Aggression Against Innocents Un-Islamic
ONE of the important objectives of Islam is to safeguard people’s life, property and honor. It is in this light that Islam prohibited aggression against innocent people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Qur’an and the Sunnah are abundant with provisions that crystallize and emphasize this principle. In the Sunnah we read that a woman entered Hell Fire because she tied a cat until it starved. Then, what will be the fate of those who shed innocent people’s blood and violate their rights?
Shedding more light on the issue of violence, intolerance, and aggression against innocent civilians, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states:
No doubt, aggression against innocent people is a grave sin and a heinous crime, irrespective of the victim’s religion, country, or race. No one is permitted to commit such crime, for Allah, Most High, abhors aggression. Unlike Judaism, Islam does not hold a double-standard policy in safeguarding human rights.
Following, I would like to highlight some relevant Islamic principles based on the Glorious Qur’an and Sunnah:
1. Islam forbids aggression against innocent people
Islam does not permit aggression against innocent people, whether the aggression is against life, property, or honor, and this ruling applies to everyone, regardless of post, status and prestige. In Islam, as the state’s subject is addressed with Islamic teachings, so is the ruler or caliph; he is not allowed to violate people’s rights, lives, honor, property, etc.
In the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) declared the principle that people’s lives, property, and honor are inviolable until the Day of Judgment. This ruling is not restricted to Muslims; rather, it includes non-Muslims who are not fighting Muslims. Even in case of war, Islam does not permit killing those who are not involved in fighting, such as women, children, the aged, and the monks who confine themselves to worship only.
This shouldn’t raise any wonder, for Islam is a religion that prohibits aggression even against animals. Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, quoted the Prophet, (peace be upon him), as saying: “A woman (was made to) enter (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth.” (Al-Bukhari)
If such is Islamic ruling concerning aggressive acts against animals, then, with greater reason, the punishment is bound to be severe when human being happens to be the victim of aggression, torture and terrorism.
2. Individual responsibility
In Islam, every one is held accountable for his own acts, not others’. No one bears the consequences of others’ faults, even his close relatives. This is the ultimate form of justice, clarified in the Glorious Qur’an, as Allah, Most High, says : Or is he not informed with what is in the pages (Scripture) of Musa (Moses), and of Ibrahim (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (Allah ordered him to do or convey): That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another. (An-Najm 53: 36-38)
Therefore, it’s very disgusting to see some people – who are Muslims by name – launching aggression against innocent people and taking them as scapegoats for any disagreement they have with the state’s authority!! What is the crime of the common people then?! Murder is one of heinous crimes completely abhorred in Islam, to the extent that some Muslim scholars hold the opinion that the repentance of the murderer will not be accepted by Allah, Most High. In this context, we recall the Glorious Qur’anic verse that reads : “…if any one killed a person not in retaliation of murder or (and) to spread mischief in the land – it would be as if he killed all mankind…” (Al-Ma’idah 5: 32)
3. Ends do not justify means
In Islam, the notion “End justifies the means” has no place at all. It is not allowed to attain good aims through evil means, and, therefore, alms collected from unlawful avenues are not halal (lawful). In this context, the Messenger of Allah, (peace be upon him) said, “Surely, Allah is Good and never accepts but what is good.”
Thus, in Shariah, with all its sources, the Glorious Qur’an, the Sunnah, consensus of Muslim jurists – aggression and violation of human rights are completely forbidden.
Besides, it is the duty of the Muslim scholars to do their utmost to guide the perplexed people to the straight and upright path.
Masjid kay Fazail Aur Adaab
Say ‘Assalam Alaikum’, When You Enter Houses
Make sure you say the greeting of Salam when you enter your, or anyone else’s, house. Some of the benefits are as great as Paradise, provision in this world and Allah’s blessings.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “There are three who are under the protection of Allah and if he lives, he will be provided for and it will be sufficient for him, and if he dies, Allah will enter him into Paradise: Whoever enters his house and gives the Salam; whoever goes out to the mosque; and whoever leaves in the way of Allah.” (Abu Dawood; authenticated by Al-Albani)
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“When you enter houses, give greetings of peace upon each other – a greeting from Allah, blessed and good.” (Qur’an, 24:61)
In Fiqh Al-Ad’iyah wal Adhkar, Imam As-Sa’di said, “The word ‘houses’ (Buyoot) is indefinite, so it includes any house that you enter and not just our own, even if there is no one present at the time. (The words) ‘upon yourselves’ (Alaa Anfusikum) means to give Salam to one another. The words are used to show that Muslims are like one entity due to their mutual care, love, and mercy. Then Allah praises this greeting by saying, “a greeting from Allah, blessed and good.” The greeting is to say: As-Salamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.
‘From Allah’, means that He has ordained it for you and has made it your greeting. It is ‘blessed’ because it is a Du’a that includes peace, safety, seeking blessings, mercy, and an increase in goodness. It is Tayyibah (good) because it is good speech from the One who is Good (At-Tayyib).”
Also, Anas narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him, “Dear son, when you enter your house, say As-Salamu Alaykum to your family, for it will be a blessing (Barakah) both to you and to your family.” (Al-Tirmidhi; Hasan according to Al-Albani)
Suffering, A Blessing In Disguise
Allah ta’aala says in the Holy Qur’an: (And Ayyub, when he cried to his Lord, saying): Oh my Lord, adversity has touched me; indeed, and You are the Most Merciful of all show mercy.(Al Anbiya Verse 83)
A Hadith also states that: The most severely burdened with calamities (in this world) are the Prophets (alaihis salaam), then those who come next to them in righteousness and Prophetic conduct. (Mishkat Al Masabih)
There are two categories of miseries and troubles in this world. The first category are those that are a means of punishment and torture from Allah. Punishment is reserved for the Hereafter, but Allah inflicts token punishments on the sinners so that they may give up their sins and take to piety and righteousness. The second category of troubles are those that Allah uses to elevate a man’s status and granting him reward and recompense in return for his troubles and worries suffered in this world.
Troubles are a punishment if a Muslim does not turn his attention to Allah, he resorts to all the worldly means and discards his salaah. He does not turn to Allah in repentance and with supplications for relief but instead curses his destiny. Troubles are a mercy from Allah if a Muslim repents to Allah, acknowledges his helplessness and prays to Allah in all sincerity and humility for mercy and help. He bears no grudge and offers his salaah with greater sincerity, regularity and concentration. The troubles become a source of reward and a sign of divine love and sympathy.
No man is free from troubles and worries
Allah has so created and planned this world that grief and joy, comfort and discomfort, health and sickness, etc. go together. Pure joy and happiness will only be available in Paradise. It is therefore impossible that a man should remain in this world free from worries and adversities. Everyone is suffering from one worry or another in varying degrees. Almighty Allah has planned the affairs of this universe in such a way that upon one person He has bestowed worldly riches and upon another the bounty of health. Someone is well-ff economically but care-ridden mentally and inwardly.
Why should a favorite servant of Allah be burdened with cares and worries? According to one hadith, Allah asks his angels to go to His servant and entangle him in some trial because He is pleased with his weeping and crying for mercy and help. The secret of this strange treatment of Allah his His beloved servant lies in the fact that Allah desires to convert the troubles and trials of His servant into everlasting peace and comfort and elevate his status in the Hereafter by purging him of the filth of his sins committed in the worldly life.
Just look at Hadhrat Ibrahim (as), bearing the title Khalilullah (friend of Allah). He was flung into the fire, commanded to kill his son, Ismail (as) and abandon his family in a dry, desolate territory. In short, he was subjected to great trials and tribulations. When the people will receive their rewards and prizes from Allah on the Day of Judgement they will realize that the trials and tribulations they suffered in the world were nothing compared with the prizes and returns.
Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, ‘ And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops, and give glad tidings to the steadfast, who say when misfortune falls on them: We belong to Allah and we shall indeed return to Him. Such are they on whom are blessings from Allah and they the rightly guided ones.’ (2:155-157)
The conduct of the Prophet (saw) during periods of distress Hadhrat Aishah (ra) has narrated that when the Prophet (saw) was on his deathbed, he frequently put his sacred hand into water and rubbed the wet hand on his blessed face and at the same time he expressed the torture he was undergoing. Seeing her father in this condition, Hadhrat Fatimah (ra) uttered, ’Oh how distressed is my father!’ The Holy Prophet (saw) reacted to this by saying, ‘Your father will face no distress after this day.’ The Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (saw) lays down that on being inflicted with hardships, difficulties and worries the sufferer should display neither complaint nor boldness. He should instead address Allah in the words, ‘Oh Allah, relieve me of this trouble and misfortune by Your grace.’
May Allah grant us the correct understanding of this point and help us act upon it. Ameen!
Mufti Yusuf Danka Al-Kauthar
Nabi Kareem (PBUH) Ka Mazak Uranay Walon Ka Anjam
So Will You Be Sacrificing A Camel Or An Egg This Jumma?
Praise be to Allah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Any person who takes a bath on Friday like the bath of Janaabah and then goes for the prayer (in the first hour i.e. early), it is as if he had sacrificed a camel (in Allah’s cause);
and whoever goes in the second hour it is as if he had sacrificed a cow;
and whoever goes in the third hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a horned ram;
and if one goes in the fourth hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a hen;
and whoever goes in the fifth hour then it is as if he had offered an egg.
When the Imam comes out (i.e. starts delivering the Khuthbah), the angels[28] present themselves to listen to the Khuthbah.” (ie closes the record book & stop s writing the names of those who come for jumaah after that) [29]
[28] ” [(Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 13, Number 51; Saheeh Muslim, Book 004, Number 1864]
[29] (Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 2, Book 13, Number 6; Saheeh Muslim, Book 004, Number 1845
Never Too Late
ONE day, as Ali Bin Abu Talib and Al-Hussain Bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) were walking together, they heard a man supplicating to Allah. He was begging Allah to forgive him for his sins. His sincere tone and eloquent words aroused the interest of Ali who asked his son to call him.
When Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) caught up with the man, he saw that he was clean-looking, clean-smelling, with nice clothes and altogether handsome- except that he seemed to be paralyzed on the right side of his body. Al-Hussain said, “Answer the summons of the Leader of the Believers, Ali Bin Abu Talib.”
Dragging his right side, the man followed Al-Hussain back to where Ali was waiting for them.
When Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the man about his antecedents , he said:
“I was well-known among the Arabs for my frivolous and sinful exploits. Merciful and kind, my father would constantly admonish me and advise me to mend my ways.
He would remind me of Allah’s punishment, saying, ‘My son, do not go against Him who punishes with the Hell-fire!’ When he would persist in advising me, I felt his voice grating on my nerves. I would get so frustrated that I would beat him with harsh blows.
In response to my blows, he one day said, ‘By Allah, I will fast without breaking my fast and I will pray without stopping to sleep.’ He fasted for an entire week, but seeing no change in my behavior, he climbed a camel and set off to perform Hajj.
His parting words were, ‘I am going to the House of Allah, and there I will seek help from Allah against you.’ When he reached Makkah, he embraced the Cover of the Ka’ba and supplicated against me, asking Allah to make me paralyzed on one side of my body.
By the One Who raised the sky and sends down the rain, no sooner did my father finish his supplication than I became paralyzed on my right side, which became like a piece of wood. Anyone that would then pass by me would point to me and say, ‘Allah answered his father’s supplication against him.'”
“What did your father do then?” asked Ali.
“O Leader of the Believers, after he became pleased with me, I asked him to go back and invoke Allah on my behalf. He agreed to do so. I walked alongside him as he rode on his camel, until we reached a place called the Valley of Arak.
When we reached there, a group of birds flew away from a tree, their sudden movement frightened the camel. As the camel raced off in a state of fright, my father fell off it and died.”
It was certainly late for the man, but not too late. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) advised him to continue to supplicate and to repent for his past misdeeds.
Ali then parted from the man, but before leaving him, he taught him the supplication that a person in distress should say. (The narration does not specifically mention which supplication it was that Ali taught the man)
– Stories of repentance published by Darussalam
Prophet Nuh: Epitome Of Sincerity
It seems quite unbelievable to read in the Qur’an that one of the first Prophets of Allah, Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him), preached to the nation to which he was sent as messenger, for no less than 950 years! During that time, thousands of years ago, human beings were physically stronger and lived much longer than us.
Nuh’s sincerity in conveying the message of Allah to his people has been testified to and exemplified in the Qur’an as Allah positively mentions his tireless efforts of da’wah.
In today’s fast-paced world of instant results and immediate gratification, even da’ees towards Allah can get impatient if they do not see their da’wah yielding quick results. They want people to repent and reform themselves immediately, and start practicing Islam as a complete faith and lifestyle in the blink of an eye.
We question the acceptability and effectiveness of efforts, if we do not see clearly visible, positive results. Prophet Nuh, however, preached for 950 years in different ways, yet his people persistently rejected his call and continued in disbelief and transgression. Only few accepted his da’wah.
In a chapter named after him, Surah Nuh, Allah narrates to us in detail Prophet Nuh’s earnest du’a and complaint to Allah about his people’s rejection. From his plea, we get to know of his sincere efforts:
Incentive of forgiveness
Prophet Nuh started preaching to his people with the precursory requirement: giving them the hope that Allah will forgive their sins and grant them further respite in the world to be able to do righteous deeds. He invited them to worship Allah alone and be conscious of Him, and obey him, as he was Allah’s appointed messenger.
Increase in provisions
He promised his people that sincere repentance, which means giving up evil deeds and obeying Allah, results in an increase in provision. He promised them that Allah would bless them with rain, which meant an abundance in food: grains, fruit and crops. He also promised them that Allah would bless them with all kinds of material wealth and “sons” i.e. progeny, thriving families and an overall flourishing community of large numbers. He said Allah would also grow forth for them lush gardens and flowing rivers.
Prophet Nuh thus used the example of worldly blessings, which human beings long for and which is entirely in Allah’s Hands, to invite his people to come back to the Straight Path, the path of monotheism.
Reflection over Allah’s creation
Prophet Nuh asked his people why they did not recognize Allah’s Greatness. He invited them to contemplate on the magnificent creation of Allah – how He created humans in grades or stages (within the womb and after birth); how Allah created the seven skies one upon the other; the moon in the skies as a light; and the sun as a lamp. Thousands of years ago, human beings lived closer to nature, living primarily as agriculturalists, and they witnessed the signs of creation all the time.
Man’s origin and his end
One of the best and truthful ways to convince human beings to repent to Allah, worship Him and obey Him, is to remind them of their imminent return to dust after death. Prophet Nuh told his people that Allah created us from earth and that is where everyone would eventually return after death. He gave the example of vegetation – it grows and then withers down.
Nuh further described the way Allah spread out the earth for human beings to dwell in without congestion and with wide, open pathways to travel in.
After doing everything he could, Prophet Nuh complained to Allah that he called his nation to the right path at all times – day and night, publicly and privately, and he left no stone untouched. Yet, each time, they rejected his call due to arrogance, stuffing their fingers in their ears, turning away with their clothes covering their heads.
In the end of Surah Nuh, Prophet Nuh pleads to Allah for his own forgiveness and that of the believing men and women. After giving sincere, relentless da’wah for 950 years, he asks Allah to wipe out his disbelieving people in such a way that not a single one of them is left. Because of their deep-rooted polytheistic beliefs and arrogance, he pleaded to Allah that even if one of them is left alive he would lead others astray and give birth to none but a wicked disbeliever!
Perhaps a whole surah was dedicated to Prophet Nuh’s da’wah efforts because its message serves as an enlightening beacon for all modern da’ees to Islam. Patience, sincerity, eloquence, persistence, intelligent use of proofs and signs, diversity of techniques, and wisdom are all necessary qualities of a representative of Allah who wishes to give the due of the Divinely-ordained task of calling humankind back to the obedience and worship of their Creator.
