There’s too many People whom’re addicted to Spiritual-Blackmail. I’ll explain what I mean. Ever so often, specifically if/when any Popular/Famous-Person becomes a Muslim: both Muslims & Non-Muslims alike have this Disgusting-Habit of attempting to either “prove” that they’re not really Muslim, or attemoting to impose Unjust/Unrealistic-Expectations upon them because they’re now a “Muslim-Celebrity”. Particularly amongst Non-Muslims: the Aforementioned-Tactics are used directly to pontificate/promote Islāmophobia. One of the Other-Things which Muslims & Non-Muslims do is project the Mythos/Pseudo-Narrative, that only Certain-People and/or Certain-Types/Kinds of Persons can be Muslims. This is 💯%-Untruth/Dishonesty. We, as Makhlūq/Creation, don’t get to be Gatekeepers of al-Islām, to “choose/decide” who gets to become Muslim vs. who doesn’t. No…only Allah solely gets to decide who’s worthy of Guidance vs. who isn’t. As Muslims, we must remember something crucially important: al-Islām is al-Hudā/Hidāyah (Guidance) for Imperfect-People. And, since All-Humans are Inherently-Imperfect, this means that al-Islām is for the Entirety of al-Insān/Humanity.
(Noble-Qur’ān: Chpt.2, V.185; Chpt.4, V.28)
There’s Certain-Persons (Muslims & Non-Muslims alike), who’ll literally brag about knowing the Private&Public-Sins of Others, as a Way to acquire/maintain “Leverage” over those whom they dem as “Inferior”, “Impious”, etc. Meanwhile, ironically, Muhammad (Peace be upon them) directly debunked Spiritual-Blackmail during their Lifetime. There was a Famous-Companion by the Name of Nu`aymān ibn-`Amr AKA Himār (May Allah be pleased with them). Now, to give Context-“Himār” via Arabic means: “Donkey”, “Jackass”, “Asshole”, etc. They were nicknamed “Himār”, because they were a Known-Mudhahhak/Prankster. And Nu`aymān was always capable/able of making Muhammad laugh…Nu`aymān was basically the Dave Chappelle of as-Sahābah/the Companions (May Allah be pleased with them altogether). However, also, Nu`aymān was equally notorious for being a Khāmir/Substance-Abuser. And, Certain-Companions would mock Nu`aymān (as per their Open-Sin). When Muhammad learned that this was being done, they immediately commanded the Companions to not mock Nu`aymān concluding: “Verily, they love Allah & Their Messenger.”.
(al-Bukhārī; Lisān-ul-`Arab: Lexicon of the Arabic-Language, ibn-Manzhūr)
This also reminds me of Another-Statement of Muhammad: “The Strong-Believer is superior & more-beloved to Allah, as opposed to the Weak-Believer. But, there’s still Positivity within them both.”.
(an-Nawawī)
Moreoften than not: Most-Muslims only cite/quote the 1st-1/2 of This-Hadīth/Narration. But, the 2nd-Half of the Hadīth is actually more-important than the 1st-1/2.
This-Hadīth itself teaches 2-Things:
1. at-Tawādhi`/Humility
Only Allah knows whom amongst us has True-Īmān/Belief. Only Allah know whom amongst us has Strong-Īmān. Only Allah knows whom amongst us has any Īmān at all.
2. ar-Rajā’/Hope
If we don’t have Īmān at all, then we’re confident that Allah will grant us Īmān. If we’ve Weak-Īmān, then we’re confident that Allah will empower us to strengthen our Īmān.
People resort to Spiritual-Blackmail purely out of al-Istikbār/Arrogance. They wish to hold themselves in High-Regard, while equally debasing Others they deem “Less-Than”. But, here’s the Irony: al-Istikbār is literally the Proof that they’re not “superior” to anyone. Because, if they were superior they’d want Others to elevate, evolve, improve, etc. The Sign of a Better-Person is one whom is always in the Service of Others, granting them Tools-Of-Impowerment, so that they level-up. If someone isn’t doing as such: that’s literally the Proof that they’re not better than anyone else they look-down upon.
This stems primarily from Judgmentalism. When we think/feel that we’re “Spiritually-Superior” to anyone, we’ll go to any/all Lengths&Extents to make them seem “Worthless”. However, as Allah states via The Qur’ān describing themsrlves as “the Best-Of-Planners”-I’ve personally witnessed Judgmental-Persons get debased publicly. I remember there was a Group-Of-Friends: we’re all out together. One amongst us began relsting about how someone was posting Ratchet/Debaucherous-Things about themselves via the Public-Sphere, Online, Social-Media, etc. We amongst ourselves then in turn started discussing the Wrong-Ways vs. the Right-Ways of addressing Scenarios as this. And, then, the Person whom initiated the Convo made a Serious Slip-Up & exposed a Specific-Sin of theirs. To me, personally, it was Allah showing me how/why it’s so important to not be a Judgmental-Person. But, unlike That-Person, I personally took the Initiative to attempting granting them 70-Excuses, so as to not be judgmental against them (as they ironically were judgmental against Others). Via the Mercy-Of-Allah: I was capable/able to remain Non-Judgmental towards the Person.
Conversely, I myself have had my own Sinful-Situations, where there were Others whom were judgmental against me…which is how/why the Ole-Saying: “Don’t expect you from Other-People.” contains so much Truth/Honesty to it. Worse yet: I’ve literally witnessed Others be judgmental against me, but in turn be merciful&patient towards Others whom I know for a Fact that I’m not worse than (not to say that I’m “superior” to them by the way). This I’ve seen In-Person rite in fron of me. I’ve literally witnessed Others be judgmental against me, but in the Same-Breath admit to doing Sinful-Actions which’re worse than what they’d been judgmental against me about. Make that Goofy-Shit make Shit.
Humanly, we all have this Innate-Desire to appear “better” than Others. But, al-Birr/Betterment is something which can only & is only determined by Allah. If we become/remain with how “Pious/Righteous” we actually aren’t, then we’d basically have 0-Time/Energy to expend upon trying to assess who’s “Pious/Righteous” vs. “Impious/Wicked”. It’s just like that Famous Movie-Scene from “Platoon”, by Oliver Stone which the Character towards the Film’s-Ending said: “We did not defeat the Enemy, we defeated ourselves…because the Enemy was in us.”.
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