Islam Aur Mahol Ka Tahafuz
TAG: Islam
Sahabah Of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)
The companions (Radiallaahu Anhum) of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) are the criterion of the Truth. It was from the Sahabahs that the world learned what the Deen of Islam was. It is from the Sahabahs that we have been able to establish the true Shariah. It is from the Sahabahs that we obtained the Sunnah of our Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).
The Sahaabah constitute the pivots of Deen of Islam. They are the upholders and defenders of Deen of Allah. History cannot show us any other group which has sacrificed so much blood for the glory of Allah’s Name than the Sahaabahs – may the pleasure of Allah be with them perpetually!
Hadhrat Shah Waliullah (Rahmatullaahi Alayh) has recorded in his book, “Izaala-tul-Khifaa”, approximately one hundred verses of the Qur’an Majeed which put the seal on the sanctity and the elevated position of the Sahabahs. The Qur’an Majeed raises the Sahabahs to such a lofty status that to compare them (Sahabahs) with non-Sahabahs
would be a grievous error.
Said the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) “Fear Allah! Fear Allah with regard to my Sahabahs. Do not make them a target after me. Whosoever loves the Sahabah loves them because of my love. And, whosoever dislikes them because he dislikes me. He who harms them has harmed me. And, he who harms me has caused hurt to Allah. And, he who causes hurt to Allah, Allah will soon grab hold of him.” – Tirmizi
Hasan Basri And the Fire-Worshipper
Hasan Basri is revered as one of the greatest saints of early Islam. Brought up in Basra, he met many companions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam including seventy of those who fought at the Battle of Badar.
Hasan Basri’s neighbour Simeon, a fire worshipper, fell ill and was on deathbed. Hasan called on him and found him discoloured with fire and smoke.
Fear God, Hasan counselled him. You have passed all your life amid fire and smoke. Embrace Islam so that God may have mercy on you.
Three things keep me from becoming a Muslim,
Simeon replied. First, you speak ill of the world, yet you run after worldly things day and night. Second, you fear facing death, yet you do not prepare for it. Third, you believe in seeing God’s face, yet you do everything contrary to His good pleasure.
This is the token of those who know truly, Hasan commented. Now if believers act as you describe, what have you to say? They acknowledge the unity of God whereas you have spent your life in fire worship. You who have worshipped fire for seventy years and I who have never worshipped fire – we are both carried off to Hell. Hell will consume both you and me. God will pay no regard to you; but if God so wills, the fire will dare not burn one hair
of my body. For fire is a thing created by God; and the creature is subject to the Creator’s command. Come now, you who have worshipped fire for seventy years; let us both put our hands into the fire, then you will see with your own eyes the impotence of fire and the omnipotence of God. Saying that Hasan thrust his hand into the fire and held
it there. Not a particle of his body was affected or burnt.
When Simeon saw this he was amazed. The dawn of true knowledge began to break. For seventy years I have worshipped fire, he groaned. Now only a breath or two remains to me. What am I to do? Become a Muslim, Hasan replied.
If you guarantee in writing that God will not punish me, said Simeon, then I will believe. But until I have it in writing, I will not believe it. Hasan wrote it down and the witnesses endorsed the document. Then Simeon wept bitterly and accepted Islam. He spoke his last testament to Hasan. When I die, bid them wash me, then commit me to the earth with your own hands, and place this document in my hand. This document will be my proof. Having charged Hasan thus, he spoke the attestation of faith and died. They washed his body, said the prayer over him, and buried him with the document in his hand.
That night Hasan went to sleep pondering what he had done. How could I help a drowning man, seeing that I am drowning myself? Since I have no control over my own fate, why did I venture to prescribe how God should act? With this thought he fell asleep and saw Simeon in a dream glowing like a candle; on his head was a crown, robed in fine raiment, he was walking with a smile in the garden of Paradise. How are you, Simeon? Hasan inquired.
Why do you ask? You can see for yourself, Simeon answered. God Almighty of His bounty brought me nigh His presence and graciously showed me His face. The favours He showered upon me beggar description. You have honoured your guarantee; so take your document. I do not need it anymore.
When Hasan awoke, he saw that parchment in his hand. O God, he cried, I know well that what You do is without cause, save of Your bounty. Who shall suffer loss at Your door? You grant a fire worshipper of seventy years to come into Your near presence because of a single utterance. How then will You exclude a believer of seventy years?
[Extracted From Tahir ul Qadri’s book , Spiritualitism]
Selecting A Muslim Name
[1:1] In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
[7:71] He said, “You have incurred condemnation and wrath from your Lord. Do you argue with me in defense of innovations you have fabricated – you and your parents – which were never authorized by GOD? Therefore, wait and I will wait along with you.”
God Almighty creates all languages, not just Arabic! Any beautiful name can be derived from any language.
[30:22] Among His proofs are the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variation in your languages and your colors. In these, there are signs for the knowledgeable.
[7:180] To GOD belongs the most beautiful names; call upon Him therewith, and disregard those who distort His names. They will be requited for their sins.
The reason God chose the Arabic language for an Arabian prophet is given below.
[43:2] And the enlightening scripture.
[43:3] We have rendered it an Arabic Quran, that you may understand.
[43:4] It is preserved with us in the original master, honorable and full of wisdom.
[26:198] If we revealed this to people who do not know Arabic.
[26:199] And had him recite it (in Arabic), they could not possibly believe in it.
Some of God’s beautiful English names can be derived from this English translation of the Quran.
[59:22] He is the One GOD; there is no other god besides Him. Knower of all secrets and declarations. He is the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[59:23] He is the One GOD; there is no other god besides Him. The King, the Most Sacred, the Peace, the Most Faithful, the Supreme, the Almighty, the Most Powerful, the Most Dignified. GOD be glorified; far above having partners.
[59:24] 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.
The Islamic scholars invent all sorts of ridiculous issues (hadith, tafsir,, fatwas, etc,) and successfully divert millions of Muslims from the very important Quranic issues to unimportant unQuranic issues. One of their ridiculous inventions is the “Islamic names” for Muslim boys and Muslim girls.
The word Muslim is an Arabic word that simply means Submitter to God Alone. Anyone who submits to the will of God is Muslim in the Quranic context. According to the Quran, a righteous Jew, a righteous Christian, a righteous Muslim or any righteous person is Muslim in the eye of God(2:62, 5:69).
[2:62] Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
The Arabic word Islam simply means Submission (to the will of God). So, anyone who follows the religion of Islam is Muslim. The concept of Islam can easily be derived from this verse of the Quran (42:13)
[42:13] He decreed for you the same religion decreed for Noah, and what we inspired to you (Mohammad), and what we decreed for Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: “You shall uphold this one religion, and do not divide it.” The idol worshipers will greatly resent what you invite them to do. GOD redeems to Himself whomever He wills; He guides to Himself only those who totally submit.
The above Quranic verses, along with numerous other verses, confirm the truth that as far as God is concerned, there has always been one religion Islam, which was decreed for Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad. All the scriptures revealed to mankind from God advocate one and the same religion. In this religion God calls Submission or in Arabic Islam.
It is a mistaken concept among Muslim and non-Muslims alike that Islam was founded by Mohammad, who was happened to be an Arab. Satan successfully duped the majority of people on earth including the majority of ignorant Muslims by making them believe that Islam is an Arabian religion or a religion of Mohammad!
Why “Mary” cannot be a good Islamic name for girls!? God Almighty chose her among all the women.
[3:42] The angels said, “O Mary, GOD has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you from all the women.
[3:36] When she gave birth to her, she said, “My Lord, I have given birth to a girl” – GOD was fully aware of what she bore – “The male is not the same as the female. I have named her Mary, and I invoke Your protection for her and her descendants from the rejected devil.”
Why “Jesus” or “Zachariah” or “Moses” cannot be good Islamic name for boys? The name of Moses is mentioned so many times in the Quran! Jesus was one of those closest to God.
[3:45] The angels said, “O Mary, GOD gives you good news: a Word from Him whose name is `The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary. He will be prominent in this life and in the Hereafter, and one of those closest to Me.’
[19:7] “O Zachariah, we give you good news; a boy whose name shall be John (Yahya). We never created anyone like him before.”
God and His messenger condemn innovation. God and His messenger condemn division.
[7:71] He said, “You have incurred condemnation and wrath from your Lord. Do you argue with me in defense of innovations you have fabricated – you and your parents – which were never authorized by GOD? Therefore, wait and I will wait along with you.”
[6:159] Those who divide themselves into sects do not belong with you. Their judgment rests with GOD, then He will inform them of everything they have done.
[30:32] (Do not fall in idol worship,) like those who divide their religion into sects; each party rejoicing with what they have.
[42:14] Ironically, they broke up into sects only after the knowledge had come to them, due to jealousy and resentment among themselves. If it were not for a predetermined decision from your Lord to respite them for a definite interim, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the later generations who inherited the scripture are full of doubts.
The Meaning Of Islam
I. The Meaning of Islam
Islam is derived from the Arabic root “Salema”: peace, purity, submission, and obedience. In the religious sense, Islam means submission to the will of God and obedience to His law.
Everything and every phenomenon in the world other than man are administered totally by God-made laws, i.e. they are obedient to God and submissive to his laws, they are in the State of Islam. Man possesses the qualities of intelligence and choice, thus he is invited to submit to the goodwill of God and obey His law, ie, become a Muslim.
Submission to the good will of God, together with obedience to His beneficial Law, ie, becoming a Muslim, is the best safeguard for man’s peace and harmony.
Islam dates back to the age of Adam and its message has been conveyed to man by God’s prophets and messengers, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (PBUH).
Islam’s message has been restored and enforced in the last stage of the religious evolution by God’s last prophet and messenger, Muhammad.
The word Allah in the Arabic language means God, or more accurately, The One and Only Eternal God, Creator of the Universe, Lord of all lords, King of all kings, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. The word Allah to mean God is also used by Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians.
II. Articles of Faith
A Muslim believes in One God, Supreme, and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider.
God has no father nor mother, no sons nor daughters. He has not fathered anyone nor was He fathered. None equal to Him. He is the God of all mankind, not of a special tribe or race.
God is High and Supreme but He is very near to the pious thoughtful believers; He answers their prayers and helps them. He loves the people who love Him and forgives their sins. He gives them peace, happiness, knowledge, and success.
God is the Loving and the Provider, the Generous and the Benevolent, the Rich and the Independent, the Forgiving and the Clement, the Patient and the Appreciative, the Unique and the Protector, the Judge and the Peace. God’s attributes are mentioned in the Quran.
God creates in man the mind to understand, the soul and conscience to be good and righteous, and the feelings and sentiments to be kind and humane. If we try to count His favors upon us, we cannot, because they are countless.
In return for all the great favors and mercy, God does not need anything from us, because he is Needless and Independent.
God asks us to know Him, to love Him, and to enforce His Law for our own benefit and our own good.
A Muslim believes in all the Messengers and Prophets of God without any discrimination.
All messengers were mortals, human beings, endowed with Divine revelations and appointed by God to teach mankind. The Holy Quran mentions the names of 25 messengers and prophets and states that there are others. These include Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (PBUH). Their message is the same and it is Islam and it came from One and the Same Source; God, and it is to submit to His will and to obey his law, ie, to become a Muslim.
A Muslim believes in all scriptures and revelations of God, as they were complete and in their original versions.
Revelations were given to guide the people to the right path of God. The Quran refers to the books revealed to Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad (PBUH).
Today, the books before the Quran do not exist in their original form. They are lost corrupted or concealed. Weakness in the early period of Judaism and Christianity are partly responsible.
Today the Quran is the only authentic and complete book of God. No scholar has questioned the fact that the Quran today is the same as it was more than 1400 years ago. Muslims till today memorize the Quran word by word as a whole or in part.
God who revealed the Quran is protecting it from being lost, corrupted, or concealed.
A Muslim believes in the angels of God.
They are purely spiritual and splendid beings created by God. They require no food drink or sleep. They have no physical desires or material needs.
Angels spend their time in the service of God. Each is charged with a certain duty. Angels cannot be seen by the naked eye. Knowledge and truth are not entirely confined to sensory knowledge or sensory perception alone.
A Muslim believes in the day of Judgement.
This world as we know it will come to an end and the dead will rise to stand for their final and fair trial. Everything we do, say, make, intend, and think are accounted for and kept in accurate records. They are brought up on the day of judgment.
People with good records will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed to God’s Heaven. People with bad records will be fairly punished and cast into Hell.
The real nature of Heaven and Hell are known to God only, but they are described by God in man’s familiar terms in the Quran.
If some good deeds are seen not to get full appreciation and credit in this life, they will receive full compensation and be widely acknowledged on the Day of Judgement.
If some people who commit sins, neglect God, and indulge in immoral activities seem superficially successful and prosperous in this life, absolute justice will be done to them on the Day of Judgement.
The time of the Day of Judgement is only known to God and God alone.
A Muslim believes in “Qadaa” and “Qadar”.
“Qadaa” and “Qadar” mean the Timeless Knowledge of God and His power to plan and execute His plans. God is not indifferent to this world nor is He neutral to it.
God is Wise, Just, and Loving and whatever He does must have a good motive, although we may fail sometimes to understand it fully.
We should have strong faith in God and accept whatever He does because our knowledge is limited and our thinking is based on individual consideration, whereas His knowledge is limitless and He plans on a universal basis.
Man should think, plan, and make sound choices, but if things do not happen the way he wants, he should not lose faith and surrender himself to mental strains or shattering worries.
A Muslim believes that the purpose of life is to worship God.
Worshipping God does not mean we spend our entire lives in constant seclusion and absolute meditation. To worship God is to live life according to His commands, not to run away from it.
To worship God is to know Him, to love Him, to obey His commands, to enforce His laws in every aspect of life, to serve His cause by doing right and shunning evil, and to be just to Him, to ourselves, and to our fellow human beings.
A Muslim believes that man enjoys an especially high-ranking status in the hierarchy of all known creatures.
Man occupies this distinguished position because he alone is gifted with rational faculties and spiritual aspirations as well as powers of action.
Man is not a condemned race from birth to death, but a dignified being potentially capable of good and noble achievements.
A Muslim believes that every person is born a “Muslim”.
Every person is endowed by God with spiritual potential and intellectual inclination that can make him a good Muslim.
Every person’s birth takes place according to the will of God in the realization of His plans and in submission to His commands.
A Muslim believes that every person is born free from sin.
When the person reaches the age of maturity and if he is sane, he becomes accountable for all his deeds and intentions. Man is free from sin until he commits sin.
There is no inherited sin, no original sin. Adam committed the first sin, he prayed to God for pardon, and God granted Adam pardon.
A Muslim believes that man must work out his salvation through the guidance of God.
No one can act on behalf of another or intercede between him and God.
In order, to obtain salvation a person must combine faith and action, belief and practice. Faith without doing good deeds is as insufficient as doing good deeds without faith.
A Muslim believes that God does not hold any person responsible until he has shown him the Right Way.
If people do not know and have no way of knowing about Islam, they will not be responsible for failing to be Muslim. Every Muslim must preach Islam words and in action.
A Muslim believes that faith is not complete when it is followed blindly or accepted unquestioningly.
Man must build his faith on well-grounded convictions beyond any reasonable doubt and above uncertainty.
Islam ensures freedom to believe and forbids compulsion in religion. (one of the oldest synagogues and one of the oldest churches in the world are in Muslim countries).
A Muslim believes that the Quran is the word of God revealed to the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through the Angel Gabriel.
The Quran was revealed from God on various occasions to answer questions, solve problems, settle disputes, and to be man’s best guide to the truth.
The Quran was revealed in Arabic and it is still in its original and complete Arabic version until today. Millions memorize it.
A Muslim believes in a clear distinction between the Quran and the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.
Whereas the Quran is the word of God, the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (his teachings, sayings, and actions) are the practical interpretations of the Quran.
Both the Quran and the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad are the primary sources of knowledge in Islam.
III. Application of Faith
God has laid down for a Muslim four major exercises of faith, some are daily, some weekly, some monthly, some annually, and some are required as a minimum of once in a lifetime.
These exercises of faith are to serve man’s spiritual purposes, satisfy his human needs, and mark his whole life with a Divine touch.
These major exercises of faith are:
- Prayer (Salah)
- Fasting (Seyam)
- Charity Giving (Zakah)
- Pilgrimage (Hajj)
1. Prayer
Praying, to the Creator on a daily basis, is the best way to cultivate in man a sound personality and to actualize his aspirations.
God does not need man’s prayer because He is free of all needs. Islamic prayers are for our benefit. The benefits are immeasurable and the blessings are beyond imagination.
In Islamic prayer, every muscle of the body joins the soul and the mind in the worship and glory of God. Islamic prayer is an act of worship.
It is a matchless and unprecedented formula of intellectual meditation and spiritual devotion, moral elevation, and physical exercise, all combined.
Offering of prayers is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who is sane, mature, and in the case of women, free from menstruation and confinement due to childbirth.
Requirements of prayers: performing of ablution (Wudu), purity of the whole body, clothes, and ground used for prayer, dressing properly, and declaring the intention and facing the Qiblah; the direction of the Ka’bah at Mecca.
Obligatory prayers- five daily prayers, the Friday’s noon congregation prayer, and the funeral prayer.
Highly recommended prayers- Those accompanying the obligatory prayers and the two great festival prayers.
Optional prayers- Voluntary prayers during the day and night.
Times of Obligatory Prayers
Early morning: after dawn and before sunrise.
Noon: after the sun begins to decline from its zenith until it is about midway on its course to setting.
Mid-Afternoon: after the expiration of the noon prayer until sunset.
Sunset: immediately after sunset until the red glow in the western horizon disappears.
Evening: after the expiration of the sunset prayer until dawn.
Prayers should be offered in their due times unless there is a reasonable excuse. Delayed obligatory prayers must be made up.
Prayers involve prescribed physical motions, accompanied by saying mainly some parts of the Quran.
In addition to the prescribed prayers, a Muslim expresses gratitude to God and appreciation for His favors and asks for His mercy all the time. Especially at times of, for example: Childbirth, marriage, going to or rising from bed, leaving and returning to his home, starting a journey or entering a city, riding or driving, before or after eating or drinking, harvesting, visiting graveyards and at time of distress and sickness.
2. Fasting
Fasting is abstaining completely from eating, drinking, intimate sexual contact, and smoking from the break of dawn until sunset.
It is a matchless Islamic institution that teaches man the principle of sincere love for God.
Fasting teaches man a creative sense of hope, devotion, patience, unselfishness, moderation, willpower, wise savings, sound budgeting, mature adaptability, healthy survival, discipline, the spirit of social belonging, unity, and brotherhood.
Obligatory Fasting is done once a year for the period of the month of Ramadan; the ninth month of the Islamic year.
Recommended Fasting every Monday and Thursday of every week, three days in the middle of each Islamic month, six days after Ramadan following the Feast Day, and a few days of the two months before Ramadan.
Fasting of Ramadan is a worship act that is obligatory on every adult Muslim, male or female if he/she is mentally and physically fit and not on a journey. Exceptions: women during their period of menstruation and while nursing a child and also in cases of travel and illness.
3. Charity Giving (Zakah)
It is an act of worship and spiritual investment. The literal meaning of Zakah is purity and it refers to the annual amount in kind or coin which a Muslim with means must distribute among the rightful beneficiaries.
Zakah does not only purify the property of the contributor but also purifies his heart from selfishness and greed.
It also purifies the heart of the recipient from envy and jealousy, from hatred and uneasiness and it fosters instead good-will and warm wishes for the contributors.
Zakah has a deep humanitarian and social-political value; for example, it frees society from class warfare, from ill feelings and distrust, and from corruption.
Although Islam does not hinder private enterprise or condemn private possessions, it does not tolerate selfish and greedy capitalism.
Islam adopts a moderate but positive and effective course between individual and society, between the citizen and the state, between capitalism and socialism, and between materialism and spiritualism.
Every Muslim, male or female, who at the end of the year is in possession of the equivalent of (85 gm) of gold or more in cash or articles of trade, must give Zakah at the minimum rate of 2.5%
Zakah is paid on the net balance after paying personal expenses, family expenses, due credits, taxes, etc.
The recipients of Zakah are the poor, the needy, the new Muslim converts, the Muslim prisoners of war (to liberate them), Muslims in debt, employees appointed to collect Zakah, Muslims in service of research or study or propagation of Islam, wayfarers who are foreigners in need of help.
Taxes paid to the government do not substitute for this religious duty. Contributors should not seek pride or fame, but if disclosing their name and their contribution is likely to encourage others, it is acceptable to do so.
4. The Pilgrimage (Hajj)
It is a pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in a lifetime and it is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who is mentally, physically and financially fit.
It is the largest annual convention of faith on earth.
Peace is the dominant theme. Peace with God, with one’s soul, with one another, with all living creatures. To disturb the peace of anyone or any creature in any shape or form is strictly prohibited.
Muslims from all walks of life, from every corner of the globe assemble in Mecca in response to the call of God. There is no royalty but loyalty of all to God, the creator.
It is to commemorate the Divine rituals observed by Prophet Abraham and his son, Ishmael, who are the first pilgrims to the first house of God on earth; the Ka’bah.
It is to remember the grand assembly of the Day of Judgement when people will stand equal before God.
Muslims go to Mecca in the glory of God, not to worship a man.
The visit to the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad at Madena is highly recommended but not essential in making the Hajj valid and complete.
Patience With Trials And Tribulations In Islam
Muslims will endure many trials throughout their lives. Allah tests us with hardship and prosperity in order to validate the sincerity of our faith.
Allah said: It is He who created death and life to test which of you are best in deed, for He is the Almighty, the Forgiving. (Surat al-Mulk 67:2)
In all cases, trials can be good for the true believer. If he is tested with prosperity, he should remain grateful and he will receive a reward. If he is tested with hardship, he should remain patient and he will receive a reward.
Suhaib -may Allah be pleased with him- reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Wondrous is the affair of the believer for there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If he is happy, then he thanks Allah and thus there is good for him. If he is harmed, then he shows patience and thus there is good for him. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2999, Grade:Sahih)
Trials can be a sign that Allah intends good for us because through trials our sins are expiated and we have the opportunity to perform good deeds.
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If Allah intends good for someone, then he afflicts him with trials. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5321, Grade: Sahih)
Mahmud ibn Labeed (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If Allah loves a people, then he afflicts them with trials. Whoever is patient has the reward of patience, and whoever is impatient has the fault of impatience.(Musnad Aḥmad 23122, Grade: Sahih)
Mus’ad ibn Sa’eed (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The servant will continue to be tried until he is left walking upon the earth without any sin.(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2398, Grade: Sahih)
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If Allah intends good for his servant, then he hastens the punishment for him in this world. If Allah intends evil for his servant, then he withholds punishment for his sins until he appears on the Day of Resurrection.
In another narration, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Verily, with greater rewards come greater trials. Verily, when Allah loves a people he will test them. Whoever is pleased will be satisfied, and whoever is displeased will have indignation.(Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2396, Grade: Hasan)
Despite the incidental blessings that might come about from trials, a Muslim should never wish to be put on trial because he does not know if he will succeed.
Miqdad ibn Al-Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Verily, the blessed person is one kept away from trials. Verily, the blessed person is one kept away from trials. Verily, the blessed person is one kept away from trials. How good is one who is afflicted but bears it patiently!(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4263, Grade: Sahih)
Instead, Muslims should supplicate to Allah for security and well-being.
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: You will not be given anything after sincere faith as good as security, so ask Allah for security.(Musnad Aḥmad 11, Grade: Sahih)
Likewise, a Muslim should never rush into trials whether among the Muslims or the non-Muslims.
Allah said: Our Lord, make us not a trial for the unbelievers and forgive us, our Lord. Verily, You are the Almighty, the Wise.(Surah al-Mumtahanah 60:5)
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: There will be tribulations during which a sitting person will be better than the one standing, and the one standing will be better than the one walking, and the one walking will be better than the one running, and whoever exposes himself to these tribulations will be destroyed, so whoever finds a place of protection or refuge should take shelter in it. (Ṣaḥiiḥ al-Bukharii 6670, Grade: Sahih)
One of the greatest trials a Muslim might endure is the death of a loved one such as a spouse, a parent, or a child. If he remains patient and praises Allah in such a situation, then Allah has guaranteed a house for him in Paradise.
Abu Musa Al-Ashari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When the child of a servant dies, Allah says to the angels: Have you taken the life of my servant’s child? They say yes. Allah says: Have you taken the fruit of his heart? They say yes. Allah says: What has my servant said? They say: He has praised you and said to Allah we belong and to Allah we return. Allah says: Build a house for my servant in Paradise and name it the House of Praise.(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1021, Grade: Hasan)
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah the Exalted says: I have nothing to give to my faithful servant if I cause his dear friend to die and he remains patient, other than Paradise. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukharii 6060, Grade: Sahih)
The trials of pain and loss are very difficult, but in some ways, the trials of prosperity are even more difficult.
Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We were tested with hardship alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and we were patient. Then we were tested with prosperity after that and we were not patient.(Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2464, Grade: Hasan)
An abundance of wealth is one of the greatest trials for the Muslim nation because in such a situation the Muslims are obligated to spend generously from it in charity.
Ka’b ibn Iyad (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Verily, every nation has a trial and the trial of my nation is wealth.(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2336, Grade: Sahih)
Muslims are tested with great acts of oppression committed by authorities and powerful groups in the world, but we must remember that Allah has promised us that those who oppress us will give us their good deeds on the Day of Resurrection or take some of our sins.
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever oppresses his brother in his honor or anything else should resolve the matter today before it cannot be resolved with gold and silver coins. If he has good deeds to his credit, they will be taken from him according to the measure of his oppression, but if he has no good deeds left, then he will bear the evil deeds of his companion. (Ṣaḥī-iḥ al-Bukharii 2317, Grade: Sahih)
In such a situation, we must remember that Allah will avenge us in the Hereafter so we should not let our hatred or anger at our oppression lead us to commit further acts of injustice.
Allah said: O you who believe, be persistently standing firm for Allah as witnesses in justice and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, for that is nearer to righteousness. Fear Allah, for Allah is aware of what you are doing. (Surat al-Ma’idah 5:8)
One of the greatest trials is the temptation to resort to violence when confronted with an unjust government, but in such a situation we must be patient and attempt to reform the government without declaring a violent rebellion.
Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Rulers after me will come who do not follow my guidance and my tradition. Some of their men will have the hearts of devils in the human body. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what should I do if I live to see that time?” The Prophet said: You should listen and obey them even if the ruler strikes your back and takes your wealth, even still hear and obey. (Ṣaḥiiḥ Muslim 1847, Grade: Sahih)
The righteous predecessors (al-salaf) decried the violent rebels who lived in their time because their rebellion always led to further suffering, injustice, and division among the Muslims.
Hasan Al-Basri -may Allah be pleased with him- said: If the people had patience when they are being tested by their unjust ruler, it will not be long before Allah will give them a way out. However, they always rush to their swords, so they are left with their swords. By Allah, not even for a single day did they bring about any good.(Source: al-Ṭabaqat al-Kubra 8789)
Therefore, Muslims will endure many trials throughout life such as being afflicted by a calamity, suffering oppression, or even ingratitude in the face of prosperity. A Muslim must remain patient with the command and decree of Allah so as to avoid injustice, selfishness, and various evil deeds that might come about during a trial.
We ask Allah to relieve the suffering of Muslims and to guide us through the trials of life and death.
By Abu Amina Elias
What Is Faith? What Is Islam? When Will The Hour Be Established?
What is Faith?
What is Islam?
When will the Hour be established?
[Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 2, Number 47] Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu): One day while the Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked:
“What is faith?” Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) replied, ‘Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection.”
Then he further asked, “What is Islam?” Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) replied, “To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat), and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan.”
Then he further asked, “What is Ihsan (perfection)?” Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) replied, “To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you.”
Then he further asked, “When will the Hour be established?” Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) replied, “The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents when a slave (lady) gives birth to her master. When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah. The Prophet then recited: “Verily, with Allah (Alone), is the knowledge of the Hour–.” (31. 34)
Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, “That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion.” Abu ‘Abdullah said: He (the Prophet) considered all that as a part of faith.
Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire.
Islam Is The Path Of Truth
I want to share with you what a boy from grade 7 wrote when I gave my class a journal assignment on “What does Islam mean to you?”
(From just this one simple sentence, thousands of statements come to your mind. You don’t know where to start…
I feel that Allah has created every person equally with an open mind. Think of it this way; we were all brought to this earth as a piece of clay. There were two kinds of clay: the hard kind and the soft kind. Islam molds us all. Some are easier to shape than others depending on the softness. Those who are not willing to be molded are destined for the furnace. The better you are molded, the better you’ll turn out. Rasulullah (Salallahu alaihi wassalam) was molded perfectly and he was the best kind of clay.
Islam is the path of Truth.
Here is another way to put it: Doing haram is sickness, Islam is the medicine and paradise is the cure. Once you are cured you are guaranteed health and you’ll never get any more sicknesses… Islam is like a tree.
Everybody starts as a bud and they gradually grow into bigger and redder apple. The more you please Allah, the bigger and the better you get. If you fall off the tree branch you start to shrink and rot. Sort of like falling onto the wrong path instead of the right one.)
Masha’Allah, what an understanding! All this from a 13-year-old boy! May Allah(subhanahu wata’ala) increase him in knowledge, give us all the wisdom to understand and follow our Deen, and continue to shower us with more of His Mercy and blessings. Ameen!
“He grants wisdom to whom He will; and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good…” (2:269)
Misconception: The Islamic Threat
In recent years, a great deal of attention in the media has been given to the threat of “Islamic Fundamentalism”. Unfortunately, due to a twisted mixture of biased reporting in the Western media and the actions of some ignorant Muslims, the word “Islam” has become almost synonymous with “terrorism”. However, when one analyzes the situation, the question that should come to mind is: Do the teachings of Islam encourage terrorism? The answer: Certainly not! Islam totally forbids the terrorist acts that are carried out by some misguided people. It should be remembered that all religions have cults and misguided followers, so it is their teachings that should be looked at, not the actions of a few individuals. Unfortunately, in the media, whenever a Muslim commits a heinous act, he is labeled a “Muslim terrorist”. However, when Serbs murder and rape innocent women in Bosnia, they are not called “Christian terrorists”, nor are the activities in Northern Ireland labeled “Christian terrorism”. Also, when right-wing Christians in the U.S. bomb abortion clinics, they are not called “Christian terrorists”. Reflecting on these facts, one could certainly conclude that there is a double standard in the media! Although religious feelings play a significant role in the previously mentioned “Christian” conflicts, the media does not apply religious labels because they assume that such barbarous acts have nothing to do with the teachings of Christianity. However, when something happens involving a Muslim, they often try to put the blame on Islam itself — and not the misguided individual. Certainly, Islamic Law allows war — any religion or civilization that did not would never survive — but it certainly does not condone attacks against innocent people, women, or children.
The Arabic word “jihad”, which is often translated as “Holy War”, simply means “to struggle”. The word for “war” in Arabic is “harb”, not “jihad”. “Struggling”, i.e. “making jihad”, to defend Islam, Muslims or to liberate a land where Muslims are oppressed is certainly allowed (and even encouraged) in Islam. However, any such activities must be done according to the teachings of Islam. Islam also clearly forbids “taking the law into your own hands”, which means that individual Muslims cannot go around deciding who they want to kill, punish, or torture. Trial and punishment must be carried out by a lawful authority and a knowledgeable judge. Also, when looking at events in the Muslim World, it should be kept in mind that a long period of colonialism ended fairly recently in most Muslim countries. During this time, the people in these countries were culturally, materially, and religiously exploited – mostly by the so-called “Christian” nations of the West. This painful period has not really come to an end in many Muslim countries, where people are still under the control of foreign powers or puppet regimes supported by foreign powers.
Also, through the media, people in the West are made to believe that tyrants like Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Moamar Qaddafi in Libya are “Islamic” leaders — when just the opposite is true. Neither of these rulers even professed Islam as an ideology, but only used Islamic slogans to manipulate their powerless populations. They have about as much to do with Islam as Hitler had to do with Christianity! In reality, many Middle Eastern regimes which people think of as being “Islamic” oppress the practice of Islam in their countries. So suffice it to say that “terrorism” and killing innocent people directly contradicts the teachings of Islam.
Misconception: Islam Is Fatalistic
Most Muslims find it rather odd that their religion, which strikes a beautiful balance between faith and action, could be accused of being “fatalistic”. Perhaps this misconception came about because Muslims are taught to say “Praise be to God!” whenever anything good or bad happens. This is because Muslims know that everything comes from Almighty Allah, who is the All-Knowing Sustainer of the Universe, and that since a Muslim should rely completely on Allah, whatever happened must have been for the better. However, this does not mean that Muslims are not taught to take action in life — just the opposite is true. Islam requires not only faith but action — such as regular prayer, fasting, and charity. To be more precise, in Islam actions are part of one’s faith. Islam totally rejects the extreme beliefs of some religions that teach that you shouldn’t go to a doctor when sick, but only pray for God to heal you. Islam’s outlook is very positive since it teaches that human beings can take positive action in this life. This was certainly what was taught by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to his followers — since they obviously took the action of spreading Islam from Spain to Morocco in a very short period of time. Even though Islam teaches that Allah knows what human beings will do before they do it, human beings still have free will. Certainly, Allah, who is All-Knowing and All-Wise, knows what is going to happen to everyone before it happens — to deny this would be a denial of Allah Himself. However, if human beings did not have free will, it would be ridiculous and unjust for Allah to demand that they do certain things and believe certain things. Far from being “fatalistic”, Islam teaches that a human being’s main purpose in life is to be God-conscious. Due to this, Muslims worry less about material matters and view their earthly life from a proper perspective. This is due to the fact that Islam clearly teaches that if people worship and depend on Almighty Allah alone, then they have nothing to worry about – since Allah wants what is best for them. True freedom, from the Islamic perspective, does not mean aimlessly following all of your human desires for food, drink, wealth, and sex. On the contrary, freedom means being able to control one’s base desires and fulfilling them in a proper and legal way. This brings one’s desires in tune with what God wants for us — only then is a person truly free!