About OneUmmah User Login
Users Online
No Users OnlineNew users
| About One Ummah |
|
|
|
| Written by Adibudeen | |
| Wednesday, 20 October 2004 | |
|
About One Ummah
The word Ummah comes from the Arabic amma which means "to go, betake, repair, go to see," Imama "to lead the way, lead by one's example (esp. in prayer)," umuma "to be or become a mother, to nationalize, etc." Also derived from this root is Umm which means "mother, source, origin, basis, foundation, original, original version (of a book), the gist, essence of..." Thus the word Ummah means "nation, people, generation, community." The Qur'an uses this word in a number of ways, but it is primarily used to describe groups of people from past and future. In the case of the past, Allah says in the Qur'an:
We can see from these ayats (verses, clear proofs) that Allah, The Most High, makes commentaries in the Qur'an about past ummahs stating that Messengers were sent to all of them, yet they still chose to split into sects through nothing more than "selfish contumacy." There are other places in the Qur'an where Allah speaks specifically about this Ummah (meaning the ummah of Muhammad, upon whom be peace). Allah has given this Ummah a special, honored position to be inheritors of the earth, and with that position comes responsibility.
This ayat discusses the change in qibla (direction of prayer) from Jerusalem to the sacred mosque in Makkah. This change was a test of faith for the Ummah among the many tests they were given. The true faithful among them would stay united throughout the tests. Also, the message given to this Ummah puts us in a position to be witnesses over the issues that caused divisions among past ummahs.
So, in this ayat, Allah tells us that there will be people who will inevitably stray and choose not to unite. Clearly, however, those who choose not to unite are going against the command of Allah, glorified and exalted.
The above evidence is cited only to show that One Ummah is not a mere title or catch phrase for this web site. It is rather a light shining in the darkness of disunity amidst the confusion of an Ummah without leadership. It is, after all, extracted from the very words of Allah: "ummatan wahidah." One Ummah. One Ummah Network is an educational web site that is designed to liberate Muslims from the shackles of nationalism, racism, sectarianism, and any other ideology that contrasts with the universality of Islam. We believe that the only way to achieve this goal is through education of the tolerant and encompassing nature of Islam. Much of the suffering, fighting, confusion, and dissension that exists in the Muslim Ummah (nation, community) is the result of our ignorance about Islam and about each other. Our goal is to shed light on the truth that is Islam, shared by over 1.2 billion people in the world so that the veils of darkness may be lifted from our eyes, the stifling covers may be pulled from our ears, and the silencing muzzles may be removed from our mouths. Then, we will be witnesses over the nations as Allah and His Messenger (saaws) are witnesses over us.
Announcements - This section will keep you up to date on most of the things going on with OneUmmah. Al-Islam- Beliefs & Practices - This is a basic web site specifically for people new to Islam. Although it is for non-Muslims and new Muslims, there is plenty of information on this site that will benefit even the "knowledgeable" Muslim. The Rope of Allah - A book consisting of a collection of articles relating to Muslim unity and the concept of tawhid (oneness) in Islam. The Holy Qur'an Online - We have an easy-to-use online English translation with Arabic text of the Qur'an available for use. There is also a search utility on the page. We also have links to other translations and sites where you can get your own Qur'an. One Ummah Network Islamic Library - Libraries are the foundations of societies. Through libraries, a civilization's history, knowledge, and culture are preserved. One Ummah is the process of constructing an online library that will serve as a resource for Muslims around the world, insha'Allah. World Muslim Writers Society And Foundation - This is a new association for Muslim writers. Have your articles, poems, etc seen by a Muslim audience. Discuss new methods of expression through media. Voice your opinion on a controversial issue. Whatever it is you want to write, we have the place for you to make it seen. Muslim Message Discussion Forum and Online Community
- "What is that thing called that you do in prayer?"
"How much do I give for Zakat?" "Muslims need to
quit being so closed-minded." Whatever your question
is. Whatever your opinion is. Whatever statement you have
that needs to be discussed, Muslim Message is the
place. Islam FAQ - A basic guide to Islam is necessary for anyone new to the religion and also to some seasoned veterans. Regardless of one's level of knowledge, there are always more questions to be asked. The Islam FAQ is a collection of frequently asked questions about Islam and our attempt to answer them. |
|
| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 28 September 2005 ) |



