of a worthwhile life lies in interaction, not in
separatism or ghettoism. It lies in coming closer to people, not in
distancing oneself from them. It lies in becoming their well-wisher
and not in harbouring hatred for them. It lies in positive thinking.
Negative thinking leads only to destruction, not construction.
Changing theVerdict of History
The Kaaba was built in Makkah by Abraham about four thousand
years ago. At that time the Kaaba was rectangular in shape. It was
rebuilt by the Quraysh before Muhammad (pbuh) was appointed
Prophet. At that time they constructed it in the form of a cube,
shortening its length. This square Kaaba remains cuboid in shape
till today.
According to the traditions, the Prophet of Islam told his
wife, Aisha, that he wanted the Kaaba to be rebuilt on Abraham’s
rectangular base. But the Prophet did not have this done, for this,
for certain practical reasons, would have proved to be a greater evil
(
Sahih
Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1583)
From this narration, we learn of a very important principle, that
