Traits of the Salves of The Rahman: 02 Respond with peace
Written by: SK.
Omar Ali
Translated by Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
dd mmm yyyy h
dd mmm yyyy ac
Thanks be to Allah, the
Lord of the worlds. Peace and prayers be upon the
most honorable of all messengers Mohammad; and all his folks, companions, and
followers to the day they are all summoned together.
On
a previous Friday the Imam talked about traits or qualities of the slaves of
the most Gracious. Allah described them in the ayas towards end of the Surat:
Al-Furqan. And the Imam talked about the first trait being: Those who walk
upon earth in humility and modesty. This trait reflects how they interact with
themselves. That is being humble, easy going, kind, flexible without
snobbishness and no vanity.
Then Allah mentions the second trait or quality and said: {and when the
ignorant people address them ignorantly they reply back with words of peace}.
This trait reflects how they interact with people, and more specifically with
the ignorant, foul and abusive type of people.
The
slaves of the most Gracious only say what brings no sin upon them and what
causes no blame to be placed on to them. They do not respond to sin with
another, even though it would be within their right to do so, and despite that
they may be able to respond with the same intensity or greater. But, they do
not waste their time conversing with the ignorant and the crazy individuals.
{. . and when the ignorant people address them ignorantly they reply back with
words of peace }. What they respond with is fit for their status with Allah,
and is fit for their status in the life after, fit for making this religion
victorious, and for justice to prevail on earth.
Continuously, life brings to each one of us disturbances, problems, and there
is a constant line of challenges. A Muslim facing this needs some form of
skill to deal with, to avoid falling into pit holes along the way. Needs a
style of behavior that will absorb chocks, and some ease which will provide
help at tough times. For that Islam guides to this style: (Good ethic, and
being calm). The messenger (PPBU) said to Ashjam (ÃÔÌã ÚÈÏ ÇáãÞíÓ) {you have
two traits which Allah loves, prudence (keeping your mind), tolerance}
Yes, {and when the ignorant people address them ignorantly they reply back
with words of peace}. Ignorance here does not mean the lack of academic
education. But, ignorance here refers to lack of wisdom. There may well be an
ignorant who holds high academic degree, and may have a respected occupation,
yet lacks knowledge within himself, bad mannered, talks to others with no
respect, attacks the honor of others with his spoken or written words. In the
view of the Quran, the ignorant is anyone who disobeys Allah. The ignorant is
this who becomes bias to affection against truth, or follows the desires and
lust instead of the mind and logic.
The
Koran gives some examples of the ignorant people: Prophet Yousif when advances
were made towards him by the women in town he said: {"O my Lord! Prison is
more to my liking than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away
their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one of the
ignorant ones."
Allah also says: {
And (remember) when Mûsa
said to his people: "Verily, Allâh commands you that you
slaughter a cow." They
said, "Do you make fun of us?" He said, "I take Allâh's Refuge from being
among the ignorant ones."}
Meaning to make fun at the time of seriousness, or ridicule when the truth is
sought. That seems to be a trait of the ignorant, and Musa PPBU is not.
The
slaves of the most gracious do not get busy continuously arguing with those
who are ignorant. The forgive them and only converse in respect. For each
container may leak only what it contains. It has been told that Jesus passed a
group of Jews, they addressed him ignorantly. And he replied to them
respectably. He was asked: why would you say only good to them when they only
said bad to you? He said every one will spend out of what he has.
The
tong of a Muslim should be kept fresh with the uttering or Allah, the reading
of the Quran, praising of Allah, giving thanks to Allah and exalt of Allah,
announcing the greatness of Allah (takbeer) and asking for Allah’s
forgiveness. The tong must not be occupied with arguing with those who are
ignorant.
The
messenger PPBU was reported saying that when Allah collects all his creatures,
a caller goes out calling: where are the graceful and courteous people? A
small group of people not a huge number gets up and start walking in a rather
quickened pace. The angels say to them, we see you walk unobstructed to
heaven, who are you? And they reply we are the people of the grace, the angels
ask: and what was you grace? They reply: if we were prejudiced against, we
remained patient. And if a wrong was done against us we forgave. And when
ignorance is aimed at us we kept our wisdom or calm. The angels say to them:
enter paradise, the great reward for those who strive.
There are two levels of those graceful people. The level of Just people and
the graceful people. The just people are those who retaliate with similar when
they are wronged against. The graceful people are those who elevate above that
by responding to a wrong with a good deed. Allah says: {They are not the same,
a good and bad deed. Push the one which is better, such that this with whom
you have animosity, as if he is a close friend.}
Keeping ones wisdom and
calm is a great trait to have, for Allah called him self this name (Al-Haleem).
Many of Allah’s prophets were also given this attribute. Allah says in Ibrahim:
{Verily, Ibrahim was one who invokes and glorify Allah in humility, and he was
wise and calm} aya 114/Toubah. Allah also says:{ Verily, Ibrahîm was, without
doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Allâh with humility, and was repentant (to
Allâh all the time, again and again).} aya 75/Hood. Ibrahim was also given a
forbearing son, Ismael.
The prophet Shu-aib was
also forbearing, and wise. Allah says: { Verily, you are the forbearer,
right-minded!" }. While the best of the human race Muhammed PPBU is described
by Allah with all the good traits in human character when he says: { And
verily, you (O Muhammad SAW) are on an exalted standard of character.} aya
4/al-qalam.
One day a man came to
Abdullah ebn Abbas who is known as the translator of the quran, and abusively
cursed and swore at him. Abbas looked at his servant 3akramah and said to him:
see if this man has a need for anything, and do it for him. The man dropped
his head, felt shame and turned and left.
Anas ebn Malik the
Messenger’s servant was asked about the meaning of this ayah: {. . Push the
one which is better, such that this with whom you have animosity, as if he is
a close friend.}, he said: (It is when a man is being abused, sworn at and
falsely accused by another man, he says: if you were correct then may Allah
forgive me. And if you were incorrect then may Allah forgive you.)
Being annoyed, is a
stone of fire thrown by Satan into the chest of son of Adam, He must put it
out with wisdom, forbearance and restraining the soul and the tong.
The messenger PPBU often
advised his companions by saying: “Do not get angry”. Meaning do not obey your
anger, or do not listen to the Satan of your anger. A Muslim should avoid
getting angry, and if he does, then to restrain his tong and hand. Only speak
of good.
One man was verbally
abused by another but he replied with “May peace be with you.” The messenger
saw and heard that, he said: verily, there is an angel between the two of you
defending the abused one. Every time the abuser says something wrong the angel
says: “oh it is you and only you are more deserving to this”. And when the
abused says “May peace be with you.”, the angel says: “oh it is you and only
you are more deserving to this”.
A man asked the
messenger PPBU something and he gave him, and asked him: have I done you
good?, the man said: No, and you did no favor either. The crowed of Muslims
were astonished and threatened to kill the man. The messenger PPBU stopped
them, and later sent for him and gave him more and asked him have I done you
good? The man said: now, yes, and may Allah reward you with good family and
clan. The messenger said, the Muslims were upset with you earlier, would you
be able to repeat this to them? He agreed and he did. The messenger said I am
with this man like a man who has a strayed camel. People followed it, but
caused it go further astray. The camel owner called the people to leave
between him and his camel, for it is mine and I am more familiar of how to
deal with it. And he did, and he managed to get the camel back. The messenger
PPBU went on to say, if I had let between you and this man you would have
killed him and he would have been placed in hell fire.
The messenger PPBU was
always calm and wise. Even when he was angry he never lost the limits of
anger.
He never took revenge
for him self. Only if one of Allah’s limits are broken that he would take
action.
One man came to the
Khalifa Omar ebn Abdul-Aziz and greatly abused him. Omar thought for a while
and said: you wanted Satan to entice me so I do to you what you can do to me
in the life after. No, by Allah no.
Anas ebn Malik said: I
served the messenger PPBU for ten years, not once that he showed a sign of
being unsatisfied, and for every thing I did, he never once said why you did
that? And for all that I did not do, he never once said why you didn’t do
that.
Notes:
-
Adhan
- The call to prayer.
-
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the
messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of
Islam.
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.
