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This Impact On Our Lives

Islam consists of five basic pillars which is obligatory for every Muslim to follow. The Prophet said: Islam is based on five things declaring there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of Salah, the payment of Zakah, the Haj and sawm in the month of Ramadan. (Bukhari)

The five pillars as mentioned in the Hadith are; Shahadah (declaration of Faith), Salah (Five compulsory daily prayers, Zakah (welfare contribution), Haj (pilgrimage to Makkah), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan).

A Muslim declares his faith by reciting La ilaha il-Allah Muhammad Ar-RasulAllah.

These Arabic words mean, There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. This is the Shahadah, after pronouncing it the person enters the fold of Islam and submits himself to the other beliefs and practices of Islam.

After pronouncing this Kalima Tayebba we submit ourselves to the Almighty Lord without question which brings us so much peace and tranquility, because we feel that we are dependent on a higher entity who cares and looks after our affairs. A big load is lifted off our shoulders when we know that we have a higher entity to depend upon. In times of trouble, we invoke upon Him and we feel less anxious than ordinary humans who have no one to depend upon. We feel peace and tranquility that is not found in ordinary humans and we leave our affairs on Allah since He is the best source of help. In times of joy, we thank Him for the bounties He has showered upon us for which He increases. When we know the truth, we start feeling an unseen presence always with us, ready to guide, comfort, and help us. We know that we belong to Allah and He is our Master. And we should obey and please Him and must practice the other four pillars of Islam, Salah, Zakah, Sawm, and Haj.

Salah is the second pillar of Islam. It refers to the five compulsory daily prayers. Salah is offered five times a day individually or in the congregation. It helps to organize and discipline our lives. We have to be aware, alert, and ready at the time it is offered and schedule ourselves accordingly which helps us to be organized in our day-to-day living. It makes us more conscious of our time and we tend not to lax our time but complete our work and keep ourselves free at the time of offering salah which disciplines us. We offer salah to remember Allah. It brings us closer to Him. The Quran says, Establish salah to remember Me. Salah is the practical proof of our faith in Allah and Islam. It has fixed timings. Allah says in the Quran Salah at fixed times has been enjoined on the believers. (4:103) Fajr (from dawn until just before sunrise) Zuhr (after mid-day until the afternoon) Asr (from late afternoon until just before sunset) Maghrib (after sunset until daylight ends) Isha (after night until midnight ends or dawn)

Salah protects us from many evils; we learn to keep ourselves pure and clean to be ready for salah because for offering salah we must be clean and pure. The Quran says Surely Allah loves those who turn to Him and those who care for cleanliness. The cleanliness of the body and clothes is called Taharah or purification. It is important to remove all traces of urine or excrement from the clothes worn for salah. We have to fully wash the whole body with pure water or we can have a part wash. The full wash is called ghusl and part wash is wudu.

When we feel tired or lax if we perform wudu we freshen up and feel more alert and energetic.

While performing salah our concentrative and meditative powers increase. Performing salah submits us completely to Allah. We bow down before Him in ruku and sujood and come to know of our place in this vast universe. We feel humbled by submitting to Allah and do not feel arrogant like the shaytan. We feel a spiritual uplift in performing salah which is not found when we are engaged in our worldly affairs. Salah refines us. All the Prophets and their Ummah were commanded by Allah to offer salah. It is the last relic of a lost civilization.

Salatul Juma ah: (Friday Prayer) is offered in the congregation. It is obligatory for all adult male Muslims. It is offered at Zuhar time on Friday. It is not obligatory for women, however, they can join if it does not upset their household duties. Friday prayer is an occasion for the assembly of all Muslims in an area. It gives them an opportunity to meet, discuss, and solve their community problems. It develops unity and co-operation.

Zakah (welfare contribution) is the third pillar of Islam. The Arabic word zakah means to purify or cleanse. Zakah is paid once a year on savings at the rate of two and a half percent. This rate applies to cash, bank savings, and gold and silver jewelry. The rate for cattle and agricultural produce is different. Zakah helps us to protect us from greed and selfishness. Zakah has to be given to the poor, the needy, payment of salaries to its collectors, to free prisoners and debtors, to the wayfarer, and to win hearts for the cause of Allah. Most economists believe that zakah is the only solution to improving the economy of the world and erasing poverty. Zakah when given properly and with good intention multiplies our wealth and property and we seldom experience loss in our wealth and property. The needy kith and kin have their first right over it. The Prophet said, if you want long life and wealth you should be kind to your relatives. Moreover, spending on needy kith and kin improves our health too. We are enjoined by Allah to give charity to help the poor and needy, this voluntary charity is called sadqa. All our fard or obligatory ibadah should be to obvious to the eyes of the world, whereas nawafil or voluntary acts of Ibadah should be best performed hidden from the eyes of the world to get greater benefits from Allah. It is better to give hidden sadqa every day just for Allah to solve many of our problems of this life and the Hereafter.

Sawm: (fasting) is the fourth pillar of Islam. AII adult Muslims fast from dawn to sunset daily in Ramadan. They have to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and conjugal relations during the hours of fasting. Travelers and sick can make up later on.

Sawm develops taqwa, self-control, self-restraint, and helps us to overcome selfishness, greed, laziness and other faults. We feel closer to Allah during Ramadan fasting and praying at night, Taraweeh. We experience hunger and thirst during fasting and we realize the feelings of the poor and hungry people.

During fasting a Muslim has to avoid all kinds of sins like lieing, breaking promises, or doing any other deceitful act. Hunger should also be controlled. Fasting disciplines us and we learn patience and self-control, it improves our health and our obesity is also restrained.

Haj: Haj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is a visit to the Holy Ka aba, the house of Allah.in Makkah, once in a lifetime by those Muslims who can afford it. It is performed from 8th to 13th Dhul Hijjah.

Ka’aba is the (House of Allah), a cube-like one-story building that was built by Adam (peace be upon him) and later rebuilt by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail (peace be upon them both). It is the first house ever built for the sole purpose of worship of Allah. Allah has blessed the Holy Ka’aba.

Muslims who are able and fit come here from all corners of the world. During Haj, Islamic brotherhood can be seen and experienced by the pilgrims. Barriers of language, country, color, and race disappear and the supremacy of faith is evident. Everyone has the same status in the House of Allah i.e. his servant. During Haj we have to perform these important rituals.
1. Putting on Ihram.
2. Going round the Holy Ka aba seven times.
3. A fast walk between As-Safa and Al-Marwah near the Ka’aba.
4. Throwing pebbles at three fixed places at Mina.
5. Shaving or trimming hair.
6. Sacrifice of an animal (sheep, goat, cow, or camel).

At the time of Haj while approaching Makkah, a pilgrim must put on his Ihram before reaching a point called miqat. The Ihram for men consists of two unsewn white cloth, for a woman, lhram is her ordinary dress but she should be well covered except for her face and hands. This reminds man of his place before Allah. He is a humble servant of his Creator, and it reminds him of death when he will wrap in white sheets without his expensive or favorite clothes.

In the state of Ihram the pilgrim has to abstain from using perfume, killing or harming animals even insects, breaking or uprooting plants, hunting, marrying or taking part in a wedding, doing anything dishonest or arrogant, carrying arms, cover the head for males and cover the face for females, wearing shoes, covering ankles, cutting hair, clipping nails, having conjugal relations.

All these restrictions make a pilgrim think of Allah and his eventual abode the Hereafter. Haj teaches us all the lessons of salah, zakah, and sawm. We do all this for Allah and it teaches us self-control and patience.
And from all these five pillars of Islam, we learn that we belong to Allah, and we will return to Him and we must do His as He commands.

Knowledge: Allah’s Greatest Gift

Brothers in Islam! We all as Muslims sincerely believe that Islam is the greatest blessing that Allah has given us in this world. We find our hearts filled with gratitude to Him for including us in the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him, and bestowing upon us this unique blessing. Allah Himself describes Islam as His most invaluable gift to His servants: “Today I have perfected your Din way of life for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have willed that Islam be the Way for you” (al-Ma’idah 5:3).

To be truly grateful for this greatest favor, you must therefore render to Allah His due. If you do not do so, you are undoubtedly an ungrateful person. And what ingratitude can be worse than to forget what you owe to your God.
How can we, you may ask, render these dues?

Since Allah has been gracious enough to include you in the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammed, blessings and peace be on him, the best way of showing gratitude-and there is no other way is to become totally committed followers of the Prophet. And, since He has made you a part of the Muslim Ummah, to become true Muslims. If you do not, the punishment for your ingratitude will be as great as the original gift was. May Allah save us all from this great punishment! Amin.

You will now ask: How can we become Muslims in the true sense of the word? This question I shall answer in considerable detail in my forthcoming addresses; but today I want to look at a point of fundamental importance, without which we cannot hope to discover true faith. This, you must understand, is the first essential step on your road to becoming a true Muslim.

Is Islam a Birthright?
But, first, think for a while: What does the word ‘Muslim’, which we all use so often, really mean? Can a person a Muslim simply because he is the son or grandson of a Muslim? Is a Muslim born a Muslim just as a Hindu Brahman’s son is a Brahman, or an Englishman’s son is born an Englishman, or a white man’s son is born a white man, or a Negro’s son is born a Negro? Are ‘Muslims’ a race, a nationality, or a caste? Do Muslims belong to the Muslim Ummah as Aryans belong to the Aryan race? And, just as a Japanese is a Japanese because he is born in Japan, is a Muslim similarly a Muslim by being born in a Muslim country?

Your answer to these questions will surely be: No. A Muslim does not become truly a Muslim simply because he is born a Muslim. A Muslim is not a Muslim because he belongs to any particular race; he is a Muslim because he follows Islam. If he renounces Islam, he ceases to be a Muslim. Any person, whether a Brahman or a Rajput, an Englishman or a Japanese, a white or a black, will, on accepting Islam, become a full member of the Muslim community; while a person born in a Muslim home may be expelled from the Muslim community if he gives up following Islam, even though he may be a descendant of the prophet, an Arab or Pathan.

Such will surely be your answer to my question. This establishes that the greatest gift of Allah which you enjoy-that of being a Muslim-is not something automatically inherited from your parents, which remains yours for life by right irrespective of your attitudes and behavior. It is a gift that you must continually strive to deserve if you want to retain it; if you are indifferent to it, it may be taken away from you, God forbid.

No Mere Verbal Profession
You agree that we become Muslims only by accepting Islam. But what does acceptance of Islam mean? Does it mean that whoever makes a verbal profession-? I am a Muslim? or ‘I have accepted Islam?-becomes a true Muslim? Or does it mean that, just as a Brahman worshipper may recite a few words of Sanskrit without understanding them, a man who utters some Arabic phrases without knowing their meaning becomes a Muslim? What reply will you give to this question? You cannot but answer that accepting Islam means that Muslims should consciously and deliberately accept what has been taught by the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him, and act accordingly. People who do not so behave are not Muslims in the true sense.

No Islam Without Knowledge
Islam, therefore, consists, firstly, of knowledge and, secondly, of putting that knowledge into practice. A man can be white and have no knowledge; because he is born white he will remain so. Similarly, an Englishman will remain an Englishman though he may have no knowledge because he has been born an Englishman. But no man becomes truly a Muslim without knowing the meaning of Islam, because he becomes a Muslim not through birth but through knowledge. Unless you come to know the basic and necessary teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him, how can you believe in him, have faith in him, and how can you act according to what he taught? And if you do not have faith in him knowingly and consciously, as fully as you can, how can you become true Muslims?

Clearly it is impossible to become a Muslim and remain a Muslim in a state of ignorance. Being born in Muslim homes, bearing Muslim names, dressing like Muslims, and calling yourselves Muslims is not enough to make you Muslims; true Muslims know what Islam stands for and believe in it with full consciousness.

The real difference between a Kafir (who does not accept God’s guidance and is ungrateful to Him) and a Muslim is not that of a name, that one is called Smith or Ram Lal and the other Abdullah. No one is a Kafir or a Muslim simply because of his name. Nor does the real difference lie in the fact that one wears a necktie and the other a turban. The real difference is that of knowledge. A Kafir does not understand God’s relationship to him and his relationship to God. As he does not know the will of God he cannot know the right path to follow in his life. If a Muslim, too, grows up ignorant of God’s will, what ground can there be to continue calling him a Muslim rather than a Kafir?

Dangers of Ignorance
Listen carefully, brothers, to the point I am making. It is essential to understand that to remain in possession of, or to be deprived of, the greatest gift of Allah-for which you are so overwhelmed with gratitude-depends primarily on knowledge. Without knowledge, you cannot truly receive His gift of Islam. If your knowledge is so little that you receive only a small portion of it, then you will constantly run the risk of losing even that part of the magnificent gift which you have received unless you remain vigilant in your fight against ignorance.

A person who is totally unaware of the difference between Islam and Kufr (rejection of God’s guidance and ingratitude) and the incongruity between Islam and Shirk (taking gods besides God) is like someone walking along a track in complete darkness. Most likely his steps will wander aside or on to another path without him being aware of what is happening. Maybe he will be deceived by the sweet words of the Devil, You have lost your way in the darkness Come, let me lead you to your destination. The poor traveler, not being able to see with his own eyes which is the right path, will grasp the Devil’s hand and be led astray. He faces these dangers because he himself does not possess any light and is, therefore, unable to observe the road signs. If he had light, he would neither lose his way nor be led astray.

This example shows that your greatest danger lies in your ignorance of Islamic teachings and in your unawareness of what the Quran teaches and what guidance has been given by the Prophet, blessings, and peace be on him. But if you are blessed with the light of knowledge you will be able to see plainly the clear path of Islam at every step of your lives. You will also be able to identify and avoid the false paths of Kufr, Shirk, and immorality which may cross it. And, whenever a false guide meets you on the way, a few words with him will quickly establish that he is not a guide who should be followed

Humbleness of Umar Bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him)

AS was his custom, Umar Bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), the Leader of the Believers, once went out at night to look after the needs of the people and to make sure that everyone was safe. As he passed by an open area in Madina, he heard the moans of a woman coming out from a small and shabby house, at the door of which was a man seated.

Umar greeted him and asked him how he was. The man said that he was from the desert and had come seeking to reap some generosity from the Leader of the Believers.

Umar asked him about the woman and the moaning noises, and the man, not knowing that he was speaking to the Leader of the Believers, said, “Go away, may Allah have mercy on you, and do not ask about what does not concern you.”

However, Umar persisted in asking the same question, offering to help if he could. And so the man informed him, “Indeed she is my wife, who is about to give birth, yet there is no one here to help her.” Umar left the man, returned to his house in a hurry, entered, and said to his wife, Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with her), “Will you take reward that Allah has brought to you?” She said, “And what is that goodness and reward, O Umar?”

As soon as he informed her, she stood and took all that she needed to help the woman deliver her baby and all that the newborn would need as well. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Believers took a pot and with it some (food) and grains.

He and his wife hurried off together until they reached the shabby house. While Umm Kulthum went in to help the pregnant woman, Umar remained outside with the husband and cooked the food he brought with him.

From inside the house, Umm Kulthum called out, “O Leader of the Believers, give glad tidings to your companion that Allah has provided him with a young boy.”

The man was amazed to hear that it was the Leader of the Believers who were seated with him cooking the food; and the man’s wife inside was shocked to learn that it was the wife of the Caliph who came to meet her and help her in her shabby house.

So You Want The Mercy Of Allah!

I was speaking to a young man recently and during the conversation, I heard him say, “I don’t make dua’ anymore.” I asked him, “Why not?” and he replied, “I made dua’ for some things and I never got them so I just gave up!” I asked him if he was happy in his life, he said, “Not really.” Then I asked him if he felt he needed the mercy of Allah in his life, and at that, he replied very enthusiastically, “Of course I do!”

Now this made me think very deeply about some things in life. Is it right that we (mankind in general) go on expecting things from our Creator while we sit down passively, mostly just observing life and hardly doing anything for anyone else unless it somehow fits in with our scheme of things?

Is it right if you, as an individual, want something from your parents but you’re doing and saying things they do not like, going out without their permission, dressing in an unacceptable way, not pulling your weight around the house, and so on, then you just come right out and ask for money, or new clothes, or whatever, and then grumble when they refuse, and perhaps adding how unfair life is and how very unreasonable they are?

Let’s look at it another way. Imagine you had someone you called your friend but this person spoke badly about you behind your back, took your stuff without permission, and only came hanging around when he wanted something — then one day he comes to you and asks a big favor. Most likely you would tell him to forget it and simply ignore him if he started complaining.

So we all acknowledge that on the human level life is a matter of give-and-take; it’s a matter of rights and responsibilities.

What about your relationship with your Creator? Is it right that we enjoy the bounty of this marvelous creation and, even though everything was created for the benefit of man, we go ahead and make use of things for our own benefit and comfort without thinking of others? Is it right to fail to give others their rights and expect our rights, and often fail to take care of the creation that Allah provided for us?

How often do you use things that you know will pollute the environment — the same environment that Allah created for you? Dropping litter, using chemicals, and generally tapping into the wasteful and excessive way of life in the modern world, without really thinking seriously about your responsibility to yourself, those around you, the world, and your Creator. Then when you get sick because of the polluted and chemical-filled environment, you turn in desperation to the Lord of all asking for help and healing. Then as soon as you are well again, you go back to the old habits of misusing, if not destroying, the environment. How Merciful Allah is! Even though you keep making the same mistakes, even though you misuse yourself, others, and the world around you, He still comes to your aid! He, the Almighty, gives you enough opportunity to change, to see the errors of your ways, and to make a fresh start.

Have you ever noticed how your body heals as does the environment? So where is your place in all this? A person can drink alcohol and abuse his body until he gets liver disease — and then blame fate! Likewise, a person could neglect the rights of his family and even abuse them when he is in the prime of his life and filled with strength, but when he gets old and is left alone and feeling lonely, he curses life and complains how difficult life is! Do you find that you sometimes do things like this?

Have you ever passed by a river that is polluted and said how awful it is that “mankind” destroys nature? But then haven’t you ever tipped chemicals down the sink that end up in the river system, and somewhere along the line, contributed to this awful state of pollution? What I want to say is that you have to be willing to take your responsibilities seriously. The first step is to realize that Allah has called upon mankind to be the caretakers of this world.

Allah the Almighty said: “You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Maruf ( i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden) and you believe in Allah…” (Qur’an 3:110)

You have to understand that the nature of this life is not just to make money and live a comfortable life of ease. You have to be willing to give: to give to those around you, your family and friends, and your communities; to participate in the voice of society that calls for justice; to speak out against violations against mankind and the earth. When toxic waste is dumped, what do you do? When logging companies are allowed to destroy one of the last remaining rainforests on earth, what do you do? When people are abused and oppressed, what do you do? If your answer is “nothing.” Then you should think again.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever, among you, sees something abominable should rectify it with his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue; and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of Faith. (Muslim)

Allah created us to worship Him, and a part of that worship is to keep within His boundaries — the rules He has provided us with, knowing full well that whatever He has ordered us to keep away from is in fact bad for us.

So imagine a person who is selfish, stubborn, and harsh. He couldn’t care less about the effects of dumping his factory’s toxic waste into any place convenient (for them). He lives his life trying to make more and more money and gathering up material wealth; he doesn’t really care whose head he steps on to get up the social ladder, and basically he doesn’t really care about anyone except himself. If such a person prays to the Creator of all-should he expects his dua’ to be answered? Listen to what the Prophet (peace be upon him) said about this:

“Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah has commanded the Faithful to do that which He commanded the Messengers, and the Almighty has said: “O ye Messengers! Eat of the good things, and do right.” And Allah the Almighty has said, “O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you.” Then he mentioned the case of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying: O Lord! O, Lord! While his food is unlawful, his drink unlawful, his clothing unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered?” (Muslim)

What does Allah want from you? Remember He gave you your life, your family and friends, a series of situations, and all the creation around you. Do you think He gave you all this just for fun and games? Or to realize the reality, understand yourself and your role in life, and appreciate your Creator and spread the message of truth wherever you are?

The mercy of Allah is ever-present. It is you who must learn how to tap into that mercy and learn to live your life in a way that will make you deserving of that mercy. The same power that controls the universe promises to turn to you if you turn to Him! It’s like this because your Creator gave you freedom of choice, so you can try to face life either with His help or without it.

The Highest Position In Paradise

The highest position in Paradise which will be attained by only one person is called al-Waseelah. It will be attained, insha’Allah, by the Chosen Prophet, the best of Allah’s creation, our Prophet Muhammad (saw).

This is narrated in a hadith narrated by al-Bukhaari from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah according to which the Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever says, when he hears the call to prayer, “Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-da’wati-tammah, was-salaatil-qaa’imah, aati muhammadan al-waseelata wal-fadeelata, wab’aththu maqaaman mahmoodan alladhi wa’adtahu [O Allah, Lord of this Perfect Call and the Prayer to be Offered, grant Muhammad al-Waseelah – the highest position in Paradise – and also the eminence and resurrect him to the praised position You have promised], intercession for him will be granted on the Day of Resurrection.”

Muslim reported that ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr al-‘Aas said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, “When you hear the muaddhin call, say what he says, then send blessings on me, for whoever sends blessings on me, Allah (swt) will return it to him tenfold. Then ask Allah to grant me al-Waseelah, for whoever asks Allah (swt) to grant me al-Waseelah intercession will be granted for him.””

The Sahaabah asked the Prophet (saw) “What is al-Waseelah?” He said, “It is the highest level of Paradise, which only one man will reach, and I hope that I will be the one”. [Ahmad from Abu Hurayrah]

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “al-Waseelah is a rank above which there is no other in the sight of Allah (swt). Ask Allah (swt) to grant me al-Waseelah” [Ahmad from Abu Sa’eed, See Ibn Katheer, an-Nihaayah, 2/2332]