Traits of the Salves of The Rahman: 03 Worship at night
Written by: SK.
Omar Ali
Translated by Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
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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.
We are still living with
the slaves of the Rahman. With the image painted by Allah may He be exalted to
show us a model of those who are contented with Allah and Allah is contented
with them.
In ayah 63 of Surat
Furkan Allah says: {And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allâh) are those
who walk on earth in humility or modesty, and when the ignorant people address
them (with bad words) they reply back with words of Peace.}
Allah starts telling us
about the state of those slaves with them selves. They have the attributes of
humility and humbleness, not proud and not cocky. Allah told us about their
state with other people. The state of who does not indulge with those who
ignorant and arrogant. He said that their reply is "Salam", when they are
addressed by the ignorant and the arrogant people.
Their state with their
Lord gets clearer in the middle of the night. When other people are sleeping
deeply, Or staying up the nights in fun and forgetfulness, Allah describes his
slaves as: {they spend their nights to their Lord kneeling and standing}.
Kneeling, means placing their foreheads that never goes down to anyone, it
goes down on the ground to Allah. Allah says: Look at my slave coming back to
me, in hope in what I have, and in fear of I have, until his blood debilitate.
Wanting Allah's reward,
and Fear of Allah's punishment. That's what's keeping him off his bed at
night.
Another man in a battle,
who sees his fellow fighters retreating, hand he realized what is in it for
him to retreat and what is in it for him if he returns and faces the enemy of
Allah. And he des, and his blood debilitate and he dies. Allah is amazed with
him, and he boasts with him to his angels. Both men are in strive for Allah
(Jihad).
God fearing people are
described by Allah: {Those who fear Allah are in gardens and springs. They
take what Allah has brought to them. They in previous times were the kind and
charitable. They used to only sleep a small part of the night. And just before
dawn they used to ask for forgiveness}. They always feel they are not doing
Allah justice, not doing enough for Allah or feel they are doing less than
they should. And consequently ask Allah for forgiveness from such short coming
on their behalf.
Some of our ancestors
used to stay up the night and just before dawn say to Allah: My Lord, the
likes of me is so ashamed to ask you to deliver me to paradise. So, all I ask
is with the grace of your mercy just to deliver me safe from fell fire. They
do not think they are good enough to ask for paradise. Those were the people
who had the fear from Allah punishment and the hope in Allah's reward.
There are those who stay
up the night in obedience to Allah. There are those who spend the night
sleeping till the morning. And there are those who stay up the night in
amusement and fun. And when the time of dawn gets nearer they go to sleep and
are only up at late morning or noon. There are those who spend their nights in
sin and lust, and in fear of no one, and in no shame of what he does from
anyone. And there are those who spend the night in crime, and in conspiracies,
in bad and cause pain and hurt to people. There are those who have nothing to
worry about, their day is just food and drink, and their night fun and sleep.
3a-esha described the
messenger PPBU: "He used to stay up the night until his feet crack" in another
report she said until his feet swell up. And she would say to him: "Why do you
do this despite that Allah has forgiven your sins, past and future." And he
replies: "Wouldn't I be a thankful slave!"
3a-esha was asked about
the strangest thing she saw of the messenger PPBU. She said: One night he said
to her: tonight let me worship my God. She replied, I like staying close to
you and I like what makes you happy. She said he got up, did a tahara wash,
and then started praying. And he started crying. He cried so much that his
knees got wet. And he sat down and kept on crying till he got his beard wet.
Then he cried till the ground got wet. And Belal walked in to make athan for
Fajr prayer. When he saw him crying he said: "Messenger of Allah, do you cry
when all your sins are forgiven past and future?" He replied "Wouldn't I be a
thankful slave! For tonight one verse was brought down upon me. Condemned are
those who read it and not think about it. {indeed, in the creation of the
heavens and earth are signs for those who can think and analyse.}
That's the way the
messenger and his companions were at night. They got ready to stay up nights;
some were not happy staying up half the night, or two thirds of the night. The
Messenger PPBU used to deter them from staying up all night. He always
recommended balance in all matters. For it is the sunnah and the
recommendation to stay up part of the night and not the entire night.
The messenger PPBU said:
the most liked prayers to Allah is David's prayers, and the most liked fast to
Allah is David's fasting. He used to sleep half the night, and stays up one
third of it, and sleeps one sixth the night. Meaning sleeps the last part of
the night so he will get up with some freshness and activeness.
The messenger PPBU also
said: {The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the prayer in the deep
part of the night.}. It was reported that Allah may He be exalted, descends
down to his slaves and brings his glory on to them in the last third of the
night. And He calls them: any one asking for anything, I will answer him.
Anyone asking for forgiveness, I will forgive them? Anyone with any request,
and they will be given their demand? Etc., etc., until dawn appears.
Those who can not stay
up the night, or half the night, or one third, or sixth of the night, at least
make sure you do Isahaa prayers in group. And the dawn prayers in a group. The
messenger PPBU said: {This who does Eshaa prayer in a group, it is like he
stayed up half the night. And this who does dawn prayer in a group, it is like
he stayed up all night.}. Anyone who can not do that, well, at least let him
be certain to do his prayers on time. The messenger PPBU was told of a man who
slept his night till the morning. He said: {that is a man that Satan had
urinated in his ear.}. And there are so many who made their ears be places for
Satan to urinate in.
It was reported that the
messenger PPBU said: {Satan places three knots on the back of your head- when
one goes to sleep- On each knot he has the message, "The night is so long, go
sleep"}. If one awakes, and utters the name of Allah, one of the knots is
undone. And if one does a wadoo another knot is undone. And if one prays all
the knots are undone and he becomes full of energy and of a good soul. Or
else, he remains of a bad soul and full of laziness.
With the Satan knots
still remain on his head. And that's why the messenger PPBU said: {untie the
Satan's knots with a prayer of mere two rak3a}
Abdulla ebn Salam said
when the messenger PPBU came to Mdinah people hurried up to him and I was
amongst them. When I looked into his face real well, I realized that is not a
deceitful or lying face. And the first of his words that I hear was what he
said: {people, exchange the call for peace between you, feed others, keep
contact with your family and kin, do prayers at night when people are asleep,
you shall be entered into paradise with peace}
We ask Allah to make us
among those who enter paradise with peace.
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.
