With the Name of Allah, The Merciful Benefactor, The Merciful Redeemer

All praise is due to Allah Who made this way of life (Al-Islam) so that humanity might know true guidance, that people might protect themselves from the allurements of this worldly life, and so that Truth might be distinct from Falsehood.  Allah deputed the Noble Prophet (saaws) at a time ignorance was prevalent, hoarding of worldly goods was commonplace, and falsehood was embraced.  In 23 years, these ailments were removed from the hearts of His servants, and they spread Islam all over the world.

Throughout the centuries, great Muslim scholars, scientists, warriors, teachers, writers, and revivers have left their marks on the pages of history.  Those who study the Deen and seek to understand its impact on the world have read of these noble personalities and have fallen in love with their stories of bravery, honour, moral character, charisma, eloquence, and wisdom.  Legends have been made of these personalities, and a Muslim who does not know of them is considered to have been deprived of a good thing.

What Islamic history book would be complete without references to Shaykh al-Ghazali and Shaykh Abdul-Qadr al-Jilani?  What book could pass up such personalities as Salahuddin (great opponent of the Crusaders) or Tarik ibn Ziyad (liberator of Spain who brought it under Muslim rule)?  

The list of scholars and scientists goes on seemingly endlessly with Ibn Sina (Medicine, Philosophy, Mathematics, Astronomy), Jabir ibn Hayan (the father of chemistry), Ibn Rushud (Philosophy, Law, Medicine, Astronomy, Theology), and Ibn Khaldun (Sociology, Philosophy of History, Political Science).  Who can forget the great traveller Ibn Batutta who took a journey from Morocco to China and back?

The stories of these personalities are legendary in Islamic texts.  The stories of Muslim Spain (Andalusia) with its paved roads, street lights, running water, and splendid architecture are almost mythical in their grandeur.  Nevertheless, the proof of the truthfulness of these legends still exists.  Not only are they preserved in the history books but also in artefacts that remain in Muslim lands even to this day.

Gazing out from a window of a palace in modern day Istanbul over the remnants of the last Ottoman empire, one must wonder if such times have forever left the pages of history, if legacy of the Islamic world has past it's "Gold Age", and if the Ummah will ever return to even a thread of the greatness that it once enjoyed.

Who are the legendary personalities of today ?  Who are the ones carrying the banner of Al-Islam making revolutionary advancements in science, technology, medicine, philosophy, art, and civilization?  Who are the heroes of today who will once again leave legends of the Islamic world imprinted in the history books? 

The truth is that such a person could arise from any of us.  All of us have this potential and this gift given to us by Allah and exemplified in the life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws).  What is certain is that personalities come and go.  Heroes and the legends that follow them will always be a part of our history, but if any one of these people mentioned above were with us today, he would play down the importance of remembering his name.  He would possibly even insist that you do not remember his name.  It is the preservation of Islam, the advancements made in the name of Islam, and the victories over that which was not a part of Islam that are lasting. 

If nothing of legendary or mythical proportions comes out of this century or the next, we should at least strive as an Ummah to revive the practice of Islam, continue to be at the forefront of advancements in all areas of knowledge and science, and continue to record victory after victory against our enemies.  The names of people will come and go.  Out of the few contributors that are mentioned in the history books, there are thousands who were not mentioned.  Today let us all become that unsung hero.  Let us all play our part to contribute to the advancement of the Ummah and of humanity.  Let us all remember Allah and use the gifts that He has given us.  May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our leader Muhammad, upon his noble household and progeny, upon his righteous companions, and upon the devout believers, all of them.

"And certainly We wrote in the Psalms after the Reminder:  My righteous servants shall inherit the earth." (21:105)