Ibaadah (Worship) And Levels Of Love
Al-‘Ibaadah (worship) which we are commanded to perform includes the meaning of humility and love, it contains intense humility before Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’alaa – Glory be to He, Allah, the Most High) together with the intense love for Him. The uppermost level of love is the adoration (Tatayum) and its lowermost level is the interest, because the heart is first interested in the beloved. After the interest comes the affection, then the love, and finally the adoration. In Arabic “Taym-u-Allaah” (the adorer of Allah) is used to mean “Abd-u-Allaah” (the worshiper of Allah) because the adorer is the one who yields completely to their lover.
One who submits to someone with hatred is not worshiping him. And one who loves someone without submitting to him is likewise not worshiping him; this is like a man who loves his son and friends. Therefore, neither love nor submission alone are sufficient in worshiping Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’alaa). Allah must be loved most by Al-‘Abd (the slave) and He (subhaanahu wa ta’alaa) must be the greatest of all in his sight. Nothing deserves complete love and submission except Allah . It is a futile love when anything has been loved for other than the sake of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’alaa). And whatever has been highly regarded without it being by the Command of Allah, its glorification is rejected.
The love for Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’alaa) and Ar-Rasool (the messenger Mohammed) [sallallaahu ‘alayhee wa sallam – may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him], should override any other love.
Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’alaa) said:
“Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving hard and Fighting in His Cause; then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the rebellious folk.” [At-Tawbah:24]
Thus, the essence of love should be due to Allah and His Messenger, so too with the obedience. For the obedience is due to Allah and His Messenger, and pleasing is due to Allah and His Messenger,
“But it is more fitting that they should please Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) if they are (true) believers.” [At-Tawbah:62]
Lambi Umeed Ki Muzamat
The Virtues Of Sitting In The Masjid
The Prophet (saas) Said:
“… Then when he enters the Masjid, he is in (the state of) prayer as long as it is the only thing keeping him from leaving (i.e., the only reason why he is staying in the Masjid is to wait for the next prayer). And the Angels send prayers upon one of you as long as he is in the seat (spot) that he prayed in; they say, ‘O Allah, have mercy on him; O Allah, forgive him; Allah, accept his repentance,’ as long as he does not harm anyone (with speech or deed) while he is in it , and as long as he does not nullify his state of purity (i.e., by passing wind, etc..)..”” 1
From Allah’s vast mercy to His slaves, He (swt) gives them a reward similar to the person who is praying, just for sitting in the Masjid and waiting for the next congregational prayer; furthermore, He (swt) makes His angels supplicate for them.
We must keep in mind that, as the Hadith informs us, certain conditions must be fulfilled if you are to achieve the aforesaid reward and honor. First, nothing other than the prayer should be preventing you from going back to your home or work or elsewhere. Second, for the angels to supplicate for you, you must remain seated in the spot you prayed in. However, another view is that their supplication encompasses both those who wait for the prayer anywhere in the Masjid and those who remain seated in the spot they prayed in. The Phrasing of the Hadith points to the first view being correct. If you harm Muslim worshipers with speech or deed, or if you do something to nullify your state of purity (i.e., pass wind,etc.), you will not gain the reward of a person who waits for prayer, and the angels will not make the aforementioned supplication for you.
Related Issue: Many people fail to take advantage of a blessed time – the time between the Adhaan (the call to prayer) and the Iqaamah. You will find some people who spend that time looking around at worshipers who are praying or reciting the Qur’an; others who stare idly at the carvings in the Masjid; and yet others who daydream. They would all do much better were they to use that time by reciting the Qur’an, remembering Allah (swt), and supplication to Allah (swt) especially considering the fact that it is a time wherein one is likely to have his supplications answered.
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1) Related by Bukhaaree (176), Muslim (649), Ahmad (7382), An-Nassaaee (733), Abu Daawood (559), and Maalik (382). And the wording mentioned above is from Muslim’s narration of the Hadith
Sadat Mandi
The Little Candle
Once upon a time a little candle stood in a room filled with other candles, most of them much larger and much more beautiful than she was. Some were ornate and some were rather simple, like herself. Some were white, some were blue, some were pink and some were green. She had no idea why she was there, and the other candles made her feel rather small and insignificant.
When the sun went down and the room began to get dark, she noticed a large man walking toward her with a ball of fire on a stick. She suddenly realized that the man was going to set her on fire.
“No, no!!”, She cried, “Aaaaagghhh! Don’t burn me, please don’t burn me!!” But she knew that she could not be heard and prepared for the pain that would surely follow.
To her surprise, the room filled with light. She wondered where it came from since the man had extinguished his fire stick. To her delight, she realized that the light came from herself.
Then the man struck another fire stick and, one by one, lit the other candles in the room. Each one gave out the same light that she did.
During the next few hours, she noticed that, slowly, her wax began to flow. She became aware that she would soon die. With this realization came a sense of why she had been created.
“Perhaps my purpose on earth is to give out light until I die”, she mused. And that’s exactly what she did.
Lord created you and me to produce light in a dark world. Like that little candle, we all can produce the light and enlighten the world, no matter how small we are or of what color we might be. But we can’t produce light until we receive it from an outside source. And that source of light is ‘ALLAH’, our Lord, the creator of the world.
Mr. No Problem
A believer is a no-problem person. In all situations and circumstances he stands out as Mr. No Problem. His sensitivity towards others is so heightened that he does not like creating any problems whatsoever. The companions of the Prophet were very sensitive in this way, so much so that if a horse-rider’s whip fell to the ground, he would not ask a passerby to pick the whip for him. Instead, he would dismount and pick the whip himself (Abu Dawud, 2/124).
We learn from Islamic traditions that the best Muslim is one from whose evils people are safe. From one of these traditions we have the saying: A believer is one who fears God and keeps people safe from his evil (Al-Bukhari).
According to another tradition recorded in Al-Bukhari, the Prophet of Islam observed: “Sadaqa (voluntary alms) is incumbent upon every Muslim.” That is, every Muslim should be a giver. Asked what to do if one had nothing to give, he replied that one should earn and be a giver. When asked what the would-be giver should do if he were unable to earn, the Prophet replied: He should voice his good intentions towards others. Asked if he were unable to do even that, the Prophet replied that he should then refrain himself from causing harm to others, because this is also a gift. (Fathul Bari, 10/462).
According to another hadith the Prophet observed: “A believer with perfect faith is one who struggles to spend his life and property in the cause of God. And the second in rank is one who is engaged in prayer in some corner and from whom people are safe (Sunan Abi Dawud, 3/5).
We have a large number of such traditions in book of hadith. These demonstrate a range of characters which can be taken as models for posterity. Of this selection, the individual, who ranks highest in character is one who benefits others. The honest, but still acceptable standard of character in Islam is that of the individual who, being entirely harmless, creates no problems for the rest of society.
Sood Kay Mutaliq Waeed
Make Peace Among People
[49. Surah Al-Hujurat : Ayah 9-10]
“And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah’s command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably. The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you. ”
Narrated Um Kulthum bint Uqba (Radi Allah Anhu): That she heard Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) saying, “He who makes peace between the people by inventing good information or saying good things, is not a liar.”
[Sahih Bukhari : Volume 3, Book 49, Number 857-858]
Narrated Sahl bin Sad (Radi Allah Anhu) : Once the people of Quba fought with each other till they threw stones on each other. When Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) was informed about it, he said, “Let us go to bring about a reconciliation between them.”
A Place In Jannah Everyday
A PALACE IN JANNAH EVERYDAY
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “Whoever performs 12 Rakaats of Salaat in one day excluding the Fardh Salaat, he will be granted a house in Jannah.” (Sahih Muslim Hadith1691)
These 12 Rakaats have been specifically enumerated in another narration as: the 2 Rakaats before Fajr, 4 Rakaats before Dhuhr, 2 Rakaats after Dhuhr, 2 Rakaats after Maghrib and 2 Rakaats after Esha. (Sunan Tirmidhi Hadith415). This Hadith is authentic according to Imaam Tirmidhi.
On the day of Qiyaamat, if there be any deficiency in a person’s Fardh Salaat, his Nafl Salaats will compensate for that. (Sunan Tirmidhi Hadith413) ? Imaam Tirmidhi has classified this narration as sound.
Therefore, utmost care should be taken in correcting and perfecting our Fardh Salaat by fulfilling all its requirements as well as by being particular of performing the Sunnah Salaat.
The 2 Rakaat Sunnat before the Fardh of Fajr Salaat is the most emphasised Sunnah Salaat of the day (Bukhari Hadith1169, Sahih Muslim Hadith1683, Tahtaawi pg.212) Sayyidatuna Aaisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) reports that Rasulullah r said. “The 2 Rakaats before Fajr are better than the entire world and whatever it contains.” (Sahih Muslim Hadith1685)
Regarding the 4 Sunnats before Dhuhr, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned that the doors of the heavens open at that time (Sunan Tirmidhi) and if one follows it up with 4 more Rakaats after the Fardh of Dhuhr (2 Sunnats and 2 Nafl – Fathul Qadeer vol.1 pg.387) Almighty Allah will protect him from Jahannum. (Sunan Tirmidhi Hadith427; Sahih ibn Khuzaymah Hadith1190)
If a person performs 4 Rakaats before Asr Salaat, he will receive a house in Jannah. (Majmauz-Zawaaid vol.2 pg.222).
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) has made a special Du’aa for the mercy of Allah to be showered on such a person. (Sunan Tirmidhi Hadith430; Sahih ibn Khuzaymah Hadith1193)
Makhool (RA) reports that Rasulullah r said, “If the 2 Rakaats after Maghrib are performed before speaking, it will be lifted high into the heavens. “(Al-Maraaseel of Imaam Abu Dawud Hadith73)
If a person performs 4 Rakaats (2 Sunnats and 2 Nafl) after Esha in the Musjid, he will receive the reward of performing these Salaats on Laylatul Qadr. This has been mentioned by various Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum) ? refer al-Musannaf of Imaam ibn Abi Shaybah Hadith7347 – 7353
To perform Witr Salaat is compulsory. Rasulullah r said, “Whosoever does not perform Witr Salaat is not among us.” (Al-Mustadrak vol.1 pg.305-306). Imaam Haakim has classified this narration as Sahih (authentic). (Ibid, also refer to Nasbul-Raayah vol.1 pg.112)
Bearing in mind the above mentioned virtues, every Musallee should endeavour to acquire these benefits by remaining steadfast on the Sunnah Salaats regarding which people are becoming increasingly lax and unmindful these days. Doing so will acquire one the love and assistance of Almighty Allah. (Sahih Bukhari Hadith6502)