Differences in opinion: Lessons from Saidina Aba Bakr

Lessons I learnt from the dialogue between Aba Bakr and Umar regarding the issue of Khalid Ibn Walid’s punishment unto Malik Ibn Nuwairah:

1.     We must strive to learn with crystal-clear clarity about what is haram and halal because it has in fact been made crystal clear in our religion

2.     In matters such as government affairs and human management, the way to solve matters are four:

a.     maintaining God-consciousness,

b.     a mature mind by which to think with

c.      and consulting (the right) people

d.     asking Allah to aid in making correct decisions

3.     The nature of worldly life is that:

a.     There exists matters in which the issues are not clear as to either it is clearly right or clearly wrong;

b.     Humans will have different views – this is what Allah has written as the norm of worldly life.

4.     The way to deal with 3(b) is:

a.     Taqwa @consciousness of Allah

b.     Consultation with fellow mankind

5.     By way of 4(a) and 4(b), we ensure that differing views DO NOT develop into friction, antagonism and hostility between Muslims.

6.     Aba Bakr taught us to VALIDATE each other’s strength and weaknesses and not to be hostile or avoid our Muslim brethren.

7.     Aba Bakr in fact praised Allah for aiding him with Umar in order to balance and moderate his own PRIVATE views (of which some were DIFFERENT from Umar’s own)

8.     His other advice to Umar were:

a.     Do not make judgements based on your personal ASSUMPTIONS on people

b.     Do not build upon “what might happen” before it happens

c.      (be reminded that this is Aba Bakr –a man GUARANTEED PARADISE speaking to another man who is GUARANTEED PARADISE): NONE of us are safe from fitnah in this life until we are in Allah’s court – therefore be gentle with our fellow Muslim sisters and brothers

d.     Just try to do the BEST in all our matters