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How It All Started – I

In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful

Your Lord said to the angels: “I am about to create a human being out of clay; when I have fashioned him and breathed of My spirit into him, kneel down before him in prostration.” The angels prostrated themselves, all of them together. Not so Iblis. He gloried in his arrogance and was one of those who reject the truth. Said (God): “Iblis! What prevents you from bowing down to one whom I have created with My hands? Are you too proud, or do you deem yourself superior?” Answered (Iblis): “I am better than he: You have created me out of fire but created him from clay.” Said He: “Then get out from it: you are accursed; My rejection shall follow you until the Day of Judgment.” (SAD: 38: 71-78)

As it approaches its conclusion, the surah tells us how the human story first began and what happened on high. This defines its course as well as its fate and destination. Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent at the end of time to warn people of all this: “Your Lord said to the angels: I am about to create a human being out of clay; when I have fashioned him and breathed of My spirit into him, kneel down before him in prostration.”

We do not know how God said this to the angels or how He speaks to them. Nor do we know how the angels receive what God imparts to them. We do not know anything of the angels’ nature except what God has told us about them in His revealed book. Therefore, it is useless to try to delve further into this. We should instead consider the significance of the story as told in the Qur’an.

God created man out of clay, just like the rest of living things on earth. All the elements in their constitutions are derived from clay, with the exception of the secret of life, about which we do not know how or where it came from. Apart from this secret and the breathing of a soul into man, all the constituents of his body stem from mother earth. He will be transformed again into these constituents when the unknown secret departs from his body together with the effects of the sublime breath of soul which defined his course in life.

Again we do not know the nature of the sublime breathing of a soul into man, but we know its effects which distinguished man from the rest of creation on earth. It distinguished him with the quality of aspiring to the sublime, with mind and spirit, which allowed him to look at past experiences and make future plans and facilitated his spirit to go beyond what is received by his senses and understood by his mind to reach to what neither the senses nor the mind can comprehend. This quality of aspiring to the sublime is unique to man, shared by no other living creature on earth. It never happened in the long history of the earth that any species, or any individual from any species, made this leap even when we accept that physical evolution occurs.

God breathed His soul into man because His will wished to place him in charge of the earth, managing its affairs within the limits He set, so that he would build human life on it. God gave man the ability to gain higher knowledge. Ever since, man has risen higher whenever he is in contact with the source of his soul, deriving his values from there and maintaining a straight course. When he deviates from this source, the knowledge within him will be in discordance, unable to follow a coherent, progressive, and forward movement. In fact, these discordant trends will threaten his course and may lead to a setback in his human quality, pulling him down, even though his scientific knowledge and experience in some areas at least are well advanced.

This creature of small stature, limited ability, short life duration, and basic knowledge could not have attained such honor except for this aspect of divine grace bestowed on him. Otherwise, what is man? He is this small, weak creature living on Earth alongside millions of other species. The earth is only a small satellite of a mere star of which there are millions and millions in the great space whose boundaries are known only to God. Who is this creature, man, before whom the angels are required to prostrate? It is because of this subtle, yet great secret that man deserves his position of honor. When this is discarded, the man goes back to his origin, the clay of the earth.

The angels acted on God’s orders, as they naturally do: “The angels prostrated themselves, all of them together.” How, when, and where? All this is part of God’s knowledge. To know does not add significance to the story. Instead, the significance is seen in the position and value given to man, a creature made of clay, when he rose above his origin through this breath of God’s soul. The angels prostrated themselves in compliance with God’s order, knowing that His wisdom is infinite.

“Not so Iblis. He gloried in his arrogance and was one of those who reject the truth.” Was Iblis one of the angels? Most probably not, because if he were an angel, he would not have disobeyed God. Angels do not disobey any order issued to them by God, and they always do what they are bidden. It is mentioned in the Qur’an that he was created of fire, while it is known that the angels were created from light. Yet he was with the angels and the order to prostrate before Adam included him. He is not specifically mentioned in connection with the order so as to belittle his position. Yet we know that the order applied to him because of the reproach he received as a result of his disobedience.

“Said (God): Iblis! What prevents you from bowing down to one whom I have created with My hands? Are you too proud, or do you deem yourself superior?” God is the Creator of all. Therefore, the mention that He has created man is particularly significant because it refers to the special care given to this creature who has been given a breath of His soul. Are you too proud to obey My orders? Or do you deem yourself superior like all others who refuse to submit?

“Answered (Iblis): I am better than he: You have created me out of fire, but created him from clay.” The answer overflows with envy. It also ignores the noble element that Adam has in addition to his creation from clay. Thus, it is a rude retort stemming from a nature that had abandoned all goodness.

At this point, the divine order was issued expelling this rebellious creature: “Said He: Then get out from it: you are accursed; My rejection shall follow you until the Day of Judgment.”

– Commentary by Sayyid Qutb

What Is Zakah, Benefits, And Punishment For Not Paying Zakah

What Is Zakah?
Zakah is an obligatory form of “charity” expected from every Muslim individual. Zakat can be defined as that portion of a man’s wealth that is designated for the poor. The term is derived from the Arabic verbal root meaning to increase, to purify, and to bless. “Take Sadaqah from their property in order to purify and sanctify them” (Al-Quran 9:103)

It refers to the purification of a Muslim’s wealth and soul. To “purify” is to purify them from the faults of stinginess, greed and meanness, and lack of remorse towards the needy, and other similar depravities.

“Zakat is for the poor, and the needy, and those who are employed to administer and collect it, and the new converts, and for those who are in bondage, and in debt and service of the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarers, a duty ordained by Allah, and Allah is the All-Knowing, the Wise”. At Taubah 9: 60

Benefits Of Zakah
Zakat is for the welfare of the unprivileged and establishes a society on humanitarian grounds. Zakat also purifies the heart of the recipient from jealousy and hatred toward those who are wealthy in the material sense. Zakat also purifies his heart from selfishness and greed for wealth and is an essential element in attaining mutual love, cooperation, and solidarity among members of Moslem society.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “He who discharges Zakah of his property, his sins shall leave him.”

“The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn; it grows seven ears and each ear has a hundred grain. Allah gives manifold increase to whom he pleases.” (2:26)

In the above verse 2:26, Allah has promised that He will repay hundredfold in the hereafter what a believer spent in the way of Allah.

The Nisaab (Minimum ‘Zakatable’ Income)
The Nisaab is defined as the minimum wealth that one must hold for one year, at the end of which Zakat is payable. The Nisaab of gold is three ounces or about 85 grams of pure gold and of silver is 596 grams of pure silver. All Muslims (minor or adult) with a set minimum level of income and assets are expected to pay Zakat of at least 2.5%.

Types Of Zakah

1. Zakah On Business (URAD AL TIJARAH)
In this context, business refers to any form of trading activity that generates income (i.e. Buying and selling, for the sake of profit e.g. foodstuffs, furniture, animals, land, etc). Anyone who owns a business with a minimum working capital (Stock and Cash) must pay Zakat.

Formula: 2.5% x [(Current Assets – Current Liabilities)

2. Zakah On Rental Income
Formula: 2.5% x [Total Annual Rental Revenue – Rental Expenses]

3. Zakah On Agricultural Produce
Zakah On Agriculture Is Due Upon Each Harvest If It Is Equal To 2 Wasq (A Measure That’s Equal To 653 Kg).

Zakat is payable on all agricultural produce including fruits, commercially grown flowers, vegetables, and all types of grains at the time of harvest itself. The Zakat levy on agricultural produce varies according to the way the land is irrigated.

a) The Zakat is 10% of the land produce if the land is irrigated by streams, rivers (running water), or rainfall (without human effort).
b) The Zakat is 5% of the land produce if the land is irrigated by wells (or by artificial canal systems, tank water, or bore well and open well) There is no deduction out of this on any account.
c) For crops dependent partly on rainwater and partly on other water (Irrigation), the Zakat applicable would be 7.5% of produce.

4. Zakah On Personal Income (e.g. Salary)
In this context, personal income refers to the salary/wages, commissions, allowances, bonuses, and monetary gifts earned by a zakah payer through permissible (halal) activities.

Zakat is payable When the total annual salary (i.e. salary per month multiplied by 12 months) earned by an individual is equal to or greater than the price of 596 grams of pure silver.
Formula: 2.5% x [Total Salary for the Year + Any Other Income/allowances]

Narrated ‘Abdullah: The Prophet said, “Who among you considers the wealth of his heirs dearer to him than his own wealth?” They replied, “O Allah’s Apostle! There is none among us but loves his own wealth more.” The Prophet said, “So his wealth is whatever he spends (in Allah’s Cause) during his life (on good deeds) while the wealth of his heirs is whatever he leaves after his death.”

5. Zakah On Animals:

Goats and Sheep
Up to 39 Goats/Sheep=No Zakat
From 40 to 120 Goats/Sheep=1 goat
From 121 to 200 Goats/Sheep=2 goats
From 201 to 300 Goats/Sheep=3 goats
Thereafter 300 on 1 goat for every 100 Goats/Sheep

Cows and Oxen
Up to 29 cows= No Zakat
From 30 to 39 cows=1 one-year-old male or female calf.
From 40 to 59 cows =1 two-year-old male or female
From 60 to 69 cows =2 one-year-old male or female
From 70 to 79 cows =1 one-year-old and 1 two-year-old male or female
From 80 to 89 cows =2 two-year-old male or female
From 90 to 99 cows =3 one-year-old male or female
From 100 to 109 cows =1 two-year-old male or female
From 110 to 119 cows =2 two-year and 1 one-year-old male or female
From 120 to 129 cows =3 two-year-old or 4 one-year-old male or female
Thereafter 130 on 1 one-year-old for each 30 or 1 two-year-old for each 40.

Please Note:
· The person who owns different types of wealth e.g. animals, commercial goods and gold and silver must give Zakat on each category of wealth separately.

· Zakat must be given in kind, that is, if one’s wealth is in cattle, one must pay in cattle rather than their equivalent in money;

· Items of everyday use that are not meant for trade, such as household utensils, clothes; tools and machinery used for further production or business operation, and animals used in agriculture are not Zakatable

Where Should One Pay His Zakah?
Zakat can be paid at the mosque near you so the mosque committee or the Imaam can distribute it to the poor and needy that are entitled to get it. You can also give it to any Reputable Muslim Charitable Organization of your choice.

Please Also Note: A Muslim’s primary responsibility is to pay the Zakat, not to supervise how it is spent. Refusal to pay the Zakat for fear of it being misappropriated is punishable by Allah as indicated below.

Punishment For Those Who Refuses To Pay Zakah
Allah (The Glorified and the Exalted) has strongly warned those who are negligent in the fulfillment of these duties. Thus He said, “Those who hoard up treasures of gold and silver and spend them not in the way of Allah; give them the news of a painful punishment, on the Day when that (wealth) will be heated in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their forehead, their sides, and their backs, (and it will be said to them:) ‘This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard.'” [Al-Quran 9:34-35]

‘Let not those who are miserly with what God has given them of His bounty think that this is good for them. Rather, it is bad for them. That which they withhold shall be hung around their necks on the Day of Arising.’ [Al-Quran 3:180]

Further, At-Tabarani relates, on the authority of ‘Ali, that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Allah has enjoined upon rich Muslims a due to be taken from their properties corresponding to the needs of the poor among them. The poor will never suffer from starvation or lack of clothes unless the rich neglect their due. If they do, Allah will surely hold them accountable and punish them severely.” (Related by At-Tabarani in Al-‘Aswat and as-Saghir).

Bad Consequences Of The Tongue

The Heart:
The most important part of the body is the heart as has been mentioned by our noble Prophet Muhammed (SAW) in his saying, “Indeed there is a piece of flesh in your body that, if it is sound, then the whole body will be sound and if it is corrupt then the whole body will be corrupt. Indeed it is the heart.” – Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih al-Muslim

The heart is thus the port where all actions stem, whether good or evil. If the heart is good then the actions will be good and if the heart is corrupt then the actions will be bad. The heart is the place where Allah scans, as the Messenger of Allah (SAW) says, “Allah does not look at your bodies nor your faces but he scans your heart and actions.” – Sahih al-Muslim

As for the heart, Allah has commanded us to love Him and His Messenger, to love the righteous people, to love that which Allah loves, and to hate all which Allah hates. The tongue acts accordingly, because…. the tongue expresses what is in the heart.

The Tongue Expresses what is in the Heart:
If a person is good, it reflects in their saying. Allah has made it very easy for the tongue to move, and it is not difficult to realize that a person’s tongue moves much more compared to the limbs. So if a person is not careful about what he says, even a single saying of his can invalidate his actions. It is for this reason that the whole body warns the tongue saying, “Fear Allah concerning us, for we are (dependant) upon you. If you are upright then we will be upright and if you are corrupt then we will be corrupt.” – Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Mishkaat, Riyaadh as-Saleheen

And at the same time, the tongue is a great blessing from Allah. If we look at the animals, who are unable to speak, we realize the importance of this great tool of communication.

The gratitude that we should show for this great blessing should include, using it for obedience to Allah, for reading the Qur’an, for seeking Knowledge, to enjoin good, and forbidding evil. The prohibitions of the tongue are that you do not lie, abuse, use foul language, backbite and slander.

Allah says at the beginning of Soorah al-Mumineen, “Indeed successful are the Believers, those who in their prayer have Khushoo [humility/fear of Allah]” (fear of Allah) and those who refrain from vain talk.” [Soorah Mumineen : 1-3]
Here Allah mentions that refraining from vain talk is a sign of successful believers. Allah also mentions refraining from vain talk after he mentions al-Khushoo. This is because too much talk makes the heart hard. It is not possible to reach the level of Khushoo unless one refrain from vain talk.

Imaam an-Nawawee (RA) mentions “Know it is incumbent upon all to guard their tongues from most speech, except a word that has some benefit in it….” – Kitaabul-Adhkaar

And for those who take heed, there is a constant reminder in the verse, “Not a word is said except that there is a watcher by him ready to record it.” – [Soorah Qaf (50):18]

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammed (SAW) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or keep silent.”

The Honor Of The Masjid

Allah(SWT) says in the Qur’an: And the Masaajid are for the worship of Allah (alone) so invoke not anyone along with Allah (Surah Al-Jinn 72:18)

The renowned meaning of a Masjid is the place where Allah is Worshipped and that which is made waqf for Salaat. This is what we call a Masjid, if all the Masaajid are for the Worship of Allah then why do you go and worship others apart from Allah? The reality should be that the masaajid should be kept pure of Aqaaid-e-Fasidah (wrong beliefs) and Aamal-e-Baatilah (Wrong actions) (Maariful Qur’an)

It is related by Wassila bin el Asq’a(RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Keep away from your Masjids:- your little children and the lunatics, and in the same way those who quarrel and those who speak loudly. (Ibn-i-Majah, Tabrani)

Imam Abul Hafz Siraj Ud-Din Al Ansaari(ra)(A.H 723- 804) states: it is not permissible for a guardian to bring a child/ lunatic who they know will urinate etc.. (in the place of prayer) to the Masjid. Otherwise, it is Makrooh. (Al Ashbah Wan Nathahir) Allamah Shami(ra) has also agreed with this statement of Abul Hafz.

It is related by Hasan Basri(ra) through Mursal, that Rasul Allah (SAW) said: ‘A time will come when the conversation of the people in the mosques will center around their worldly affairs. You must not sit with such people. Allah (SWT) has nothing to do with them. (Baihaqi, Shubu Iman)

Attachment to the Masjid is a sign of Faith
It is related by Abu Sa’eed Khudri (RA) that the Apostle of Allah said: “When you see that a person is attached to the Masjid and looks after it (devotedly), give the testimony of Faith for him because Allah says that only those who believe in Allah and the last day they are the ones who frequent the masjids of Allah and keep them occupied” (Tirmizi, Ibn-i-Maja, and Daarmi)

In the light of the above Hadith, it can be clearly understood that it is not just obligatory to ensure that the sanctity of the Masjid is preserved and we remain silent. Rather we should make it our duty not to entertain those who intend to harm our Masaajid.

The Masjid is a place of worship and a symbol of Faith. Sincere attachment to it, care and concern for its maintenance, and the desire to see it humming with the worship and the remembrance of Allah are thus the signs of true Faith. (Ma’ariful Hadith) May Allah Ta’ala protect the Imaan of our youth from this FITNAH. Aameen Al Kauthar

by Mufti Yusuf Danka

Allah Will Expiate Sins

Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Prophet (peace be upon him) said “Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn but Allah will expiate his sins on account of his patience”. [Source Al-Bukhari Book 32 H # 6243]

“Patience does not mean to passively endure. It means to be farsighted enough to trust the result of a process… What does patience mean? It means to Look at the Thorn and see the Rose, to look at the Night and see the Dawn.
Impatience means to be shortsighted as to not be able to see the outcome. The lovers of God never run out of Patience, for they know that Time is needed for the Crescent Moon to become Full.” {Subhan Allah}

Thankfulness and Patience
“Whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighborhood of Despair. Even when all doors remained closed, ALLAH will open up a new path only for you. Be Thankful! It is easy to be thankful when all is well. But be thankful not only for what you have been given but also for all that you have been denied.