The human being
changes in his/her life between happiness and merriment by getting something
which he/she desires, to sorrow and sadness when something bad happens like
the passing of a loved one. Indeed sometimes one may be happy for the wrong
event, just as one may be sad for what may not deserve to be sad for.
Obedience to Allah is
just one acceptable reason for one to be happy. One may be filled with joy
when one’s worship is completed and when it is done for Allah’s sake alone.
Allah says {say it is with the grace and mercy of Allah, with that let them
rejoice it is better that what they are gathering}. One of the great mercies
of Allah upon his faithful slaves is guiding them towards doing good deeds
and towards obeying Him. Good acts and deeds are like fasting, praying,
reciting of the Quran, charity and many other aspects of goodness and grace.
One of the greatest mercies is that Allah makes his slaves live through to
Ramadan. This great season is packed with blessings, guidance, light and
evidence. This is the season when doors of heavens are opened and doors of
hell are shut. The season during which Allah picks some whom He will pardon
and set entirely free from fire. We ask Allah that we shall be amongst
those.
Dear believers, here
is Ramadan just about to depart. Like a floating shadow with which we did
not feel the passing of time, nor the rotation of days and nights. Just like
that we are getting on with age without us feeling it.
Fasting:
Dearly beloved, if
Ramadan has said farewell to us, the pious good deeds do not. This who
tastes the sweetness of fasting, and this who feels the desired meaning in
enacting the fasting commandment, which is the fulfillment of fear of Allah
within oneself, for the likes of those, the door remains open to continue
the good work. Fasting is by no means limited to the month of Ramadan. The
prophet (PPBU) prescribed a sunnah for us; the fasting of six days in
Shawwal. He said {This who fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six in
Shawwal, it is like he/she has fasted all life time}. He also prescribed as
sunnah to fast three days of every month. He said {Three in each month, and
a Ramadan to Ramadan, it is fasting all eternity}
The best to fast are
what is known as the Six Whites. And they are the 13th, 14th and 15th of
every month. The prophet (PPBU) was reported saying {Aba-Thar (ÃÈÇ ÐÑ a
companion) if you fast three in each month, make them be the 13th, 14th and
15th }.
He also prescribed for
us the fasting of the day of Arafa. He said it cleanses the previous year
and the remainder of the present year. Also the fasting of Ashoraa day
cleanses the previous year. Also he prescribed the fasting of every Monday
and Thursday of each week. 3aa-esah (ÚÇÆÔÉ) wife of the prophet (PPBU) said
that he was always on the look out for Mondays and Thursday.
Duaa (Supplications):
This who felt the
sweetness of the intimate dialogue and asking the Lord of the worlds in
his/her prayers, and during kneeling down, and those who see beautiful
affect of asking with insistence made to Allah requesting his forgiveness
and salvation, Well, let those know that their Lord is calling them always
by saying {Ask me, and I shall respond to you}. And He says: {and if my
slaves ask you about me, I am close by, I answer the call of a caller if
he/she calls upon me} (Aya 186 of Bakara). The prophet (PPBU) was reported
saying {Any Muslim who asks Allah any request, Allah shall grant to him/her
such a request, or keeps away from him/her something bad in its equivalence,
as long as the request was not for a misdeed, sin or the severing of
relation of a kin. A man asked: {then better make aplenty (meaning make a
plenty of Duaa), The prophet (PPBU) said {Allah is more plentiful (meaning
Allah is more at answering than you are at asking)} While some had
interpreted that as meaning that What Allah gives out of his goodness and
due to his generosity is a lot more than what He would give you for what is
purely equal to your duaa}
Koran Reciting:
This whose mouth has
taken the fragrance of reciting Allah’s words, and spent the long hours
during Ramadan reciting Allah’s book until reading became easy and his heart
was contented with uttering and remembering Allah, And those who thought of
and reflected upon the meanings in the Quran, For those, here is the book of
Allah, let there be a daily supply-line of the Quran. This was the guidance
of our early ancestors. This who reads one section a day will read the
entire Quran in a month. This who reads 10 pages a day taking no more than
20 minutes will read the entire Quran in two months. He; whose days and
nights pass with out reciting the Quran is missing so much goodness. For,
each letter or character in the Quran has a reward of ten amenities or a
hasanahs. This, who wants many hasanahs, needs to take the book of Allah.
And this who wants the Quran to be a witness for him/her with Allah should
take the book. The prophet (PPBU) said {Read the Quran, for it will come on
the day of resurrection as a witness to its companions}. We know that the
higher the status of a referee the more acceptable the reference is. Allah
say: {Those who recite Allah’s Book, and do the prayers, and give charity
from what we provide them with in privacy and in public, they are awaiting a
business which will not go bad, So The Lord will pay them in access and adds
more off his graciousness, for he is forgiving and grateful}
Prayers:
But, you, who stayed
up praying to your God the Quiam prayers in jama3a or alone, you did line up
your feet, stood up and knelt down, called Allah, your body felt tiredness,
and you felt tired, may be your Imam’s prayer went a bit too long, Did the
day that people shall rise to the Lord of the worlds come to your mind? And
did you think of the fatigue experienced by our prophet Muhammad (PPBU) when
he did stay up praying at night? For he prayed at night until the skin on
his feet cracked from standing too long. This was when he already had all
his past and future sins forgiven. What way should we be in, us the poor,
the week the ones who have far too many sins. Did you who stay up at night
think of the meanings in this Aya: {And at night pray in devotion a gift
prayer (Nafilah) for your self, for your god may resurrect you a dignified
residence}
The prophet (PPBU)
said {The closest Allah to a slave is in the other (latter) cavity of the
night. For if you can be of whom Allah mentions in that hour, then be}
Let it be known that
staying up the night can occur with three rak3ats. Any more is in accordance
with the resolution and the will.
Donating:
Slaves of Allah,
Donating to the needy and the relative has good effects. Spending money in
good cause is a pleasure in the giving, and an increase in one’s means and a
promise from the Generous with offspring. If we just make sense of our Gods’
words there would be another status for us and our moneys. For He says {Lend
Allah a good loan, and what ever goodness you give in advance to your
selves; you shall find with Allah much better and of greater reward},
Indeed, it is our souls that are brought up on being tight, stingy, holding
back and fear of getting poor. Allah says: {This who is protected from his
own stinginess, for those are the ones who will do well.}
Slaves of Allah,
continuing the good deed after Ramadan is a sign of loving the worship and
being attached to it. It is a clear indication that a Muslim multiplied the
effort in Ramadan in yearning for what Allah has got. But, for this whose
contact with worship and good deeds ceases after Ramadan, may be an
indication that he fasted and prayed when he saw others doing so. For one
would like to remain in a group and not be odd.
You Muslims, let us
pay attention to this situation. Fear Allah and enrich your days, your
months and all your lives with what will get you closer to your God; and
with what will increase your balance or status with your Lord, and that for
each, his/her records are kept. And the day will come when deposits will be
shown, and records are rolled out and advertised. Allah says: {A day when
each soul will find what good it did is made present, and what bad it did
wishes if it was separated from by an extremely long period; Allah Him self
warns you, and Allah is leniently kind with the slaves.} Aya 30 (Al- Emran)
I say this and I ask
Allah’s forgiveness of all sins for me and you. Do ask his forgiveness he is
the most forgiving, the most gracious and the most merciful
Assalam Alaikum -
The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace
be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching
it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during
leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
Aya (or Ayah):
is a verse of the Koran.
It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
is a mountain
outside the city of Mecca
that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing
Hajj must stay at this location on the same
day.
Badr
- The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the
pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph
- A Muslim ruler. See:
(Khalifa)
Dajjal
- Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah
- The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din)
- Religion or way of life.
Duaa:
a prayer in the form of
talking to Allah;
praising him and asking him for help.
Fatwa
- Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are
the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose:
is the highest level of
the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh
- Religious law.
Hadeeth:
is something reported
that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave.
It is usually narrated or told by one
of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are
reported and checked to be genuine. No
more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar -
The Black Stone set into the corner of the
Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj -
The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in
the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas:
is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith
- The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his
followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is
the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or
Hejrah):
the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This
event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12
months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a
name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah -
Worship. All the words and deeds with which
Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese):
On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used
by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar
or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn
Omar.
Imam
(or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman:
belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) -
The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the
Christians.
Islam
- Submission, the religion of all the
prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah -
The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of
the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad:
is striving in the
line
of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving
oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection
of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the
fight one's self against temptations.
It also means "holy war."
Jinn
-
Supernatural, invisible beings race of
beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst
them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on
Judgment Day.
Ka'aba:
A cube shaped building in
Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say
Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by
Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.
Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage
in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa:
is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation:
"Successor".
Khutbah -
A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr -
Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for
anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran
- Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book
of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran
literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to
the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the
Arabian
peninsula
(in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to
immigrate to.
Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid -
A
center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah -
A
sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah:
is
the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous
black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim
house of worship.
Muhajir -
(Muhajireen)
Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It
was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median
and Ethiopia.
Muhammad -
the final messenger and
prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He
received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in
Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad
ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim
- One who holds faith to the religion of
Islam.
Nafilah:
a voluntary prayer other
than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara -
Christians. Nasrani:
A Christian individual. Nasraniah:
Christianity.
Ommah:
is the Arabic word for a
nation. It usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise -
Another word for heaven. A
garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and
imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels.
All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty
Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise
is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU
(P.B.U.H.) :
Peace and Prayers Be
Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the
messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar -
Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all
things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr):
The night when the first
revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the
last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to
the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and
few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the
holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla -
The direction which Muslims turn for daily
prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish -
An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger
Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan -
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which
is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat -
Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of
worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is
performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa:
A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion
leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants
of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who
ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk -
Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with
Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of
Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam-
Fasting
Sunni:
is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life
style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah):
Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he
dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought.
Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered
the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an
important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes.
It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all
Muslims.
Surah -
A
chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf:
part of the pilgrimage (Hajj)
ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise
direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed -
Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that
there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement
of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new
Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah -
Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person
to understand God.
Taurat: The old
Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah -
the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah):
A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to
Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic
year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual
done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor -
The
Psalms
Zakat -
The
third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
