The Path To Allah
People are always eager to know the path to Allah. In other words, they are keen to know how to win Allah’s approval and avoid His displeasure and wrath. The Holy Qur’an abound with injunctions, guidelines, instances and deeds that will undoubtedly lead you to the path of Allah. In this article, I will shed some light on the things and deeds that lead people to the path of Allah as revealed in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah.
1- Love of the Prophet: This love also makes you follow the life example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in all his dealings and manners. Also this love is an indication of the love of Allah as stated in the Holy Qur’an, “Say: “If you do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Say: “Obey Allah and His Messenger. But if they turn back, Allah loves not those who reject Faith.” (Qur’an, 3:31-32)
2- Spending your money for the sake of Allah: You have to spend as much money as you can in charitable works and helping the needy to win Allah’s pleasure because Allah says, “Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise).” (Qur’an, 9:111)
3- Forgiving others: This is another way to win Allah’s approval because Allah favors those who forgive other people because forgiveness raises man to the level of angels, “Let them forgive and overlook, do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 24:22)
4- Avoiding the evils of human nature: Avoiding human vices such as envy, spying, gossip and backbiting will undoubtedly take man one step closer to the path of Allah, for Allah warns people against such evils, “O you who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: And spy not on each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it…But fear Allah. For Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 49:120)
5- Following the example of those who won Allah’s approval: Following the example of the former Prophets (and on top of them Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him), pious predecessors and martyrs will also lead us to the path of Allah, and this is mentioned in the very first chapter of the Qur’an, “Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).” (Qur’an, 1:6-7)
The Philosophy Of Salaah
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The importance of Salaah (obligatory 5 times prayers) in a Muslim’s life is undeniable, unquestionable, and undisputable. Every Muslim would agree that acts such as recitation of the Qur’an (qirat), giving charity to the poor (zakaat), pilgrimage (Hajj), fasting during Ramadan (fasting), respecting elders, loving the younger ones, abstaining from watching hearing and doing the haraam, and practices such as taqwa, kindness, prostrations (sajda), and supplications (dua) hold extreme importance in a Muslim’s life.
Our Beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallum commanded the Muslims to practice and teach all of the above mentioned devotions to themselves, others, and especially the children. But never has the Prophet stressed so much on any other element, as He has stressed on Salaat. The Prophet has emphasized Salaat so much that a child is to be disciplined from an early tender age and be put into the practice of offering his prayers. If the child does not recite the Qur’an, that’s ok. If he does not fast, that’s ok. But it is not ok for the child to not offer his prayers. The Prophet commanded the believers to condition their children in such a way that Salaat becomes part of his daily activity from as early of an age as 7 and 10 years.
Salaat is to be offered 5 times a day irrespective of any excuses, whether in a standing position, in a sitting posture, or even while lying down (if a person is sick), but it can not be ignored. The question arises to mind that what is it about Salaat that makes it so different from other pious activities? Why has the Salaat been emphasized so much that it
is one of the only few things that are actually commanded for even a child.Why???
Allah says in the Qur”an, “Seek help from Salaat.” Whenever the Prophet happened to face any difficulty, he would immediately resort to Salaat. When a Muslim offers his Salaat to please Allah, his sins are shed away from him just as leaves drop from trees in Autumn. Just as dirt can not remain on a person’s body who bathes five times, exactly similar is the effect of Salaat offered five times a day with the Grace of Allah it washes away all the dirt of the mind and spirit. Accountability of Salaat will be one of the only three questions asked in the grave, and will be the first and the foremost thing to be accounted for on the Day of Judgement. Salaat is the key to Paradise, the pillar of Islam, the light and mai’raaj of a Momin, and disgraces the Devil. The Mercy of Allah descends upon a person so long as he is engaged in Salaat. Of all the practices, Salaat made at fixed hours is most loved by Allah.
The place of Salaat in Islam is like the head in a body. Fire of Hell is forbidden and Paradise becomes due to a person who performs his ‘Wudhu’ properly and says his Salaat keenly and according to its regulations. Salaat encourages promptness in a person’s life and allows him to appreciate the value of time when he promptly offers his prayers 5 times everyday at their respective times.
Salaat strengthens faith and Eemaan because it makes a believer feel close to his Creator and makes him realize that even if he can not see Allah, Allah can surely see him. Salaat promotes unity and discipline for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side, and it is this subconscious indivisible unity of Islam that makes a man instinctively into a brother.
With these points in mind, one begins to understand the importance of Salaat on an individual’s life, and only now can we begin to understand why Allah and His Messenger emphasized so much on Salaat and wished to embed Salaat as part of every believer?s life, children and adults alike.
Spending On One’s Family Comes First
Spending on the family is highly recommended. Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said: “Of the c you spend in the way of Allah, the dinar you spend for the freedom of slave, the dinar you give away in charity to the poor, and the dinar you spend on your wife and children, the highest in respect of reward is the one you spend on your family.” (Sahih Muslim)
Mother of the believers, Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) once asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “Shall I get a reward if I spend on the children (from my first husband Abu Salamah)? They cannot be left uncared for, running about here and there (in search of a living). They are after all are my children. He answered: “Yes, you will have reward for whatever you spend on them.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Ibn Mas’ud Al-Badri relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said; When a person spends on his family, hoping for reward, the same is counted as charity on his part. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “It is indeed a sin for a person to hold back the sustenance of one who is dependent depend on him.” (Sahih Muslim)
Abu Hurairah relates that Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said, “Everyday, two angels descend, one of them saying; Allah, bestow a (good) return upon the spender: and the other saying: Allah, Destroy the goods of the miser.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
In another Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The upper hand (the giver) is better than the lower hand (the receiver) and start (your generosity) with your dependents; and the best kind of charity is from your surplus; and one who wants to become virtuous, Allah will make him so, and one who desires abundance will be given so by Allah. (Al-Bukhari)
Istiqamat Aur Husn-e-Khatima
Specific People Who Will Be In Hell
The kuffaar and mushikreen will be in Hell, no doubt about it, but the Qur’an and hadith also mention specific people who will be in the Fire. One of them is the Pharaoh who ruled at the time of Musa (as):
“He [Pharaoh] will go before his people on the Day of Judgement, and will lead them into the Fire..” (11:98)
Also included are the wives of Nuh (as) and Lut (as):
“Allah sets forth for an example to the unbelievers, the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were [respectively] under two of Our righteous slaves, but they were false to their [husbands] and they profited nothing before Allah on their account, but were told: “Enter the Fire, along with those who enter!” (66:10)
Abu Lahab and his wife are also among those mentioned specifically:
“Perish the hands of the Father of Flame [Abu Lahab]! Perish he! No profit to him from all his wealth and all his gains! Burnt soon will he be in a Fire of blazing flames! His wife shall carry the [crackling] wood, as fuel! A twisted rope of palm fibre round her [own] neck!” (111:1-5)
Another of them is ‘Amr ibn ‘Aamir al-Khuzaa’i, whom the Prophet (saw) being disembowelled in Hell (sahih hadith narrated by al-Bukhaari, Muslim, Ahmad); and the one who killed ‘Ammar and plundered his possessions. A report with a Saheeh isnaad quoted in Mu’jam at-Tabaraani from ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas, and his son states that the Prophet (saw) said, “The one who killed ‘Ammaar and plundered his possessions will be in Hell”. (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 4/110, #4170)
The Light of Paradise
al-Qurtubee said, “The scholars said there is no night and day in Paradise, rather they will be in eternal everlasting light. They will know when night comes because curtains or screens will be put up and doors will be closed, and they will know when day comes because the curtains or screens will be taken down and the doors will be opened. This was mentioned by Abul-Faraj ibn al-Jawzee” [al-Qurtubee, at-Tadhkirah, p. 504]
Ibn Katheer in his commentary on the aayah: “And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening. Such is the Paradise, which We shall give as an inheritance to those of Our slave who have been al-Muttaqoon [pious and righteous]” [19:62-63] said, “This means something approximate to the times of day and night, it does not mean that there will be a day and night there. They will know the passing of time by the changes in the light” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/471]
On the same subject, Ibn Taymiyyah said, “There is no sun and moon in Paradise, and no day or night, but they will know morning and evening from a light that shines from the direction of the Throne” [Majmu’ Fataawa Shaikh al-Islaam, 4/312]
Those Who Take Their Positions In The Highest Levels
Among those who will occupy the highest levels in Paradise are the shuhaadaa, the best of whom are those who fight in the front ranks and never turn away until they are killed. Ahmad and at-Tabaraani report with a saheeh isnaad from Na’eem ibn Hamar (1) that the Prophet (saw) said, “The best of the Shuhaadaa are those who fight in the first rank, and do not turn their faces away until they are killed. They will have the pleasure of occupying the highest dwellings in Paradise. Your Rabb will smile at them, and whenever your Rabb smiles upon any of His Slaves, that person will not be brought to account”. [Musnad Ahmad, Kitaab az-Zuhd, Baab al-Ihsaan ila al-armila wal-masaakeen wal-yateem 2/2286, hadith no. 2982]
The one who helps widows and the destitute will have the status of a mujaahid in Paradise. Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said, “The one who helps widows and the destitute is like one who fights in jihaad for the sake of Allah (swt).” I [the narrator] think he said, “And he is like the one who stands all night in prayer and never sleeps, and like the one who fasts continually and never breaks his fast”. [Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab az-Zuhd, Baab al-Ihsaan, ila al-armilah wal-miskeen wal-yateem, 2/2286, no. 2982]
The one who sponsors an orphan will be close to the Prophet (saw) in Paradise. Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said, “The one who sponsors an orphan, whether from his own wealth or from the orphan’s wealth, I and he will be like these two in Paradise,” – and Maalik [the narrator] gestured with his forefinger and middle finger. [Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab az-Zuhd, 2/2286, no. 2982; “lahu aw ghayrihi” – whether from his own wealth or from the orphan’s wealth – means whether he supports him from his own wealth or is a legal guardian over the orphan and the orphan’s wealth]
Allah (swt) will raise the status of parents by the blessing of their children’s du’aa. Ahmad reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Allah (swt) will raise the status of His righteous slave in Paradise, and he will say, “O my Rabb, how could I deserve this?” He will say, “Because your child sought forgiveness for you.””
Ibn Katheer said, “This is a saheeh isnaad although none of the authors of the six books reported it. But there is a corroborating report in Saheeh Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (ra), according to which the Prophet (saw) said, “When a son of Aadam dies his good works come to an end, except for three: Sadaqah Jaariyah [ongoing charity], beneficial knowledge [that he discovered or propogated], and a righteous son who will pray for him.” [Ibn Katheer, an-Nihaayah, 2/340]
Barkat-e-Madina Tayyaba
Building Successful Relationships
1. Correct the relationship between yourself and Allah and Allah will then correct the relationship between yourself and others.
2. Studies have proved that every individual has his own unique pattern of understanding and that patterns are usually one of the following:
• A visual pattern, i.e. one looks at the world and deals with it from a physical point of view.
• A hearing pattern, i.e. one looks at the world and deals with it based on the words that one hears (one better understands by hearing).
• An emotion-based pattern, i.e. one looks at the world through one’s emotions and inner feelings.
If you succeed in understanding how a particular individual perceives things (i.e., which pattern one emphasizes), then you can more easily achieve harmony and understanding between the two of you, as well as achieve confidence in your relationship.
3. Put yourself in the place of others and let them hear from you what you like to hear from them, and behave with them the way you like them to behave with you.
4. Always keep smiling, especially during difficult situations and incidents.
5. Keep your calm and self control when provoked.
6. Always be sensitive to feelings of others, their rights and their needs.
7. Choose your words carefully, especially during the first encounter. Be cheerful when speaking and beware of dull facial expressions and tough looks even if your words are very nice.
8. When the atmosphere is not appropriate to talk about a particular subject, then it is better to end the talk about that subject in a courteous way and postpone it to a more appropriate time.
9. Decorate your talk with jokes and proverbs without making this overwhelming in your talk, and tell only the truth. This will induce an interactive discussion.
10. Give away gifts even if small ones and rush to help others even if in little ways, because these are means of winning hearts and of building relationships. It is related in Adab Al-Mufrad of Al-Bukhari that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Give gifts as it will create love amongst you.”
11. Spread Salaam (Islamic greeting) and reply to a greeting with a better one. This is a key to winning others’ hearts, so be eager to own this key.
12. Keep your promises and be truthful in your talk. This will make others love you even when you cannot accomplish what they want.
13. Be generous within your means. Even whatever little that you may give will put you in a high position in the hearts of people. No one can win the hearts of others while he is described as stingy and not generous.
14. Be simple and spontaneous in dealing with others. Being organized in your life will make you win others’ respect, even that of your enemies.
15. Be clean in your body, mouth and clothing, be stylish without exaggeration, and put on a nice fragrance. All these will make others that are dealing with you more comfortable, instead of making them avoid you.
16. These principles can be applied under all circumstances and in all roles – at work, at home, with our husband or wife, our parents, our children, our friends, or strangers.
– Translated from an unknown Arabic author by Zayed Centre for New Muslims, UAE