Narrated Mu’adh ibn Jabal: (Allah be pleased with him) I said to Allah’s Messenger [Peace be upon him] ‘Inform me about an act which would entitle me to get into Paradise, and remove me away from Hell-Fire’. The Prophet [peace be upon him] said…
You have asked me about a matter which ostensibly appears to be difficult but it is easy to those for whom ALLAH [the Exalted] has made it easy.
#1/- Worship Allah and do not associate anything with him
#2/- Establish Prayer
#3/- Pay the Zakat
#4/ Observe the fast of Ramadan and
#5/ Perform ‘Hajj’ to the sacred House… [ Ka`bah]
The Prophet [Peace be upon him] then said… Should I not direct you to the gateways of good? Listen to me… Fasting is a shield against evil. Charity extinguishes the fire of sin… just as water extinguishes fire. The Prayer of a person during the middle of the night. he then recited … ‘Who Forsake their Beds’… then he continued… Should I not direct you to the highest level of this matter to the Pillar on which it rests and it’s top?
I said…’Yes, do tell me…Prophet [Peace be upon him answered…The uppermost level of the matter is Islam, its Pillar is the Prayer,
and its Top is ‘Jihad’. Should I not inform you of the sheet anchor of all this…?
I said… ‘Yes, Allah’s Apostle of course do it. he took hold of his Tongue and said…Exercise restraint on it.
I said: ‘Apostle of Allah, would we be held responsible for what we say with it?
Thereupon Prophet [Peace be upon him] said… ‘ Mu`adh, may your mother be bereaved. will anything else besides irresponsible talk cause the people to be thrown into the Hell-Fire upon their faces or on their nostrils?
Category: Info
Allah Seeks Repentance With Mercy
And keep up prayer and pay the poor rate and bow down with those who bow down.
[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 43]
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri(Radi Allah Anhu)reported Allah’s Messenger(sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam)as saying: “There was a person before you who had killed ninety-nine persons and then made an inquiry about the learned persons of the world (who could show him the way to salvation). He was directed to a monk. He came to him and told him that he had killed ninety-nine persons and asked him whether there was any scope for his repentance to be accepted. He said: No. He killed him also and thus completed one hundred. He then asked about the learned persons of the earth and was directed to a scholar, who told him that he had killed one hundred persons and asked him whether there was any scope for his repentance to be accepted. He said: Yes; what stands between you and the repentance? You better go to such and such land; there are people devoted to prayer and worship and you also worship along with them and do not come to the land of yours since it was an evil land (for you). So he went away and he had hardly covered half the distance when death came to him and there was a dispute between the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment. The angels of mercy said: This man has come as a penitent and remorseful to Allah and the angels of punishment said: He has done no good at all. Then there came another angel in the form of a human being in order to decide between them. He said: You measure the land to which he has drawn near. They measured it and found him nearer to the land where he intended to go (the land of piety), so the angels of mercy took possession of it. Qatada said that Hasan told him that it was said to them that as death approached him, he crawled upon his chest (and managed) to slip into the land of mercy.”
[Sahih Muslim : Book 37, Book Name Kitab Al-Tauba Number 6662]
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Qatada with the same chain of transmitters but (with this variation of wording):” Allah commanded the earth (from where) he wanted to come out to move away and to the other earth (where he wanted to go) to draw nearer.”
[Sahih Muslim : Book 37, Book Name Kitab Al-Tauba Number 6664]
Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as saying: He who seeks repentance (from the Lord) before the rising of the sun from the west (before the Day of Resurrection), Allah turns to him with Mercy.
[Sahih Muslim : Book 35, Book Name Kitab Al-Dhikr Number 6525]
Abu Musa(Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam)as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, Stretches out His Hand during the night so that the people repent for the fault committed from dawn till dusk and He stretches out His Hand during the day so that the people may reprint for the fault committed from dusk to dawn. (He would accept repentance) before the sun rises in the west (before the Day of Resurrection).
[Sahih Muslim : Book 37, Book Name Kitab Al-Tauba Number 6644]
Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire.
The Purpose Of Creating Humans
When a powerful heavenly creature, Satan, thought that he could be a god besides God, he provoked a Great feud among the heavenly creatures. The human beings were ignorant. They wanted to verify his baseless thoughts and thus, committed a grave mistake!
“Say, “Here is awesome news. That you are totally oblivious to. I had no knowledge previously, about the feud in the High Society.” (Quran 38:67-69)
“We have offered the responsibility to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear it and were afraid of it. But the human being accepted it; he was transgressing, ignorant.” (Quran 33:72)
“Did I not covenant with you, O Children of Adam, that you shall not worship the devil? That he is your most ardent enemy? And that you shall worship Me alone? That is the right path.” (Quran 36:60-61)
God Almighty summoned all the souls of the human beings, including the prophets, the messengers, and the saints, prior to sending them to this world for the redemption of their sin!
“Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: “Am I not your Lord?” They all said, “Yes, We bear witness.” Thus you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, “We were not aware of this.” Nor can you say, “It was our parents who practiced idolatry, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will You punish us because of what others have innovated?” (Quran 7:172-173)
Merciful God created death and life to give all human beings a final chance to redeem their sin.
“How can you disbelieve in God when you were dead (before coming to this world) and He gave you life (in this world), then He puts you to death (in this world), then He brings you back to life (in the Hereafter), then to Him you ultimately return (in the Day of Resurrection) ?” (Quran 2:28)
“Yet, they set up beside Him gods who do not create anything-they themselves are created-and who possess no power to even harm or benefit themselves, nor do they possess any power to control life (in this world), or death(in this world), or resurrection (in the Hereafter).” (Quran 25:3)
Adam’s soul was chosen as the first human being for the redemption of his sin. The first human body was created from aged mud and Adam’s soul was assigned to it by Merciful God.
“Your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating a human being from aged mud, like the potter’s clay. Once I perfect him and blow into him from My spirit, you shall fall prostrate before him.” (Quran 15:28-29)
The physical bodies of all the souls of the children of Adam are subsequently reproduced from the tiny drop.
“We created the human being from a certain kind of mud. Subsequently, we reproduced him from a tiny drop, that is placed into a well-protected repository.” (Quran 23:12-13)
“Your women are the bearers of your seed. Thus, you may enjoy this privilege however you like, so long as you maintain righteousness. You shall observe God, and know that you will meet Him. Give good news to the believers.” (Quran 2:223)
“Does the human being think that he will go to nothing? Was he not a drop of ejected semen? Then He (God) created an embryo out of it! He made it into male or female! Is He then unable to revive the dead ?” (Quran 75:36-40)
It takes a male sperm about ten hours to navigate the female productive track. Fertilization begins when it makes its way through a female egg. The fusion of the sperm and egg nuclei marks the creation of the zygote!
“And God made for you spouses from among yourselves, and produced for you from your spouses children and grandchildren, and provided you with good provisions. Should they believe in falsehood, and turn unappreciative of God’s blessings?” (Quran 16:72)
“…Have they found idols besides God who created creations similar to His creations, to the point of not distinguishing the two creations? Say, “God is the creator of all things, and He is the One, the Supreme.” (Quran 13:16)
The zygote, created by the fusion of the male sperm and female egg, begins to multiply which results in formation of a mulberry shaped morula. About four days after fertilization, the morula enters the uterine cavity. Cell division continues, and a cavity known as a blastocele forms in the center of the morula. With the appearance of the cavity in the center, the entire structure is now called a blastocyst. The presence of the blastocyst indicates that two cell types are forming – the embryo-blast (inner cell mass on the inside of the blastocele), and the trophoblast (the cells on the outside of the blastocele). The amniotic cavity and yolk sac arise within the inner cell mass. These are separated by the embryonic disk, which gives rise to the three germ layers that develop into the embryo proper. The blastocyst wall of the trophoblast gives rise to auxiliary structures. The zygote now enters the uterus and implantation occurs !
“O people, if you have any doubt about resurrection, (remember that) we created you from dust, and subsequently from a tiny drop, which turn into a hanging (embryo), that it becomes a fetus that is given life or deemed lifeless. We thus clarify things for you. We settle in the wombs whatever we will for a predetermined period. We then bring you out as infant, then you reach maturity. While some of you die young, others live to the worst age, only to find out that no more knowledge can be attained beyond a certain limit. Also, you look at a land that is dead, then as soon as we shower it with water, it vibrates with life and grows all kinds of beautiful plants.” (Quran 22:5)
During implantation, the three germ layers of the embryonic disk give rise to the principal organ systems, and the embryo begins to show the human form !
“He is the One God; the Creator, the Initiator, the Designer. To Him belong the most beautiful names. Glorifying Him is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, Most Wise.” (Quran 59:24)
“With Him are the keys to all secrets; none knows them except He. He knows everything on land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls without His knowledge. Nor is there a grain in the depth of the soil. Nor is there anything wet or dry, that is not recorded in a profound record.” (Quran 6:59)
The three germ layers of the embryonic disk are Endoderm, Mesoderm, and Ectoderm. The endoderm will form the lining of the lungs, tongue, tonsils, bladder, digestive tract, urethra, and associated glands. Mesodern will form the muscles, bones, lymphatic tissue, blood cells, heart, lungs, reproductive and excretory systems. The ectoderm will form the skin, nails, hair, lens of the eye, the lining of the internal and external ear, nose, sinuses, mouth, anus, tooth enamel, pituitary gland, and all parts of the nervous system. Finally, a human baby is born for the purpose as outlined in this verse of the Quran –
“The One who created death (before coming to this world) and life (in this world) for the purpose of distinguishing those among you who would do better. He is the Almighty, the Forgiving.” (Quran 67:2)
“Then we developed the drop into a hanging (embryo), then developed the hanging (embryo) into a bite-size (fetus), then created the bite-size (fetus) into bones, then covered the bones with flesh. We thus produce new creatures. Most blessed is God, the best Creator. Then, later on, you die. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be resurrected.” (Quran 23:14-16)
“Initiator of the heavens and the earth. He created for you from among yourselves spouses – and also for the animals. He thus provides you with the means to multiply. There is nothing that equals Him. He is the Hearer, the Seer” (Quran 42:11)
The average length of time from conception to birth is 280 days, with a normal range of 259 days to 287 days. Infants born prior to the 259 days are classified as premature, and those born after 287 days are post-mature.
“We enjoined the human being to honor his parents. His mother bore him, and the load got heavier and heavier. It takes two years (of intensive care) until weaning. You shall be appreciative of Me, and of your parents. To Me is the ultimate destiny. If they try to force you to set up any idols beside Me, do not obey them. But continue to treat them amicably in this world. You shall follow only the path of those who have submitted to Me. Ultimately, you all return to Me, then I will inform you of everything you have done.” (Quran 31:14-15)
The Quran educates us to reflect on the creations of God so that we can reinforce our appreciation of the Merciful Lord.
“In the creation of the heavens and the earth, the alteration of night and day, the ships that roam the ocean for the benefit of the people, the water that God sends down from the sky to revive dead land and to spread in it all kinds of creatures, the manipulation of winds and the clouds that placed between the sky and the earth, there are sufficient proofs for people who understand.” (Quran 2:164)
“O people, here is a parable that you must ponder carefully: the idols you set up beside God can never create a fly, even if they banded together to do so. Furthermore, if the fly steals anything from them, they cannot recover it; weak is the pursuer and the pursued.” (Quran 22:73)
Sadly, majority of human beings are unappreciative of Merciful God! (Quran 2:243, 7:17, 10:60, 12:38, 27:73, 40:61
“He created you from one person (Adam). Subsequently, He gives every man a mate to find tranquility with her. She then carries a light load that she can hardly notice. As the load gets heavier, they implore God their Lord: “If You give us a good baby, we will be appreciative.” But when He gives them a good baby, they turn His gift into an idol that rivals Him. God be exalted, far above any partnership.” (Quran 7:189-190)
These are some of the many reminders of the Quran:
“O you who believe, do not be distracted by your money and your children from remembering God. Those who do this are the losers. You shall give from your provisions to you before death comes to you, then you say, “My Lord if only You could delay this for a short while! I would then be charitable and join the righteous!” God never delays the appointed time of death for any soul. God is fully Cognizant of everything you do.” (Quran 63:9-11)
[31:33] O people, you shall reverence your Lord, and fear a day when a father cannot help his own child, nor can a child help his father. Certainly, God’s promise is truth. Therefore, do not be distracted by this life; do not be distracted from GOD by mere illusions.
“We enjoined the human being to honor his parents. His mother bore him arduously, gave birth to him arduously, and took intimate care of him for thirty months. When he reaches maturity and reaches the age of forty, he should say, “My Lord, direct me to appreciate the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do the righteous works that please You. Let my children be righteous as well. I have repented to You; I am a submitter.” (Quran 46:15)
“GOD is the One who created you weak, then granted you after the weakness strength, then substituted after the strength weakness and gray hair. He creates whatever He wills. He is the Omniscient, the Omnipotent.” (Quran 30:54)
The majority of people will fail to take the final opportunity to worship God Alone and to redeem their sin. The majority of people will fail to uphold the covenant that was made with God before coming to this world!
“Most people, no matter what you do, will not believe. You are not asking them for any money; you simply deliver this reminder to all the people. So many proofs in the heavens and the earth are given to him, but they pass by them, heedlessly! The majority of those who believe in God do not do so without committing idol worship.” (Quran 12:103-106)
M. Irtaza
When An Order Admits Two Interpretations
Abdullah Ibn Umar reports: “When we returned home after the siege by the confederate tribes was ended, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered us: ‘No one should offer the Asr prayer except at the Qurayzah quarters. Some of us were still on the way when Asr was due. Some said that they would not pray until they arrived at Qurayzah, while others said that they would pray on the way because the Prophet did not wish anyone to delay prayers until its time was over. The Prophet was told of this, and he did not reproach either group.” (Related by Al-Bukhari)
The siege referred to in this hadith was when the combined forces of major Arabian tribes, together with their Jewish allies, besieged Madinah, with the declared aim of exterminating Islam and all Muslims. The Prophet and his companions dug a moat along the area where these forces could enter Madinah, which was wide and deep enough to prevent any breach of their lines.
The Muslims were able to hold on indefinitely because their enemy could not force entry, no matter how much they tried. Only after the Jewish tribe of Qurayzah, bound by a treaty of friendship and alliance with the Muslims, decided to switch sides and attack the Muslims from behind, the Muslims were in real danger. Still, the Muslims were determined to continue with their resistance. Ultimately, the Muslims were able to create doubts among the various parties of their enemies, which led to the withdrawal of the Arabian tribes, humiliated and defeated without even putting up a fight. The Muslims were then able to go to their homes to rest.
However, on orders from God, the Prophet sent out callers requiring all Muslims to move against the traitors of Qurayzah. The order was in the terms set out in the quoted hadith: ‘No one should offer the Asr prayer except at the Qurayzah quarters.’ The Prophet’s companions immediately complied with the Prophet’s order, as they always did. They set out in small groups, heading to Qurayzah’s forts where they would join the Prophet.
As they marched on, quite a long distance that took more than a couple of hours, it was time for Asr’s prayer. They feared that by the time they would reach their destination they would have missed their prayer, as the sun would have set. Some of them argued that the Prophet did not wish them to miss their prayer; rather, he only indicated the urgency of setting out. Therefore, they stopped to pray on the way, before they resumed their march. Others took the order quite literally. They argued that the occasion was special and, therefore, the Prophet wanted them to get to the Qurayzah quarter so that they would pray there. Hence, they did not stop. Although they arrived after sunset, which meant that the time range for Asr had passed, they prayed it on arrival.
The reporter of the hadith makes clear that the Prophet did not take issue with either group. He accepted both as correct. This is an indication that some situations admit more than one acceptable alternative. If one exercises one’s discretion to arrive at the right choice, God will accept that and reward him for it, even if he is wrong. The Prophet says that a scholar who exercises scholarly discretion to arrive at a ruling will be given a double reward if he is right and a single reward if he is wrong.
– by Adil Salahi
What It Means To Respect The Prophet
You who believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), and fear Allah. Verily! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Qur’an, 49:1)
SURAH Hujurat opens with Allah’s command to the Believers not to interrupt the Prophet’s conversations or obstinately contradict him (peace be upon him). Instead, they are advised to fear Allah by being patient and to obey the Prophet (peace be upon him) by following him in all their affairs.
Respect for the Prophet (peace be upon him) and what he had to say is portrayed as an expression of the fear of Allah because the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not speak of his own accord. He was guided by Allah; therefore, his statements and actions should be looked at as divine guidance from Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the means by which Allah chose to convey His last message to mankind. This vital point was emphasized and immortalized by Allah in the following verse:
“And, he (the Prophet) does not speak from his desires; verily, what he says is revelation from (God).” (Qur’an, 53:3)
We are required to revere the Qur’an and quietly listen to its message based on Allah’s statement, “When the Qur’an is being recited, listen to it attentively and be quiet.” (Qur’an, 7:204) We are also required to revere the Prophet (peace be upon him) and listen attentively to his pronouncements. Ibn Abbas, the greatest Qur’anic commentator among the Sahabah, added another dimension to the meaning of this verse and similar verses by interpreting it to mean that the Believers should not say anything which goes against the Qur’an and Sunnah. (Quoted by lbn Katheer in his Tafsir, vol. 4, p. 315)
Figuratively speaking, one is in Allah’s presence when he or she reads the Qur’an, and likewise when the Ahadith which describes the Prophet’s Sunnah is studied, one also enters into the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Hence, “Allah and His Prophet’s presence” can be said to refer today to the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Forwardness and haste in Allah’s and His Prophet’s presence could then be interpreted to mean the making of snap judgments based on superficial reading or making unauthorized and unfounded interpretations of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Giving one’s personal opinions or cultural habits precedence over the divine commands of the Qur’an and Sunnah also represents another aspect of forwardness in Allah’s and His Prophet’s presence. Great care has to be taken when explaining the principles of Islam in order that no statements contrary to those of Allah and His Messenger are inadvertently made which may consequently lead people astray.
If at any time ideas in opposition to the Qur’an and the Sunnah are held and clear proofs of their inaccuracy are later presented, a true Believer is required to immediately give up his or her mistaken concepts and submit to the authentic commands of Allah and His Messenger. If one does otherwise, claiming his ideas and practices were that of his forefathers, he would be, in fact, no better than the pagans of Makkah who replied to the Prophet’s call to One God by saying, “Verily, we found our forefathers on this path and we Intend to follow their steps.” (Qur’an, 13:22)
He would also be guilty of the crime of “believing in a part of the Book and disbelieving in a part” (Qur’an, 2:85); a crime for which Allah cursed the Jews. Instead, one should, “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger” (Qur’an, 3:32) without the least hesitation otherwise one’s Islam, which itself means submission to Allah and His Apostle, would be in question.
Allah then closes the verse with a reminder to fear Him at all times, for it is only the consciousness of Allah, longing for His pleasure and a fear of His displeasure, which can create a real and lasting improvement of human habits. The verse is then sealed with two of Allah’s qualities both of which produce a state of real God consciousness in all who comprehend their implications.
Allah is the Hearer of all statements, plans, or plots and He is the Knower of the secret intentions behind all deeds. His knowledge knows no bounds of time and space. Hence, any disrespect shown to Allah and his Prophet (peace be upon him), His Qur’an, and the Sunnah is known to Allah; and those who dare to commit such acts will be held to account for them.
– Excerpt from the writer’s book ‘Tafseer Soorah Al-Hujuraat’
– Bilal Philips
Love And Hate Only For The Sake Of Allah
The following is Imaam Sufyaan’s (R) letter…(Excellent)
My brother, use the time you have between dawn and sunrise to contemplate the previous day!
Remain steadfast on the good deeds you performed the previous day, and abandon anything you did out of disobedience to Allah! (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala). Do not repeat the same mistakes, for you do not know whether or not you will live for the rest of your day! As long as you are alive, the option of repentance is available to you…! but refraining from sinning is easier for you than trying to perform sincere repentance. Sincere repentance involves regret and a firm resolve never to repeat the same sin again…
Wherever you are, fear Allah… ! If you perpetrated a sin in secret… then repent to Allah in secret. And if you perpetrated a sin out in the open, then repent to Allah out in the open. Do not let one sin lead to another(so that they pile up onto one another). Cry frequently and as much as you are able to, and do not laugh (frequently), for you were not created without purpose.
Join ties with and be kind to your family, your relatives, your neighbors, and your brothers. When you intend to show mercy, show mercy to the poor, orphans, and to the weak… If you intend to give charity… or to perform a good deed, then do it right away…! before the shaytan (devil) positions himself between you and the execution of what you intended to do.
Act always with a good intention…! Eat with a good intention and Drink with a good intention. Do not be miserly, for miserliness corrupts a person’s religion. Do not promise someone something and refrain from fulfilling your promise, for, in that case, the love you will have gained through your promise will be replaced by hate. Do not feel rancor in your heart towards your Muslim brother… ! for Allah does not accept repentance from a person if there is rancor and malice between him and his Muslim brother. Do not be angry, for anger is like a shaver… just as a shaver shaves off hair, anger shaves off good deeds (unless one becomes angry for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala).
Make it a practice to extend greetings of peace to every Muslim, for if you do so, hatred, deception, and rancor will all be purged from your heart. Shake hands with your Muslim brothers and you will, as a result, become loved by the people…!
Remain in a constant state of purity (by performing ablution whenever you pass wind or empty your bowels) and, as a result, you will be loved by the Al-Hafazah (the angels who record your deeds).
Love only for the sake of Allah, and Hate only for the sake of Allah: If you do not possess these two qualities, it means that you have on you the mark of a hypocrite {!}
Abridged from:-The Biography of Sufyaan ath-Thauree (Rahimahullaah), p#175-176
What Is Allah’s Right On Mankind?
On the authority of Mu’aadh bin Jabal, a companion of the Prophet Muhammed who said: “I was riding with the Prophet, sitting behind him, when he said to me, “O Mu’aadh! Do you know what is Allah’s right over His slaves, and what is the slave’s right over Allah?”. I said, “Allah and His Messenger know Best”. He said, “The Right of Allah over the slaves is that they should worship Him alone [1] and not associate anything with Him [2], while the right of the slaves over Allah is that He will not punish (on the Day of Judgment) whoever does not associate with Him.” [Collected by al-Bukhari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, Ahmed & Ibn Majah]
The Creation Of Mankind
Glorified be Allah, who created man (Adam) and caused one of the noble souls (Ruh) to enter him [Soorah al-Hijr (15):29] and made mankind into nations and tribes, that they may know one another. Verily the most honorable of them in the Sight Allah is the believer who has at-Taqwa (i.e. the Qualities of piety, righteousness, and the fear of Allah; that keeps him away from all kinds of sin and evil deeds) [Soorah al-Hujarat (49):13].
The Recognition Of Allah
The question would arise: … How can all the people around the world be expected to believe in the One True God, given their varying backgrounds, societies, and cultures?
For people to be held responsible for worshipping the One True God, they all need to have access to knowledge of Him.
The Qur’an teaches us that all human beings have the recognition of Allah imprinted on their souls as part of their very nature with which they are created. This natural in-born inclination to worship Allah alone is called in Arabic as the `Fitrah’. If the child was justified alone, it would grow up aware of Allah in His Unity, but all children are affected by the pressure of their environment, whether directly or indirectly The Prophet Muhammed reported that Allah
said: “I created man in the right religion, but the devils (Shaitaan ) made him go astray.” [Reported in Sahih Muslim, vol.4, p.1488, no.6853]
The Prophet also said: “Every child is born in the state of Fitrah (i.e. a Muslim), then his parents make him a Jew, Christian or a Zoroastrian.” [Reported in Sahih al-Bukhari, vol.8, no.597 and Muslim, vol.4, no.6423]
The religion the child follows is one of custom and upbringing and Allah does not hold it to account or punish it for this religion. But when the child matures in youth and clear proofs of the falsehood of man-made religions are brought to it, the adult must now follow the religion of knowledge and reason. The Shaytaan (devils) try to make
evil pleasing to him and encourage him to stray away from the straight path. The person must now live in the midst of a struggle between his Fitrah and his lower desires in order to find the right path. If he chooses his Fitrah, Allah will help him overcome his desires even though he may have to go through a lot of trials and struggles, as Allah says: “Surely We (Allah) will test you with fear, hunger, loss of wealth, and life and fruits of your work, so give glad tidings to those who are patient.” [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 155]
Because of all the powerful forces fighting against the Fitrah, Allah chose certain righteous men and revealed to them clearly the right path. These men whom we call Prophets were sent to help our fitrah defeat its enemies, and Allah says: “Verily We (Allah) have sent every nation a messenger saying `Worship Allah alone and avoid the Taghoot (false gods)” [Soorah al-Nahl (16): 36]
All the truth and good practices today came from the teachings of the past Prophets.
Born Muslims
Those who are fortunate enough to have been born in Muslim families must be aware that all such `Muslims’ are not automatically guaranteed paradise, because the Prophet warned that a large portion of Muslims will stray away from the teachings of Islam; and the Sunnah would be replaced by innovations (Bidah), as mentioned in the following Hadeeths:-
Hadeeth 1: “I have been given the Qur’an and it’s equal (the Sunnah) with it.” [Reported by Abu-Dawood (Eng. translation), vol.3, no.4587, at-Tirmidhi, al-Haakim & Ahmed]
Let me not find any of you, while resting on his couch, that order of mine is mentioned in front of him, either a command of mine or a prohibition, he says: `I do not know! Whatever we find in the Book of Allah (the Qur’an) we follow (otherwise we do not)”. [Reported by Abu Dawood (Eng. translation),vol.3, no.4588, at- Tirmidhi, ibn Majah, Ahmed]
Hadeeth 2: “You will follow the practices of your predecessors, inch by inch and yard by yard; so that if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would also follow them.” When the Prophet was asked if he meant the Jews and Christians, he replied “If not them, who else?” [Reported in Sahih al-Bukhari, vol.9, no.422 & Sahih Muslim, vol.4, no.6448]
Hadeeth 3: “The Last Hour will not come until some groups of my nation attach themselves to the polytheists and some of my people worship idols.” [Reported by Abu Dawood (Eng. translation), vol 3, no.4239; Ibn Majah and at-Tirmidhi]
Hadeeth 4: “The Last Hour will not come until women from the daws tribe wiggle their buttocks (as they ircumambulate) around the temple of the idol al-Khalasha.” [Reported by al-Bukhari, vol.9, no.232 & Muslim, vol.4, no.6944]
Hadeeth 5: “There will be among my followers those who will make allowable (Halal) fornication and adultery, the wearing of Silk (for men), taking intoxicants and musical instruments (Ma’aazif)….Allah will destroy them during the night and let the mountain fall on them.” [Collected in al-Bukhari, vol.7, no.494 (b)]
All those mentioned in the Hadeeths above will have Muslim names and will consider themselves Muslims, but it will be of no benefit to them on the Day of Judgment. This is because ……….
They ignored the teachings of the Last Messenger Muhammed (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) and altered the Religion according to their convenience. Have you not seen the one who takes his desires as his god? [Soorah al-Furqan (25): 43]
“O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and render not vain your deeds.” [Soorah Muhammed (47): 33]
“Say (O Muhammed to mankind): if you (really love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive your sins.” [Soorah al-Imran (3): 31]
They seek help in other than Allah “Most of them claim to believe in Allah but they really commit Shirk.” [Soorah Yusuf (12): 106]
and: “And your Lord says: `Call on Me, I will answer your prayers.” [Soorah Ghafir (40): 60]
“When my slaves ask you (O Muhammed) about me tell them `Verily I am close, I listen to the prayer of everyone who calls on me.” [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 186]
“And invoke not besides Allah, any that neither can profit you nor harm you, but if you do so you shall certainly be one of the disbelievers.” [Soorah Hud (11): 106]
“Those on whom you call besides Allah are only slaves (mortals) like yourselves.” [Soorah al-A’raaf (7): 194]
Some Muslims have turned the Qur’an into a good luck charm which they hang on chains around their necks, in their cars, or have placed them in beautifully decorated cases to be kept in the house along with the other pieces of furniture; while our Prophet Muhammed said that the purpose of the Qur’an is to …… “Read the Qur’an and Apply it.” [Musnad Ahmed ibn Hambal]
“Verily this Qur’an guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the Believers, who do deeds of righteousness, and they shall have a great reward.” [Soorah al-Israa’ (17): 9]
But alas, some so-called Muslims will even refuse guidance from the Qur’an: “And the Messenger (Muhammed) will say `O my Lord! Verily my people deserted this Qur’an (by neither listening to it nor acting according to its Laws).” Soorah al-Furqan (25): 30]
Remember You Pledge To Allah
Let us give a thought as to whether we are simply Muslims by chance or Muslims by choice. Is Islam what our parents, tribe or country did (or does), or is it what the Qur’an teaches and what the Prophet Muhammed and his Companions (May Allah be pleased with them all) did.
In the seventh chapter of the Qur’an-Soorah al-Araaf, Allah explains that when He created Adam, He caused all of Adam’s descendants to come into existence and He took a pledge from them…….. `Am I not your Lord?, to which they all replied `Yes, we testify to it.” [Soorah al-A’raaf (7): 172]
Allah then explained why He had all of mankind bear witness that He is the Creator and the Only True God, worthy of worship; “That was in case you (mankind) should say on the Day of Resurrection, we were unaware of all this.” [Soorah al-A’raaf (7): 172]
“It was also in case you should say, `Certainly it was our ancestors who made partners (with Allah) and we are only their descendants; will you then destroy us for what those liars did.” [Soorah al- A’raaf (7): 173]
Therefore the pledge with Allah can only be fulfilled by a Muslim by choice and by the practical application of the principles of Islam in our lives.
“Say truly, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” [Soorah al-An’aam (6): 162]
Conclusion
May Allah, the Merciful keep us on the right path to which He has guided us and bestows on us His blessings and mercy, for indeed whoever Allah guides……no one can misguide. “None has the right to be worshipped but you, O Allah. Truly I have been on the wrong-doers.” [Soorah al-Anbiyaa (21): 87]
May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be on the Prophet Muhammed, his Family, his Companions, and on all those who follow the path of guidance until the Last Day
Foot Notes
[1] i.e. to establish Tawheed…” the belief that Allah is One, without partner or associate in His Dominion and Actions; without similitude in His Essence and Attributes (Asmaa’ was-Sifaat) and without rival in His divinity and in worship.” -There is none equal or comparable unto Him. [Soorah al-Ikhlas:4]
[2] meaning in Arabic `Shirk’……” directing any form of worship to anyone or anything besides Allah believing that others besides Allah have the power to harm or benefit.
What The Qur’an Teaches: Moses’ Secret Exposed
In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
The next morning, he was in the city, fearful, and vigilant, when he saw the man who sought his help the day before again crying out to him for help. Moses said to him: ‘Indeed, you are clearly a quarrelsome fellow.’ But then, when he was about to strike the one who was their enemy, the latter exclaimed: ‘Moses! Do you want to kill me as you killed another man yesterday? You want only to become a tyrant in the land, and you do not want to be one who sets things right.’ (The Story, Al-Qasas: 28: 18-19)
Moses’ story as told in this surah begins with his early days in Egypt, the beginning of his birth then his adulthood. He supported a man from his own people against an Egyptian, and he killed the latter with a punch. Like anyone in such a position, he would fear the consequences of his deed: “Next morning, he was in the city, fearful, vigilant, when he saw the man who sought his help the day before again crying out to him for help. Moses said to him: ‘Indeed, you are clearly a quarrelsome fellow.’ (Verse 18)
It was only a day after the first fight ended with the death of the Egyptian, followed by God’s acceptance of Moses’ repentance and answering his prayers, and his pledge never to support wrongdoing. But he was in fear lest his offense is discovered. We see him on his guard, expecting a reaction at every moment. This is again a reflection of his spontaneous character. We are given an impression that as he walked ‘in the city,’ which is normally a place of security, he experienced real fear.
That Moses should feel such fear suggests that at this stage he did not have any association with the Pharaoh’s palace. Under tyranny, it is a trifling matter that anyone close to the palace should kill a person. He would have not entertained any fear, let alone that he should walk in the city expecting harm, watching every step. Yet as he walked vigilantly, he looked up, and there “he saw the man who sought his help the day before again crying out to him for help.” (Verse 18) It is the same man who sought his help the day before fighting another Egyptian man and again appealing to Moses for more support. Probably he wanted him to do to this one what he did to the other.
But the image of the man falling dead only the day before was still vivid in Moses’ mind, as was his regret, repentance, and his pledge to God. His fear that he may come to harm as a result was also genuinely felt by Moses, which explains his outburst accusing the Israelite of being unfair and quarrelsome: “Moses said to him: ‘Indeed, you are clearly a quarrelsome fellow.” (Verse 18) The man appeared to be involved in endless quarrels which inevitably enhanced angry feelings against the children of Israel at a time when they could not protect themselves or mount a full-scale revolution. Nothing good could be expected from engaging in such fights.
Yet Moses was subsequently full of anger against the Egyptian and he moved to strike him as he did with the other one. This again gives us a glimpse of his passionate and spontaneous personality, but it also shows how strongly he was affected by the injustice suffered by the Israelites and how keen he was to do whatever he could to repel the aggression under which they had been suffering for long.
“But then, when he was about to strike the one who was their enemy, the latter exclaimed: ‘Moses! Do you want to kill me as you killed another man yesterday? You want only to become a tyrant in the land, and you do not want to be one who sets things right.’”
When injustice is widespread and values are undermined, good people will be greatly distressed to see wrongdoing practically shaping society’s laws and traditions, and corrupting people’s nature so as to make them accept injustice without a thought of taking action to repel it. Indeed people’s nature may suffer such degeneration that they may reproach the victim for resisting injustice. They may even describe as ‘tyrant in the land’ a person who tries to prevent injustice from being done to him or to others, as this second Egyptian called Moses. The fact is that the situation where tyranny smites at will, with no one to resist it, has become so familiar that people tend to accept it as the norm that reflects good manners, propriety, and sound social structure. Should anyone rise to destroy such a foul structure, their outcry would be loud, calling such rebel a killer or a tyrant. He would be the recipient of much of their blame, while the wrongdoer will get away with little criticism if any. The victim will be denied any justification, even though they may know that he could not tolerate injustice any longer.
Moses has been so upset with the injustice suffered for so long by the Israelites. Thus we see him first taking spontaneous action and then regret it, then again we see him moved to almost repeating the action he regretted, stepping to strike the one who was hostile to his community.
Therefore, God did not abandon him. On the contrary, He took care of him and responded to his prayer. God knows human nature and that people have a limit for their tolerance. Therefore, when injustice becomes acute and the way to restore justice is blocked, a victim may well go on the attack, risking all. Hence we do not see Moses’ action painted in stark colors. It is only human communities where human nature has been distorted under prolonged injustice that exaggerate such action which remains, despite going beyond the normal limits, the natural release of long-suffering.
This is what we understand from the way the Qur’an describes the two events and what comes after them. It neither provides justification for Moses’ action nor does it paint its significance in an exaggerated style. Perhaps its description by Moses as wronging oneself is due to the fact that his action was motivated by ethnic affiliation when he is God’s choice to be His messenger. Or it may be that his action precipitated a fight with some individuals who served tyranny, which is of little avail in achieving the ultimate goal of freedom, while God wanted complete freedom for the oppressed community in the way He had chosen. This is akin to the situation in Makkah when God restrained the Muslims from fighting until the appropriate time had come.
– By Adil Salahi
Women In Islamic Society: Participation In The Pursuit Of Knowledge
There are many Hadiths that show that the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his lady companions eagerly sought knowledge, showing the same determination Muslim men showed. These Hadiths span the entire period from the very early days of the Islamic message up to the end of the Prophet’s blessed life.
Muslim women continued to pursue knowledge afterward until their position in society started to decline due to different factors. We will quote here several of these Hadiths and comment on one or two of them in order to give a full picture. The first Hadith is a long one, reported by lady Ayesha, explaining the Prophet’s reaction when he received his first revelation, meeting the angel Gabriel for the first time, and the reassurance he needed. The report is very long, but we will quote only the part showing how Lady Khadeejah, the Prophet’s first wife, sought to provide him with such reassurance:
“Then Khadeejah took him to Waraqah ibn Nawfal, her paternal cousin who was a Christian convert and a scholar with good knowledge of Arabic, Hebrew, and the Bible. He had lost his eyesight, as he had grown very old. Khadeejah said to Waraqah: ‘Cousin, would you like to hear what your nephew has to say?’ (Waraqah was not, in fact, the Prophet’s uncle. Khadeejah’s reference to Muhammad as his nephew was in accordance with the standards of politeness prevailing in Arabia at the time.) Waraqah said: ‘Well, nephew, what have you seen?’ The Prophet related to him what he saw. When he had finished, Waraqah said: ‘It is the same revelation as was sent down to Moses. I wish I was a young man so that I might be alive when your people turn you away from this city.’ The Prophet exclaimed: ‘Would they turn me away?” Waraqah answered: ‘Yes! No man has ever preached a message like yours and was not met with enmity. If I live till that day, I will certainly give you all my support.'” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Ibn Jurayj was one of the early scholars of Hadith, belonging to the second generation after that of the Prophet’s companions. He reports a Hadith he learned from Ata’ on the authority of Jabir ibn Abdullah, a companion of the Prophet. As reported by Ibn Jurayj, the Hadith includes clarifications he sought from Ata’ and the latter’s answers. The Hadith mentions that on one Eid occasion when the Prophet finished his sermon, he realized that women might have not heard his speech after the prayer. “… Therefore, the Prophet went to the women present and spoke to them, reminding them of their Islamic duties, as he leaned on Bilal’s arm. Bilal held up his robe so that women could put in it whatever they wanted to give as sadaqah or charity. I said to Ata’: ‘Was this Zakah Al-Fitr?’ He said: ‘No. It was just a charity they might wish to donate to on that occasion. Women gave away their special rings.’ I said: ‘Do you think that it is a duty of the ruler to thus remind women?’ He said: ‘It is certainly a duty required of Muslim rulers. Why are they not doing it nowadays?'” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Ibn Hajar, a scholar who wrote the best-known commentary on Al-Bukhari’s anthology of authentic Hadiths, refers to the fact that Al-Bukhari enters this Hadith under the heading, “A ruler’s admonition of women on Eid day.” He adds: “Thus Al-Bukhari is drawing attention to the fact that what has been mentioned about providing one’s family with education is not limited to the home and family. It is indeed recommended for the ruler or whoever deputizes for him to do so…” Iyadh (an early scholar) claims that the Prophet’s admonition of women was during his speech, and that it was in the early days of Islam, and that it was a privilege given to the Prophet only. However, Al-Nawawi (a famous scholar of Hadith and fiqh) refutes Iyadh’s claims, citing this report which clearly states “when he finished, the Prophet went to the women…” He further adds that special privileges cannot be claimed merely on the basis of probability. There must be a clear indication that something is specially granted to the Prophet and to no one else.
As for Iyadh’s claim that this was in the early days of Islam, we say that Ibn Abbas was present on this particular occasion. Ibn Abbas only emigrated to Madinah after Makkah had fallen to Islam in the eighth year of the Prophet’s arrival there, i.e. two years before he passed away. Thus, it cannot be in the early days. It was toward the end of Islamic revelations.
Another example of women seeking to learn the rulings of Islam on whatever question may pertain to their situations is provided by Zaynab, Abdullah ibn Masoud’s wife. He was poor while she was rich. She supported her husband as well as some orphans who were related to her. “I said to Abdullah: ‘Ask the Prophet if my support of you and the orphans I am bringing up pays off my zakah duty.’ He said to me: ‘You ask God’s messenger.’ I went to the Prophet and found at his door a woman from the Ansar coming to ask the same question. Bilal passed by us, and we requested him to ask the Prophet on our behalf if my zakah is deemed to be paid by my support of my husband and orphans. We also said to him not to mention us by name. Bilal went in and asked the Prophet our question. The Prophet asked him: ‘Who are they?’ He said: ‘Zaynab.’ The Prophet asked: ‘Which Zaynab?’ He said: ‘Abdullah’s wife.’ He said: ‘Yes, it is enough. She earns double reward: one for being kind to relatives and one for paying her zakah.'” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Needless to say, it was through such questions about actual life situations that we have learned much of what Islam requires, approves, or prohibits. When people went to the Prophet with their questions, he provided them with guidance that applies to all those who are in similar circumstances. Women went to the Prophet with all sorts of questions, even those that are most private. Ayesha reports: “Fatimah bint Abi Hubaysh came to the Prophet and said: ‘Messenger of God! I bleed continuously and my discharge does not cease. Should I stop praying?’ The Prophet said: ‘No. This bleeding is due to a particular vein; it is not menses. When your period starts, stop praying until it is over. When it is over, take a bath and pray. Then you need to have a fresh ablution for every prayer.'” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Reflect, In The Name Of Islam
Whenever we see our reflection in a mirror what do we see? According to Allah, we should see a reflection of the Prophet (peace be upon him). But do we? The Qur’an says: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah, you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much” (Al-Ahzab, 33:21).
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is supposed to be our role model, our mirror image – that which we are striving to be and the human criteria for us to judge ourselves by. In reality, however, how many of us actually see this beautiful person when we gaze into our mirrors?
Let’s face it. The problem in the Muslim world today is the Muslims. Right now, the “enemies of Islam” are the people we see in the mirror. When we look in the mirror, we don’t see the Prophet (peace be upon him) – rather, what we see are the enemies of Islam.
Let’s go back to basics for a second because that’s really where the problem lies. How many Muslims in the world pray five times a day? And of those who do, how many pray in the congregation? What about Fajr prayers and `Isha?
Of those, how many pray with sincerity and concentration – in full awe of Allah’s greatness? How many perform ablution correctly? When you consider all of these together, the figure is probably less than one percent of all Muslims, and this is only one aspect of the basics of Islam.
Yet, despite this depressing reality about our Ummah, certain members of our community are quick to call for jihad, label non-Muslims as the “enemies of Islam,” or call other Muslims who may not follow their school of thought “kafir” (unbeliever). But what are we doing? Each and every one of us? And what about our families? And then, what about our communities?
As Ummah, we have strayed so far; yet, we still expect Allah to help us (which He often does in His infinite mercy despite the fact that we are not living up to our end of the contract). And we wonder why Allah allows our enemies victory over us.
When will we realize that Islam is not a religion of convenience? When will we stop acting like the Christians who believe that just because they are Christian, they are saved and forgiven and that Allah will help them just because they call themselves Christian? Islam is not a privilege – it is a responsibility.
When will we truly heed Allah’s word in the Qur’an when He says that He will not help a people until they help themselves? Why did the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Companions and scholars of Islam literally spend their entire lives and sacrificed so much to preach and demonstrate to us the correct way to live, and to provide us with all the knowledge and guidance we could ever need? So that we can disregard it – yet still claim to be the greatest Ummah ever and still expect Allah’s mercy and help?
In the Battle of Uhud during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), it was apparent that the Muslims – despite being outnumbered by the Quraysh – was going to enjoy an easy victory. However, at the point of triumph, the unit of archers that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had entrusted with the task of rear-guarding the Muslim army fled their positions, as they wanted to take part in collecting the war booty that they saw their brethren starting to collect. They felt that the battle was over, despite strict orders from the Prophet not to leave their posts until he gave the word – “even if you see us being killed, left right and center.”
Despite their disobedience at Uhud, these men were of the highest caliber, bravery, and iman, being Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him). If Allah granted them defeat because of one act of disobedience, how is it that we can expect success in our endeavors despite our failure to obey Allah in even the most basic aspects of Islam?
The answer to our problems is simple – forget all the complications. The answer was given to us 1,400 years ago, and it is still the same as it has always been. Practice Islam. Just two words – practice Islam.
Don’t follow our desires, our lusts, greed, or emotions just practice Islam. This doesn’t require a new movement, a new sect, a new organization, a lot of arguments over minutiae, or fancy jargon. It just requires humility and effort. Our individual and collective will is in line with Allah’s Will. That’s it.
Start praying – five times a day, each time as if it is our last prayer. Start paying zakat and acting charitably, just like the Prophet (peace be upon him). Start fasting, with the consciousness of Allah. Start raising and teaching our children to be good Muslims, and to fear and love Allah more than anything else – regardless of what society might say.
Start reading and striving to understand the Qur’an. Start seeking knowledge. Start being kind and respectful to our wives, and following Prophet’s (peace be upon him) guidance as to how to treat one another. Start treating non-Muslims not as enemies, but as potential Muslims.
Start putting our egos aside and listening, asking questions, reading, and taking an interest in our education, and, ultimately, our fate. Start treating our neighbors in the way of the Prophet (peace be upon him), with kindness and respect. Start correcting our brothers and sisters when they are wrong in the best way, a way that will create change and not sew hatred. All in all, start practicing Islam.
Now, if all of us, or at least a good percentage of us, began to take these steps toward Allah – looking inwardly at ourselves and outwardly at those for whom we are responsible – what can we expect that Allah’s response would be? Just as the Hadith says, if we walk toward Allah, He will come running toward us. Many of us have experienced this individually, but what would happen if Muslims acted in such a way on a collective basis? One can only imagine, given an Ummah of over one billion followers. Details aside, we can be sure that some amazing things would happen – within ourselves, our communities, and throughout the entire world.
All of the horrible, un-Islamic, inhumane things happening in the world today are caused by illnesses of the heart. Although many of these things are not caused by Muslims, many unfortunately are. Regardless of who is to blame, the illnesses remain the same. Hearts are diseased, and disease likes company so people suffering from the same illnesses often act together in their attempts to bring down as many others as they can with them. The only solution, the only remedy is practicing Islam – not simply “being Muslim”.
“The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail. Except him who brings to Allah a clean heart (clean from shirk, polytheism and nafaq).” (Ash-Shu’ara’, 26:88-89).
As Muslims, we need to stop talking about what is due to us and start thinking about what is due to us, and what and who we are responsible for.
We are responsible to Allah, first, for ourselves, and second, for the world. Thus, we cannot help the world figure out its mess until we clean up our own house, starting with each and every individual Muslim. We must begin the work of returning to Islam through practice. This is the only hope for us and, in effect, for the rest of Creation.