Imam Karim AbuZaid is the Imam of the Colorado Muslims Community Center (Dar Al-Tawheed) in Aurora, Colorado.
Imam Karim AbuZaid has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the American Open University in Cairo, Egypt. He founded Tafseer Al-Qur’an Institute (TAQI), a full-time Hifz, Arabic and Islamic Studies Program with branches in Lanham, Maryland, Sharkia, Egypt and Aurora, Colorado. AbuZaid is the producer and lead presenter for workshops aimed at strengthening the understanding of Islam as a faith. Karim AbuZaid served as an instructor at AlKauthar Institute in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
In summer 2018 (June 28 – July 2) Karim AbuZaid held at Salaheddin Islamic Centre in Scarborough, Ontario a workshop that focused on the book “Islamic Guidelines for Individual & Social Reform” by Sheikh Muhammad bin Jamil Zino, a Syria born Salafi Muslim scholar who lived in Jordan.
On June 18, 2018 Salaheddin Islamic Centre posted (archived URL) on its Facebook page a poster that read:
Salaheddin Islamic Centre presents
Islamic Guidelines for Individual & Social Reform
with Sheikh Karim Abu Zaid
June 28 – July 2, 2018
Maghrib to Ishaa with Q&A after Ishaa
Free event, quizes [sic] & prizes
In this book, Sheikh Muhammad bin Jamil Zino has produced text mainly from the Qur’an and Sunnah upon various important issues and aspects of Islam which concern all the Muslims in their day-to-day life. His selection of topics has been so vital that the book gained immense popularity in almost all the Arab Countries. Because of its usefulness, we are presenting the English translation for our readers so that they may also get benefited in matters of religion.
For more info please contact Salaheddin IslamicCentre @ 416.264.3900/ Ibrahim AlNejashy @ 416.904.8671
741 Kennedy Road, Toronto, ON, M1K 2C6
On June 22, 2018 Salaheddin Islamic Centre shared (archived URL) on its Facebook page Karim AbuZaid’s Facebook post (archived URL) that contains a video message accompanied with the following text:
Imam Karim AbuZaid Visiting Toronto, Canada. June 28-July 2, Salah Udeen Islamic Center Canada
Here is the transcript of Karim AbuZaid’s video message (archived video):
May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah, the Exalted, be with you. My dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam. I will be back in Toronto, Allah Willing, the 28th of June [2018] in a week time from today, Allah Willing, if this goes online today. Brothers and sisters in Islam, I’ll be explaining a beautiful book by Shiekh Jamil Zino, Muhammad Jamil Zino’s messages, guidelines to reform the Muslim in an individual level and in a social level. Brothers and sisters in Islam, there is no question that our [Muslim] nation [Ummah] in a desperate need for reforms. And of course the first step toward the reform is to learn, is to read, or to hear someone who reads. Allah Willing,we will be reading this book at Salaheddin [Islamic Centre in Scarborough, ON] everyday after [the] Fajr [morning prayer] and between the Maghrib [sunset prayer] and [the] Ishaa [evening prayer] and we’ll allow questions and answers. Direct message. The book is so beautiful, because it’s focused. It is not detail oriented textbook. It is very short. Allah Willing, we’ll be able to cover it in brief and you be able to go out with some guidelines by which you can reform yourselves as an individual and also your family and your community as well, Allah Willing. Join me at Salaheddin Islamic Centre in Toronto, Canada between the 28th June and the 2nd of July [2018]. I’ll be there, Allah Willing…
On June 28, 2018 Salaheddin Islamic Centre posted (archived URL) on its Facebook page:
Shaykh Karim [AbuZaid] just started the explanation of Islamic Guidelines for Individual and Social Reform. A great book of Shaykh Muhammad Bin Jamil Zino (Rahmatullahi alaihi) [May the mercy of Allah be upon him]
https://facebook.com/salaheddincentre/photos/a.118213531530084/2336863832998365/?type=3&permPage=1
Here are excerpts from the book “Islamic Guidelines for Individual & Social Reform”:
The propagation and Jihad Prophet’s of Islam
Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent as a mercy for the worlds. So he called all the Arabs and the whole mankind to Islam wherein lie their goodness and happiness in this world and the Hereafter. First of all, he asserted the Oneness of the worship of Allah and the principle that supplications are to Allah alone as revealed in the Surah Jinn of the Holy Qur’an:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَدْعُو رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ أَحَدًا
“Say (0 Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him): simply invoke my Lord, and do not associate anyone with Him’.” (72:20) The infidels of the Arabs strongly objected to this new religion as they were historically idolaters. They just imitated their forefathers fanatically. The same old people who once had described him as the truthful and trustworthy now started calling him a magician or a mad man! The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) persevered in his call as His Lord ordered him:
فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ آثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا
“Therefore be persevere (O Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)) the Command of your Lord and obey neither a sinner nor a disbeliever among them.” (76:24) The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), remained in Makkah for thirteen years calling to Islam. He and his fellows tolerated every sort of hardship and then migrated to Al-Madinah to build the new Islamic society. The pillars of this new society and later a state were justice, love and brotherhood. Allah the Exalted supported the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) with miracles, the most important of these was the Holy Qur’an which called for Tauhid, learning, Jihad and good morals. He wrote to all the monarchs of his time in the world and said:
أَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ يُؤْتِكَ اللَّهُ أَجْرَكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ
“Embrace Islam and be safe: get your reward twice.”
He also wrote to the people of the previous Scriptures what Allah (SWT) revealed in this regard:
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّ
“Say (O Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) ‘O people of the Scripture! come to a word common to us and you, that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall not associate anyone with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah.”(3: 64) The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)was at last forced to fight against the pagans and the Jews and defeated them. He himself led more than twenty battles besides sending several expeditions under his Companions to free the peoples of his time from oppression and the worship of rulers. He advised his Companions to start preaching with Oneness of Allah (SWT). Love and Follow of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
[…]
Jihad and Bravery
1. To learn about Jihad (fighting in the way of Allah) the family can sit together to read a biography of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and those of his Companions. Such a book will make it clear that the Prophet of mercy was also a brave fighter in the way of Allah. His Companions like Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Mu’awiyah and the others (May Allah be pleased with them), were all courageous fighters who fought to uphold the Word of Allah higher. It is they who took Islam to various countries and were instrumental to our being Muslims. They conquered their disbelieving enemies with their faith in Allah and Allah’s eventual victory and support for them. They succeeded because they applied the Qur’an and the Sunnah and their manners were superior.
2. Encourage your children to grow as brave as the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and his Companions. Teach them to command the good, forbid the evil and fear Allah alone. Do not intimidate your children with false stories or superstitions or goggle.
3. Teach your children the love of justice and revenge from the unjust like the Jews and the tyrants. Consequently our youth would know that Palestine should be freed and Jerusalem must be of the Muslims. They have to learn about Islam and Jihad as per the Qur’an and that the holy fighting for justice is supported by Allah the Almighty. Victory is yours if you consult the Qur’an and apply its commands.
4. Buy some useful story books for your children: stories from the Qur’an, the Prophet’s biographies, and stories of the brave Companions and Muslim heroes.
[…]
Jihad (Fighting in the cause of Allah)
Jihad is obligatory on every Muslim in two ways: by spending one’s wealth or offering oneself for fighting in the cause of Allah. It can also be by preaching or defending Islam through tongue and pen. Reward varies for various types of Jihad.
1. Jihad as an Individual Duty: This type of Jihad becomes a must when the enemy of Muslims enters their land, like the Jews who settled in Palestine. Every Muslim will be guilty unless he expels the Jews by money or physical fighting.
2. Jihad as a Collective Duty: This type is the one if some people do it, it suffices and no need for all to perform. For example, propagation of Islam or call to Islam until all countries embrace it and make it their way of life. If someone makes any obstacle in the way of propagation, Muslims are allowed by Allah to fight them until Islam becomes the governing authority. Jihad in this sense will not stop until the Day of Judgment. When Muslims took to farming and trading, they became subdued. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
إِذَا تَبَايَعْتُمْ بِالْعِينَةِ ، وَأَخَذْتُمْ أَذْنَابَ الْبَقَرِ ، وَرَضِيتُمْ بِالزَّرْعِ ، وَتَرَكْتُمْ الْجِهَادَ ، سَلَّطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ ذُلًّا لَا يَنْزِعُهُ حَتَّى تَرْجِعُوا إِلَى دِينِكُمْ
“If you deal by Ainah (selling at a higher price as debit then buying the same for less price in cash) and get content with agriculture abandoning Jihad in the way of Allah, Allah will make you subdued until you return to your religion.” (Ahmad).
3. Jihad against Rulers: This type means advising the good for the sake of the rulers and helping them.
ﻗﺎﻝ ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ : (ﺍﻟﺪﻳﻦ ﺍﻟﻨﺼﻴﺤﺔ ﺛﻼﺛﺎ ) ، ﻗﻠﻨﺎ ﻟﻤﻦ ﻳﺎ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ؟ ، ﻗﺎﻝ : ( ﻟﻠﻪ ﻭﻟﻜﺘﺎﺑﻪ ﻭﻟﺮﺳﻮﻟﻪ ﻭﻷﺋﻤﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻠﻤﻴﻦ ﻭﻋﺎﻣﺘﻬﻢ
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said “Religion is sincerity.” The Companions asked: “To whom 0 Messenger of Allah?”He said: “To Allah and His Book, His Messenger, the Muslim leaders and the Muslim public.” (Muslim) He (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) also said:
أفضل الجهاد كلمة حق عند سلطان جائر
“The best Jihad is a speech of truth in the presence of a tyrant ruler.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi) The rulers must be warned against their deviation from the path of the Shari’ah and asked to repent and make people repent. They should also be asked to correct their beliefs and bring up themselves and their children according to Islam. Let them read:
إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ
“Verily Allah will not change the condition of a people as long as they do not change their state themselves.” (13:11)
A propagator of Islam recently made a comment in this regard which is as follows: “If you build the state of Islam in your hearts, it will be built in your land.”
Thus it is inevitable to reform the base – the society – on which we intend to build the aspired Islamic state. Allah the Exalted says:
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا ۚ يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
“Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will certainly grant them power on the earth, as He had granted it to those before them, and He will grant them the authority to practice their religion which He has chosen for them, and He will surely give them security in exchange to their fear (W they worship Me without associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieve after this, they are the wicked.” (24:55)
4. Jihad Disbelievers against and Communists:
The Jihad against the disbelievers, communists and the aggressors from Jewish-Christian nations can be either by spending on Jihad or by participating in it in person. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
جاهِدُوا المُشرِكينَ بِأَموالِكُمْ وأَنْفُسِكُم وأَلسِنَتِكُم
“Perform Jihad against polytheists by wealth, body and tongue.” (Ahmad) 5. Jihad against Wrongdoers:
من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيده ، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه ، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه ، وذلك أضعف الإيمان
“Whoever sees a vice should stop it by hand, if possible, or by tongue or (he should hate it) in heart – this is the lowest (act) of Faith.” (Muslim)
6. Jihad against the Satan:
This type means that one should disobey the Satan and obey Allah. You can also abandon heeding to the Satan’s temptations. Allah the Exalted says:
إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا ۚ إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ
“Surely Satan is an enemy to you; so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his followers that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.” (35:6)
7. Jihad against One’s Self:
The fighting against one’s self means stopping all the unlawful things and start doing the lawful alone according to the Commands of Allah. Allah the Exalted says on behalf of the wife of the Monarch of Egypt:
وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي ۚ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّي ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ
“And I do not acquit myself. Verily the self is inclined to evil except that (self) on whom my Lord bestows His Mercy; verily my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (12:53) O Allah! make us true Mujahideen (fighters) in Your cause!